Bodinath

    The largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley as well as Nepal is the Boudhanath stupa, or Bauddha for short. Similar to Swayambunath in appearance, the white-washed stupa is topped with a gilded box with a pair of Buddha's eyes on each side. Incidentally, the question mark looking thing below the eyes is not a nose, but is actually the Sanskrit number ek, which is equal to one and signifies the idea of unity. Seen almost as a Tibetan preserve, stupa attracts many pilgrims from Tibet, who come to Nepal specifically to see the stupa and to circle it. The Tibetans have their own legend of its origin, which is said to have been originated by Padmasambhava (Guru Rimpoche) during the 8th century. The stupa was established in the early Licchavi period, and the present structure encloses an Ashokan style dome that dates back to the period. One legend in particular tells the story of how an old woman once asked the king for enough land to build a shrine for Buddha. The king agreed, but on the condition that she could only have as much land as she could cover with the skin of a water buffalo. The old woman was crafty, though, and by cutting the hide into thin strips, she layed them end to end and formed a large circle that "covered" far more land than the king expected to donate. Despite the crafty trick, the king agreed, and the buffalo-hide circle became the circumference of the stupa. 

    It is said that Boudhanath is built in the form of a mandala with three square terraces surrounding the central circle of the dome. A mandala is a circular mystic diagram representing the universe and the structure of the gods. The three broad terraces form a complex pattern of interlocking squares and rectangles. This form is called vimshatikona in Sanskrit terminology, which means "twenty cornered." Around the base of the circular mound are 108 images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha and a low wall with hundreds of prayer wheels lines the base as well.