The Sadhguru Podcast - Of Mystics and Mistakes How Kathmandu’s Swayambunath Was Created Thousands of Years Ago #DailyWisdom
Oct 3, 2025
Discover the enchanting legends of the Swayambhu stupa and its ties to Kathmandu Valley's ancient lore. Sadhguru shares the tale of Maharishi Manjushri, who conjured a five-colored lotus of fire, shaping the landscape into a gorge. Learn about the significance of Kashyapa's enshrinement and how this sacred site was established long before Gautam Buddha. Despite the mysteries surrounding its construction, the existence of the stupa today continues to mesmerize and inspire.
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Origin Story Of Kathmandu Valley
- A few millennia ago the Kathmandu Valley was a large lake called Nagvas, the abode of the Nagas.
- Maharishi Manjushri created a gorge to drain the lake and enshrined a legendary five-colored lotus at Swayambhu long before Gautam Buddha.
The Fiery Lotus And Swayambhu Stupa
- The five-colored lotus in the lake was described as being made of fire and held powerful symbolic meaning.
- Maharishi Kashyapa later enshrined it, and a stupa was constructed over that site, now called Swayambhu.