Matsyadevata (Nyadyo)

Barami, a famous astrologer of Kathmandu, because of an error in the horoscope he had cast at the birth of his son, believed his own son to be a 'jaraputra' (son of an adulterous union), abandoned his home, and left for a foreign land.

His wife named the son 'Dak'. As he grew, Dak became an unequalled and profoundly learned scholar of astrology. When he came of age, he set out in search of his father and was appointed chief royal astrologer in the royal court of Emperor Ashoka.

When Emperor Ashoka came to the Kathmandu Valley on a pilgrimage, the aged astrologer Barami also came along, becoming Dak's disciple. But it was not known between them that they were father and son.

One day, to test his disciple Barami, Dak asked: "What is the yoga for something falling from the sky tomorrow, and where will it fall?"

Barami calculated and said: "Tomorrow fish will rain from the sky at Asanchok." But Dak, making a small correction, specified the exact place where the fish would fall.

The next day clouds gathered in the sky and lightning flashed, and in truth a fish fell from the sky at exactly the place Dak had named. Seeing Dak's wonderful knowledge, Barami regarded him as his very guru.

Later, after returning home, the secret was revealed that Dak and Barami were father and son. At that sacred place where the fish had fallen from the sky, a beautiful stone idol of a fish was installed, which is known today as the 'Matsyadevata' or 'Nyadyo' of Asan.