Legendary Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti Devi who lived around mid-seventh century A.D. is perhaps best known for having married Tibetan King Srong Chen Gampo and promulgating Buddhism through the construction of the world famous Potala Palace (which still bears her images) and Jokhang Temple which is credited to her. Although some Tibetologists regard the existence of the controversial Bhrikuti Devi as Mythological, author Min Bahadur Shakya has thoroughly researched lost Tibetan text that shed light on this fascinating and mysterious woman who played as monumental role in Tibetan history as did Helen of Troy the Greeks. After a mystical experience, the victorious Tibetan king requested the hand of Bhrikuti Devi from Nepal. Unlike his counterpart in Beijing, the Nepalese king wisely acquiesced, and agreed to send his daughter to distant Tibet on the condition that she spread the Dharma from the land of Buddha’s birthplace. A tender teenager at the time, Princess Bhrikuti Devi was escorted over the Himalayas by a band of soldiers and loads of priceless jewels and Buddhist images borne by a caravan elephants. The rest is history and the fabulous stuff of legend. In any case, Bhrikuti Devi no doubt earned herself the name of "White Tara" for which she is still venerated.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Min Bahadur Shakya
Min Bahadur Shakya is a scholar of Newer and Tibetan Buddhism. Among his major publications are “A short history of buddhism in Nepal, 1984; and 1986; Introduction to Buddhist Monasteries of Kathmandu valley, 1986, “iconography of Nepalese Buddhism, 1994;” Nepalese Princess bhrikuti devi, 1997; boudhanath Stupa 1987; sacred art of Nepal, 2000.His monumental recent works ‘Svayambhu Mahacaitya: A self-arisen caitya “and” Ksemendra’s Avadanakalpalata” were published in the year 2005. his forth coming publication on life of Great Buddhist Architect Arniko based on Chinese sources is waiting for publication. He was elected vice President of World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY), for the years 1984-1988. he was appointed as Research Associate in Fo Kuang Shan Chinese Buddhist Research Academy (1989-1990), Kaoshiung. Taiwan in 1990, he was granted a SAARC Fellowship in Buddhist Studies by Ministry of Forign Affairs, Bhutan.He is the Director of Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods, Chakupat, Lalitpur, since its establishment in 1988. From 200-2007, he was a visiting lecturer of Buddhist Philosophy and religion in the central Development of Buddhist Studies, Trbhuvan University, Kathmandu. Currently he is project in charge of Sanskrit Buddhist canon Input Project and Rare Buddhist Manuscript Projects sponsored by University of the West, Los Angeles, USA and Buddhist Nuns Education Project sponsored by Peabody Museum. Harvard University, USA. Since 1986, he is teaching Mathematics in Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, At present he is Associate Professor in department of Engineering mathematics, Pulchowk, Campus.
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