The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c5.s9.74

c5.s9.74

Kashtha-Maṇḍapa—Kâṭmâṇḍu, the capital of Nepal, founded by Râjâ Guṇakâmadeva in 723 A.D. at the junction of the Bagmati and Vishnumati rivers. It was anciently called Mañju-Patan (see Mañjupatan), after Mañjuśrî, who is said to have founded it. Mañjuśrî was esteemed by the northern Buddhists as their Viśvakarmâ or celestial architect (Hodgson’s Literature and Religion of the Buddhists, p. 62). According to the Svayambhu Purâṇa, he was an historical personage who introduced Buddhism into Nepal. Kâṭmâṇḍu is also called Kântepura (Wright’s History of Nepal, p. 9).