The most well known mythical story from Nepal among the westerners is certainly that of the Yeti, or sometimes called the Abominable Snowman by the western press and as a result has been over dramatized as a large primate-like creature supposedly living in the Himalayas. The Western name is derived from the Tibetan yeh-teh (transliterated: gYa' dred), "little man-like animal"; it is a false cognate with Old English geottan (or yettin) in Modern English.
Interestingly, the legend of the Kathmandu Valley itself can be found both in Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. According to the Buddhist text, it believed that Kathmandu Valley was a big lake, this lake was called Naga Daha and believed to be the abode of the famous Vashuki Naga (symbol of water). In the center of the lake , in Satya Yuga, a great saint Bipasi sowed the seeds of lotus. After six months , a magnificent lotus flower blossomed and the effulgent light of the self-existent one could be seen in it. When Sikki Buddha of Arunapuri learnt about its presence in this lake, he came to worship it. He stayed on Pulchowki peak and after some days, on the first of the Magh (in January), merged himself into the blazing light of the self-existent one.
Then came Bishwaambhu Buddha. He came in Tetra Yuga from a place called Anupam and stayed on Pulchowki peak. He with his disciples paid homage to the self-existent one with hundreds of thousands of flowers. In addition, while leaving, he instructed his disciples how to let out the water of the lake from this Kathmandu valley. The great Manjushree was last to come from China to pay homage to the radiant light of the self-existent one. He stayed at Nilgiri now known as Nagarkot and paid unreserved homage to the Lord for three days and nights. Moreover, he with his great Sword Of Wisdom, he drained the lake, thus creating the Chobhar gorge. Then only, the valley became inhabitable.
Some other mythological stories from Nepal:
- Why Ganesh is Elephant Headed?
- Why the stone Ammonite fossils (shaligram), the Basil Plant (tulasi) and the Banyan Tree (pipal) are holy in Nepal? Why the moon has ascending and descending nodes?
- Why does the Seti River flow partially underground at Pokhara, and how did Kali make the deepest gorge?
- The naga who won the heart of garuda
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