The Temple of Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple as holy monkeys (rhesus macaques) are living in the north-west parts of and around the temple. They are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning, was raising the hill on which the Swayambhunath Temple stands. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice transformed into these monkeys.