Nepali Kimbadanti
Behind every hill, forest, city, river, lake, temple, deity and festival of Nepal lies a traditional kimbadanti. Passed down by word of mouth for generations, these legends tell how a place got its name, how a god or goddess came to be worshipped, and why a festival is observed. Grouped into six themes and available in both Nepali and English.
Place Names
Origin legends of Nepal's hills, forests, cities and landmarks — how each place got its name.
Himalaya
The story of how the Himalaya mountain range was created from a fish and a rock in the water-covered world at the beginning of creation.
Jatmatrochha (Jamacho)
The story of how Vipaswi Buddha planted a lotus seed in Nagahrad, the lake where the Naga kings dwelt, and how the hill Jatmatrochha came to be.
Dhyanochhagiri
The story of how the hill where Sikhī Buddha meditated while beholding the Swayambhu light came to be Dhyanochhagiri (Chandragiri).
Fulochhagiri (Fulchoki)
The story of how the hill where Vishvabhu Buddha offered a hundred thousand flowers and made a prophecy became Fulochhagiri (Fulchoki).
Padmagiri
The story of how Padmagiri, shaped like a lotus, appeared after Manjushri cut the mountain and drained the waters of Nagahrad.
Mrigasthali
The story of how the forest where Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar appeared in the form of deer came to be called Mrigasthali.
Manichudgiri
The story of the generous king Manichud, who cured his people's disease by giving away the jewel on his forehead, and of Vajrayogini.
Dhanyagiri (Wardan)
The story of the demon whose vast heap of paddy turned to earth and became Wardan (Dhanyagiri).
Shleshmanatak Ban
The story of how Shleshmanatak Ban came to be after Krishna and Pradyumna dried up the demon's lake and brought Prabhavati away.
Gokarna
The story of how Dantur, wandering in search of his ancestors, performed the offering of pindas and thus established the Gokarna pilgrimage site.
Damauli
The story of how the meeting of the sage Parashar and a boatman's daughter gave rise to Damauli at the confluence of the Madi and Seti.
Mithila
The story of how King Mithi was born from the body of King Nimi and the land of Mithila came to be.
Dhanusha
The story of the place Dhanusha, where Sita was found as King Janak ploughed a field and where Shiva's bow was broken.
Kapilvastu
The story of how the princes settled at the hermitage of the Brahmin Kapil and the city of Kapilvastu came to be.
Hetauda and Bhimfedi
The story of how Hetauda and Bhimfedi came to be, the places where Bhimsen defeated Hidimba and married Bhutandevi.
Simroungarh
The story of the Simroungarh fortress, left unfinished though built overnight by a demon.
Bhatbhateni
The story of how a place came to be named after the Bhat-bhateni couple, who were punished when they tried to appropriate a deposit.
Battisputali
The story of how thirty-two fairies flew from Vikramaditya's throne of justice and became the place called Battisputali.
Tundikhel
The story of how Tundikhel came to be as an open ground made to keep the child-eating demon Gurumapa.
Lalitpattan
The story of how a hideous grass-cutter named Lalit bathed in Gaurikund, became handsome, and founded Lalitpattan.
Namobuddha
The story of Namobuddha, where Prince Mahasattva offered his own flesh as a gift to a hungry tigress.
Water Names
Legends of Nepal's rivers, lakes, ponds and holy springs, and the tirthas on their banks.
Trishuli and Gosaikunda
The story of how the Trishuli river and Gosaikunda came to be when Shiva drank the Halahala poison from the churning of the ocean.
Bagmati and Keshawati (Vishnumati)
The story of how Krakucchanda Buddha pressed his thumb into the rock and brought forth the Bagmati and Keshawati (Vishnumati) rivers.
Prabhavati and Ratnavati
The story of how the Ratnavati and Prabhavati rivers came to be when the wealth hidden by a danava was sought and gems flowed away.
Roshmati (Rosi)
The story of how the Roshmati (Rosi) river came to be when the kings of Patan and Panauti asked for the water of Phulchoki.
Ugratirtha
The story of how Shiva appeared in response to the fierce penance of Chyawan Rishi and made Ugratirtha a sacred place of pilgrimage.
Kumbheshwar Kunda (Kwantitirtha)
The story of how a ring lost at Gosainkunda was found in the Kumbheshwar Kunda (Kwantitirtha).
Kaligandaki
The story of how the Kaligandaki River came to be from Kali, who remained a devoted wife even while following the profession of a courtesan.
Mahakali River
The story of how Mahakali appeared when Sita fought Ahiravan after his taunt, and became the Mahakali River.
Dugdhavati
The story of how the Dugdhavati River came to be from the cursed jar of blood buried by Ravan and from the birth of Sita.
Ratnasagar
The story of how the pond where a maiden found a pot of gems for a mahant who was seeking provisions for a feast became Ratnasagar.
Surmasarovar
The story of how the lake where Queen Surma performed penance after abandoning the leprous Shiva became Surmasarovar.
Matatirtha
The story of how the pond where a dead mother's hand accepted the bread offered by a shepherd came to be Matatirtha.
Swapnatirtha
The story of how a leper was cured by the water of a canal he saw in a dream, making Swapnatirtha famous.
Bholvapukhu
The story of how the Bholvapukhu pond came to be at the place where Ananda Malla witnessed a fight between a mouse and a cat.
Architecture Names
Stories of temples, monasteries, chaityas and courtyards that gave the Kathmandu Valley its names.
Kasthamandap
The story of how Kasthamandap was built from the wood of the Kalpavriksha and the city came to be named Kathmandu.
Vikramshil Vihar
The story of how Dharmashrimitra understood the secret meaning of the mantra from Manjushri and built Vikramshil Vihar.
Narayanhiti and Khasteebouddha
The story of how the water spout flowed again through King Vishwadev's readiness to sacrifice himself, and how the Khasteebouddha chaitya came to be built.
Kathesimbhu
The story of how the tantric Samantabhadra made a Jain temple of Kashi fly through the air and brought it to become Kathesimbhu.
Paravat Mahavihar
The story of how the gambler Keshchandra received gold through the grace of pigeons and built Paravat Mahavihar.
Bhimsensthan
The story of Bhimsensthan, where Bhimsen appeared in the form of a porter and returned to Dolakha.
Virupaksha
The story of Virupaksha performing penance to Shiva to win freedom from the great sin involving his own mother.
Bhedasing
The story of Bhedasing, where the secret acts of the queen and the minister's wife were discovered and a sheep's head turned into stone.
Matsyadevata (Nyadyo)
The story of Matsyadevata (Nyadyo), in which the astrologers Dak and Barami determined the place where fish would rain down.
Deity Names
How Nepal's guardian gods — Shiva, Vishnu, Bhairav, Ganesha and the Mashto deities — came to be worshipped.
Pashupatinath
The story of how the Jyotirlinga of Pashupatinath was found when a cow spilled its milk on the earth, and how the land came to be named Nepal.
Gokarneshwar
The story of how Shiva's horn, in deer form, broke and the Gokarneshwar linga was established.
Indreshwar
The story of the Indreshwar linga, where Indra and Shachi performed penance for the atonement of Ahalya's curse.
Ishaneshwar
The story of Ishaneshwar appearing through a ploughshare and granting Ghimire a son.
Bhimeshwar (Bhimsen)
The story of how Bhimsen, when the porter's secret was revealed, appeared in stone and became Bhimeshwar.
Lukumadyo
The story of how, to hide from Bhasmasura, Shiva came to Nepal, ate liquor and meat, and became Lukumadyo.
Suryavinayak
The story of Suryavinayak, where a dead infant was brought back to life by the grace of Shiva and Ganesha.
Changu Narayan
The story of how, after the battle between Takshak and Garuda, Vishnu and Aryavalokiteshvara came to reside on Charu Hill.
Budhanilkantha
The story of Budhanilkantha, where the idol of Vishnu was found by digging after the paddy in the threshing floor would not diminish.
Tilmadhav
The story of Tilmadhav, where Vishnu appeared from a heap of sesame seeds while they were being sold.
Matsyendranath (Bungadyo)
The story of Bungadyo, how Matsyendranath was brought from Kamarupa to end a drought and a chariot festival was begun.
Baghbhairav
The story of how the clay tiger made by shepherds came to life, ate the sheep, and became Baghbhairav.
Aakash Bhairav (Aajudyo)
The story of how the severed head of the Kirat king Yalambar flew into the sky and became Aakash Bhairav.
Chandannath and Bhairavnath
The story of how two siddhas manifested Chandannath and Bhairavnath from wood and water and made grain grow in Jumla.
Kanavarah and Ranavarah
The story of Ranavarah defeating the wicked Varaha, blinding his eyes and turning him into Kanavarah.
Bannimashto
The story of the stone brought from a pilgrimage site that became the deity Bannimashto and granted a kingdom.
Dahremashto and Kudahremashto
The story of the deities Dahremashto and Kudahremashto, born of apsaras and Shiva.
Harelo Devata
The story of the ploughman who died from injustice and became the deity Harelo, protector of the grain crops.
Goddess Names
Tales of the Devi, Ajima and Kumari goddesses — Shakti Peeths, tantric shrines and living-goddess traditions.
Vajrayogini (Hyaukhwamaiju)
The story of how Vajrayogini manifested in fiery form from a vajra that fell on a cliff, and how the town of Sankhu came to be founded.
Bhadrakali (Lumadi)
The story of how the goddess Lumadi, appearing as a girl found by a Jyapu, protected a king tormented by enemies.
Indrayani Devi (Lutimaru Ajima)
The story of how Lutimaru, humiliated at a feast, assumed a divine form and became Indrayani Ajima.
Akashyogini (Bijaswori)
The story of how a maiden flying through the sky was halted by Vajracharya's mantra and came to be known as Akashyogini.
Taleju
The story of Taleju, whose temple Nanyadeva built after finding the yantra of Tulaja Devi in the Sarayu.
Kumaridevi
The story of how the worship of Kumaridevi began with Trailokya Malla and a princess.
Kumari and Lakhey
The story of how, at her mother's command, Kumari killed her lover Lakhey and took a lifelong vow to remain a Kumari.
Balkumari
The story of how Balkumari became a healer goddess after a tantric buried her to stop an epidemic.
Tarinidevi (Tanadyo)
The story of how Tarinidevi (Tanadyo) was transferred from Bhaktapur to Taleju.
Chandeshwori
The story of how the goddess Chandeshwori appeared to slay the demon Chanda.
Kankalimai
The story of how the goddess Kankalimai was established at the place where a skeleton was found after Simroungarh was destroyed.
Shaileshwari
The story of how Parvati (Shailaja), the daughter of the Himalaya, wandered with Shiva and became the goddess Shaileshwari.
Jalpadevi
The story of how the Siddha Ishwarnath, accepting the young girl as the goddess, established Jalpadevi.
Rinamokshadevi
The story of how Rinamokshadevi, who grants freedom from debt, came to be established in the Kalyala kingdom of Khasan.
Varadadevi
The story of Varadadevi, through the grace of whose chosen deity Tripurasundari Jumla conquered Achham.
Harati
The story of how the Buddha honoured the goddess Harati, his mother from a previous birth.
Lakshmi and Saraswati
The story of how, when Brahma created the world, Saraswati and Lakshmi appeared and Brahma became four-faced.
Festivals
Origin legends of Nepal's jatras and festivals — Bisket Jatra, Indra Jatra, Shivaratri, Tihar and more.
Bisket Jatra
The story of Bisket Jatra, in which the people of Bhaktapur, freed from the practice of keeping night watch, raise the lingo.
Ghantakarna (Gathamuga)
The story of how the atheistic aghori Ghantakarna became a demon and was killed, and the Gathamuga festival came to be celebrated.
Nag Panchami
The story of how Nag Panchami came to be celebrated to appease the Naga king after the blade of a plough killed the serpent's young.
Bhyaguto Purne (Byanjanake Punhi)
The story of the demon Ghantasur and of Byanjanake Punhi, the day on which frogs are married off.
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi)
The story of the Raksha Bandhan festival, when a sacred thread is tied upon brothers' wrists while the goddess of protection is invoked.
Shringabheri Jatra (Neku Jatra)
The story of Neku Jatra, bound up with King Sinhaketu and Queen Sulakshana and the principle of non-violence.
Ganesh Chaturthi (Chatha)
The story of Chatha (Ganesh Chaturthi), the birth festival of Vinayaka, and how the mouse became his vehicle.
Teej (Haritalika)
The story of Haritalika (Teej), when Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya, fasted to win Shiva as her husband.
Indra Jatra
The story of how Indra Jatra began, when Dakini secured the release of Indra, who had fallen under the charge of theft.
Laxmi Puja
The legend linked to the story of the demon king Bali and to the origin of Laxmi Puja.
Nepal Sambat
The story of how the astrologer Siddhivanta found an auspicious moment and Nepal Sambat was begun.
Bala Chaturdashi (Balachahre)
The story of Bala Chaturdashi, how the guthiyar Balananda ate a gidhi and became the man-eating demon Balasur.
Dhanya Purnima (Yomari Punhi)
The story of Yomari Punhi, how grain and wealth increased after the wife of the rich Suchandra fed Kubera.
Bhoto Jatra
The story of Bhoto Jatra, how the Naga king Karkotak had the Nagini's eye treated by a Jyapu.
Shivaratri
The story of Shivaratri, how a hunter offered bel leaves through the night, won Shiva's grace, and attained liberation.