Svayambhū-purāṇa

The Svayambhū-purāṇa exists in several versions of varying lengths. The present text, composed in ten chapters, represents the longer version known as the Vṛhat (great) version. It is a poetic work that narrates the manifestation of Lord Svayambhū, or the Ādi Buddha, in Nepal. The text describes sacred sites in Nepal (similar to the māhātmya chapters in Hindu Purāṇas), the origin of Svayambhū, stories of various Bodhisattvas and Buddhas, accounts of Dharma-Śrīmitra, various prophecies concerning Nepal, and many other topics. It is composed in the Anuṣṭubh metre, as are most Purāṇas (Mitra, 1882, p. 249). The text begins with a chapter titled Śākyasiṃha-maitreyo-bodhisattvasaṃvāde-śrīdharmadhātutpattiśatakathā (f.1b–18b), and concludes with the chapter Śākyasiṃha-maitreyosaṃvāde-śrīsvayambhū-utpattiśatakathā (f.259a–268b). The original work dates back to the 16th century. This manuscript also contains an anonymous commentary written in the Newari language.