THE

HISTORY
OF
ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL
NEPAL
In Nutshell with Some Comparative Traces

ol
Foreign History
1972
BOOK 1

D. B. SHRESTHA & C B. SINGH

The

History
of
Ancient and Medieval

NEPAL

In n Nutshell with Some Comparative Traces

of
Foreign History
\m

D.B. SHRESTHA & C.B. SINGH

Published

by the

Authors

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

First Edition 1000

Copies

1972 A. D.

4'5

Printed

at HMG

Press, Kathmandi

a
ef

3
F*

2
u

n
a
a

13
a

57

ft

The Position of Nepal in Asia

His

Majesty King Birendra Bir

of Nepal

Bikram Shah Dev

Preface

This book
not claim to be

'History
a

revealing

the so-far unrevealed

published

or

book which seeks to throw

historical facts

topics. It has been written

far

on

of the

the

us

have

on

controversial
so

through the untiring efforts

their

devoted

and

time

activities which consist in excavations

energy to the
the

or on

light

the basis of facts and figures

handed down to

of the research scholars who

or

Nepal' does

of Ancient and Medieval

fact-finding
study of ancient stone tablets and other available
history

of

Nepal.

research work of the

If it does not claim to

authors,

sources

incorporate

any

the question may arise-why this

book just to swell the number of books

already existing in the

market ?
This book would not have been written, had there been

nothing specific about it. What

is to make
we

hope, will

we

comparative study
not

of

have tried to do in this book

foreign history

only enable its readers

history but also to

compare the

as

well. This.

to know about

Nepal

contemporary events in other

countries and to read the trends in Nepal History and those in

the history of other countries. The readers,
see

how

mediaeval

had

as

for example, will

reached its height of civilization in the

Nepal
period while Europe

was

ignorance.

steeped in the darkness of

Nepal history in the context of world

Our aim is to write

history,

wherever possible. We do not know how far

oui

written in

nutshell will

to its readers to

judge

serve

the book

That the book may prove

synopsis and chart

on

also given. Index

have

by
a

aim. We leave it entirely

its merits.

helpful guide to the students,

more

interesting,

forms another

some

been

pictures

are

worth-mentioning feature of

book.,
Foreigners too,

and

our

each and every chapter have also

given. To make the book

the

we

attempt. We do not know how far this book

succeeded in

interesting,

we

hope, will find the book informative

a peep into the history of

since it gives them

Nepal in context

with

the

Indian,

histories.

Chinese

and

European

Introduction

Like all other countries of the

shrouded in

pre-historic period,
times

legendary

as

are

world, Nepal has

obscurity.

also its

Its records of

those of Homer and India.

as

early

In the

absence of facts and figures and other authentic records which

help

one

to say

rical event,

one

something
has to

myths and legends.

tell

definitely about
whether

depend,

Nepal

has. its

own

particular histo

likes it

one

and

myths

of its origin. Regarding the origin of Nepal

us

period,

taken to

or

not,

legends

on

to

in the

which,

only the

valley of
Kathmandu, Swayambhu Puran and Nepal Mahatmya have it to
pre-historic
say that to

was

begin with, Nepal

was a

mean

lake with

outlet of water

no

whatsoever. The valley of Kathmandu remained under water

till

Manjushree,
China

from
to

Bodhisatwa (potential Buddha)

on

homage

to

in

who

came

Tretayuga

Swayambhu

which

the lotus that grew out of the seed thrown in the

lake by Bipasvi Buddha who

golden age, cut

flowed out,

sometime

pilgrimage

unreserved

pay

appeared

a
on

rock

came

through

to

Nepal sometime

which

the

in the

water of the lake

making the valley habitable.

The authenticity of the

legend, though

to

certain

extent,

stands when it is put to the test of geographical and geological

survey.

Naghrad (abode of serpents),-a

name

given

to Ancient

Nepal-also
a

goes to lend evidence to the fact that

lake. Ancient Nepal having thus

come

Nepal

once

was

into existence

was

ruled

by the rulers of different tribes and clans which immigrated

over

made

into the valley from time to time. Manjushree not only

the valley habitable but also founded
from the hillock of

Manjupattan

Swayambhu-

to

town which extended

and

Guhyeswari

named

was

after him. He then returned to China after hav

ing made Dharmakar (who had accompanied Manjushree

Naghrada,) King
territory

in his

Dharmapal his
Nepal

of Manjupattan. Dharmakara ruled

own

way, but

as

he had

no

over

he

issue,

Dharmapal is said to have

successor.

with Krakuchhanda

After him

Buddha.

to

the

made

come

Sudhanwa

to
a

descendant of Dharmapal, Kushadhoj brother of King Janaka,

and

some

other kings ruled

over

the country successively.

Later on, Nepal is said to have been ruled

chanda Deva from Gaur

(present

over

by Pra-

Bengal). He is said to have

been sent to Nepal by Kankamuni Buddha who

to

Nepal
pilgrimage. Basupur, Agnipur, Bayupur, Nagpur and Shan-

on

tipur-all shrines dedicated

earth, fire, air,

water

to the different elements of nature

etc, which stand

precincts of Swayambhu,

are

over

Prachanda

day

Deva,

as

in the

by

Pra-

his

son

Nepal.

After him Gunakama Deva and his

over

to this

even

said to have been built

chanda Deva. After the death of

Shakti Deva ruled

came

son

Simha Ketu ruled

the valley. Gunakama Deva is said to have founded the city

According to some sources it was about 723 A.D.

of Kathmandu.

If

we

are

to accept those sources, the city of Kathmandu

founded twelve hundred forty eight

can

years

ago.

was

From this it

be affirmed that Gunakama Deva must have only extended

the city and not founded it, but

research and investigation.

its

authenticity

still

awaits

The time when the

to the

corresponds
and

Pulkeshin

ruled

over

city

in

II

southern

by Sui dynasty.

Great Wall of China

Yuga (Age)

of Kathmandu

It

China

about the

was

India,
then

was

time when

the

to be reconstructed.

going

was

India.

Personages

Satya, (Golden)

first founded

was

of Harsha Vardhan in northern

reign

Performances

Buddha

Bipaswi

Sowing of lotus seeds in the

Nagahrad or lake of snakes in the
duration
valley of Kathmandu.
Treta of 1,296,00 Manju Shree
Making Kathmandu valley habit
Years' duration.
able by cutting a rock at Chobhar.
Do
Do
Founding of the town Manjupattan
Dharmakar, King Pilgrimage to Nepal
of
Manjupattan
of

1,728,000 years'

Krakuchchhanda
with

his

follower

Dharmapal.
Prachanda Deva

rules

Nepal, sent fromGaur by

Kankamuni Buddha
on

Date

Ruler

605 A, D.

Prachanda Deva,

pilgrimage to Nepal

built

(1) Basupur,
(4)
Bayupur,
(5) Shantipur

(2) Agnipur
Nagpur, and

(3)

'

Gunakama Deva

723 A. D.

extended

Kantipur

now

called

Kathmandu
Kiranti

Dynasty

of Gopal Dynasty and Ahir Dynasty is

chronicles, Nepal enters into real historical era with

Though mention
found in the

the conquest of Kathmandu valley

are

said

Nepal

to

have

been

and having their

the

own

by the Kirantis. The Kirantis

aborigines

inhabiting

Eastern

administrative set-up. Under the

able leadership of their chieftain Yalambar the Kirantis defeated

Bhuwan Singh; the last king in the Ahir Dynasty and brought
the Kathmandu valley under their
to
sway. Yalambar is said
be the

contemporary

Mahabharat

davas,

were

of the Pandavas.

fought between the Kauravas and the Pan

Yalambar with

view to

with the

siding

went to witness the battles. Shree Krishna

of Yalambar and the'

that the Mahabharat

case

party

losing

knowing the intention

strength and unity of the Kirantis thought

war

would be

unnecessarily prolonged

Yalambar sided with the Kauravas. So by

diplomacy Krishna

battles of

the

When

in

clever stroke of

cut off Yalambara's head.

It is said that Gautam

Buddha

visited

during the regime of Jitedasta, the seventh

Dynasty. Ashoka is said

to have visited

during the regime of Sthunko,

the

Nepal

proper

ruler in the Kiranti

Nepal in about 250 B.C.

fourteenth

of the

ruler

Kiranti Dynasty. To commemorate his visit he got four "stupas''

erected in four quarters of

Lalitpattan. They

exist

day. Ashoka's visit to Kathmandu is testified

that he gave away his daughter Charumati (who

him in his pilgrimage to Nepal) in marriage to

to this

even

by the fact

even

accompanied

Devapal,

Kshe-

triya prince. She founded the town of Devapatan in memory

of her

husband, Devapal. She also got

erected for herself and it

was

The nunnery and its surrounding

Chabahil.f

The

twentyeighth

Vihar

nunnery )

called Charumati Vihar after her.

are

area

now

known

as

Kiranti king Patuka had to flee to

Sankhamul two miles south-east of Kathmandu from his resi

dential palace at Gokarna, owing to the repeated invasions of

Somavamshis (lunar dynasty) who

j-

came

from the western part

palace known

"Patuko

Palac e"

begun to doubt the visit of Ashok

of the 'Stupas' at Lalitpatan (modern
and his daughters marriage with Devapal.

Lalitpur)

of Nepal.

There he built

Some have
his erecton

now

as

to

Nepal,

ft

in

<

Though nothing but

mound of the palace in ruins

the place is still called Patuko. The last Kiranti

however, defeated by the

was,

army of

Nimish,

now

exists,

ruler

Gasti

prince

of

Somavamshi.
Kiranti Civilization

Nepal

to have flourished

seems

religiously

and China used to

ses.

Wool

socially, economically and

under the Kiranti rule. Traders from

was

come

down to

Tibet

India,

for commercial purpo

Nepal

then the chief commercial commodity. The visits

of Gautam Buddha and of Ashoka also contributed to the social

and

religious development of Nepal.

Ashoka
of

contributed,

The

Chaitya

to the art and architecture and

built

by

sculpture

Nepal.
The Kiranti rule

seems

to have covered

period of

some

three hundred years from the time of Mahabharat to the reign

of Ashoka. The sixth century B.C. is

periods in the history

religious

in many

stirring

one

of the world. It

of the most
was

countries of the world. In

Confucious and Lao Tse taught their different

were

codes of morality rather than

mere

and Mahabir revolted against the then

propounded their
to the

mass.

ponsibility
founder
sian

own

Jeremial

important

the time of great

religious

creeds

existing religions

people.

and

appealing

the doctrine of individual

to the nation of the Jews and Zoroastrians

was

which

faiths. Buddha

doctrines which have been

proclaimed

China,

res

whose

Zoroaster, moulded the life and thoughts of the Per

It

was

the time when most of the countries of the

affected by the waves of new thoughts and doctrines.

It was the period when ancient Mesopotamian kingdom became
extinct and the Persian Empire rapidly expanded. It was in

world

were

this very period that the Roman Republic came into existence
and the Persians and the Greeks came in contact for the first

time,

7,

Dynasties

Events

Kings

Ahir

dynasty
Kiranti dynasty Yalambar
(from E. Nepal)

Kiranti
from E.

King Bhuban

Singh and occupied Kathmandu

Gautama Buddha visits Nepal

Jitedasta

Dynasties

last Ahir

defeated

Kings

Events

dynasty Sthunko
Nepal

Ashoka's visit

to

Nepal (250B.C.)

His daughter Charumati's marriage

wih Devapal and her
the town of

founding
Devapatan and erec

tion of Charumati Bihar.

Patuko, (Of Gokar- fled to Sankhamool; repeated invasions

of Somavamshi (lunar
neswar)

dynasty)
Gasti

defeated by Nimisha,

(last ruler)

Somavam

shi Prince.
Soma

dynasty

Nimisha
kar

(Nimista- built

palace

at

Gokarna, got

four-faced Linga of PashupatiNath

Varma)

erected, also built a palace at

Godavari, Godavari Mela started
from his time.

Bhaskar Varma

conquered modern Orissa and

other territories, donated money
and jew els to Pashupati Nath.

Soma

Dynasty

in order to

The Rajputs belonging to the Soma dynasty

shelter themselves from the invasions and the growing influence

of the

ing

came to the western part of Nepal and

principality there. Kiranti kings were rul

Mughal Empire

established their
over

own

the Valley, but

Gasti, the

last Kiranti

king, being

very

weak, had to suffer defeat at the hands of Nimistakar Barma

(Nimish I) who

came

building built in the

from Soma

dynasty. He got

forest of Gokarna,

now a

five miles north-east of Kathmandu. He got

of

a palatial
picnic spot about

four-faced

Pashupati Nath erected and established. He got

Linga

new

built in place of the old town of Bishal Nagar. Nimisha

town

got

palace built at Godawari, too.

Bhaskar Varma

He

came

out to be

the last ruler of the Soma dynasty.

was

great conqueror. He conquered

Orissa and many other territories. He donated

and

jewels

to succeed

to

Pashupati Nath. As

him,

of the Solar

he

no

adopted

sons

daughters

Kshetri,

Dynasty.

When Soma Bamshi rulers

were

ruling

to have been

over

India. It

seem

and

Lichchhavi

Dynasty. So after Bhakar Varma began the reign

of the Lichchhavi

rulers

he had

Bhoomi Varma,

modern

lot of money

Constantine in Rome, It

ruling
was

the time when

over

Nepal, Gupta

was

the time of

Christianity

was

triumphantly spreading
unrest in China

was

over

scramble

owing to the

there

time

About this

Europe.

among

political

leaders for power.

Lichchhavi Dynasty
The Lichchhavis who were ruling over Baisali (modern

Muzaffarpur) after having suffered defeat at the hands of Lich

chhavis who ruled

over

Raj Griha seemed to have -migrated to

Nepal.
Bhoomi Barma the adopted
Varma got

son

and

successor

palace built at Baneswar and ruled

of Bhaskar

over

Nepal.

King Chandra, Jaya, Barsa, Sarva, Prithvi, Jestha, Hari Siddhi

and Hari Dutta ruled oyer Nepal successively. During the reign
of Hari Dutta the practice of
of

worshipping

four

and

Narayans

taking, a bath

at Shankhamool on a particular day was obser

Barma, another king in the Lichchhavi dynasty,

ved. Brisha

espoused and spread Buddhism. He established

(a monastery known
bahil. It
came

was

as

Manju

in his regin that

from Gaud and built

Manju Bahal

Vihar) and Bande Gaon at Chaa man

Prachanda Deva by

Swayambu

Chaitya.

name

After him

Shankar Deva became king. It is written in family chronicle

that he

was

named Shankar Deva in memory of the visit of

Sankaracharya
became

in

king. His

Nepal. After Shankar Deva, Dharma Deva

son

Mana Deva is the most famous Lichchhavi

king.
Mana Deva I:

Mana Deva I seemed to have reigned from 520 B. E.-549

B.E.

(464 A.D.-491 A.D.). His father died when he

was a

small

boy. His mother Rajyabati, because of her love for her son, gave
up her idea of

being

Satee (Le. the

practice

self along with one's demised husband).

the

throne,

of

Finding

emoluting
a

one

boy king

on

the Thakuri Chieftain in the eastern province rose

10

Swayambhoo

in rebellion with

view to

becoming independent. Mana Deva,

when he heard the news, marched with

army towards

huge

the east to suppress the rebels. By his superior skill in warfare

he defeated the rebels and brought them under his control. He
then marched westward, defeated the Mallas
of the Gandak and

kingdom extended

captured Nabalpur. As

the other side

on

Deva's

result, Mana

to the other side of Gandaki

on

the west and

Koshi in the east. After having returned to the

capital trium

phantly, he performed

away

charity

many

to the Brahmans.

Yajnas and

Changu

gatve

Narayan

was

lot in

worshipped

with great pomp and grandeur. He got other temples also built.
This evinces his interest in architecture. As he

was

sincerely

devoted to his mother, in almost all the temples he built he has

got it written that they

were

of merit for his mother.

he

was

tolerant to other,

built for the greater accumulation

Though he

religions.

was

follower .of

Vishnu,

Buddhism also received fav

ourable treatment and impetus under his reign. He got

tial

building

became

Mangriha built for his residence. Later, it

named

centre of administration for the Lichchhavi

is said that it

was

minted in his

and

name

engraved

After Mana Deva, his

son

Mananka

and Gunakama Deva ruled

nipotenciary

It

on

man

Mahi Deva became

for

power

coins minted in his

Trade

king. His

was

came

invested with ple-

administration. Shiva Deva became

In and from 598 A.D. Amshuvarma

own

son

Mana Deva

Udaya Deva,
Nepal successively. Then

over

named Amshuvarma

figure-head.

them.

during his reign.

Basanta Deva succeeded him. After him

nominal

kings.

situated somewhere at Gokarna. He got coins

with India and Tibet also flourished

Shiva Deva. A

pala

name

and himself assumed

He belonged to the Thakuri

got

the title

Maharajadhiraj.
dynasty. Shiva
Deva, seeing his administrative ability and prowess gave him his
of

11

daughter

in

became the de facto ruler.

marriage. Amshuvarma

Shiva Deva got

nine-storeyed palace called Kaliashkut Bhavan

built at Gokarna. The beauty of the palace is highly spoken

of

by the Chinese pilgrim Huen Tsang. Kailashkut Bhavan

even

became the centre of administration.

Amshuvarma
shrewd

of taxes. He

Nepalese

not

only

and

diplomat
people with taxation

politician,

to burden the

was

was

also

a man

man

of valour

statesman. With

view not

he did away wih all sorts

of letters. Under

art and architecture and literature

tolerant to other

but also
a

religions, though himself

his
patronage
developed. He was

Shaivite.

He had

equal regard for Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Buddhism.

His

foreign policy: Harsha Vardhan

Tsong Gyampo in Tibet

rma.

were

in India and

Tsrong

the contemporaries of Amshuva

Both Harsha and Gyampo

12

were

engaged in

expanding

their territories. The independence of Nepal

Amshuvarma

by his clever stroke

balance of power and kept his

of

was

in

danger, but

diplomacy maintained the

suzerainty intact. He contracted

matrimonial alliance with Tibet by giving his daughter Bhrikuti in

to

marriage

her good offices in

Tsrong Tsong Gyampo. Bhrikuti exercised

spreading Buddhism in Tibet. Because of her
root in Tibet. This matrimonial alli

efforts, Buddhism took its

ance

besides strengthening the position of Nepal enhanced her

prestige

as

well.

Tsrong Tsong Gyampo also married the Chinese

princess Wenchang. The Tibetans adored the Nepalese princess

as

'Harita Tara' and the Chinese princess

of

marriage

Tsrong Tsong Gyampo

'Shweta Tara'.

as

with

the

Nepalese

The
and

Chinese princesses resulted in the opening of the routes from

China to India via Nepal. It became the main thoroughfare of
the Chinese travellers Fahien and Huien Tsang and the
of the route must have resulted in the
commerce

growth

of

opening

trade

and

and cultural intercourse between these countries.

Amshuvarma died in 616 A.D.

The
of

reign

Christianity

sent

of Amshuvarma

in

England

sees

since St.

the progress and triumph

Augustine, the missionary

by Pope in Rome, landed in Kent in 597 A.D. It

was

the time when the Franks ( from whom France got its
settled in France and western
over

Empire.

was

name

Europe and the Lombards ruled

Southern Europe and Eastern

It

also

Europe Was under Byzantine

the time when the Mohammedans

were

carry

ing fire and swords in almost all parts of Asia.

Amshuvarma's Successors

After the death of

Deva's first son,

was

Amshuvarma, Udaya Deva II, Shiva

driven away and his brother Dhruba

ascen

ded the throne. Udaya Deva, thus driven, went to Tibet for help.

Though Dhruva

Deva

was on

the throne, Jishnu Gupta

13

was

the

de facto ruler of

Nepal. He

and declared himself

ment

in

king

of

also got coins minted in his name

Nepal. There

thus dual govern

was

Nepal. Narendra Deva, Udaya Deva's

from Tsrong Tsong

of

Gyampo

got help

son,

defeated Jishnu

Tibet,

Gupta

and himself ascended the throne.

Narendra Deva (643-690 A.D.)
rageous

was a

very brave and

cou

king. During his reign friendship between Nepal and

JTibet developed

very much.

Nepal being the highway "between

China and India, pilgrims from China passed by Nepal. From

the accounts given by the Chinese pilgrims
then Chinese ambassador

we

the then Nepal. From the

that Nepal

was

Narendra Deva

monds, pearls
floor and

then'
was

and

also

by the

to know of the condition of

come

descriptions given

we

come

to know

prosperous and powerful country.

seated

on

King

the throne decorated with

and other jewels. Courtiers

seated

were

large number of soldiers stood at

arms.

dia

on

the

Narendra

Deva's reign synchronizes with that of Harsha in India and also

the break-up of his empire

Gyampo ruled

over

after

his

Tibet and China

death.
was

Tsrong

enjoying

Tsong

peace

and

prosperity under the Tang dynasty.

Shiva Deva H became king after Narendra Deva. He

mar

ried Batsa Devi, the daughter of prince Bhogvarma of Mankhari

and grand daughter of king Aditya Sen of

Jaya Deva II

After him, his

son

Magadha.

Jaya Deva became king.

He married Rajyamati, the daughter of Harsha

rious king of Assam. He

was

poet

as

well

as

Dev, the glo

a man

of letters.

He is said to. have ruled- from -about 716-725 A.D.

The Lichchhavis

seemed to

have

1155-56 B.E. (1098-1099 A.D.) After their

ging to the Karnatak dynasty ruled

14

over

ruled

over

Nepal till

downfall, kings
Nepal.

belon

Lichchhavlan Civilization
The Lichchhavi

golden

have

seemed to

period

every respect. It is called

The Lichchhavi administration

age in the
well

was

kings began

history

of

NepaL
organized. The boun

dary of Nepal had extended beyond the

The Lichchhavi

developed in

Kathmandu

to vie with the

valley.

great kings of India

in pomp and grandeur.

International

Relationship

During the Lichchhavi period,

close relationship with
had its effect

on

India, Tibet

had

developed

and China. This

relationship

Nepal

the culture of Nepal

as

well.

Nepal not only

developed her trade with India, Tibet and China but also acted
as

linking

road for the

development of trade between India

and China.

Religious

condtion

Buddhism had already spread in Nepal. But the Hindu

Lichchhavi kings meant

no

harm to Buddhism. But because of

the advent of Shankaracharya in Nepal many Buddhist scrip

tures

were

burnt to

ashes,

and many learned

monks fled to Tibet. Later on, they

spread Tantric Buddhism. Because

came

Nepali Buddhist

back to Nepal and

of the tolerant attitude of the

Lichchhavi kings, Tantric Buddhism also flourished in

Nepal

along with Hinduism.

Society
Besides
and clans

as

the

Kirantis

Avir

Lichchhavis,

other

(Ahir), Bhote, Karnatak, Mallas

residing in Nepal but they

ous

the

and

were

a new

also

quite unaffected by the religi

and communal fued. Because of their concerted action

could evolve

tribes

were

pattern of society.
IS

Nepal

Language and literature

Gupta script

in Sanskrit is found in

tions of the Lichchhavi

period. Sanskrit

some

of the

inscrip-

might have been the

people used Newari and other

languages. Amshuvarma's commentary or works of Sanskrit
court

language, but

must

have

common

been written in Sanskrit.

vastly learned in Sanskrit and

they

terature must have also flourished

Lichchhavi kings

were

great poets,

were

too. Li

during the period. Astrology,

were also highly developed

Singing and dancing took place during

medical science, religious scriptures

this

during

period.

festvals."
Art

reached

height during the Lichchhavi

period. Kailashkut Bhavan, Mana Griha, the temples of Changu
Architecture

Narayah

and

its

Pashupati Nath bear eloquent testimony

also show how highly

fact. These

temples

vings

were

developed in that period.

more

or

to this

and engra

sculptures

The Lichchhavi period in the history of Nepal resembles

less the

Age of Pericles in Greece. As in the Age of

Pericles literature, architecture, sculpture and the

developed in the Lichchhavi period.

of social life

ner, the Lichchhavi

period

in

Nepal history

new

pattern

In like

may be

man

compared

with the Elizabethan period in English history. As in the Eli

zabethan

period trade and

developed

commerce

chhavi kings and Nepal also emerged

under the Lich

powerful state

as

other

states of India.
Period

Century

Regime

Circa
to

3rd

10th Kiranti
cen-

tury B.C.

period

in

Nepal

Personages

and events abroad

Yalambar
co-

wars

*****

at

Kurukshetra

(Hasti-

napur) rise of Buddhism and

vering

Jitedasta

350 years

Jainistn in India

16

Changu Narayana ( Champ akaNar ay ana)

V
as

ft

i
a

a-

Confucius, Lao Tse (in China)

Patuko
*****

Gasti

Jeremiah

(Jews)

Jeruselem

Zorostrianism in Perth, Roman

Republic

Beginning

Soma Dy-

of 4th

nasty

cen-

&

centuries

5th Lichchhavi

dynasty

Bhoomi Varma, Lichchhavis ruling over Vaisa

li; defeated by Ajatashatra
Jaya,
and others down of Rajagriha.

Chandra,

to

Thakuri

up

Gupta Rulers in India;

Constantine in Rome;
Christianity spreading
over Europe; unrest in China

tury \.. D.

4th

set

Shiva Deva

Amshuvarma

of
Progress and triumph
Christianity in England, settle

clan

ment

of Franks in France and

Western Europe; rule of the

Lombards in South

Europe;
Europe under Byzantine
Empire;

East

King Harshavardhana's rule in

India ; Tsrong Tsong Gyampo
in Tibet, Amshuvarma's daugh
ter Bhrikuti

spread Buddhism

in Tibet.
Shiva Deva's

Udaya

son

Deva

driven

away,

Udaya.

Deva's

brother

Dhruba Deva

Narendra Deva

Harshavardhana's death and

break-up of his empire after bis

17

death, Tsrong Tsong Gyampo

in Tibet, China enjoying peace
and
Tan

Lichchhavi

dynasty

Bhoomi

adopted

Varma, got
son

successor

prosperity under the

dynasty
a

palace built

at Baneswar.

and

of Bha-

skar Varma last

Somavamshi ruler.

Kings: Chandra,
Jaya,
Barsha,
Sarba,
Prithbi,
jyestha, Harisiddhi,
Haridatta.

Practice of

worshipping

Narayans and taking

four

bath

at Sankhamool.

Brisha Varma.

espoused and spread Buddhism,

established Manju Bahal,
Bande Gaon at Chabahil.

Prachanda

Deva

(Shantikar

Shankar Deva

from Gaur, built the Swayam

Dharma Deva
464-491 A.D.Mana Deva I

bhu

Chaitya.
suppression of the rebel Thakuri
chieftain in the East, capture of
Nawalpur in the west, religi
ous

toleration, built Managriha

somewhere at Gokarna, minted

coins in his name (Manaka),

trade with India and

built

Tibet.

temples and worshipped

gods for the accumulation of

merit
Mahi

Deva

Basanta^Deva
Udaya

Deva

18

fotthis

mother.

Kailaskut

built 9 storeyed

Mana Deva II

Bhavan at Gokarna.

Gunakama Deva Amshu Varma invested with

Shiva Deva (de

power,

jure Ruler)
gave his

daughter in marriage

to Amshu Varma,

Varma Double

Amshu

Thakuri clan

Government, minted

coin in his

(de facto ruler)

and

own name

assumed

(598 A.D.
title

the

of

Maharajadhiraja, gave his

daughter Bhrikuti in marriage
to Trong Tsong Gyampo,
maintained balance of power

against the expanding powers,

opening of. the routes from
China

to

growth of
Shiva Deva's

Udaya

India

via

trade &

Nepal.

commerce

son

Deva

driven

away

Dhruba Deva

(brother of Udaya
(de jure ruler) ascended the throne of Nepal.
Jisnu Gupta (de facto ruler
of Nepal) got coins minted

Deva

in his name and declared him

self King of Nepal, (double

(643-690

Narendra

A.D.)

son

Deva, Govt.) defeated Jishnu Gupta

of Udaya

Deva with

the

and himself ascended the throne:

friendship

between

Nepal and

Trong Tibet strengthened.

Tsong Gyampo
married Batsa Devi, daughter
Shiva Deva II
of Prince Bhog Varma of

help

of

Mankhara and grand-daugh

ter of king Aditya Sen of

Magadha.

(716-725

Jaya Deva II

A, p.)

19

married Rajyamati, daughter

of Harsha Deva, King of
Assam.

lichchhavi civilisation
Golden Age in the history of Nepal.

Language

Religion.

Art.

International

Relationship

and
with

Literature

India, Tibet and China,

etc.

Sanskrit,

Newari &
other Ian
guages,

Literature,

Astrology,

Religious Architecture
scriptures, (Kailaskut Bhawan)
Managriha,
development of Nepalese trade
The temple of with India, Tibet and China,
Changu Narayana,
Toleration, The temple of
Pashupati Nath,
Buddhist monks fled' to Tibet
Hinduism, Sculpture
Buddhism, engraving
only when persecuted under
Sankaracharya,

Medical

Return of

Science.

Nepalese

Shaivite from S. India.

Buddhist
monks from

Tibet

and

Tantric
Buddhism
flourished

20

Medieval

Nepal
Dynasty

Malla

Arideva Malla seemed to be the first Malla ruler in

No mention of the Malla

Nepal.
kings before him is made in the his

tory of Nepal. The word 'Malla' literally

said that Arideva Malla
he

was

birth of

was

means a

very fond of

wrestler. It is

wrestling. Once while

engaging himself in wrestling, he heard the

a son

to him. As

a son was

news

of the

born to him at the time when

he was engaged in wrestling, he added the word 'Malla' after his

name

on Malla dynasty came into existence.

origin of the word 'Malla' is not so con

and from that time

But this story of the

vincing for

added to the

republican

of

number
name

reasons.

of Arideva.

Secondly, the Mallas had their

form of Government at

the

neighbourhood

and

according

First, the word 'Malla' is

Kushinagar, Pawa

Vaisali before

of

to the Buddhist

the

and in

sixth century B.C.,

scriptures Buddha explained to

his disciple Ananda the importance of the land of the Malla

kings. From the inscription in the temple

we

learn that Mana Deva led

land of the Mallas

on

of

Changu Narayan

campaign against Mallapuri, the

the other side of the Gandak River. The

Chalukyas of the Deccan, the Pallavas of Conjiveram also used

to add 'Malla' to their

names.

From all these

21

reasons

we

can

say that the origin of the Mallas

vented

ancient and

was

was

not in

by Arideva.

Arideva reigned from 1320 A.D. to 1344 A.D. After him

his
ed

Avaya Malla (1300 A.D.) became king. He was succeed

Deva and Bheem Deva, Jaya Singh, Ananta Malla,
Jaya
by
son

Jayananda, Jaya Rudra Malla respectively. During Jaya Malla's

reign in Nepal, Hari Singh Deva the sixth in the line of Nanya
Deva invaded Nepal from Simroan Gadh

Simadhanigu Gadh

(a corrupt form of

fort unfinished).
Hari Singha Deva

Hari

Singha Deva

dynasty. He

was

was

king belonging

to the Karnatak

ruling in Simroangadh when in 1324 A.D.

in order to put down the rebellion of the

Bengal marched towards Bengal via North Bihar. After

Gayasuddfn Tughlak
ruler of

having suppressed the rebellion, he returned home triumphantly

and

his way back home he laid

on

Gadh (a

place in Mithila province

strong siege

on

modern district of

Simroan

Champa-

ran). Hari Singha Deva being unable to cope with the power
ful

king

of Delhi and

the hands of

fearing that his daughter would fall into

Muslim king fled to Nepal without offering any

resistance to the aggressor. The Malla king in

ble to

fight

Nepal being

una

with Hari Singha Deva fled to Banepa, and Hari

Singha Deva ascended the throne. Bhaktapur

pital of Nepal.

Hari

Singh

Deva did not,

was

then the

however,

in Nepal. Next year when he heard that Gayasuddin

ca

rule long

Tughlak

returned to Delhi, Hari Singha Deva also returned to Simroan

Gadh, making his

Singha

son

Moti

Singh king of Nepal. Though Hari

Deva did not stay long to rule in

had its far-reaching effects. As

a new

dynasty i.e. Karnatak Dynasty

22

Nepal, his conquest

result of his conquest of

came

Nepal,

into existence. The

Taleju

high

officials who

stayed

on

in

new

element

Deva

Singha

Singh Deva in his day-to-day

to advise Moti

Nepal

administration. A

with Hari

Nepal

to

came

thus introduced in the ad

was

ministrative system of Nepal. His conquest had

also its effect

on

the 'cultural and social life of Nepal. He installed the image

of

Tulaja Bhawani he had

built

brought

beautiful temple for her.

from

Bhawani became the goddess dearest to

the kings

Hari Singha Deva also introduced the practice of

one's ancestral god
in vogue in

once

and

Simroangadh

From that time

year. Both these

on

Tulaja

of

NepaL

worshipping

practices

are

still

Nepal.

After Hari Singha Deva returned to Simroan Gadh, his

son

Moti

Singh became king of Nepal. During his reign, the

relation between

Singh

in

China

recognition

and

of his

Nepal

was

friendship with China

valuable gifts to Pelting. Shyam Singha Deva

of this Karnatak

marriage
succeed

to

him,

Dynasty. He had given

Malla,
became

was

descendant

king.

of

Jayasthiti

Syam
Malla.

Singha
was

his

no

son

successor.

to be the rulers of

some

king
daughter in

descendant of the Mallas. As he had

came

sent

the last

away his

he had made his son-in-law his

result, the Mallas- again

Moti

strengthened.

As

to
a

Nepal. Ashoka

Deva's

daughter,

son.

Jayasthiti

Malla from his mother's side belonged to he Karnatak dynasty

and to the Malla dynasty from his father's side. With his

acces

sion to the throne of Nepal in 1350 A.D. the Malla Dynasty

firmly established in Nepal. He

daughter of Nayak

Devi. As she

was

was

tapur, Jayasthiti Malla also ruled

23

married to Raj alia

the

over

was

Devi,
heir-apparent of Bhak-

Bhaktapur.

Mediaeval Nepal
Malla

dynasty

A.D.
1320-1344

Arideba Malla

first Malla ruler of Nepal, fond of

wrestling; the origin of the epithet-Malla
to Aridev

wrestling,

on

the ground of

not acceded

by his

torians. Reasons.
1243

Abhaya Malla
Jaya Deva
Jaya Bheem
Jaya Simha

Deva
,

Ananta Malla

Jayananda
Jaya Rudra Malla

Invasion

of

Hari

Singh

Deva from

Simrongarh
Karnatak dynasty
H*.ri

Singh Deva

ruler of

Simrongarh

1325

Suppressing

the ruler of Bengal

by Gaya Suddin
flea from Simrongarh
to

Invasion of Simrongarh by
yasuddin Tughlak

Nepal (Proper)

Ga-

Malla King (Jaya Rudra Malla) fled to Banepa

Hari

Singha Deva became king of Bhaktapur, the then capital of Nepal

Hari Singh Deva returned to Simrongarh from
Nepal after having made his son Moti Singha,
ruler of Nepal
Moti Singha
Effects of Hari Singh Deva's conquest of Nepal:
1

new

dynasty (Karnatik dynasty) came into existence.

Singh in his day-to-day

2. Officials to advise Moti

administration

Cultural and Social life:

a) Installation of Taleju Bhawani

b) Practice of worshipping one's ancestral God

24

Moti Singh
Relation between Nepal and China strengthened
Shyam Singh Deva married his daughter to a descendant of the Mallas.
(last Karnatak King)
For want of a

his son-in-law was made

son

successor,

Malla dynasty reinstated

result

Ashok Malla 5th in line of Hari Singh Deva's

daughter, became king

Malla

Jayasthiti

Jayasthiti Malla ascended the throne at the time when

the condition of Nepal
was

was

worsening. The central government

very weak and the feudal lords were

selves. There

was

peace at home.

no

with dissension and feud. Social life

and

measures

There

were

differed from

no

standard

throughout Nepal. There

one

was

was

split

also chaotic. Weights

part of the country to another.

and uniform
was

fighting among them

The Kingdom

weights and

uniformity

no

even

measures

in law and

justice and other governmental rules and regulations. The strong

oppressed the weak. Under the then existing condition, Nepal
needed

strong monarch just

just

monarchy

Tudor period. Just

the

on
as

England

as

eve

of

the English

monarch in Henry VII, the

the

was a

found

found

strong

of

beginning

people

Nepalese also

narch in Jayasthiti Malla. He

needed

the

strong

strong

mo

great reformer. He brought

about social, economic and religious reforms.

Social reforms
He introduced social reforms

on

was

then

divided, the dressess they

and the social usages they

occasions

as

of the

every caste 'and sub-caste into which the

people of each and

Nepali society

by defining the jobs

were

to observe

on

were

to

put

different social

marriage, birth, death and other ceremonial func

tions. The Brahraans

were to

conduct

25

priestly functions. They

also to act

were

as

Hindus

caste

preceptors. The high

given different high posts in the administration.

appointed

Amatya, others,

as

The other high caste

trade and
were

who

themselves in

engage

of other castes

jobs

also similarly defined. The Buddhist Bhikshus who

were

those

who

householders

were

learned

were

to

were

and agriculture. The

commerce

were

Pradhan, Maskay and Bhandil.

as

Hindus

were

Some

not allowed to sit idle.

were

illiterate

were

carpenters,

masons

also made for the

to act
or

half literate

were

to act

as

goldsmiths,

and other artisans. Provision in law

not go

was

of those who did not engage them

punishment

selves in their respective

specified and did

Among

priests and preceptors and those

as

jobs,

did not put

by social

on

the clothes

customs and usages

as

cribed. The rates of remuneration for each and every job

fixed

also

with

provision

of those who demanded

tion of Jayasthti

law

in

more.

Malla, there

As
was

for

the

result of the

not

mastery

great extent.

Besides,

and skill and

over

men

efficiency

were

punishment
job descrip

only the division of la

bour in society but the problem of unemployment

moved to

as

pres

was

also

of different castes
in their

re

gained

respective jobs,

culminating in the production of masterpieces of different arts

and architecture.
His economic reforms:

Owing
res

to the

prevalence

of different

in different parts of the country,

caused to the smooth

weights and

measu

lot of inconvenience

flow of trade and

commerce.

was

Jayasthiti

Malla did away with this snag by introducing uniform weights

and

all over Nepal. This improved trade and com

resulting in the economic development of the country.

measures

merce

By introducing 'Ta'nga'

chain-Jike measuring rod, lands

26

were'

surveyed and measured. As

result, lands could be easily

neighbouring kings also, follow

and sold. Later on, the

bought

ing in the footsteps of Jayasthiti Malla, intrpduced standard

weights and measures in their respective principalities. Rama
Shah, the king

of Gorkha also

brought about these reforms.

Improvement Upon the Nepal code

He

did

away

with the

old practice

of

whipping with

straps and using the word 'Fie', 'Fie', and introduced the prac
tice of punishing the offenders in proportion to the gravity of
the offences

they

committed.

Development of Art, Literature and Music

Under the patronage of Jayasthiti

Malla, music and lite

rature flourished. Beautiful books

were

Newari. The Ramayana and the

play of Bhairabananda

played during his reign.

He made it imperative upon the

to accompany the funeral

them in

accompaniment

ly music

was

written in Sanskrit and

procession of kings and

with

developed under his reign. He also developed

got the images of Rama Chandra,

a

temple of Gorakhnath built

installed.

expenses of the

at

Mrigasthalee and His feet

worshipping the god daily.

golden pinnacle

on

it He

Sitala, Basuki, Gauri

In order to

small-pox)

the

two-storeyed temple and

restored

good condition and installed the image

swar.

To meet

daily worship of the god he endowed lands. At

Khumbheshwar in Lalitpur he built

a

Arya Ghat, he

Lava and Kusha installed. He

He renovated the temple of Gokarneshwar and intro

duced the practice of

put

to cremate

Deepak Raga. It shows how high

art and architecture. On the other side of the

got

were

people

and

so

on

of

the pond there in

NarayaH, Ganesh,

in the court-yard of Kumbhe-

pacify the wrath

of Sitala Devi (Goddess of

the image of Unmatta Bhairab

27

was

installed. He also

Kotyahuti Yajna.

performed

No water flowed out of the stone

tap at Devapatan. Jayas
thiti Malla repaired it and made water flow out of it to the

great relief of the people of that place. After introducing many

reforms, earning

and fame and

name

goodwill of the people,

of the most famous and bravest

kings in the history of

passed away in the

If

vailing

we

year 1395 A.D.

compare the state of xndia and that of

anarchy

was

and the provinces

Nepal. People

were

enjoying

were

pre

find

we

rampant. A state of disorder fol

lowed the death of Firoz Shah. The

war

Nepal

in the last quarter of the fourteenth century,

contrast. In India

one

Nepal

capital

torn

was

revolting, but there

peace and

by civil
peace in

was

prosperity under Jaya

sthiti Malla. Towards this period China also seemed to have

degenerated, though she enjoyed

Kubla Khan's

reign.

At

peace and

long last the

prosperity during

Mongol

dynasty

overthrown by the Chinese patriot Hung Wu who

soldier,

statesman and

reformer. It

was

was a

was

monk,

he who delivered

China from the foreign oppressor.

Malla

Yaksha

the

After

Jyoti
son

of

Malla

Jyoti

Malla

ded the throne of

he
a

engaged

death

became

of

Jayasthiti
Yaksha

king.

by his wife

Nepal in

Malla

Malla

Samsar Devi.

1428 A.D. As he had

himself in the task of

his

son

was

the

He

ascen

strong army,

expanding his territories. As

result of his conquests, the boundary of Nepal extended

far

as

Sikkim in the east, Kerung, Kuti

on

in the west and north Bihar in the south.

cluded in his kingdom. Though he

had

no

was

Banepa

was

also in

great conqueror, he

power to consolidate his conquered

28

as

the north, Gorkha

territories. So

in

his old age, almost all the conquered states became independent.
Yaksha Malla had three
Lear he

and

sons

daughter. Like King

one

kingdom among his three

divided his

daughter. Raya Malla, the

prince

crown

Bhaktapur, the second prince Rana Malla

of

Banepa, the third prince

Lalitpur

was

among his
fatal

given

sons

to the

and

Kantipur and

princess. The division of the kingdom

as a
personal property was a
part. This sowed the seed of the

daughter

political blunder

on

his

downfall of the Malla dynasty. As Rana Malla had

Banepa

was

left behind

This division of the

and

dissension

non-cooperative

power of the rulers and paved the way

ti Nath. To assist him

a

store-keeper. Bhatta priest seemed

from that time

towns of

on.

to have been

He renovated the

able administrator,

foresee

was

temples

of

good

na-

Pashupa

appointed

as

appointed only

in all the three

Nepal, namely Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. He

surrounded Bhadgaon with walls

an

ruler.

Deccan, priest

Shrestha of Devapatan

the

invasion of

for the

devotee of Shiva. He made

was a

in their

weakening of

Nepal by Prithbi Narayan Shah, the then Gorkha

tured and well-bred Brahman of the

issue,

Bhaktapur.

other. It led to the

attitude towards each

no

to the ruler of

bequest
kingdom created jealousy
as a

among the rulers. The rulers became

Yaksha Malla

one

made king of

was

Malla, the king of

Ratna

and

sons

given the kingdom

was

he

the far-reaching

was

on

not

all sides.

far-sighted.

consequences

kingdom which he made. Though

Though he

of

was

He could not

the division of the

conqueror he did not know

how to consolidate his newly conquered territories.

Jayasthiti Malla-belonged

to the Karnatik

dynasty from his mother's side

and Malla dynasty from bis father's side.

29

Malla

dynasty firmly established in Nepal

the accession of

with

Jayas

thiti Malla to the throne of Nepal in 1388 A. D.

Jayasthiti Malla

married

Rajalla Devi, daughter of Nayak Devi, heir-

apparent of Bhaktapur
also ruled over Bhaktapur.
Chaotic condition of

Nepal

at the time of

Malla's accession to the throne and reforms

economic

and

legal

he introduced.

Jayasthiti
social,

Development

of art, literature and music under Jayasthiti Malla.

Condition of Nepal, India and China during the last quarter of

the 14th century

peace and

prosperity

in

Nepal

state of disor

der in India, seeming degeneration of China.

Jyoti Malla and Samsar Devi

Yaksha Malla

ascended the throne of

Nepal in 1428 A. D. extension

of his kingdom, for want of consolidation all the

states
quered
of his kingdom

became

among his three sons and

con

division

independent,
a

daughter,

fatal political blunder, paved the way for the invasion

of Nepal by Prithbi Narayan Shah, Bhatta Brahmans

of the Deccan made the priest in the temple of Pashupati

Nath, estimate of Yaksha Malla.

30

The

of

Kingdom

Kantipur

Ratna Malla was the youngest

of Yaksha Malla. He

son

became king of Kantipur in 1568 B.E. (1511 A.D.) He

rageous, had patience and

was a

was cou

diplomat of the first order. On

his accession to the throne he found himself beset with difficul

ties.

First, he had

to face the

to counteract their

danger from twelve Thakuris. How

growing influence was the problem before

Ratna Malla. They were,

mandu. They

king
a

was a

were

so

much

to say, the de facto rulers of Kath

more

powerful than the

king

The

puppet in their hands. Ratna Malla invited them to

feast and poisoned them all to death. Now he became all in

all. No
menace,
was

sooner

had he successfully

menace

from outside

threatened with

an

the

encountered

internal

posed itself before him. Kantipur

invasion by the Bhotias called 'Kaku'.

When Ratna Malla

saw

that he would not be able to face

the huge armies of the enemy

of Mukunda

single-handed, he sought the help

Sen, King of Palpa. He defeated the enemies and

saved the country.

Encouraged

by

this

Nuwakot and conquered it. From that

a

success,

time,

part of Kantipur till Prithbi Narayan Shah

whole Kathmandu

valley.

Efforts

were

he

invaded

on, Nuwakot became

conquered

made to improve

the
the

economic condition of the country. For the improvement of the

trade he allowed the Muslims to enter Kathmandu, Later on,

31

they

allowed to build houses and settle in Kathmandu. To

were

facilitate trade and

found in

the coin

mine at

was

in

Chitlang

image of

an

he got coins minted out of copper

commerce

hills. On

Silgadhi

lion and words

were

side of

one

engraved

on

the other. Ratna Malla ruled in Kantipur for eleven years. Du

ring his reign he

was

able to

bring about

peace and prosperity

in the country.

Soorya Malla
became
After the death of Ratna Malla, Soorya Malla
king. He introduced the practice of drawing the Rath (chariot)
of

Bajra Jogini of Shankhu.

Malla

Amar

After him Amar Malla became king. So many jatras

started

during

his reign that

they

Some of the jatras he started

kal's

made his

were

immortal.

name

follows: Khokhana Mahan-

are as

Jatra, Halchok Devi Jatra, Pachali Bhairab Jatra, Kanke-

Jatra. The famous Maha Bauddha

Hari Siddhi Jatra, Trisuli

temple of Patan was built

during his reign. Many villages

Bandegram,

shwari Jatra,

Siddhi,

Ghanteshwari Jatra,

Lubhu,

Bungmati,

as

Chapagram,

Khokana,

Panga,

Pharping

Machhendrapur,

Kirtipur,

Thankot,

Satungal, Halchok, Dharmasthali, Tokha,

Gokama, Devpatan, Nandigram, NaxaL
kingdom. Some of the villages
Brahmans'

daughters

Some

ones

were
as

new

were

as

by fire. Some

example,

was

was

were

the

were

or

built

were

of

old

ancient

32-

to

the

built by the rich.

ones

Mallagram

the remains of

remains

kings

when the latter

other natural agencies.

over

Lele,

annexed to his

given by

dowry. Some

or

Balambu,

Chapagram,

were

built upon the old

destroyed by fire

for example,

Hari

Thecho,

which

villages,

Nandigram,
was

gutted

Naxal,

Bishalnagar.

for

Changu

Narayan which comprises 700 villages

Dev. Shankhu

was

of

name

Bajrajogini.

Malla

Mahendra
Mahendra Malla

built by Shankar

were

also built under the

ascended the

throne of

about 1610 B. E. (1553 A. D.) He wanted trade and

Kantipur

in

commerce

to

flourish in Kathmandu. He also wanted Kathmandu to be full

of

activity, life and vigour. For this

to the

people

storeys. Ratna Malla had installed

in

reason

he distributed lands

and also allowed them to build

Mahendra

Kantipur.

an

image of Tulaja Bhawani

however,

Malla,

houses of many

built

beautiful

temple wth three tiers of roofs and five tiers of plinth and ins
talled in it the

image of Tulaja Bhawani.

This-

temple

stands in the precincts of Hanumandhoka. It is known

Mahendra

temple.

with three tiers of

Makhan Tol

With
and

was

Malla

roofs. The

temple of

par

improving the coinage system

'value of the Nepal

arrived at

came

an

of

Nepal

currency with the Indian

currency, Mahendra Malla went to Delhi. He

he

Taleju
temple

Mahendreshwar at

presented Akbar,

the then Mughal Emperor of Delhi, geese and

having

Nath

still

also built by Mahendra Malla.

view to

fixing the

built Pashupati

also

as

falcons.

understanding with the Mughal

After

Emperor

back to Nepal and brought into circulation the silver

coins. As he

coins, they

was

the first king to bring into circulation silver

are even now.

known

as

'Mahendra Malli'.

Sada Shiva Malla

Mahendra Malla had two

were

by his two wives.

They

Malla, Sadashiva Malla sat on the throne. He was

morally depraved aristocrat. He let his horses loose in the

of Mahendra
a

sons

Sadashiva Malla and Shiva Singh Malla. After the death

33

fields of the

public and caused them damage the

to violate the
not

of young

chastity

crops. He used

by force. The

girls

public could

put up with his debauchery and injustice. They

ing time
going

to wreck vengeance upon him. One

to Manohara all

beaten. He
He fled to
ever,

was

at last

alone,

deposed

Bhaktapur where

escaped from there

courtyard in which he

he

he

and

was

were

bid.

day while he

was

and

captured

was

severely

and driven out of the

made

was

no

country,
prisoner. He, how

trace of him

imprisoned

was

found. The

is still known

'Sadas

as

hiva chowk'.
Shiva

Malla

Singh

After Sadashiva Malla had been deposed, Shiva

Malla

was

made king. He

of

was a man

Singh

good character, simple

nature and of religious bent of mind. He never misused and

misappropriated the public treasure. He spent on charities and

religious purposes. He built

temples. They

many

after Tantric fashion. Tantricism in his time

Legend has it that

Tantric Surath Bajra by

was

were

all built

very

popular.

name

put out the

fire which gutted his house in Kathmandu by spitting the tea

which he

was

These days if
or

of the dim

having with the Lama of Tibet

we

want to refer to

an

past it has become proverbial to

of the time of 'Shimsim Raja' Shimsim'

of 'Shiva

time.

say that it

was

being the corrupt form

Singh'.

Shiva Singh's wife Ganga Rani

and wise

at that

event which is fantastic

as

he himself. With the

was

as

religious

minded

of the king she

Pashupati Nath temple and
gold. She also renovated the

permission

demolished the three tiered roofs of

made only two tiered roofs but of

temple of Swayambhu and of Changu Narayan. She got

den made which lies in the centre of

Kantipur and it

is still famous by the name of 'Rani-ban'.

34

gar

Buddhaneelakantha and

Shiva Singh
:was

Singh of Patan and Patan

Malla defeated Purandar

annexed to

Kantipur. Of his two

Harihar Singh, the latter

made

was

Laxmi Narsingh and

sons

Singh

king of Patan. Shiva

Malla died in 1614.

Laxmi Narasimha Malla

After the death of his father, Laxmi Nara Singh became

of

king
t

Kantipur. He

was

very learned

languages. The hymns and other

verses

man

and knew many

he had composed

are

found here and there. The hymn he had composed in praise of

Kali

was

written in fifteen different languages.

Laxmi Nara Singh had

named Bheem Malla. He

king.

He

af the

was a

an

able and efficient chief minister

honest, sincere and loyal to the

was

great patriot who dedicated his life to the service

country. At that time Nepal had its trade relation not only

with India but also with Tibet. With

trade

view to

concluding

tready with the then Government of Tibet, he with

the permission of King Laxmi Nara Singh, went to Tibet. He

successful in concluding

trade treaty, very favourable to

was

Nepal

with the Government of Tibet.

According

treaty the Nepalese merchants

were

freely in Tibet. Further, it

laid down in the treaty that if

was

to the terms of the

given the right to trade

Nepali merchant died issueless in Tibet, his personal effects

and other

Nepalese

property in Tibet would

pass into the hands of the

Government and not to the Tibetan Government. When

concluding the trade treaty with

Kathmandu, he became very popular both

Bheem Malla, after successfully

Tibet,

came

back to

with the king and the

grew

jealous

poisoned

the

people, but other ministers in the palace

of the growing
ear

popularity

of Bheem Malla.

They

of the king and did every possible effort to

bring about his downfall. They

even

went to the extent of

saying

that Bheem Malla had been trying to become the de jure and

35

de facto ruler of Kathmandu. At last

their evil

design

and the

ther Bheem Malla

was

they

really guilty

successful in

were

king without stopping

to think whe

not sentenced him to

or

death. Bheem Malla had to lose his life because of the lack' of
power on the part of the king who fell an easy
intrigues, jealousy and treachery of the ministers.

discriminating
prey to the

Bheem Malla's Wife burnt herself along wih the dead body of
her husband. Before ascending the funeral pyre of her
she pronounced
should be

no

solemn

correct

which

curse

in the court of

judgement

is not rewarded for his sincere service

service is not recognised, it has

that Nepal

by that

is

no

pal. Later

me.

In

ters. He

king realized
by the ministers

'Satee', meaning

his mistake.

relentless in his revenge

Singh

went

completely mad, though he had

Laxmi Nara
the hands

there

He

on

Singh

some

time later, he

touch

Pratap Malla. Later

built in memory of Kazi

guilty minis

of insanity before.
of his life as a prisoner In

had to pass the rest

son

how he

the ministers. Laxmi

could not compose himself and

of his

saw

and led to commit that foul cri

Nara

was

mad fury he wrecked vengeance upon the

was

one

when* one's sincere

or

should expect to receive fair judgement in Ne

on, 'the

had been duped

there

Nepal. When

become proverbial to say-

now

cursed land-cursed by

one

husband,

that

purported

on,

Bheem Malla.

temple of Shiva
The temple

still

stands at Yatkha Tble.

Pratap Malla
Even when his father

experience of administration.

Singh's insanity
himself ruled

as. a

great poet and

alive, Pratap Malla had the

When

grew worse, he

his father

imprisoned

regent of his father in

of the most famous Malla

a

was

an

Kings

of

Laxmi

Nara

his father and he

Kantipur.

He

was one

Nepal. He was vastly learned,

able administrator. Kantipur was highly de-

36

Malla

Pratap

veloped during his reign. Trade with Lhasa (Tibet)

going
kings

well. By his superior

on

of

diplomacy

he

was

Bhaktapur and posed

making the

main aim

was

to

fulfilled

Ram Shah

as

his

as

annex

the

to Lalitpur.
Bhaktapur. His

menace

Sometimes he sided with Lalitpur and fell upon

not

also

Lalitpur and Bhaktapur play against each other. Some

times he sided with

was

was

Lalitpur to Kathmandu. But his aim

king of Lalitpur had the king of Gorkha,

ally. Moreover, Shree Nivas,

son

of Siddhi Na

Singha was no less inferior to Pratap Malla in bravery and

diplomacy. In 1691 B.E. (1634 A.D.), when Siddhi Nara Singha
ra

Malla

was

engaged

in

performing

Malla availing himself of the

Koti

opportunity,

37

Home,

made

Pratap

surprise

at-

on Patan and conquered some of the places important from

strategic point' of view. Dambar Shah, son of Ram Shah had

tack
the

come

with

troops

contingent to help Siddhi Nara Singh Malla, but his

were

waylaid and put

Pratap Malla gave

to rout.

trouble to Narendra Malla, King of Bhaktapur.

rendra Malla pay tribute to him in the form of

Bhaktapur.

sided with

valuables. But when Lalitpur

Malla signed

Pratap Malla
harem. Once he

on

on

Bhaktapur, Pratap

raped

repented

was

princesses of
lewd, he had maintained a
As

virgin girl.

result,

she

died.

very much. He wanted to absolve of his

their advice and

men

the matter and

on

hundreds and

set up

suggestions,

thousands of 'Lingas' at Pashupati and installed

own

siege

married to the Indian

was

sin. He consulted the wise and learned

acting

treaty with Bhaktapur.

Kuch Bihar and Tirhut. As he

Pratap Malla

laid

and carried away many

plundered Bhaktapur

He

lot of

elephants. Later,

and

Niwas Malla

again he sided with Shree

He made Na

performed 'Koti

with his two queens,

statue of his

Horn', weighed gold

the other and gave it away in cha

rity and to commemorate the occasion raised a pillar on the
on one

scale and himself

southern gate and

Though he
built

was

on

licentious, he

Pashupati

it. At Swayambhu he built

the
With

temples
temples
a

also built.

was

religious minded. He

beautiful temple at Guhyeshwari and fenced it.

novated the temple of

other

was

grazing ground

view, to

man, the

Basuki

warding

copper

Bheemsen,

gilt 'Bajra'. He renovated

Taleju,

off evils he erected

monkey-god, by

the side of his

an

and

Degutale.
image of Hanu-

palace gate and called

the palace Hanumandhoka after Hanuman. He erected the

den gate of the

re

a pinnacle over
Pratappur, Kabeendrapur and many

and also set up

of

He

Nath and raised

palace, installed

38

an

image

of Nri

gol

Simha, Kal

,>^-v^w^.;t-yi^-*ww-*'Kfe

'

Hanuman Dhoka

Bhairab,

and of

Vishwaroop

Layaku Bahi. Inside the palace he

at

also erected Sundari Chowk and Mohan Chowk. A

at Bhandarkhal and filled it with water

neelakantha and in the pond installed

lying

water,

on

an

exact

of the

replica

pond was dug

brought from Budhaimage of Narayan

an

Narayan of Budhanee-

lakantha.

Pratap Malla
and

he

verses

could

had

compose

Sanskrit, he

vastly learned and

was

composed

poems

The

Arabic,

Roman and

Nepali, Bengali
English

Mohan Chowk which has fifteen

at

inscription
scripts bears testimony
poems he conferred

on

to this

fact. Because of his

learned

men

in his

scripts.
different
excellent

himself the title of 'Kabeendra' (a

poets). Himself learned, Pratap Malla had

of the

Besides

Sanskrit.

well versed in Nepal Bhasa,

was

and Hindi. He also knew

He

found.

still

are

in

even

poet. Many poems

king
galaxy of

as the Mughal Emperor Akbar had.

respected and patronised the learned men

palace

Like Akbar he also

of his time.

Lambakarna Bhatta, who hailed from

Maharastra,

Nri

Simha Thakur who hailed from Bihar and Jamana

of

Kantipur

men

in the

were

some

Gurubhaju
jewels in the galaxy of learned

palace of Pratap Malla.

music. Himself being

in his

respected

of the

musician,

He

was

musicians

also very fond of

were

welcomed and

palace.

Pratap Malla had five sons-Bhupendra Malla, Chakrabartendra, Nripendra, Mahipatendra and Parthibendra. He wanted
his

sons

try

to have

even

rule

over

his second
over

experience in the administration of the

coun

in his life time. With this aim in view He made them

the country for

son

one

year in turn. But

unfortunately

Chakrabartendra Malla died the next day he took

the administration of the country. Both the king and queen

39

were

greatly grieved
queen and

grieving

Pratap Malla

at the death. With

immortalising

made

the

their deceased

of his deceased son,

stone

three persons said to be the

son

Tri-

huge tank in front of the present

Chandra College. To the south of the tank

elephant carrying

pacifying the

view to

name

stand

Pratap Malla died

to this

even

image of

an

king, queen and

day.

sudden death. While he

watch

was

ing the religious dance of Harisiddhi, he fell down unconscious

and died.

1674

During his reign for thirty three years (1641 A.D. to

A.D.) Nepal made remarkable progress in each and every

field. There

was

peace and

prosperity

at home and

from outside. Trade with India and China made

rous.

Nepal

prospe

Art and literature flourished. Kings of Bhaktapur, Lalitpur

and other

neighbouring kingdoms did

pur. Just

as

Shah

danger

no

Jahan,

not dare to invade Kanti

Muslim culture reached its

so

also

Nepalese

height

in the time of

culture reached its

height in the

time of Pratap Malla.

Pratap Malla

Malla, Mahipatendra
sons

was

survived

surviving Nripendra Malla

wanted his

son

by his three sons-Nripendra

Malla and Parthibendra Malla. Of his three

was

Mahipatendra Malla

the eldest but

Pratap Malla

to succeed him. But

Pratap

Malla's wish could not be fulfilled. The neighbouring kings did

not like this break in the order of succession. Shree Nivas

king

of

Lalitpur

dra Malla

on

even

Malla,

voiced his protest. He supported Nripen

the ground of seniority. Nripendra

throne of Kantipur and

named Chikuti

man

chief minister. Nripendra offered

.pati Nath which still stands

on

ascended
was

appointed

small golden bull to Pashu-

the western side of

40

the

Pashupati

Parthibendra Malla: After the death

of

Nripendra Malla his

brother Parthibendra Malla ascended the throne of

Like his father he

was

also

a man

compose poems in Sanskrit. He

Kantipur.

of literary taste. He used to

thought himself

to be

of

one

the best poets in Sanskrit. He had his poems engraved in vari

ous

inscriptions. Fearing that Mahipatendra Malla might

source

of

trouble, Parthibendra Malla imprisoned

B. E. (1685 A.D.).

,as far
He

Malla extended his

E.'

suzerainty

(1688 A. D.).

believed to have been poisoned by his chief minister

was

Chikuti. He
and

Parthibendra

Sindhuli Gadhi. He died in 1745 B.

as

be

him in 1742

was

was

dragged out of his hiding place at Devapatan

killed.

Bhupalendra Malla:

After

death

the

of

Parthibendra

Malla, his

son Bhupalendra
Malla became king. During his
reign his chief minister Laxmi Narayan bacame all in all. Some

two months after the death of

Narayan

was

Malla who

considered

found

causing the death of Mahipatendra

hiding in the house of Raghawananda of

of

Pashupati Nath and who Laxmi Narayan

priest

Malla, Laxmi

successful in

was

Devapatan,

Parthibendra

a source

of danger to his

growing

power. At first he

sided with Lalitpur and invaded Bhaktapur. Later on, Lalitpur

entered into

an

litpur fought

alliance with

Bhaktapur and Kantipur and La

between themselves. In 1746 B.E. (1689 A.D.) Rid-

dhi Laxmi Levi, mother of. Bhupalendra, erected the high tem

ple of Shiva in
mandu

was

front of Gaddi Baithak. The

also set up

big Garuda in Kath

by Bhupalendra. Durin ghis pilgrimage

he died at Brahmanav in Ayodhya in 1757 B.E. (1700 A.D.).

Bhaskar Malla: When Bhupalendra

Bhaskar Malla
as

was

just

the regent of. her

son

Malla died,

his

son

child. So his mother Bhuban Laxmi

carried

on

the administration of the

country. Bhuban Laxmi, being religious-minded, had done many

41

acts of piety. Bhaskar Malla grew up to be

he

captured

was

many

in the

elephants

considered to be

an

fond of hunting.

As

was

jungles

on

himself the title of

licentious and luxurious. He

result,

good hunter and

of the Terai. This

act of valour and he called himself

Mahendra Singh and conferred

shwar Gireendra. He

some

Nepalewas

also

Indian

pleasure-loving

Muslims became his favourites. But the ministers did not like
to see the

influence of the foreigners. At that time the

growing

Newars and the Khas had their influence in the palace and the
courtiers under the leadership

of

minister named

Jhangal

Thakuri revolted. The king tried to suppress the revolt but when
he

that public sympathy

saw

was

with the rebels he had to get

rid of the foreigners. During his reign

broke out in Kantipur. It took

king

also fell

an
epidemic of plague
heavy toll of human lives. The

victim to the plague and he died in 1779 B. E.

(1722 A.D. ).
Bhaskar Malla died issueless. He had nominated

Malla,

descendant of Mahipatendra Malla, his

gajiaya had five sons-Rajendra Prakash, Jaya

Ja-

Prakash, Rajya

Narendra Prakash and Chandra Prakash.

Prakash,

Jayaprakash
Jaya Prakash Malla
of the most famous Malla
noble qualities
He had

Jagajjaya

successor.

some

was

Malla

very able ruler.

kings of Nepal.

He

He had

heroism, industry, patience and

as

flaws

as

well in his character. He

was one

some

of the

patriotism.

was

man

of

harsh and suspicious nature. He wanted to dominate others and

discriminating power. Men were terribly afraid of

him, but he was not completely devoid of kindness. He did not
he lacked

know how to win

had

no

faith

over

others;

upon

so

his

42

he could not be

courtiers

and

popular. He
his

cour-

Jayaprakash

Malla

tiers also did not look for his welfare. He

with his courtiers. The

of him. He had to struggle with his

side. He knew

no

fortune fell upon

But he

sorts of

not in

were

foes, both

peace during his reign. His

continuous struggle.

bravely faced all

was

neighbouring kings

good

terms

also suspicious
inside and out

was

reign

of

He

great hero and

patriot.
dangers and difficulties. Whatever mis
was

him, he bore patiently. He fought

for

the

freedom of his country till his last breath. He preferred death

to dishonour. He died

fighting

rather than

surrendering.

Jaya Prakash Malla had to fight court intrigues for eight

long

years. The first

with

conspiracy

v/as

hatched

view to dethroning Jaya Prakash and

by the courtiers

enthroning Rajya

Prakash. But Jaya Prakash put down the rebellion. Rajya Pra-

43

kash fled to
nu

Lalitpur

and

sought political asylum with king Bish-

Malla there. The rebels

failed

dra Prakash another brother of Jaya

the

disheartened, though they

not

were

in their first plot. This time their aim

plot, too, failed. The rebels, however,

kash

of

king

Deopatan,

was

Prakash,

Shankhu,

on

put Naren

to

the throne. But

made Narendra Pra

Gokarna

Changu

Nandigram (modern Nakasal). This infuriated

and

Prakash and

Jaya
Jayaprakash with troops marched against Narendra Prakash. Na
rendra Prakash

defeated and he fled to

was

Bhadgaon where he

spent the rest of his life. Some rebel courtiers

The rebels
third

were

yet quiet. They

not

This time they succeeded

plot.

to their side.

was won over

as

kash (Jagat Prakash)

and Queen

as

Dayabati,

Queen Dayabati herself

Jaya Prakash had

His son, Jyoti Prakash had to flee for

imprisoned.

were

secretly hatching the

were

to flee for

safety.His

baby of 18 months

was

safety.
Jyoti Pra

son,

proclaimed king

the regent of her son, carried

on

the

administration of the country. Jaya Prakash Malla became

wanderer.

The

there.
side

the

of

stay there.
he

six

went

Pradhans

Queen

of

Patan

did

Dayabati

and

Matatirtha

to

not

took

who

allow~

stayed
him

to

Thence, he went to Godawari, Gokarna and at last

Guhyeshwari There he mustered strong and

fight with the rebels. The Government troops were de

came to

went to
feated.

King

Jaya Prakash Malla again

was

some

Queen Dayabati
no

was

were

to power.

sooner was

imprisoned

in

to revolt

room

were

The

baby

sentenced

in the

palace. After

against the king.

the internal trouble

over

than the danger

large. Jaya Prakash Malta was not in good

neighbouring kings. As his relation' with Jaya

from outside loomed

terms with the

some

sentenced to rigorous imprisonment.

courtiers could dare

No

came

deposed. Of the rebel courtiers

to death and

this

he

First,

44

Prakash Malla

was

with the

of Gorkha. Relation between Jaya Prakash and

Ranajit
on

pur

then

king

not

estranged

was

purpose broke

imprisoned

some

good, Ranajit Malla contracted friendship

all the
a

when the sculptors of Kanti

pillar into three pieces. Ranajit

more

stone

of the persons who had

to witness

come

Bisket Jatra from Kathmandu. In retaliation Jaya Prakash im

prisoned all those people

Pashupati

events there

who had

from

come

to

Bhaktapur

the occasion of Balachaturdashi. Following these

on

was

little prospect

very

of

friendship

restoring

between Jaya Prakash and Ranajit.

Jaya Prakash's relation

not

good. Bishnu Malla, king

adopted refugee Rajya

as

his

son.

with the king of Patan

of

Lalitpur

was

Malla,

also

issueless. So he

Prakash (who had fled from

After the death of Bishnu

was

Kathmandu)

Rajya

Prakash

ascended the throne of Lalitpur. After he had reigned for fifteen

years the six Pradhans of Patan who
makers not

only deposed

taking out his

was

of

eyes. He at last died of the

fully determined

Patan, who

were

but also put him to

were

acting

as

king

torture'

by
pain. Jaya Prakash

physical

to wreck vengeance upon the six Pradhans

so

tyrannical

and took away the life of his

brother.

Ranajit Malla, king of Bhaktapur,

Lalitpur. After

one

year he

was

also made king of

driven away. In the meantime,

was

Jaya Prakash invaded Lalitpur and defeated the six Pradhans.

He then threw the six Pradhans behind the
self sat
forest

on

the throne. But

near

one

Tekudobhan, the

prison bars

day while he

people

of

was

Lalitpur

and him

hunting in

rose

against him.

He then fled back to

Kantipur. He conquered La

litpur but

he could not win

the people to his

as

over

to lose it.

45

in revolt

side, he

had

In the meantime,

posed itseif

probiem

big

Prakash. Owing to the aggressive

Shah, king

Gorkha, the

of

threatened. With

Shah, father
Jaya
ven

very

Jayi

policy
independence of Kantipur

was

Nuwakot, Narabhupal

view to conquering

of Prithbi

before

Prithbi Narayan

of

but

Narayan Shah, invaded Nuwakot,

Prakash defeated the Gorkhali troops and

king of Gorkha, he in

back. When Pritibi Narayan became

vaded Nuwakot. Prithbi Narayan Shah

they

dri

were

driven back. Prithi-

was

bi Narayan Shah attacked Nuwakot for the second time. This

time also he

was

defeated. Undaunted, Prithbi Narayan Shah

again invaded Nuwakot for the third time, but this time he got
victorious. Nuwakot fell into the hands of the enemies in the
year

1737

A.

D.,

Jaya

were

Kashi

held

Prakash

under whose command troops

Ram Thapa
fight with Prithbi-

sent to

Narayan Shah, responsible fOr the defeat and he

was

put to

death, but Nuwakot could not be recaptured. Every effort

made to increase the military

strength

of

Kantipur. Jaya Prakash;

needed money for the purpose. He made

Pashupatinath and Jayabageeshwari.

and

Pashupatinath
to

meet

of the

troops.

Kantipur. Advancing from the

both sides

were

he

disposed

killed and lots

were

of

conquest of

his troops
towards
captured Dahachowk

Kirtipur. A fierce fight ensued. Lots- of people

were

had to suffer

west

pinnacles of

gold

After the

Nuwakot, Prithbi Narayan Shah marched

and attacked

of the treasures of

use

The

Jayabageeshwari temples

the expenses

was

on

wounded. The Gorkhalis

heavy loss in this battle. Surpratap Shah, bro

ther of Prithbi Narayan Shah lost his eyes; Kalu

Pandey, the

Gorkhali General, lost his life; Prithbi Narayan Shah

wounded. The Gorkhalese

were

got victorious. He rejoiced in his victory, but made

to reconquer Nuwakot and cdrb the

46

was

also

defeated; Jaya Prakash Malla

power of

no

the

attempt;
enemies,

Prithbi

Narayan

Shah resorted to diplomacy. He made

bring about economic blockade

to

plan

to

Kanti-pur. With this aim in

view he conquered

Chaukot, Dhulikhel, Panauti, Sanga, Nala,

Banepa in the east. He then conquered Sindhuli, Chisapani

Gadhi, Hariharpur
of

and Makawanpur and cut off the trade route

Nepal with India and Tibet. The supply of cotton, salt,

metals and other

tipur

were

Bhaktapur

put

things having

been cut

to trouble. He wanted the

to be at

off, the people of Kan

kings of Kantipur and

To achieve this end of

daggers drawn.

he sent his- agents to Kathmandu,

and*

Lalitpur

Jaya Prakash recognized two of the agents. They

sought the
cil sent

help

of the East India

Company.

army under the command of

an

battle

was

troops

were

fought

at

Hariharpur

near

captured

were

Prakash

and beheaded in front of Kalabhairab. Jaya

Malla

The Calcutta Coun

Captain Kinloch. A

Sindhuli.

The British

defeated at the hands of the Gorkhalese.

Captain

Kinloch had to flee. Arms and ammunitions of the British

were

seized in the battle. It added to the

his,

Bhaktapur.

Army

military strength of

Prithbi Narayan Shah. Prithbi Narayan again attacked Kirtipur.

As

Kirtipur

was

besieged

on

all sides, the Kirtipures (the inha

All the
no help -from outside.
youths fell fighting in the battle. Even the females in the guise

bitants of Kirtipur) could get

of

men came

to

fight the freedom fight. They all died. Kirtipur

fell into the hands of the enemies. Prithbi Narayan

ly marched into Kirtipur and by his order the

Kirtipures
ting of the

above the age of 12

noses

were

triumphant

noses

cut off. Because of the cut

of the Kirtipures, in Newari

we even now

that 'Kepumiya Hnaya Madu' (Kirtipures have

no

month of Bhadra in the year 1825 B.E. <1768 A.D.)

people

were

all

say

noses).

On the fourteenh day of the dark half of the

of Kathmandu

of all the

moon

in the

when

the

enjoying themselves the festival

4?

of Kumari

Jatra, Prithbi Narayan Shah, all

of

(Kantipur. Hastily Jaya Prakash Malla collected

fought against Prithbi Narayan
were

troops and

very

but the troops of

troops and

Jaya Prakash

easily Kantipur fell into the hands of the Gorkha-

lis. Jaya Prakash with

view to

fighting

help of the king of Lalitpur fled

its militant

some

against Prithbi Narayan's fully equipped armed

match

no

sudden, attacked

to the

spirit owing

the Gorkhalese with the

Lalitpur. Patan which had lost

to

tyranny and moral degradation of

the six Pradhans easily succumbed to the attack of Prithbi Nara

yan Shah.

Jaya Prakash did not, however, surrender. He along

with Tej Nara

soon

Singh, king

of

Lalitpur, fled to Bhaktapur. Very

Bhaktapur. Prithbi Narayan

Prithbi Narayan also invaded

Shah with the help of Ranajit Malla's illegitimate

sons

besieged

the palace. Seeing the palace besieged, Jaya Prakash Malla

down to fight

came

with the enemies. The enemy's bullet struck Jaya

A few days
after the
on the leg and he fell down..
Jaya Prakash died at Aryaghat. The fall of Kantipur,

Prakash
event

Lalitpur and Bhaktapur marked the end of the Malla dynasty

in the Kathmandu

valley.

Jaya Prakash Malla

He knew
enemies.

no

fear. He

Though

was

was

very

surrounded

life of

struggle. He had

ties, but he
fighting

never

with his

necessary

He also

(rest-houses')

arrangement
the

at

not lose

His

was

doing

He built

engaged

acts of

the

Guhyeshwari.

for burning lamps during

practice of feeding the poor

He

in

piety
and

ghat

made

Nabaratri.
on

the-

Guhyeshwari. The twenty two stone taps of

48

was

dangers and difficul

enemies, he did not forget

name.

the

against

tiger upon them.

lost patience. Even when he

introduced,

of the Jatra of

to face all sorts of

which would immortalize his

the Dharmasalas

attack

by the enemies, he would

courage. He would rather fall like

a

daring and dashing king.

ferocious in his

day

Balaju

A
-a

a
60

BO

4>

4)

A
SB

BO
V
ca

are

of

said to have been built by Jaya Prakash. Being

Kumari,

mari. It

Jaya Prakash built

was

devotee

big residential house for Ku-

he who introduced the practice of drawing the

Ratha (chariot) of Kumari

on

the occasion of Indra Jatra, but

unfortunately he lost his throne

when the Rath of Kumari

was

on

the very day of Indra Jatra

being drawn.

4f

the Kingdom of Kantipur

Ratna

younger son of Yaksha Malla, became king of Kanti

12 Thakuris, antagonistic to the
pur in 1511 A.D.

Malla,

king, therefore poisoned them all

from the Bhotias called Kakus
kunda Sen,

had threat

to death

^with

the

help of

defeated the

king of Palpa

Mu-

enemies

conquest of Nuwakot which was made a part of the

kingdom till the conquest of Kathmandu was made by

improvement of the economic

Prithbi Narayan Shah

condition of the country

(son of Ratna Malla) introduced the practice of draw

ing the chariot of Bajra.iogini of Sankhu
Amar Malla (son of Soorya Malla) many 'Jatras' (Pageants) introduced
famous Maha Bauddha temple at Patan built during
i. e.
Soorya Malla

Narendra Malla

his reign
many villages annexed to his kingdom
Changu Narayan-Naxal, remains of ancient Bishalnagar
which comprised 700 villages was built by Shankar
Deva

Sankhu

Bajrajogini

Mahendra Malla 1610 B.E. (1553 A.D.) Hanuman

Dhok a

temple

of

Taleju Pashupati beside the Bag,

mati-Mahe/idreshwar at Makhan
Tole built

Shiva Singh Malla

Sadashiba Malla

by Mahendra Malla

Deposed for his misconduct

Tantricism flourished
a garden between Budhaneelkantha and
Kantipur
conquered Patan and annexed it to Kantipur

Raniban,

50

Laxmi

Narasingh Malla

hymn in praise of Kalee written in 15 diffe

rent

languages

chief minister Bheem Malla

sincere service

curse

minister revenged

treaty with Tibet

by

Satee

went mad

guilty

Shiva Mandir

at Yatakha Tole built to commemorate Bheem

Malla

Pratap Malla

under him

Kantipur highly developed

Tibet-^his failure to
Shah of Gorkha

performed

annex

to Shree

ally

an

trade with

Lalitpur, there being

Koti Horn and set up

Ram

Niwas
more

than

hundred

Shiva Lingas at Pashupati

petty diplomacy against

Bhaktapur and Lalitpur against either
temple of

Guhyeswshari renovated
copper

guilt Bajra

set

the

up at

temple of Pashupati Nath

Swayambhu,

the statue of Hanuman to ward off evils at Hamunam-

dhoka, Nrisimha, Kala Bhairab, Sundari-chowk and

Mohan-chowk at

Hanumandhoka, replica of BudhaBalaju, inscription of 15 different scripts

Mohan-chowk,

neelakantha
at

at

galaxy of learned men (Ref. Akbar) in the palace of

construction of Ranipokhari,
Pratap Malla
died while observing drama of Harisiddhi,

Nepalese culture reached its height in his time.

Malla

Pratap
Bhupendra.

I.

II Chakrabartendra. Ill

Nripendra.

IV

Mahipatendra.

V. Parthibendra

Events

Ruler

Nripendra Malla

to

Parthibendra Malla

golden bull
Pashupati Nath.

offered

Personages
Shree Chikuti

Prime

(Chief

or

Minister)

imprisoned Mahipatendra Malla step-brother,extended

his suzerainty as far as Sindhuligarhi, believed to have
been poisoned by Chikuti
Chikuti was dragged out of his hiding-place at Debapatan and killed

51

Bhupalendra Malla Succeeded his

father Parthiben-

dra, temple of Shiba, (Jaishi

Dewal) erected during the

premiership of

Lakshmi Narayan
Joshi, ,Chief Minister, all-in-all

Lakshmi Narayan,

Lakshmi Narayan caused the

death of Mahipatendra,

Lalitpur and invaded

Bhaktapur and later on, Lalit
pur in alliance with Bhaktapur
and Kantipur and Lalitpur
sided with

fought with each other. Riddhi

Laxmi Devi mother of Bhu

palendra erected

high temple

of Shiva in front of Gaddi Bai-

thak,

image of Garuda
Kathmandu,

stone

set up in

died at Brahmanabha at Ayodhya during his pilgrimage.

Bhaskar Malla (a child of

Bhuban Laxmi,
Bhupalendra)
good hunter, captured many cle- widow queen, regent
phants in the jungle of the Terai, of her son
a

the

assumed

title

Newars

Gireendra;

against

revolted

Nepaleshwar
and

the

Khas

growing

influence of the Muslim in the

palace; epidemic of plague broke

out in Kantipur; the king died of
plague.
JayaJaga Malla

Bhaskar Malla being issueless had

nominated Jaya Jaga Malla des

cendant of Mahipatendra his suc
cessor,

JayaJaga Malla had five

of whom was Jaya Pra

sons, one

kash Malla.

52

Jaya Prakash Malla

His

character, merits and de

merits, struggle with his

own

courtiers and external foes,

put down rebels. Plot of the

courtiers failed, defeated

Narendra
soned

impri

Prakash,

some

rebel courtiers,

third plot, sided by Queen

Dayabati, successful, Jyoti
Prakash.a baby of 18 months
proclaimed king and Queen

Dayabati

as a

carried

son

on

regent of her
the adminis

tration of the country,

Jaya Prakash,

a wanderer;
first, he went to Matateertha
and stayed there,. 6 Pra

dhans of Patan who took the

side of the Queen did not

allow him (Jaya Prakash)
to

stay there. Hence, Jaya

Prakash went to

Godawary,

Gokarna and at last

came

to

Guhyeshwari. Then he col

lected troops and fought
with rebels. Government

troops were defeated and

Jaya Prakash came to power.
The baby king

was

deposed;

rebel courtiers

some

put to death and others

were
were

rigorous imprison
ment; Queen Dayabati im
prisoned in the palace; after
sent

this

to

no

revolt

rebel could dare to

against

the

53

king.

Jaya Prakash Malla

External

troubles; estranged

relation with Ranajit Malla,

king of Bhaktapur
with

and also

Pradhans of Lalitpur

six

who took out the eyes of his

brother

Rajya Prakash. Jaya

invaded Lalitpur
after Ranajit Malla's short
Prakash

and

reign

defeated

Pradhans

and

the

ruled

over

Lalitpur

too but had to lose

it

to

owing

public revolt.

from

Menace

Gorkha

Nuwakot fell into the hands

of Prithbi Narayan

in

his

third attempt in 1737 A. D.

Fall of
Fall of

Kirtipur at long last ;

Kantipur (1825 B.E.)

Jaya Prakash fled

and

thence

to

to Patan

Bhaktapur

along with Tej Narasingh

king of Patan. Jaya Prakash
wounded

the

by

enemy's

bullet and completion of the

Gorkhali conquest of Kanti
pur,

Lalitpur

and

Estimate of
as

ruler,

BhaktapurJaya Prakash
fighter and

builder who built Ghat and

res thouses

Ghat,

Balaju.

22

at

Guhyeshwari

stone

residential

for Kumari

54

taps

of

house

The

of

Kingdom

Lalitpur

After the death of Yaksha Malla his daughter Dharmabati ruled

over

and Purandar

Singh

Lalitpur. After her, Kirti Singh, Kushum Singh

defeated by

was

to have ruled

Singh seemed

1593 A. D. Patan fell into Shiva Singh's

rule

over

Singh

over

of

Shiva Singh, King

Patan. Purandar

Kathmandu, in

hands, but he did

Patan directly. He sent his youngest

to rule

Patan. Later on, Harihar

over

Hari Har

Singh declared him

self independent. After his death his second

Singh became king

son

not

son

Siddhi Nara

of Patan.
Siddhi Nara Singh Malla

Siddhi Nara
1612 A. D.

He

was

Singh ascended the throne of Lalitpur

vastly learned and pious king. He had

unshakable faith upon

God, looked

upon the cows, the BrahmanS

and the Shastras with veneration. He

also liberal. He

was

man

of

can

not

only

be called

an

loving. He spent

relating

to

kind to the poor and

as

one

of the .most famous

of Lalitpur but also of the whole of Nepal. He

ascetic king. Even when he became king, he

led his life like that of

to compose

was

spotless character. Because of all

these noble qualities he is ranked

kings

in

an

ascetic. He

was

not at all

pleasure

most of his time in devotion to God. He used

hymns. He

was

also

playwright. He

wrote

plays

gods, and goddesses and introduced religious dances.

55

It

was

cum

he who introduced Kartic Nach (a sort of comic drama

dance to be performed

or

shown in the month of Kartic).

This dance is still performed at Patan every year.

Though

devotee of

Bishnu, he

was

not

bigot. He had

respect for Buddhism, too. He renovated many Buddhist tem

ples including the Mahabauddha Temple, in each and

brick of which

an

temples he built, the

most famous is the Krishna Mandir which

still stands to the west of the ancient

specimen

every

image of Buddha is engraved. Of the Hindu

palace of the Mallas

of the master art of the artists. On its walls

as a

are car

ved chief events relating to the Mahabharat and the Ramayana.

This square-shaped temple has twenty-one spires

on

it. He for

merly inaugurated the Taleju Bhawani temple in the palace. He

Horn'

also performed 'Koti

(a big sacrificial ceremony), and

gave away 18 Puranas written

It

was

by hand to

he who renovated the ancient

brought it

to its

palace

present shape, size and

learned Brahman.

of the Mallas and

design.

adding

By

storeys to his palace he shattered the blind belief of the people

that houses should not be built higher than the temples. The

ivory window in the palace is another specimen of the Nepalese

art of that time. Below the window he set up

and Narasingha.

They still stand there. In the revered

of his deceased mother he sank the

Though Siddhi Nar Singh

voted most of his time to acts of
ruler. He

was

bring prosperity

images of Ganesh

was

inclined to religion and de

piety, he

was an

lover of peace. He knew that

to the

memory

pond at Jawalakhel.
able and efficient

only

peace could

country. As he

saw no gain in develop

ing enmity with Kantipur, he entered into alliance with Laxmi

Nara

Singh Malla. As

Lalitpur

were

entered into

result of this

alliance,

merchants

of

also allowed to trade in Lhasa (Tibet). He also

trade relation with Ram Shah,

56

king -of

Gorkha

*:f
'%psg3i%;'

;-;;v-,-;:;-

Maria Bauddha

Temple

Krishna Mandir

by

virtue of which merchants of

Lalitpur could

shops at

open

Gorkha.
As he advanced in age, he

spiritualism. He began

to

oneself surrounded by fire

and

was more

practise austere

more

penance

as

inclined to
to remain

all sides in the month of

on

the hottest month of the year and to sleep

on a

slab

Jyestha,

of

stone

in the coldest month of the year. At last in the year 1661 A.D.

(1718 B.E.)

on

the occasion of the festival of

Matshyendra Nath

he slipped away from the palace without the knowledge of the

public

and made his way towards India. No

knew

one

where

he went and when he passed away from the world.

Nivas

Shree

Though Shree Nivas Malla

nistration of the country

Malla
entrusted with the admi

was

during the life time of his father

even

his coronation ceremony took place only after the abdication of

his father and his departure for
father he

was

an

deviate from the path. Pratap

him to join

Malla, king

Shree Nivas did not help him, he

Kantipur and Lalitpur

conquer

Shree
kash

saw

Lalitpur

Malla, King
was

even

of

soon

he had to

Kantipur, asked

Bhaktapur. In

threatened to attack Lalit

on one

side and

Bhaktapur

on

the other.

through Pratap Malla's intention which

as

well,

of

case

Pratap Malla. War began between

after he had

Nivas, therefore, entered

ing. Peace

peace but

with him in his attack against

pur. So he had to side with

Shree Nivas

unknown destination. Like his

following the path of

into

an

conquered Bhaktapur.

in the valley.

sion from the north, Sri Nivas Malla

on

to

alliance with Jagat Pra

Bhaktapur. Pratap Malla had

again restored

was

to

stop fight

Apprehending

inva

the occasion of the "Bra-

tabandha" investiture of the holy thread) of his son, invited

Bhaktapur, Kantipur, Makawanpur, Gorkha, Tanahu

and at the eoncluskm of the ceremony, entered into an alliance

kings

of

57

with them and thus set up

think of forming

independence

united front. The king who could

united front for the national and

religious

certainly be called

of the country could

far-

sighted king.
Like his

Shree Nivas Malla

father,

was

also

religious-mind

austere penance like his

ed. Though
father,
practise
he had profound respect for both Hinduism and Buddhism. He
he did not

extended the period of the Kartic Nach from 15 days to almost

a

month.

of the

He

'Nach',

endowed

to meet the

lands

temple of

built the

also

annual

Degutale'

expenses
near

the

palace. In 801 N. E. (1681 A.D.) he built the

grand temple of

of

performing 'Asta

Bheemsen. He also introduced the

Matrica' dance
In 787 N.

practice

the occasion of the Durga Puja festival.

E., (1667 A.D.)

he

renovated

the temple of

He endowed lands

inscription.
worship of Matsyendra Nath and also formulated rules

Matsyendra
for the

on

Nath and set up

an

for the Ratha Jatra.

temple of Kumvheshwar. On the

day of Shrawan people from different parts of the

He built the five-storey

full

moon

valley

come

to take

bath in the

Nivas Malla rebuilt the

pond

of Kumvheswar. Shree

temple for the convenience of the

grims. This pond is known

as

'Kantipukhu'. The

water in

pil
this

pond is supposed to have flowed from Gosainkunda. He died in

807 N. E. (1687 A. D.)

Yoganarendra

Malla

Yoganarendra Malla ascended the throne of Patan after

the death of his father, Shree Nivas Malla in 807 N.E. 1687 A.D.)
He set up the furious image of Bheemsen in which he

was

shown

killing Dushashan. He put life force into it and also introduced

the practice of Bheemsen Jatra. To the north of the palace he

58

built

astrologers

'Mani Mandap' where

would assemble toge

ther and find out the right and auspicious day on which the
Jatra of Matsyendra Nath was to start. This 'Mandap* is now
sailed

Sahutipati

or

Sohrakhutte Pati.

Before the temple of 'Degutale' he erected

on

whose eapital stone images of his and of his

stone

son were

pillar

placed.

But his

son died. The untimely death of his son

shocked him
greatly. At last he renounced the world and went to Changu

where he lived till his death in 1705 A. D. Before his departure

for

Changu he

image
bird

on

on

is said to have told his

men

the capital would remain

that

so

long

as

the

and the

and

bright
shining
fly off they were to think of him

his head would not

alive. To prove that he had actually said these words the prac
tice of making bed in

keeping

one

of the

rooms

in the

of the windows of the

palace

open is still in vogue.

one

anarchy followed the death of Yoga Naren

Disorder and

dra Malla in Patan. Since he died

succession

arose.

an

of Patan. The six

Praskash, Siddhi

issueless, the question

The six Pradhans

powerful refused to make

Malla king

Nara

throne. But he died

of Patan

illegitimate
Kazfe,

son of

soon

as

was

on

Yoga

Narendra

however,

an

Loka

placed

on

son

the

king of

Patan, they

illegitimate

all

of

were

Yoga

king of Patan. But he, too, died of small-pox.

At last the six Pradhans placed

Kathmandu,

were

afterwards. At last when the

forced to aeeept Mahendra Singh,,

of

who

Singh's grand-son by his daughter,

Tanahu threatened the six Pradhans to invade

Narendra Malla

palace and of

Mahipateendra Malla, king

of

the throne of Patan. After him Yoga Prakash

made king of Patan. When

1086 B. E. Vishnu Malla

was

Yoga Prakash Malla

king of Patan.

made

59

died

in

tipur.

He

was

So

long

the son-in-law of Jagajjaya Malla, king of

the Kazis. He

as

he

hung

he

the king of

was

waged

war

Patan,

he could

Kan

dominate

with Bhaktapur. In front of the palace

and offered a 'Jalahari' to Pashupati Nath.

issue, he nominated Rajya Prakash, brother of

big bell

As he had

no

Jaya Prakash, his

successor.

He

of

a man

was

nature.

simple

He could not dominate the Kazis. The Kazis

of his weakness

out his eyes.

gouged

taking advantage
Rajya Prakash died soon

after this inhuman torture.

Biswajit
Now the Kazis

their

own

began

Malla

to enthrone and dethrone

sweet will. Of the six Kazis the most

kings

prominent

at

were

Kalidas, Minkhwal and Dhanabanta. After

Vishnu Malla

made Vishwajit Malla their king. He

puppet in the hands

of the six Pradhans. Later, he

illicit connection with

was

was a

killed

on a

of

daughter-in-law

they

charge of having

one

of the Kazis.

Jaya Prakash
After him Jaya Prakash

was

made

king

He

of Patan.

wanted to wreck vengeance upon the Kazis for the death of his

brother. He tried to curb their power and this the Kazis did not

tolerate. So
he

was

one

day when he

was

going

to Tekudovan for

bath,

driven away.

Ranajit Malla
After this Ranajit Malla
was

charged

of having

neglected

day while he

was

mooL he

driven away.

was

With

was

performing

made

king

of Patan. But he

the interests of Patan. So

one

'Shraddha' ceremony at Shankha-

view to requesting

Jaya Prakash

to be

king

of

Patan again the six Pradhans went to Kantipur. Jaya Prakash in

60

retaliation imprisoned them all and making them

dresses, they
not

were

female

wear

taken round the town. This the Kazis could

forget, though they

were

released afterwards. They became

the arch-enemies of Jaya Prakash.

Dalamardan Shah

The Kazis then invited Prithbi Narayan Shah to sit

on

the throne of Lalitpur. Prithbi Narayan Shah refused to be the

king of Patan himself and instead,

dan Shah. Dalamardan Shah sat

on

he sent his brother Dalamar

the throne of Patan.

By this

time Prithbi Narayan Shah had completely blockaded the

try economically. When Dalamardan Shah

Narayan Shah
a

deaf

ear

Shah and
of

to lift the

wrote

to

coun

Prithbi

blockade, Prithbi Narayan Shah turned

to the request. The Kazis then dethroned Dalamardan

placed Tej Nara Singh Malla,

Bishwajit

on

member of the family

the throne.

Tej Nara Singh Malla:

He
not ruled

was a

puppet in the hands of the six Pradhans. He had

long when Prithbi Narayan Shah invaded Kathmandu.

Jaya Prakash fled to Patan. Patan had become very weak owing
to the

Singh

of the six Pradhans; it could offer no resistance

Narayan Shah. Both Jaya Prakash Malla and Tej Nara

intrigues

to Prithbi

fled to

Bhadgaon in 1826 B.E. (1769 A.D.) Prithbi Narayan

Shah captured five out of the six Pradhans. They

hand and foot and killed

on

charge of treason.

61

were

bound

King of Lalitpur

Shiva Singh, king of

defeated Purandar Singh of Lalitpur and made his
Kantipur
youngest son Harihar Singh, King of Lalitpur
declared himself independent
Harihar Singh
son of Harihar Singh, ascended the throne in (1612
Siddhi Narasingh
A.D.) Ascetic king, introduced religious dances and
Kartic Nach, built a Krishna Mandir and renovated

Maha-Bauddha temple, built the pond at Jawalakhel

in memory of his deceased mother,
entered into

an

alliance with Laxmi

Narasingh,thereby

Lalitpur could trade with Tibet. Trade relation with

Ram Shah of Gorkha, by virtue of which merchants
of Lalitpur opened shops at Gorkha, On the occa
sion of the Ratha Jatra of Matsyendra Nath, he
slipped away from the palace to India (without the
knowledge of the public and there is no knowing
where and when he passed away from the world).
Shree Nivash Malla- Diplomatic relations with the kings of Kantipur
and Bhaktapur
Religious toleration (Prevalence of both Hinduism
and Buddhism) the temples of Degutale and Bhe-e
msen in the Durbar Square of Lalitpur built,
Ashta Matrika Dance introduced

the temple

of Matsyendra Nath

temple of Kumbheshwar built

62

renovation

of

Five-storeyed

Yoga Narendra Malla

Succeeded his father Shree Nivash Malla in

807 N. E.
furious Bheemsen killing Dushasan and

set up

started the practice of Bheemsen

pillar
placed before

with his

own

statue and

Jatra-

that of his

stone
son

temple of Degutale untimely

death of his son
shocked him
greatly and

retired to

the

Changu

Narayan till his death in

1705 A.D.
The six Pradhans of

Patan

After

him disorder

and

anarchy

at

Patan-

six Pradhans all-in-all, instead of the illegitimate

son of Yoga Narendra Malla,
Siddhi Nara-

singh's
Loka Prakash

grand-son

Siddhi Narasingha's grandson by his daughte

enthroned, who died soon after and the six

Pradhans forced by the king of Tanahu, accep

the illegitimate son of Yoga Narendra

ted

Malla

their king but he died of small pox

long.
At last Mahipateendra Malla of
Kathmandu made king of Patan as well
After him Yoga Prakash Malla was made
king of Patan.
as

before

Mahipateendra Malla
Yoga Prakash
Bishnu

Malla

After Yoga Prakash

Malla's

B.E. Bishnu Malla

made

in

1086

was

pur

he could dominate the Kazis (Pradhans)

Patan-placed a big bell in front of the palace,

being issueless he nominated as his successor
Rajya Prakash
brother of Jaya Prakash. Finding him weak
the Kazis gouged his eyes and he died
of

Rajya Prakash

death

king of Patan, be
son-in-law of Jayajaga Malla, king of Kanti
was

63

Bishwajit Malla

puppet

king, put

connection with

to
a

death

on a

charge of Illicit

daughter-in-law of

one

of

the Kazis

Jaya Prakash

made

but when

king

power of the Kazis, he

he tried to curb the

was

driven away.

Ranajit Malla

made king of Patan but driven away for neglec

ting the interest of Patan

Da la Mardan Shah

brother of

Prithbi Narayan Shah invited and

enthroned.
unable to get lifted the economic blocade by
Prithbi

Narayan Shah; Dala Mardan Shah

was

dethroned and

Tej Narasingh Malla

Tej Narasingh Malla, a member of the family of

Bishwajit Malla, was enthroned-a puppet king
in the

hands

of

six

Pradhans,. On Prithbi

Narayan's invasion, Tej Narasingh

Prakash fled to Bhaktapur
Prithbi Narayan Shah killed
on charge of treason.

64,

the

with Jaya
Pradhans

Kingdom

of

Bhaktapur

Raya Malla
After the death of Yaksha Maila his eldest

became king of Bhadgaon which

given

was

father divided his kingdom among his three

ter.

By extending Bhadgaon

up

to Dudh

son

Raya Malla

to him when his

and one daugh

Kosi, he made it a
sons

powerful kingdom.
Subarna Malla

After the death of Raya Malla his

son

Subarna Malla

became king. He successfully combated the famine which had

broken out during his reign. It
of Nava

Durga

in

Bhadgaon

was

he who introduced the dance

and of Maha Laxmi in Bode. He

died in about 1519 A.D.

Pran Malla and Biswa Malla:

After his death his

cessively

ruled

over

sons

Prana Malla and Bishwa Malla

Bhadgaon. It

was

suc

during the reign of Bishwa

Malla that the three-storeyed Dattatraya temple

was

built. With

the permission of the king of Kantipur he also set up images of

all round Pashupati Nath. Besides these, other temples

Narayan

and monasteries

were

built and lands

were

endowed for them.

The image of Changu Narayan which had been swept away by

65

landslide

was

found floating in the Bishnumati river and

was

reinstalled.
After the death of Vishwa

Malla, his

son

Trailokya Malla

became king.

Jagat Jyoti Malla

He ascended the throne of Bhadgaon in 1623 A. D. (1680
B. E.). He

was

read and had

famous king of Bhaktapur.

He

but also in mathematics and astrology. He wrote

and

plays

two

viz.

commentary
Bibaha'

Gauri

'Hara

on

astrology

and

'Kunja Vihari' in Sanskrit and also played them

stage. He
It

was

also

on

the

good classical singer.

he who introduced the 'Bisket Jatra' of

was

widely

was

profound interest not only in art and literature

Bhaktapur,

Rath Jatra of Adi Bhairab (the chariot drawing festival of Adi

Bhairab)

on

the first of Baishakh and 'Kumari Jatra' the festi

val celebrated in honour of Kumari, the

goddess)

living

of

Thimi. It is said that Goddess Tulaja Bhawani used to play at

dice with him, but later

on

when the

goddess

through his

saw

evil intention, she refused to turn up.

Once it

so

happened that

xed in black cereal. As maize

suspected something
matter.

They

omen, most

ominous.

took

the

grain of maize

was

was

not known till

Astrologers

appearance

were

of

(sacrificial fire) with

then, they

consulted

maize

probably foreboding famine. The king

of the maize and spent

found mi

as

not dare to invade

1695 B. E. (1638

bad

then got rid

possible
*r

was

the

lot of money in performing 'Yajnas'

view to avoiding any

ter/

As he

on

disas

qgyp-

powerful and able king, Pratap Malla did

Bhaktapur during his reign.

A, D.)

66

He died

in

Narendra Malla and Jagat Prakash Malla

After the death of Jagajyoti Malla his
became King.
once more

During

made

attempt to invade

an

son

were

scattered
Narendra

Bhaktapur.

Malla invoked Lord Narayana by performing

Malla

Narendra

his reign the Kirantis who

great *yajna'
(sacrificial fire). Lord Narayan being pleased with his devotion
a

sent hornets in millions which stung the Kirantis and scared

them away. Some of the weapons left by them and captured

Narendra Malla

are

still to be

by

in the sattal (rest-house) of

seen

Til Madhab Narayan at Taumadhi Tole. Narendra Malla was,

however, succeeded by his

Jagat Prakash Malla. He

son

was

great builder and vastly learned. To the east of the kingdom

he built Hanumati Ghat and set up images of gods and

goddesses.

He built the door to the temple of Bheemsen and erected

pillar with

an

image of Garuda

stone

it at Narayan chowk.

on

Jitendra Malla

Jitendra Malla succeeded his father Jagat Prakash Malla.

Like his father he

was

also

widely read and had written two

dramas viz. Jaimini Bharatam and

During

his

dug canals

reign
for

Ashwamegham in Sanskrit.

he built many rest-houses and sheds and also

public

use.

Bhoopateendra Malla
Jitamitra had two queens.

lUpendra
Lalmati,
ted to

Malla and

but the second queen had

remove

jukas who

design.

was

He

Bhoopateendra
no

had

two

Malla

sons

named

by his first

issue.

She, however,

queen
wan

both the step-sons and reign herself. Kazi Bhaher favourite

With the help of

helped her

some

in

carrying

hired assassins

out her evil

they managed

to

do away with both Upendra Malla and Bhoopateendra Malla.

The assassins, however, did not kill Bhoopateendra and left
him all alone in

dark and dense forest where he

67

was

found

brought

and

and then

up

came

by Bhote carpenters. Bhoopateendra grew young

to claim the throne of his father. A fierce

ensued and at last he got victorious. His

step-mother

tenced to life

was

imprisonment

BhoopateendraMalla
in 817 N.E. (1697 A.D.). He

and

Bhajukas

then sat
was a

on

was

fight
sen

tortured to death.

the throne of

Bhaktapur

great builder. He built the

ro

yal palace with fifty-five windows and ninety-nine courtyards.

The entrance to the main courtyard

Temples
built in

some

are

of different

inscribed

In 'Malati chowk'

other courtyards.

made of sandal wood

names

was through the golden gate.

courtyards. Beautiful ponds were

erected in the

were

was

fixed. An inscription in which the

was

'Pujas'

to be

performed

also set up and lands

on

were

the expenses of the 'Pujas'. He renovated the

cle

on

on

different occasions
endowed to

one

the top of the first storey intact, he put

the third storey

as

meet

storeyed temple
storeyed. While keeping the pin

of Bhairab and made it three

nacle

window

well.

Bhairab,

golden pinna
became

however,

uncontrollably wild and in consultation with the Tantrics of the

time

Bhoopateendra Malla built Nyatapola temple,

five tiers of roofs

on

it and installed therein the

temple with

goddess Shree

Siddhi Lakshmee Bhagavatee whom the Bhairab had to obey.

Only then Bhairab could be brought under control. On five
different plinths of the temple five different sets of figures
installed the images of goddesses

griffins

plinth,

on

of

the

next

The human

the highest

plinth, images

elephants

images of human beings

on

on
on

figures

the

plinth, images

of lions

fourth

were

on

the

plinth

of

third
and

the lowest plinth.

are

said to be the images of

tnd Patta, the two heroes of Mewad.

68

Jayamal

Nyatapola Dega (Temple)

He

was

religious minded. He had performed 'Koti Horn*

1786.B.E. (1729A.D.). His golden statue

three times. He died in

installed
stands

on

even

the capital of the stone pillar in front of the palace

to this

day.
Malla

Ranajit

After the death of Bhoopateendra, his

ascended the throne of
as

he ascended the

ted in his

He

was

throne,

834

son Ranajit Malla

N.E. (1714 A.D.) As soon

he put into circulation the coins min

He

was

man

of

own name.

kind and

Bhaktapur in

economical and

was

vastly learned.

peaceful temperament. He had col

lected many relics of ancient art. He had deep interest in musical

instruments. There

was

no

first to him in classical music. He

had written two religious plays known

'Ramayana'. But he had

was

very

amorous.

as

'Krishna charitra' and

weakness in his character.

one

of concubines. Bir Nara

Malla

Singh

was

his

heir-apparent by

his queen Buddhi Laxmi. By his other wives he had

He earned

He

Besides his legally married wives, he had lots

lot of

seven sons.

and silver from his trade

gold

with

Tibet. His policy with his neighbours was, however, not consis
tent. Sometimes he sided with

Kantipur, sometimes wth Lalitpur

and sometimes wih Gorkha for the benefit of his

But this policy of his served

than of his

own.

Nara

Nuwakot sent his

son

the condition of the

Ranajit

more

own

kingdom.

the interest of his enemies

Bhhopal when he failed in his invasion

on

Prithbi Narayan to Bhaktapur to study

Valley. He became

guest in the palace of

Malla. Prihbi Narayan Shah contracted friendship with

Bir Nara

Singh Malla. After fully studying the condition of the

Kathmandu valley, Prithbi Narayan Shah returned to Gorkha.

There

was

no

Valley. They

love lost between the

were

torn

with

neighbouring kings of the

jealousy and intrigues among

themselves. An event of small importance shows how true it

69

was.

>

'

Ranajit Malla wanted

to raise

'

'

palace. The sculptors of Kantipur being much

the sculptors of
Malla

jit by sending

the

of

some

Prakash

Jaya

some

them to break the

to

Bhaktapur.
of

request

pillar. The sculptors in compliance with the

as

if

was

broken

dismayed

at this.

by accident and it

into three pieces. Ranajit Malla felt very much

The sculptors, however, raised the pillar again in such

were

one

Rana

sculptors but he secretly instructed

of the

instructions let the pillar fall

if it

his

skilful than

more

sculptors
the

with

complied

front of

Malla asked Jaya Prakash

Bhaktapur, Ranajit

send

to

'

<

'

pillar in

stone

pillar and

no

one

could say that it

was

way

as

brpken.

Ranajit Malla being pleased with the sculptors rewarded them.

Jaya Prakash Malla also rewarded them when they
to

Kantipur.

given

to the

sculptors by Jaya Prakash Malla. When Ranajit

Malla knew this fact, he

year he

back

came

This led to the disclosure of the secret instruction

furious with rage and that very

was

imprisoned the citizens of Kathmandu, who had

witness the Bisket Jatra at

Bhaktapur

for

few

days.

come

to

In retalia

tion Jaya Prakash Malla also imprisoned the citizens of Bhakta

pur who had

come

to

Pashupati

on

the

occasion

Bala

of

Chaturdashi.
The six Pradhans of Lalitpur, after they had blinded and
deposed Rajya Prakash, brother of Jaya Prakash, invited Rana

jit Malla to be the king of Lalitpur

as

well.

Ranajit

was

glad

accept the invitation, thinking that he would then be much

powerful than Jaya

both

Lalitpur

and

Prakash Malla

Bhadgaon, but he

by becoming
was

not

to think that the six Pradhans who could

the

king

and

depose

passed since he became king of

while he

Lalitpur.

of

far-sighted enough
blind

Rajya Prakash could also do him harm. Hardly

performing the "Shraddha"

to

more

One

day

year

had
was

ceremony of his father at Shankha-

70

g.
w.

1
Q

mool he

was

the

of the

help

driven back to Bhaktapur. He thought of

"Nagas" to invade Kantipur. He had

Prithbi Narayan to attack and capture

seeking

even

urged
In the

Kathmandu.

meantime, Ranajit Malla's illegitimate sons got Bir Nara Singh,

the legitimate son murdered. While this sort of internal trouble
was

going on, Prithbi Narayan Shah captured

seven

villages

of Bhadgaon. Later on, he successively invaded and

Nuwakot, Kirtipur,

Kathmandu and Patan.

captured
Jaya Prakash Malla

and Tej Nara Singha Malla of Patan, both vanquished, fled to

Bhadgaon and hid themselves in the temple of- Dattatraya. Pri

thbi Narayan Shah asked Ranajit Malla to capture

over

to

and

hand

both the fugitive kings to him but Ranajit Malla refused

comply with his request. Prithbi Narayan Shah then laid

siege
kash

the palace. A battle

on
on

the

A bullet hit Jaya Pra

fought.
leg. At last Ranajit Malla surrendered. Jaya Prakash
was

Aryaghat. Tej Nara Singh was made

prisoner. Prithbi Narayan Shah wanted Ranajit Malla to be

died of the bullet wound at

a

the king of

some

villages outside the Kathmandu

Ranajit Malla who

Kashi

on

was

seventy five

pilgrimage. On his

way to

the top of Chandragiri, he had

glimpse

in which he found fault with himself

of the Kathmandu

goddesses

he hung up

was

was

the last Malla ruler of

great builder.

sorrowful song

pardon

of

big bell in

front of

he

A. D.)

the

and

got

drums) made and placed them

(1727 A. D.)
upon. In 847 N. E.

near

(1727 A. D.)

Bhaktapur. Like

In 857 N.E. (1737

two

847 N. E.

and begged

for his fault.

Ranajit Malla
his father he

but

pilgrimage when he reached

last

Valley. Then and there he composed and sang

-*ods and

valley

years old wanted to go to

55

huge

windows

"Nagada"

the bell

to be

in

(huge

played

he built a golden gate for

the entrance of the palace and Tulaja Bhawani temple. The gol-

71

den gate

was

artistically built. He added

and doors to those

many

more

already built by his father. In the

courtyards

name

wife Buddhi Laxmi and the Crown Prince Bir Nara

offered
screw

golden sari and

golden leaf

in the form of a

flower to Shree Shree Shree Barahi Devi,

72

of his

Singh he
pina-

The

of

Kingdom

Raya Malla
1482-1505 A D.
Subarna Malla

After Yaksha

Bhaktapur

Malla,

his eldest

son

Raya Malla

became king of Bhadgaon.

succeeded

Raya Malla

on

his death and

com

bated

famine successfully
introduced the
dance of Natoa Durga in Bhadgaon and Maha
Laxmi ip Bode.

Prana Malla
Biswa Malla

Trailokya Malla
Jagat Jyoti Malla
(1615 A.D.) 1680 B.E.
Narcndsa Malla

.(.Nar.esh Malla)
Jagat Prakash Malla

of Subarna Malla, ruled successively. The

temple of Dattatreya built by Bishwa Malla.
became king after Bishwa Malla.
sons

Introduced Bisket

Jatra of

Bhaktapur and

Rathajatra of Bhairab and Bhadrakali on the

1st of Baisabh and Kumari jatra of Thimi.
Invasion by routed Kirantis foiled #nd their
arms

gat

as

trophies .by Narendra Maha.

succeeded his father Narendra Malla

Hanumati Ghat and set up

built

images of gods and

goddesses.
Jitamitra Malla

succeeded his .father Jagat Prakash M.aUa and

constructed rest-houses and canals for public
use.

Bhoopateendra Malla

After the death of his father Jitamitra his step

mother's unsuccessful attempt to do away with

him; 4iis .accession $o the .throne in &r? >HM.

(1697 A.D.): he built

royal palace with

courtyards; he also re
novated the Bhairab temple at Taumadhitole
and built Nyatapola temple. His golden statue
on the capital of the stone pillar in front of
the palace.
55 windows and 99

Ranajit Malla

ascended the throne of Bhaktapur after the

death of his father Bhoopateendra Malla. His

policy with the kings of Kantipur and Lalitpur
consistent-Prithbi Narayan's stay at Bhakta

not

pur

palace with

acquainting himself

view to

with the condition of the Kathmnadu valley.

Political, social, religious and economic condition of Nepal

under the Mallas

Nepal

was

strong and powerful kingdom before it

divided into four different kingdoms, namely

was

Kantipur, Lalitpur,

Bhaktapur and Banepa and distributed among

his

arid

sons

daughter by Yaksha Malla. Since then Nepal became weak

litically, though it made headway
trade and

commerce

and

so

on.

in the fields of art,

This division

different kingdoms sowed the seed of

Malla rulers. Torn by hatred, and
selves in
them.

fighting

They could

a man even

Nepal

into

among

the

they engaged them

jealousy

among themselves. There

not rise to

of

dissension

po

literature,

was no

when

unity among

common

danger

faced them.

Bhaktapur, being the ancient capital of Nepal, the

of

Bhaktapur

considered themselves to be

Malla rulers of the

Valley. Kantpur, being

prosperous than the other

pur

kingdoms,

rulers

superior

to

other

bigger

and

more

the Malla rulers of Kanti

prided themselves in their superiority. The Malla rulers of

Lalitpur also considered themselves

74

no

less

superior

to the other

Malla rulers

of the

Valley.

Acting

engaged themselves in cutting

such

on

they

vainglory

another's throat. On the

one

eve

of the Gorkha conquest the condition of the Valley deteriorated

all the

drawn

more.
as

Never before

at this time.

able

but he

ruler,
bouring kings.

was

Jaya

fixed policy of his

him

own.

so

daggers

Prakash Malla was, of course,

by
happy with

not at all

were

many times.

Sometimes he

him.

Ranajit Malla had

sided

with

They

were

the

went to the extent of

Lalitpur the six Kazis

king-makers. They deposed and
were

tion by Jaya Prakash Malla while they

of

sons

to do any damned

dom had 'thus its

no

Ranajit Malla,

on

before

was

Kantipur, they
Malla.

the other hand,

internal trouble. To add to

love lost between the Malla rulers. They

looking for

at

Prakash

were

The

ready

thing for their personal interest Every king

own

ged in seeking the

even

put to great humilia

were

bent upon the destruction of Jaya

illegitimate

were

finishing the king who would not dance

at their beck and call. As the Kazis

were

no

Kantipur,

sometimes he sided with. Lalitpur. In

all in alL

an

his neigh

looked upon with suspicion

His courtiers

They plotted against

the Malla rulers at

were

this, there

always enga
Narayan Shah was

ruin of the other. Prithbi

suitable opportunity to invade Nepal and

the time

so

favourable

as

was

were

never

this.

Socio -economic condition:

During the Malla period all the social customs were go*
or regulated by religious injunctions. There were four

verned
main

classes,

namely

Brahmans,

Kshetriyas,

Baishyas

and

Sudras and 36 castes. Jayasthiti Malla, however, brought about

social reforms by

different callings for people of

prescribing

different castes. The Brahmans

ceptors. People belonging

were

to act

to the caste next

75

as

priests and

in

order

pre

of the

Brfehntehs

the erjuritry.
in

Some were

engaged

iri trade and commerce,

The lowest in the order of

agriculture.

administration of

given different posts in the

Were

society

others,
do

to

were

was also similarly divided

callings. The Buddhist monks who had returned

menial work. The Buddhist society

oh the basis of
to

household life

to theni in order
had their

own

were
were

to act

priests and preceptors. Next

as

the Bahras also known

callings.

as

Their main occupation

Shakyas. They
to make

was

gold

orhamehts. Next to the Banras in order were carpenters, ma

sons, seurptors, businessmen etc. The actual tillers of the soil

"Jyapus". As

were

based

different

ture of the

society

Was

largely responsible for the development

art and architecture. It

ployment

well.

as

largely solved

Trade

and

the

commerce

move

freely

vent child

society. There
in the society.

marriage, it

in vogue. It

was

was

no

man

with the

was

highly

given equal

They could

marriage

broken

not under

taboo, it

was

prevalent during

unem

made to pre

not

royal family

Hinduism and Buddhism

was

also

right

on
was

to

flimsy

largely

and the courtiers. A married

were

on

the ground of Sterility.

the two

main

religions

the Malla period. Shaivism and Vaisnavism

the two main sects of Hinduism. They

as

were

in Vogue. Widow

married for the second time, only

Malla period

were

not under taboo. Women reserved the

was

grounds. Though polygamy

practtice

also

Purdah system.

Though attempts

divorce, but the tie of marriage

in

question of
was

developed during the Malla period. Women

status in the

to different castes

respective callings. This struc

out to be efficient in their

eame

of

result of this division of society into castes

callings, people belonging

well. Shaivists who

were

there

during

worshipped Shiva

were

are

the
far

greater in number than the VaisnaViteS who practised non-vio

lence. Buddhism has also its two sectsHinayan and Mahayan,

16

but

Mahayanists

even

now

form the bulk

population. They regard Buddha

worship him

as

an

as

Buddhist

the

of

incarnation of God and

such. Tantricism was, however, the main cult

prevalent during the Malla period. Both Hindus and Buddhists

were

engaged in TANTRICISM. Almost ail gods and goddesses

were

installed and worshipped in conformity with the tenets of

Tantricism, Tulajabhavani,

strictly
Tantrics

in accordance

for

as

example,

worshipped

was

There were

with Tantricism.

With

the

Tantricism they worked wonders. A great havoc

was

as

and others.

Jamana Gubhaju

veteran

help

of

caused to

Buddhism in Nepal by Shankaracharya but because of the to

lerant attitude of the Buddhists they

were

living in

peace with

the Hindus. The Buddhists did not mind going to Pashupati Nath,

Guhyeshwari and worshipping other Hindu gods and goddesses.

The

Hindus, too, visited Swayambhu Nath,

and other Buddhist

temples. Though politically Nepal

ded into three different kingdoms, they

socially and culturally. There

cal unity

was

was

Nath

Matsyendra

were

was

bound

cultural unity,

divi

together

though politi

lacking.

During the reign of King Ratna Malla, Muslims were

allowed to settle in Nepal and profess their own religion peace
fully. They were not, however, allowed to proselytise and spread
their religion, nor were they allowed to slaughter cows.
People were god-fearing and superstitious. They were
afraid of the wrath of God and believed in ghosts and
Both the king and the

people had religious bent

spirits.

of mind and

were charitably disposed. They spent their money in build

ing temples, digging -wells and ponds and in constructing stone

they

water

spouts, rest-houses and

so on.

Grants of lands

were

made

available for their proper maintenance and repair and -also for
the annual

or

daily worship

bery, and cheating

were

of

gods and goddesses. Theft, rob-

almost unknown. Even business trans-

77

actions

carried

were

on mere

faith. There

ledgers and

were no

account-books.
Most of the festivals in the Valley had their
Malla

period. They

were

all

origin in the

given religious colouring.

a few, all the Malla kings

were

With the exception of

temples

religious minded. They built such beautiful

Krishna

as

Mandir, Nyatapola temple, Maha-Bauddha temple and other tem

ples of exquisite beauty.
Education and literature

Though imparting education

dered to be
no

one

to the

public

was

not consi

State, there

of the main functions of the

dearth of educated people in Nepal. Of course, there

schools and colleges in the modern

sense

was

were no

of the term, but the

Buddhist Bihars (monasteries) and the houses of the Brahmans

served the purpose. Buddhist monks and Brahmans could not

do without education.

They

well

were

versed

in

scriptures,

astronomy, mathematics, etc. Sons of businessmen, skilled arti

sans, courtiers would go to the Brahmans and Buddhist monks

for education.
tion

as

They received that much and that

sort of educa

their respective callings demanded of them. Most of the

Malla kings

were

also

highly educated. They

and authors. Some of them

Nepal

Bhasa,

were

being the

state

flourished along with Sanskrit.

were

language

Books

other forms of literature have been

on

found

of the

written

were

character and most of them

ascribed to the

were

time,

drama, poetry

Sanskrit and Nepal Bhasa. Plays

the

great poets

well versed in astronomy.

generally

both

and
in

religious in
authorship of

kings.
As printing presses

most of the books

were

were

not yet introduced into

in the form of

78

manuscripts. As

Nepal,

most of

the books

were

labouriously by hand, the number of

written

books to be available

was

limited. Books were, therefore, beyond

the reach of the general public.

The imparting of education was not then paid for. In
return, the pupils carried the orders and commands of the
teachers and tried to satisfy the teachers in every possible way.
Art and architecture developed

great deal

The Malla

the

under

kings kept themselves

patronage of the Malla kings.

engaged in building temples and in making their respective king
doms artistically beautiful. Pratap Malla in
Nara

in

Singh Malla

Kantipur, Siddhi
Lalitpur and Bhoopateendra Malla in Bhak

tapur by renovating their respective palaces made them artisti

cally beautifuL The temples of Swayambhu, Pashupati, Guhye

shwari, Bauddha Nath, of Nyatapola, Dattatreya,

of Krishna

Mandir, Maha-Bauddha
lese art of

even today stand as specimens of Nepa

exquisite beauty. Not only architecture, but sculpture,

painting, dancing, music, playing

instruments

also

were

highly

on

drums and other musical

Metal and

developed.

wooden

images of Buddhas, Taras and other Buddhist gods and goddesses

would be put

on

display for

'Shrawan'. Dances

week sometime in the month of

also in

vogue but

they

mainly
religious. Nava-Durga dance in Bhaktapur, Bhadrakali dance in
were

Kantipur, Harisiddhi dance, Kartik

dance in

were

Lalitpur which

are

still in vogue had their origin in the Malla period.

In the field of art, literature,

religion Malla
also achieved

easily

period
political unity,
seems

trade and commerce,

and

to have achieved progress. Had it

it would not have

succumbed

so

to the invasion from outside.

Administrative set up

At the apex

there

was

the

79

king.

Below him

were

the

priests

high officers

to

and

Pradhans, Maskeys, Amatyas

and preceptors,

help

in his

the king

and advise

othef

day-to-day
the

of

administration. Except religious injunctions and fear

limit to the power of the

revolt of the people there was no

king. In state affairs of great importance, sometimes the king
consulted or sought the advice of the people. When Jaya Prakash
Malla and Tej Nara Singh Malla fled to Bhadgaon after the fall
of

Kantipur and Lalitpur Ranajit Malla gave them political

people. Sada Shiva Malla

of the

asylum only with the consent

had to flee from the country as he went against the will of the
people. Jaya Prakash Malla could never be popular and get the

support of the people

he attached little

as

or no

importance to

the opinion of the people.

Village

or

Panchayats

town

self-government. The old and

town

men

the members of the local

-were

given the right to local

were

wise

ment seemed to have been inflicted

-of the village

began
As

to be -confiscated

people

were

or

not

were

so

on

those offenders who

according

the fifth

e.

to the

gravity of the offence.

many.

the

century

brea'k-up

of the Roman

period which extends from the second half !

to about the end of the tend

of the eleventh century

European

alive. European social life

its strictest

sense

Nepal

therefore,

was

was

or

the

beginning

eivQizataon enters into

Of darkness Taut Nepal under its rulers has

was,

given

the number of crimes committed

With the fall <of Rome and the

Empire i.

were

fined. Later on, properties also

were

God-fearing

the

panehayat. Capital punish

only

sought to overthrow the government. Minor offences

corporal punishment

or

marked

absent in

period
kept its civilisation

toy -feudalism

medieval

Nepal.

which im

Medieval

free from all the evils of feudalism.

The absence t laiage towns in western Europe, following

the downfall of the Roman

Empire,
little

or

no

progress in trade and

was

largely responsible for

commerce.

commerce with India and Tibet

was,
at that time.

Nepal's trade and

however, highly developed

The Muhammadans

Europe; Crusades

were carrying fire and sword into

being fought but there was religious

were

toleration in Nepal. Even Muslims when

they
settle in

Nepal

in India. India

came

from the

proselytyzing
Mughal Emperors,

while in

allowed to
even

under the sway of the Mughals and

tyzing began but Hinduism found

the

were

living peacefully. Islam made its way

were

a secure

proselyplace in Nepal (free

effect of Islam). Under the patronage of

Urdu and Persian languages

Nepal, Sanskrit

developed

and Newari flourished unchecked.

The general insecurity of life in Western Europe following

the death of Charlemagne in 814 A. D.

was

largely responsible

for the decline of art and architecture in Western Europe while

they developed to

great extent under the patronage of the

then rulers of Nepal.

During the Age

of

Revival,

of the two

one

phases of the

Middle Ages, which begins about the opening of the eleventh

century and borders

making
giving

slow

but

on

the

sure

fifteenth, European civilization

advances,

way to social order and

Revival of Learning

was

and feudal

anarchy

was

was

strong monarchy. Renaissance

or

another characteristic which marked

the last part of the medieval

period

in Europe.

Unlike Europe, Medieval China

also developed in
period of high cultural

was

Tang period
achievement, the golden Age of Poetry and sculpture, the Ming
every respect. If the

period opened

up

new

was

artistic fields in drama and novel and in

architecture.

81

Nepal under the Mallas:

a) Political
-

Malla rulers divided

among

themselves,

b) Socio-economic

different

callings

for

people of different castes led to their

efficiency in their respective callings
c) Religious

Hinduism,

other sects, Tantricism

d) Art
e) Education, Literature

f) Administration

82

Buddhism

prevalent

and

The

Kingdom

of Gorkha

When Alauddin, the Sultan of Delhi invaded and captured

Mewar, the ruling families of the Rajputs

Himalayas. Of the families which took
carved

kingdom

for

himself and

were

to the northern

to the

south, Shivajee

earned

in the family

Yasho Brahma Shah,

to

and

name

Prrthbi Narayan Shah, the founder of modern

which took to the northern

put to flight.

some

Some betook themselves to the south and

Nepal,

fame.

was

born

Himalayas.

descendant of the Rajputs who fled

Nepal from Mewar and who carved

out

small principality

at Pallo Nuwakot (West No. 4) and

Kaski, annexed
Lamjung also to his kingdom. After the death of Yasho Brahma
of their

own

Shah his eldest

son

Nara

Hari Shah ascended the throne of

Lamjung. Drabya Shah then left Lamjung and made his way for
Liglig. There was no love lost between the Ghale chieftain of

Liglig and

the

people. Taking advantage

of this situation

Shah attacked Liglig. In this task Drabya Shah

was

Drabya

helped by

Ganesh Pande, Bhagirath Pant, Ganga Rana, Narayan Aryal

and others. Backed by force and diplomacy

Drabya Shah

could

defeat the Ghale ruler of Liglig and became king himself.

Drabya Shah
with

Liglig

was

very ambitious. He

alone. He wanted to conquer and

83

was

not satisfied

annex

the

neigh-

bouring kingdom of Gorkha

as

With

well.

view to

bringing

about rupture between the ruler and the ruled Drabya Shah fist
sent Ganesh Pande, Bhagirath Pant and others to Gorkha. They
successful in their mission. The

were

Gorkha

led astray. As

were

simple-minded people

result, when

Gorkha, the people sided with

of

Drabya Shah invaded

Drabya Shah and

ruler of Gorkha having been killed in the

battle,

the Khadka
Gorkha

was

easily conquered. Drabya Shah ascended the throne of Gorkha in

Drabya Shah also conquered

1616 B.E. (1559 A.D.) After that

Siranchok and Ajigarh

two

important places from the strategic

of view. His brother Nara Hari Shah who ruled over Lam

point

at the

jung grew jealous

he, being the

Gorkha and

Liglig

tain his claim and retorted back that

of the

king
to

kingdoms which he had

So long

wess.

as

He

eldest in the family, should rule over

well, but Drabya Shah would not enter

claimed that

as

Drabya Shah.

poweT of

growing

their mother

none

won

but him could be the

by his valour and pro

alive, they

was

were

not allowed

fight each other. After the death of their mother Nara Hari

Shah tried to capture

Shah

was

of the

plot, he

ran

away to Gorkha.

invaded Gorkha but he

Drabya
administrator.
in their
the

Shah

Drabya

by treachery, but Drabya

too clever for Nara Hari Shah. As

own

people.

Shah

was

soon as

Afterwards,

he got scent

Nara Hari Shah

repulsed.

not only a conqueror but also a good

By allowing the people to enjoy their festivals
was

way without hindrance he

The local

people

were

won

the popularity of

recruited in the military and

given posts in the administration according to their merit. As

he declared himself to
was

be*

foreigner, that he

slowly wiped

Gorkhali king, the feeling that he

came

from outside the country

was

out.

He ruled for eleven years and died in 1627 B.E. (1570 A.D.)

84

Shah

Ram

After the

death of Drabya Shah his

son

Purendra Shah

became king. He ruled for thirty five years. When he died, his
son Chhatra Pati Shah succeeded him.
He hardly ruled for
seven

months when he died. As he died

issueless, his brother

Ram Shah ascended the throne of Gorkha in 1606 A. D.

He

was

not

administrator. He
a

only
was a

great Conqueror but

diplomat of the first order. He

kingdom

an

able

not

only extended the Gorkha

but also consolidated it.

Ram Shah

was

very ambitious. He

was

not satisfied with

the small principality which consisted of Liglig,

chok and

also

conscientious ruler, far-sighted and also

Ajirgarh. He

wanted to

Bam

carve

Shah

85

out

Gorkha,
bigger

Siran

Gorkha

Around Gorkha there

kingdom.

kingdoms

small

were many

ruled over by the Gurungs, Bhotias and the Rajputs, at whose

he increased
expenses he could aggrandize his kingdom. First,

strength. He raised a well disciplined and well trai

fully equipped. He then contracted friendship with

his military
ned army
the

powerful hilly kings

of

Palpa and Jumla and also with Sid

dhi Nara Singh Malla of Lalitpur. He then launched his

military

campaigns and conquered Barpak, Shyartan, Atharsaya Khola,

Ferung, Khari, Meghi Charage, Niwarchok, Dhading and other
territories

one

by

extended

far

as

He

one.

under his sway. As

even

brought the Sen king of Tanahu

result of these

Trisuli in the east,

as

conquests,

his

kingdom

Marshyandi in the west,

Rasuwa in the north and Mahabharat range in the south Fear

ing the growing power of Gorkha, the king of Lamjung invaded

Gorkha with

curbing its power but Ram Shah drove

Lamjung beyond Marshyandi. After that the

view to

back the army of

king of Lamjung did not venture to attack

Gorkha

for

the

second time.
Ram Shah

was

not

only

conqueror but also

He first of all turned his attention to improving

condition of the country.

There

were

no

fixed

reformer.

the

internal

and

uniform

weights and measures throughout his country. They varied from

place to place. In order to bring about uniformity in weights and
measures

he introduced uniform standard weights and

measures

throughout his country. By introducing administrative reforms

he

brought about administrative uniformity throughout his

kingdom. He fixed the rate of interest. In cash loans money
lenders
loan

were

was

in

not to

kind,

interest. If the loan

lender

was

charge

they
was

more

were

not

than

not to

repaid

10%

interest but if the

charge

to realise double the amount of the

86

more

than 25%

for ten years, the

money

principal,

if the

loan

was

in cash and

loan

was

in kind.

Arrangement
and every

village

amount of the

triple the

principal, if the

for grazing grounds for the cattle in each

was

Those who encroached upon the

made.

Trees
were
grazing grounds would be severely dealt with.
planted on either side of the road for the convenience of the

pedestrians. Those who cut down the trees would be severely

dealt with. He also introduced

dar,

etc.

titles

as

Corrupt officials would be given

Ram Shah
commerce

also

new

was

severe

punishment.

famous for justice. He improved the trade and

country by bringing merchants from Patan.- He

of the

brought

Kazi, Sardar, Khar-

new

lands under cultivation. In this way he

brought

about peace and prosperity in the country.

Like Siddhi Nara Singh, he
an

was

religious minded and had

ascetic bent of mind. On occasions he fasted and

penance. He could wield weapons of various kinds with

was

well-versed in

war

tactics. Himself

the scholars in his palace. His

palace

practised
ease

and

scholar, he respected

was

graced by

Lakhan

Thapa, the famous Magar sage. Towards the last part of his life
he abdicated himself in favour of his
an

son

Dambar Shah and led

ascetic life and in 1633 A.D. he died at the confluence of

Marshyandi

and Daroudi.
The

successors

of Ram hSah

After the death of Rama Shah his

son

Dambar

Shah

Krishna

Shah,
became king of Gorkha. After Dambar Shah,
Rudra Shah and Prithbipati Shah ascended the throne of Gor
kha in succession. Prithbipati Shah

was

weak ruler.

Taking

advantage of this, Lamjung attacked Gorkha and occupied some

however, be
its territories. Those lost territories could,

pf

reconquered by

clever stroke of diplomacy of RanaduUa Shah,

a son

of

Prithbipati Shah. Ranadulla Shah,

having picked

up

quarrel with his father,

king

and served the king there. He led the

was
was

the

on

of

pretext

Lamjung

went to

to believe that he

really sincere and the rupture between him and his father
also real. Acting on this belief the king of Lamjung appoin

ted him governor of all the territories he had

from

captured

Gorkha. He kept quiet till he had consolidated his power and

He then secretly sent

position there.

message to his father

asking him to attack the territories. He sided with his father

and the territories
As

easily fell ino the hands of Prithbipati Shah.

result of this act of

his,

popular with his

he became very

father. His brother Bir Bhadra Shah

was

afraid that his father

would make him (Ranadulla Shah)

his

successor.

Shah tried to make his brother believe that he had

for the throne. But when he

saw

that his brother

vinced, he committed suicide. Bir Bhadra

was

Ranadulla
no

was

ambition
not

con

greatly shocked

at the death of his brother. He became diseased and

soon

he died, leaving his baby

at Tanahu

at Tanahu. His wife

son

when he died. Now Prithbipati Shah

was

nobody

to succeed him.

of Bir Bhadra born of his wife at

baby

son

ever,

brought

the death of

to

Gorkha and made the

Prithbipati Shah, Narabhupal

after

very much worried

was

about the question of succession. His another

blind and there

was

son

Dala Shah

Narabhupal,
Tanahu,

was

heir-apparent.

was

the
how

After

ascended the throne

of Gorkha in 1716 A. D.

As

soon

as

Narabhupal ascended the throne he hoped

to

conquer the warring states of the Kathmandu valley. He knew

that the kings in the Valley

^engaged. Jn, internecine

war.

were

Before

38

at

daggers drawn and

Were

conquering the Kathmandu

valley he

had to conquer Nuwakot, the gateway to Nepal proper.

So in 1737 AD.he sent an army under the command of Jayanta
Rana and Maheswar Pant to attack Nuwakot but they

badly

defeated and Narabhupal Shah could

to attack

Nepal. Afterwards, Narabhupal spent

in devotion and
carried

on

as

such his

senior

most of his time

Prabha

Chandra

queen

were

again venture

never

the day-to-day administration of the country. Nara

bhupal died in 1742 A. D. and afer his death his son Prithbi
Narayan Shah, the conqueror of the Kathmandu valley, ascen
ded the throne pf Gorkha.
Prithbi Narayan Shah
was born in 1722 A D. by the second
Kaushalya Devi of Narabhupal Shah. He grew up under the

Prithbi Narayan Shah

queen

fostering

care

of the elder queen Chandra Prabhabati and at

the age of fourteen he

of Hemakarna

was

married to Indra

Sen, King of

alliance proved to be

failure

developed with the king

of

Kumari, daughter

Makwanpur, But this matrimonial

misunderstanding and rupture

as

Makwanpur.

So in

1717

A. D.

he married Narendra Lakshmi, daughter of Abhiman Singh,

Rajput

of Kashi

After
Shah
He

death

the

ascended
was

(Benares).

the

of

Narabhupal,

throne

only twenty

in

old

years

throne. Prithbi Narayan Shah

Prithbi

1799 B.

was an

E.

when

Narayan

(1742 A.

D.)

he ascended

ambitious king. He

the

was

not

satisfied with the small principality of Gorkha. He wanted to

aggrandize

his

kingdom

at the .expense of the

mandu valley. During the

reign

of

kings

Narabhupal

of the Kath

Shah he

was

sent

to Bhaktapur to get the first-hand information of the Kathmandu

valley. As

Bhaktapur,

guest of Ranajit Malla, he stayed in the palace of

He

developed close friendship with

89

the Crown Prince

Bir Narasimha. After acquainting himself with the condition of

the Kathmandu valley Prithbi Narayan Shah returned to Gor
kha and when

Narabhupal Shah

came

to know of the condition

of the Kathmandu valley, he in his eagerness to capture the

kingdoms

Bhaktapur invaded

of Kantipur and

gateway to the Kathmandu

ted and could not

even

valley,

NUwakot,

was

badly

the

defea

think of the second invasion and at last

he died. Prithbi Narayan Shah

the

but he

also,

soon

after his accession to

throne, invaded Nuwakot. Like his father,

Prithbi

Narayana Shah

90

he had to suffer

deieat

the hands of the Malla rulers. Prithbi Narayan

at

now sure

that unless his army

was

well

equipped there

chance for his army to conquer Nepal.

Benares, bought

He,

and ammunitions and

arms

back. He inva

ded Nuwakot for the second time. This time Kashi Ram

under whose command the troops from Kantipur

fight with Prithbi Narayan Shah

was

to

went

then,

came

was

was no

were

Thapa
sent to

defeated. Nuwakot

was

then annexed to the kingdom of Gorkha.

Encouraged by the
Belkot

some

Prithbi Narayan Shah invaded

success

five miles away from Nuwakot and defeated the

troops under Jayanta Rana.

Prithbi Narayan Shah then captured Dahachowk,

Deurali, Sunkosi

and Dolakha

one

by

one

(1757 A.D.) he invaded Kirtipur. A fierce battle

The Gorkhali forces could not stand

forces of Kantipur,

and

Lalitpur,

Lamidada,

and in

1814 B.E.

was

the

against

fought.

combined

Bhaktapur. Prithbi Narayan

Shah had to suffer heavy losses at the hands of the Malla ru:
lers. Kalu Pandey and many other officers of Prithbi
Shah lost their lives. Prithbi
narrow

escape. The Gorkhali

troops

were

then put to rout.

Prithbi Narayan

Undaunted by the defeat,

Narayan

himself had

Narayan Shah

Shah again

attacked Kirtipur in 1764 A. D. Circa. This time also he had to

suffer defeat at the hands of the Mallas. His brother Sura Pra

tap Shah also lost

one

of his eyes.

Now Prithbi Narayan Shah realised that

be conquered only by force,

so

with

view

Nepal could not

to

bringing about

misunderstanding between the ruler and the ruled and

between the rulers themselves he sent his

Bhaktapur and Lalitpur in disguise. To

men

also

to Kantipur,

large extent they

were

successful in their task. In the meantime, Prithbi Narayan Shah

captured

Dhulikhel,

Chaukot,

91

Panauti,

Khadpur,

Banepa,

other states and

Makawanpur and

Chisapani, Hariharpur,

brought about economic blockade

Sindhuli,

Pharping,

Nala, Dharmathali, Chitlang,

Shyangja,

to the Kathmandu

valley.

Kasim, the Nawab of Bengal, having been defeated at the

Mir

hands of the English, turned his attention to

Nepal for aggran

dizement Mir Kasim sent his troops under the command of his
General Gurgin Khan
were

(Gurupinkhan)

to invade

Nepal, but they

defeated at the hands of Prithbi Narayan Shah.

Prithbi

Narayan Shah then invaded Kirtipur for the third time.

this battle the
very

bravely.

Kirtipures

(the inhabitants of

In

Kirtipur) fought

Even females fell fighting in the battle. As all

the outlying posts fell into the hands of Prithbi Narayan Shah,

Kirtipur

could receive

no

supplies from outside. At last the Kir

tipures had to surrender. As

of

Prithbi

Narayan

off the tips of the

noses

soon as

Kirtipur fell into the hands

Shah

he

of the

Kirtipures. This he did in retalia

ordered

tion for the loss of his brother's sight in

Jaya Prakash
he
To

now

his

men

the previous

to

cut

battle.

realised the gravity of the danger to which

exposed. He asked for help with the East India Company.

help Jaya Prakash the East India Co. sent some troops under

was

the command of

Captain Kinloch. The Gorkhali troops defeated

them in the battle of

Hariharpur.

On the 14th of
Shah invaded

Bhadra, 1825 B.E. (1768 A.D.) Prithbi Narayan

Kantipur. It was the day of Indra Jatra so all the

people including Jaya Prakash

Jaya. Prakash collected
Prithbi

some

Narayan Shah. Against

bi Narayan Shah
not stand.

engaged in merry-making.

the well equipped army of Prith

handful of Jaya Prakash Malla's troops could

Jaya Prakash fled

hands of Prithbi

were

troops in haste and fought against

to

Lalitpur. Kantipur fell into the

Narayan Shah. Some months after this Prithbi

Narayan Shah invaded Lalitpur

as

92

well.

Owing

to the

treachery

cjbuiri

offer little

resistance

or

the six Pradhans

to

Prithbi Narayan Shah. Lalitpur easily fell into the hands

of

Prithbi Narayan Shah.

Lalitpur

Or rto

Bhaktapur.

In 1771 A. D. Prithbi Narayan Shah invaded

Before laying

siege

Bhaktapur he

on

Malla asking him to hand

sent

letter to

Ranajit

Tej

and

Jaya Prakash Malla

over

Narasimha Malla to him. Ranajit Malla, however, refused to do

so.

people he (Ranajit Malla) rather

In consultation with his

gave them

political asylum. But owing to the treachery of Rana

jit Malla's illegitimate

easily

enter

Malla

saw

was

struck by

that he had

outside the

no

hope

bullet

on

king of Bhaktapur

was

of his success, he

surrendering,

they

three kings

were

hung his

staying.

saw

some

Gorkhali soldiers went to the Chaukot palace

The Malla

days. Jaya

stopped

then accompanied by

Shah,

very

the leg. When Ranajit

window. When the Gorkhalese

palace

Prithbi Narayan

Narayan Shah could

The siege lasted for three

Bhaktapur.

Prakash Malla

Prithbi

sons

crown

that the

fighting.

well-armed

where

all

the

thus fallen

kings having

into their hands, the Gorkhalese burst into

Jaya Prakash flew into

rage and

laughter. At this
said, "O Gorkhalese ! you could

laugh to-day because of the treachery of

they

not

betrayed us,

Now

we

are

in your

we

our

could have given you

hands, do whatever

us". Tej Nara Singh did not

even

own

men

Had

good lesson.

you want to do with

look at the Gorkhalese. When

Prithbi Narayan Shah told Ranajit Malla that he had to suffer

the fate of the other

kings

to

kings

as

he did not hand

over

the

fugitive

him, Ranajit Malla retorted; 'Jaya Prakash Malla had

not come here when you occupied my seven villages, namely,

Nala, Dhulikhel, Banepa, Sankhu Chaukot, Panauti, and Sangga".

According

Aryaghat

at

to his wish

Pashupati

Jaya Prakash Malla

and there he died.

93

was

Ranajit Malla

taken to
was

sent

to

Kasi-(Banaresj. Tej

express his wish

was

The fall of

Nara

Singh

.imprisoned

as

he kept quiet

and did

Kantipur, Lalitpur

and

Bhaktapur marked

the end of the Malla (dynasty and the beginning of the

dynasty in the history

Narayan Shah

on

of

not

for life.

Shah

Nepal and with the accession of Prithbi

the throne of

new era.

94

Kantipur Nepal enters into

The

Kingdom

of Gorkha

Rajputs of Mewar

carved out

Yasho .Brahma Shah

and Kaski:

descendant of the said

annexed Lamjung to the

principality

at Pallow-Nuwakot

principality

Mewar Rajputs.
Narahari Shah

eldest

succeeded Yasho Brahma Shah

son.

Drabya Shah

left

second

unpopular ruler,, Drabya Shah

defeated him and became king. He next invaded
and conquered Gorkha by defeating Khadka
ruler. He conquered Siranchowk and Azirgarh.
Narahari Shah's attack repulsed by Drabya

son

Lamjung

chieftain

for LIGLIG

where the Ghale

was an

Shah.

Purendra Shah

Succeeded' Drabya Shah.

Ghhatrapati Shah

Succeeded Purendra Shah and died' issueless

Rama Shah

Succeeded his elder brother

Chhatrapati Shah,
aggrandised' himself at the expense of his neigh
bouring principalities, contracted friendship
with the kings of Palpa and Jumla,
and Siddhi Narasingh Malla of Lalitpur, brought
the Sen king of
Tanahu under his sway, attack
from Lamjung repulsed; his) reforms.

Dambar Shah

succeeded Rama Shah

KrwhiMS&ab

succeeded Dambar Shah.

succeeded Krishna Shah.

Rudra Shah

Prithbipati Shah

succeeded Rudra Shah, lost

tories to

some

of the

Cerri

Lamjung but could be recovered by

clever stroke of diplomacy of Ranadulla Shah

Nara

Bhupal Shah

ascended the throne of Gorkha, attempted to

conquer

Nuwakot, gateway

to

Nepal

but could

not.

Prithbi Narayan Shah

succeeded Narabhupal Shah, invaded Nuwakot

but got
repulsed, conquered it in his third
attempt. He then conquered the out-lying districts

of Nepal, invaded Kirtipur but suffered defeat,

made

an

economic blocade to Kathmandu valley,

defeated Mir Kasim iNawab of Bengal's troops

under his General Gurdin Khan and invaded

Kirtipur for

the third

time. Fall of

Kirtipur,

defeat of the

troops sent by East India Com

pany under the command of Captain Kinloch
to

fall

help Jaya Prakash, king of Kantipur,

of Kantipur, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

End of Malla
Shah

dynasty
dynasty in Nepal.

and the

Middle

Century

Nepal

5th-llth

beginning of

new era

under

Ages

Europe

India

China

Growth of civiliza- Decline in civili-

Growth of

Growth of

tion and culture

Muslim

Chinese

culture

civilization

zation and culture

(Dark Ages)

under Tan
and

Ming

dynasties
llth-15th
.

Development of
.Sanskrit

and

Newari literature

Age of Revival developCivilization

was

making slow but

sure

advances

ment

Urdu and

in

drama

Persian

literature

96

develop

mentof

novel and
,

archiWstwe

APPENDIX

Politically Nepal has

chequered

career.

It

saw

the rise

and fall of many dynasties. The first dynasty whose mention

is found in the chronicles of

Nepal

is the

the dynasty of Cowherds. After the Gopal

Ahir dynasty.

But much light

has

not

Gopal dynasty i.e.

dynasty

the

comes

yet been thrown

on

these two dynasties. Extensive research work is needed before

detailed and authentic accounts of these dynasties
The Kirant dynasty also ruled

over

Nepal for

can

be given.

pretty long time.

The Kirant dynasty was, however, superseded by the Soma

was superseded by the Lichchhavi
dynasty The Lichchhavi dynasty is supposed to be the golden

dynasty which, in its turn,

period in the history of Nepal. The rise of ihe Malla dynasty is

another landmark in the history of Nepal. Under the fostering
care

and patronage of the Malla Kings, Nepalese arts and

chitecture developed

internal strife and torn

ar

lot The Malla dynasty weakened

by
by hatred and jealousy and intrigues

of the Malla rulers of the

kingdoms of Kathmandu,
owing to the betrayal of the com

petty

Bhaktapur and Lalitpur

also

manders and the short

sightedness

of the

Malla rulers

suc

cumbed to the invasion of the Shah King Prithbi Narayan Shah

from Gorkha

sraali

principality

97

to the west of Kathtnaridu,

The late King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is the tenth
Prithbi Narayan Shah, founder of modern
of the line of

King

Nepal.
Two hundred years have
came

passed since the Shah dynasty

to power. In between this

period

the royal power

was

the Rana Prime Ministers who became the de facto

usurped by

rulers of Nepal for

one

hundred and four years. Only in 1951

A. D. with the concerted action of late

King

Bikram Shah Dev and his people could the Ranarchy be

thrown and power

was

Bir

Tribhuvan

over

transferred from the last Rana Prime

Minister to the King,

All along its history Nepal has been
all is rulers
power.

were

autocrats with

Though autocrats,

no

monrchical state and

constitutional limits

on

their

most of the rulers must be said to

have been benevolent and only with the coming of democracy

in

Nepal in

1951

political rights

were

granted

to the

people:

After the overthrow of the Elected Government in 2017 B.S.

(I960 A.D.), Panchayat democracy

able

leadership

of the

was

late King His

introduced under the

Majesty Mahendra Bir

Bikram Shah Dev. It is hoped that the tasks which have

mained
and

so

far incomplete will be completed by his

successor

worthy

re

son

the present King His Majesty Birendra Bir Bi

kram Shah Dev.

9&

INDEX

Ahir

Bhaskar Malla

Avir

15 Bheem Malla

Ajatashatru

17

Akbar

32,3^

Bhog Varma of Mankhari

Bhoomi Varma

Amar Malla

32

Bhoopalendra Malla

Amatya

26

Bhoopatendra Mallift_

Amshuvarma

11

Bhritkuti

Aridev Malla

21 Bhuban Laxmi
6 Bhuban

Ashoka's visit to Nepal

Augustine

Singh

13 Bisket Jatra

St.

Brisha Varma
10

Baisali
Baisi Dhara

Bajrajogini

48,48/49 Chabahil
32,33,48^ Chalukyas

Bajra

38 Changu Narayana

Banepa

29

Bhajukas

68 Charumati

Bhagirath

Panta

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaskar Varma

Charlemagne

83 Chikuti

Chobhar

8,9,10 Confucious

99

Constahhne

si

Gorkha

81 Greeks

Crusades

Gunakama Deva
61 Gupta rulers

Dattatreya Temple

65 Gurgin Khan

92

Dayabati

44

Devapal

'6 Hanuman

Devapatan

28 Harisiddhi

Deepaka

27

Dalamardan

raga

Dharmakara

Drabya Shah

Hari

Elizabethan Period

10

22

Singh (Simha) Dev

13

Harita Tara

14

Harsha Deva

83,85

Harshavardhana

East India Company

38,39/39

Dhoka

5,12
25

VII
92 Henry
Homer
16
Huen

Fahien

13

Firoz Shah

28

12

Tsang

Jagat Jyoti Malla

66,73

Jaisi Dewal

52

Jatras

32

13

Franks

Jaya Prakash Malla 42-49 43,53Ganesh Panday

Ganga

Rana

Ganga Rani

54,60,71

83

Jayasthiti Malla

83

34 Jeremial

Jews

Gasti

Gautama Buddha

6 Jitedasta

Ghale ruler
Godawari
Gokarna

Gorkh Nath

23

9J"

Jyapus

6
76

6,11 Kailashkut Bhawan

27 Kaku

100

12
31

Kala Bhairab
Kalu

Panday

47 Lingas

46 Lombards

13

Kantipur

32

Karnatak dynasty

14 Maha Buddha temple

Kashiram Thapa

gd Mahavir

Kathmandu

Kaushalya

Devi

3}4 Mahayanists
89 Mahendra

Si

Malla

77

33

Khadka ruler

94rMahipatendra

Kinloch

iff Malla Dynasty

21

Kirtipur (Keertipur)

4g Mana Deva I

10

Kirtipures

47

Managriha

11

Kiranti dynasty

Krishna Mandir

j54/5

40,63

Manjushree

Mesopotamian Kingdom

9^

Kubla Khan

28

Kumaree

66 Mir Kasim

9L

Kumbheshwar

27 Mohan chowk

3d

Kusha Dhoj

Lakhan

Thapa

Lalitpattan
Lalitpur

Ming Dynasty

4 Moti

Singh

Mughals

81

Mukunda Sen

31

8' Muslims
6

55,62 Narabhoopal Shah

Lakshmi Narasimha Malla

35 Narahari Shah

Lamjung

83

Lao Tse
Laxmi Narayana

Lear
Lichchhavi Dynasty

Liglig

Narayan Aryal

7 Narendra Dev

41,52 Narendra Malla

29

Nepal Mahatmya

9,10 Nimish
83

23, 24

Nripendra Malla

101

Nuwakot

46

Nyatapola temple

Raniban

34

(038rft&, 50

6g/69- Ranipokhari
Ratna Malla

29

Raya Malla

29

Panchayats

80 Renaissance

81

Parthibendra Malla

40 Riddhi Lakshmi Devi

41

Pallavas of

Conjiver

21

um

7,9 Roman Republic

Pashupati Nath

Patuka

16 Sada Shiva Malla

Pericles
Persian Empire

7 Sen king of Tanahu

Prachanda Dev

Pratap Malla

Shankaracharya

45,63,70 Shweta

Pradhans six

86

10,15
13

Tara

36-40, 36/37 Shreenivas Malla

Prithbi Narayan Shah

33

46-48, Siddhi Nara Singh Malla

51,57,62

55,56,
62

90/91,93
Pulakesin II

Simrongarh

22,24

Purana

3 Shiva Deva

12

Shiva Singh Malla

Raj alia Devi

23 Solar Dynasty

Rajputs of Mewar

9JpSoma

34,62
9
'

Vamshi

Malla

32

Soorya

Rajyabati

10

Rajya Prakash

45 Sthunko
14 Subarna Malla

Rajyamati
Ramachandra, Lava,
Rama

Shah

Rana

Malla

27 Sui

Kusha

85,86

Dynasty

87

"

Purana

73
5

Sura Pratap

29 Swayambhoo

Ranadulla Shah

Ranajit Malla

46

Chaitya

10
3

45,48,60,

69/71,

74 Tan

102

Dynasty

9lf

Tang Dynasty
Tantricism

Tej Narasingh
Tibet

Tsrong Tsong Gyampo

Tulaja Bhawani

14,81 Vishnu Malla

34 Vishwajit Malla

Vaishali

64

4^,61,64,71
7,11,12,15

Yaksha Malla

29

12

Yalambar

23,24,31

Yasho Brahma Shah

Yoga Narendra Malla

Unmatta Bhairab

63

83

58,59,63

27

9,10 Zoroaster

103

Printed at HMG Press, Kathmandu.