The little community of Chabahil, between Kathmandu and Bodnath, grew up at the crossing of
two important trade routes, one from India via Kathmandu to Tibet, the other from the south
via Patan. The junction acquired additional significance with the building of a stupa.
Chabahil is one of the dozen or so communities in the Valley to
have a Kumari (living goddess).
Judging by the dates of some of the chaityas (votive stupas) and images, Chabahil's heyday
was in the 6th/7th c., when it must have been among the foremost Buddhist centers of its
day.
The stupa is said to have been founded by Ashoka's daughter Charumati who, according to the
legend, saw an iron arrowhead transformed on this spot into a stone. The presence of so many
ancient Buddhist sculptures certainly testifies to the importance of the shrine.
|
|
|
|