bod thang mgon po

The protector of/on the Tibetan plain

The famous Mahākāla statue in Thundikel in the center of Kathmandu/Nepal, the most important Mahākāla temple in the valley. Supposedly it is one of the original eight Mahākāla statues of Nalanda university. There are various legends connected with it, such as that it was either made by Nagarjuna, or that he magically caused it to fly from Nalanda to Nepal. The term "Tibetan plain" refers to the wide open field of Thundikel behind the temple that houses the statue, the grounds where the envoys of King Songtsen Gampo (srong btsan sgam po) were encamped when they came to fetch the Nepali bride, Princess Bhrikuti, for their emperor. The statue is also considered to be the main protector of Svayambhunath and is as such also known as the "shing kun mgon po". It is mentioned in several biographies of Indian Mahāsiddhas who visited the Nepal valley on pilgrimage. The Tibetan Mahāsiddha Tsang Nyon Heruka (tsang smyon he ru ka, 1452-1507) is known to have visited it as well, and Kathok Rigdzin Tshewang Norbu (ka thog rig 'dzin tshe dbang nor bu, 1698-1755) has composed a praise to it entitled "A song for the spontaneous achievement of one’s goals, expressed in a verse garland that comprises a hymn of praises to the naturally formed Lord Protector of the Tibetan Plain, a sacred image of the Resplendent Mahākāla with two hands, and a supplication for his enlightened activity" (dpal nag po chen po phyag gnyis pa'i sku brnyan rang byung bod thang mgon por bstod cing 'phrin las gsol ba'i tshig phreng bzhed don lhun gyis grub pa'i dbyangs). It is also mentioned among the most important sacred sites of the Kathmandu valley by the 8th Tai Situpa (tai si tu chos kyi 'byung gnas, 1700-1774) in his description of the sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites of the Kathmandu valley. [TSD]