History and Legends - The Draining of the Kathmandu Valley

The Kathmandu Valley has long been the subject of both religious legend and scientific inquiry. According to Buddhist tradition, Bodhisattva Manjushri played a crucial role in transforming the valley into habitable land. The Svayambhu-Purana recounts how Manjushri used his flaming sword, Chandrahasa, to cut a cleft into the surrounding mountains, allowing the water to drain. This act revealed the sacred hill of Swayambhu, making the land suitable for human settlement.

Similarly, Hindu tradition offers an alternative explanation, attributing the draining of the lake to Pradyumna, the son of Krishna. In this version, Pradyumna released the river goddess Bagvati (the Bagmati River) from a demon’s grasp, allowing the valley to be formed. Another variation credits Krishna himself with using a divine thunderbolt to break open the gorge, enabling the waters to flow out and rendering the valley habitable. These legends have been passed down for generations, shaping the cultural and religious landscape of Nepal (Hutt, 2011).

While these legends have been passed down for generations, modern research suggests a compelling correlation between these myths and geological changes in the region. Scientific studies confirm that the Kathmandu Valley was once submerged under a vast lake, known as Paleo-Kathmandu Lake. Sedimentological and palynological analyses reveal lacustrine deposits,confirming the presence of an ancient lake. Research suggests that the lake formed approximately 1 million years ago due to the damming of the Bagmati River and persisted until about 12,000 years ago. The drainage of the lake likely occurred in phases due to tectonic uplift, faulting, and the natural erosion of river channels. Soft-sediment deformation structures within the basin's deposits further indicate seismic activity played a role in the lake’s drainage process. This scientific understanding not only supports but also enriches the traditional Buddhist and Hindu narratives, demonstrating how ancient myths and modern science converge to explain the transformation of the Kathmandu Valley (Sakai, 2001).

Manjushri’s Role in Buddhism

Manjushri is regarded as the Bodhisattva of Transcendent Wisdom due to his association with the Prajnaparamita Sutras, which focus on the "Perfection of Wisdom." These texts emphasize emptiness (śūnyatā) and the realization of ultimate truth beyond conventional understanding(Padmasambhava, 2016). Manjushri is often depicted holding a flaming sword, symbolizing the sharpness of wisdom that cuts through ignorance and dualistic thinking.

Manjushri is also referred to as the "Mother of All Buddhas" because wisdom is the essential foundation for attaining Buddhahood. Traditionally, Prajnaparamita—the perfection of wisdom—is called the "Mother of All Buddhas" because it is through wisdom that enlightenment is realized(The Five Houses of Zen, 1997).

Manjushri’s practices often include the recitation of specific mantras and the performance of sadhanas (ritual meditations). The Arapacana mantra is associated with enhancing wisdom and improving memory, debate skills, and literary abilities. The syllables of this mantra are believed to represent various aspects of wisdom and are used as a focus for meditation (Meshram, 2017). These practices are not limited to esoteric traditions but are widely adopted across various Mahayana Buddhist schools, emphasizing wisdom cultivation in both monastic and lay settings.

Wrathful Manifestations

Another significant tantric form of Manjushri is Vajrabhairava, a fierce deity represented with a buffalo head, exhibiting a wrathful expression and teeth resembling swords. Vajrabhairava, also known as Yamantaka, is both the "destroyer of the lord of death" and as an emanation of Manjushri, functions to increase wisdom in his practitioners that destroys the ego and conquers death, symbolizing the ultimate overcoming of ignorance and the cycle of rebirth (The Roar of Thunder,2021).

These esoteric and tantric practices centered around Manjushri are integral to Vajrayana Buddhism, offering practitioners methods to develop deep wisdom and achieve enlightenment. Practitioners visualize themselves as Manjushri to merge their consciousness with his enlightened qualities.