and he who is fortunate enough to get possession of this becomes wealthy and prosperous, After this, Vikramājit caused a great temple to be built, to the south of which he erected a summer-house over the spot where he had buried a Sinhasana (throne), named Dēvi-datta-sinhasana, which possessed the thirtytwo attributes. He used to sit there daily and administer justice to his subjects. He ruled one thousand years, and his glory and fame were great. Having installed his son Vikrama-Kēsarī on the throne, he died at Mani Jõgini. This Raja was also very punctual in observing, and much devoted to, the rules and ceremonies of his religion. He built a durbar nine stories high, and surrounded the city with gardens and a wide ditch. He also appointed a day for his subjects to observe the Dewāli Pūjā. Some time after this, he was much grieved at seeing the memorial of his forefathers, the Nārāyana fountain, become dry; and he therefore went to Buddha Nil-kantha for advice. The deity told him to consult the astrologers. He did so, and after some deliberation they said that it required a sacrifice of a human being possessed of the thirty-two attributes. The Rājā resolved to obey these directions; but, thinking that to sacrifice a subject would be a sin, and to kill his own son, who possessed all the requisite attributes, would be cruel, he determined to be himself the victim. He therefore called his son Bhūp-Kōsarī, and ordered him to kill, without looking at his face, a certain man, whom, on the fourth day after that, he should find lying covered over on the fountain. The prince, going there on the appointed day, in accordance with his father's commands, and not knowing who the person was, cut off his head. Blood rushed out of the dhārā, and the crocodile on the fountain turned back his head that he might not see a parricide. The son then went to wash his hands in the Ikshumatī river, and was surprised to see swarms of worms floating in the water. On returning to his house, he heard a great noise of people shouting out that the prince had killed his father. The prince then silently performed his father's funeral ceremonies, and making over charge of the government to his mother, he went to Mani Jõgini to expiate the sin of parricide. Seeing him very forlorn, the Jōginī informed him that he could expiate his crime by building a large Buddhist temple, two miles in circumference, and having four circles of gods. The spot for the temple would be indicated by the perching of a kulang (crane), which would take its flight from that mountain. The bird accordingly alighted, the spot for the temple was marked out, and the work was begun. Another version of the story is, that it was Rājā Vikmanti who was sacrificed, and that his son Māndēva was the parricide. The parricide, not being able to disengage his hand, to which the severed head attached itself, went to Mani Jogini, by whose advice he built the Buddhist temple, and then the head became detached; which head (i.e. an image of it) is seen to the present day at Mani Jōgini. When Mandēva began the work of building the temple, there was a great drought, so that the workmen making the bricks could only get water by soaking cloths (in the beds of the streams) and wringing out the moisture. When the bricks were being made, Bārāhi Dēvi, to test their strength, came in the shape of a sow and trod on them. This visit being repeated, the Raja inquired who she was, and the Dēvi, acceding to his prayer, disclosed herself in her true form. The Rājā, to show his gratitude, placed her image at the entrance of the Buddhist temple which contained all the deities. The prince Mandēva on this occasion composed a special prayer, which is repeated by every Buddhist when performing pūjā in holy places. The Prayer. Reverence to Ratna trayāya. I bow to thy lotus-like feet, O Lord! Thou art Buddh-thine asylum I seek. There are countless merits in worshipping Bud 1h. According to Bhotiya (i.e. Tibetan) tradition, the Lāmā of Bhōt, having died, became incarnate, and lived again as the Rājā of Nepal, who built the Buddhist temple; and for this reason the Bhotiyas hold it in great veneration 2. After finishing the temple, the Prince presented himself before Mani Jōgini. She was well pleased with him for having punctually carried out the directions which she had given for building the temple, and said: "You have been cleansed from sin, and your grandfather, who got the tree of riches and expended them in charity, will again appear in the world, when three thousand years of the Kali Yuga have passed away, and he will change the era, which will then be known as Vikram Sambat, or the era of Vikramaditya." Having heard these words, the prince returned to his palace. His mother had meanwhile ruled the people with great justice, 1 The whole of the prayer is given in the original manuscript. 2 This temple still exists, and is now called Bodhnath. It is only 300 yards in circumference, but of course it is the identical temple built by Mandeva! |