Approximately 40 km south east of Kathmandu city lies one of
the biggest and important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Kavre district named Namo
Buddha. It is considered as one of equally important stupa like of Kathmandu
(Swayambhunath Stupa & Boudhanata Stupa). It is regarded as a place where Gautam
Buddha was born as a prince in his previous life.
The legend states that Shakyamuni Buddha in his previous
life was born as Mahasattva, the third and the youngest son of King Maharatha. One
day the three brothers were walking through the jungle, suddenly they encountered
a tigress with her five newly born cubs. They found that the tigress was so
hungry and weak that she could barely move anywhere and feed their cubs. After
seeing this the three princes moved from there sadly, thinking that they cannot
do anything. But after a while Mahasattva decided to help her and returned
back. Reaching there again he started to cut himself and gave his flesh to
tigress. The tigress started eating him and left only the bones which were brought
back and buried and made a stupa.
Thousands of year passed after the incident, one day Gautam Buddha came to this
place. On reaching there he circumambulated the Stupa three times and announced
that he was the Mahasatwo and reincarnated as Gautam Buddha. Then he named the
village with Namo Buddha which means Homage or Honor to Buddha.
Once you reach this place and enter through the main gate
you can see the stupa where the bones were buried. You can see lot of Buddhist pilgrims
worshiping there. Then as you climb a small hill for around 10 minutes you will
see the place where Mahasattva feed his body to the hungry tigress. You can
also see the carving in the stone of the Mahasattva offering his body to
tigress. Once you climb more to the hill top you can also enjoy the beautiful
view of village and forests around. And on the east part of the hill lies a
beautiful Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery which was established in 1978 by V.V.
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche. More than 250 monks study and live in this
Monastery.
