The legends of 'Gayahbajya' of Patan in the Kathmandu Valley

While collecting oral history of Patan in 1991, the author's attention was drawn to the legends of Gayhabajya (lit. Brahman named Gaya' in Newar language). Those legends suggest that there was a remarkable figure named Gayahbajya, who once lived in Sulimha, near Patadhoka. According to those legends, he performed many unbelievable miracles in his day - these miracles compare favourably with the famous Jamana Gubhaju of Kathmandu and Gunu Jhaof Mithila. In socio-topographic scene, there were tantric heroes in the three medieval kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley such as Gayahbajya of Patan, Jamana Gubhaju in Kathmandu and Siddhivanta Josi in Bhakhtapur. In this article, the most intriguing of the legends are documented together with an analysis of who Gayahbajya must have been.