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History y <strong>of</strong><br />

Nepal<br />

With an Introductory y Sketch <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Country and People <strong>of</strong> Nepal<br />

- Daniel Wright<br />

Reprint<br />

New Delhi, Madras<br />

Asian Educational Services 1990<br />

First Published 1877<br />

Downloaded & Uploaded by – Ravi Shakya<br />

Ikhachhen -22 Lalitpur<br />

ravishakyaus@yahoo.com<br />

y @y<br />

9849087328


TRANSLATED FROM THE PARBATIYA<br />

BY<br />

MUNSHI SHEW SHUNKER SINGH<br />

PANDIT SHRi GUNANAND<br />

HISTORY OF NEPAL<br />

WITH AN INTRODUCTORY SKETCH<br />

OF THE<br />

COUNTRY AND PEOPLE OF NEPAL


(Plate I)<br />

SIR o.TUNG BAHADUR, G C B ,GC SI,<br />

PRIME MINISTER OF NEPAL<br />

''


TRANSLATED FROM THE PARBATIYA<br />

BY<br />

MUNSHI SHEW SHUNKER SINGH<br />

PANDIT SHRI GUNANAND<br />

HISTORY OF NEPAL<br />

WITH AN INTRODUCTORY SKETCH<br />

OF THE<br />

COUNTRY AND PEOPLE OF NEPAL<br />

DANIEL WRIGHT<br />

ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES<br />

NEW DELHI* MADRAS* 1990


ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.<br />

* C-2/15, S D A NEW DELHI-110016<br />

* 5 SRIPURM\ FIRST STREET, MADRAS-600014<br />

Pnce Rs 195<br />

First Publrshed 1877<br />

AES Repnnt 1 990<br />

ISBN 81-206 0552-7<br />

Published by J Jetfey<br />

for ASIAN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES<br />

C-2/15 SDA New Delhl-11 00 16<br />

Processed by APEX PUBU CATION SERVICES<br />

NewDelhr-110016<br />

Pnnted


V1<br />

PREFACE<br />

I am not myself an Oriental scholar, and have had<br />

nothing to do with the translation beyond revising it<br />

for publication, and adding a few notes regarding the<br />

customs and places melll.tioned. The work translated<br />

is the V ansavali or Genealogical History <strong>of</strong> Nepal,<br />

0<br />

according to the Buddhist recension. The original<br />

manuscript, written in Parbatiya with an admixture <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Sanskrit</strong> and N ewarr, is in the possession <strong>of</strong> Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

Cowell. There is another redaction, or at all events a<br />

similar work, recognised by the Gorkhas and Hindu<br />

races <strong>of</strong> the country, copies <strong>of</strong> which are in the British<br />

Museum and the University Library <strong>of</strong> Oambr1dge.<br />

At the present time the orthography <strong>of</strong> Oriental<br />

prope:r names is somewhat unsettled. In general,<br />

throughout the History, the names have been written<br />

as nearly as possible in the1r original form, the vowels<br />

having the Itahan sounds. The different sounds <strong>of</strong> the<br />

letters d, t, s and sh, in <strong>Sanskrit</strong>, have not been systema­<br />

tically ind1cated by points or otherwise. The Munshi<br />

<strong>of</strong>ten uses kh for sh, J for y, and b for v. In the names<br />

<strong>of</strong> some well-known places, and in such familiar words as<br />

Du1·bar, Jung, etc., the usual spelhng has been retained,<br />

mor.e espeotally in the Introduction. Some names may<br />

be found. spelled differently in dtfferent places, but this is<br />

usually not owing to any mistake, but because the words<br />

have inten onally been given as written in the original<br />

manuscript


PREFACE. Vll<br />

The Illustrations are copies <strong>of</strong> drawings made for m.e<br />

by a native <strong>of</strong> Nepal. Though not <strong>of</strong> m.uch value as<br />

works <strong>of</strong> art, they convey a very fair idea <strong>of</strong> the places<br />

and objects represented.. The Portraits are from photo ..<br />

g;raphs taken by a friend.<br />

The Appendix contains, among other things, a short<br />

vocabulary, Parbatiya and Newa1·I; some Newa1.I songs:.<br />

with a literal translation ; and a list <strong>of</strong> the manuscripts<br />

wh1ch I ha.ve procured for the University Library <strong>of</strong><br />

(...\:t.i.JJ bri.dge. These, -though <strong>of</strong> slight interest to the<br />

general reader, may, I am told, prove interesting to<br />

Oriental scholars.<br />

In conclusion, I must acknowledge my obligations to<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Cowell <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong>, and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Eggeling <strong>of</strong><br />

Edinburgh,. both <strong>of</strong> whom have given me much assistance<br />

in the correct writing <strong>of</strong> <strong>Sanskrit</strong> words. My brother,<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor W. Wrigh-t <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong>, has greatly helped<br />

me in revising the pro<strong>of</strong>-sheets and superintending the<br />

pubhshing <strong>of</strong> the work, the cost <strong>of</strong> which has been most<br />

liberally undertaken by the Syndics <strong>of</strong> the University<br />

Press at <strong>Cambridge</strong>.<br />

CAMBRIDGE,<br />

12th January, 1877<br />

DANIEL WRIGHT.


DESCRIPTION OF THE PLATES. XV<br />

PLATE XI, p 174<br />

SPECIMENS OF SEVERAL FORMS OF CR.A.ITY.A.S<br />

The central one IS an old, pure Buddhist, mound-temple That to<br />

the left 1s a more modern Buddhist form The one to the nght Is a<br />

miXed H mdii and Buddhist shrme, comb1nmg th€' hnga and Jalhali Wlth<br />

Bua dhlst figures<br />

PL.A.TE XII, p 193<br />

G.A.TEW.A.Y AND WINDOW OF THE DURBAR BUILT AT EHATGAON, AD 1697,<br />

BY RAJA BHUPATINDRA MALLA.<br />

The oval In the centre <strong>of</strong> the carved wmdow, immediately abo-ve<br />

the door, contams the p1ece <strong>of</strong> glass ment10ned m. the te:x:t<br />

PLATE XIII, p 213<br />

THE PRAYER COMPOSED, AND WRITTEN IN FIFTEEN CHARACTERS, BY RAJA<br />

PRATAPA M.A.LL.A., AD 1654.<br />

It is 1nscnbed on a stone, bruit Into the wall <strong>of</strong> the Palace at<br />

Kathman


8 HISTORY OF NEPAL. (CHAP.<br />

The principal peaks <strong>of</strong> the snowy range seen from<br />

Kukan1 are: Mount Everest, 29,000 feet; Gosain<br />

Than, 26,000 feet; Yasa and Mutsiputra, 24,000 feet;<br />

and the so-called Diwalg1ri, 26,800 feet. There are<br />

many intermedtate peaks, and on a favourable day<br />

the snow may be seen from K1nchinJunga on the east to<br />

Diwalg1ri on the west, stretclnng over at least 120<br />

degrees <strong>of</strong> the l1orizon.<br />

The principal valleys seen from the pass are the Liku<br />

and Taddi Kholas and the valley <strong>of</strong> N oakot Through<br />

the latter runs the Trisul Gunga, a large and rap1d<br />

stream, afterwards known as the Gundtlk. All these<br />

valleys are fertile and well cultivated, and being much<br />

lower than the valley <strong>of</strong> Nepal are <strong>of</strong> course warmer,<br />

and produce in ahundance all the fruits found in the<br />

plains <strong>of</strong> Hindustan<br />

No Europeans are allowed to cross the Trisul Gunga,<br />

though there is an excellent bridge about four miles from<br />

the town <strong>of</strong> N oakot.<br />

On reach1ng the top <strong>of</strong> the Chandragiri pass, a<br />

stranger is at once impressed with an 1dea <strong>of</strong> the<br />

denseness <strong>of</strong> the population <strong>of</strong> the valley. Bes1des three<br />

large towns, which are conspicuous obJects 1n the v1ew,<br />

there are many smaller towns and innumerable hamlets,<br />

studded all over the h1gher grounds and slopes <strong>of</strong><br />

the hills ; and in addition to these, in almost every<br />

field there appears to be a cottage The natives themselves<br />

estimate the population <strong>of</strong> the valley at about<br />

half a million, and probably this is not far from the<br />

truth<br />

The names <strong>of</strong> most <strong>of</strong> the towns and villages will<br />

be ment1oned 1n the <strong>history</strong>, so it is only necessary here


I.) INTRODUCTORY SKETCH. 9<br />

to g1ve a short description <strong>of</strong> the present cond1tion <strong>of</strong> a<br />

few <strong>of</strong> the most important.<br />

Kathmandu, the capital <strong>of</strong> Nepal, stands near the<br />

..<br />

centre <strong>of</strong> the valley, in Lat 27°42"N, and Long. 85()36'E.<br />

It is situated at the JUnction <strong>of</strong> the Bagrnat1 and Vlshnumati<br />

rivers, but lies closer to the latter, extending<br />

along its eastern bank for about a 1n1le. When seen<br />

from above, 1ts shape is very 1rreg ular, but It is said<br />

by the natives to resemble the Khora or sword <strong>of</strong> Devi.<br />

It Is known by several nan1es, such as Yindesi, Kant1pur,<br />

and Kathmadu or Kathmandu It is sa1d to have been<br />

founded by Rt\Ja Gunakamadeva, In the Kal1gat year<br />

3824 (A D 723)<br />

The town IS built on no regular plan; but the main<br />

street may be sa1d to run nearly north and south, and<br />

1t is crossed at var1ous angles by several others, whjle<br />

between these is a network <strong>of</strong> narrow dark lanes. The<br />

population, Including that <strong>of</strong> the suburbs, 1s stated at<br />

50,000) but probably 30,000 would be nearer the truth.<br />

The houses are from two to four stories high, and arc:'<br />

all built <strong>of</strong> br1ck and tiled, except i11 the suburbs, where<br />

the ro<strong>of</strong>s are <strong>of</strong> thatch. The better class <strong>of</strong> buildings is<br />

elaborately ornamented with plaster and paintings, and<br />

the houses In general possess large projecting wooden<br />

wmdows or balconies, which are r1chly carved. Some <strong>of</strong><br />

the w1ndows represent a peacock with outspread tail ;<br />

others contain groups <strong>of</strong> figures <strong>of</strong> gods, men, griffins,<br />

horses, birds, l1zards, etc , and are surrounded by garlands<br />

<strong>of</strong> flowers. The carving, as a rule, is bold and wellexecuted,<br />

but the best specimens are to be found on the<br />

older buildings, as the taste for it seems to be dying<br />

out. In several parts <strong>of</strong> the town 1there are small open<br />

spaces, paved l1ke the streets \Vlth brick and stone. In


I2 HISTORY OF NEPAL. (CHAP.<br />

there is a stagnant ditch, full <strong>of</strong> putrid mud, and no<br />

attempt is ever made to clean these thoroughly. The<br />

streets, 1t is true, are swept in the centre, and part <strong>of</strong> the<br />

filth is carried <strong>of</strong>f by the sellers <strong>of</strong> manure ; but to clean<br />

the dra1ns would now be Impossible without knocking<br />

down the ent1re city, as the whole ground is saturated<br />

With :filth. The houses are generally built in the form<br />

<strong>of</strong> hollow squares, opening <strong>of</strong>f the streets by low doorways;<br />

and these central courtyards are too <strong>of</strong>ten only<br />

receptacles for rubbish <strong>of</strong> every sort. In short, from a<br />

sanitary point <strong>of</strong> view, Kathmandu may be said to be<br />

bwlt on a dunghill in the m1ddle <strong>of</strong> latrines f<br />

On leaving the town by the north-east gateway, and<br />

turning to the south, the first object one sees is c1 large<br />

tank, the Ranipokhri. It is surrounded by a wall, and<br />

1n the centre is a temple, united to the western bank<br />

by a ]ong narrow bdck bridge. On the soutl1 side is<br />

a large figure <strong>of</strong> an elephant, cut out <strong>of</strong>, or rather built<br />

<strong>of</strong>, stone, bearing the image <strong>of</strong> Raja Pratapa Malla, the<br />

maker <strong>of</strong> the tank., and <strong>of</strong> his Ram A l1ttle fa,rther<br />

south the road passes through an avenue <strong>of</strong> bukayun<br />

trees, which runs between the city and the great paradeground<br />

or Tud1khel. This ground is a large open space,<br />

covered with a fine green sward, and here the troops<br />

are daily drilled and exercised In the centre is a square<br />

stone buildmg about thrrty feet high, which was erected<br />

by Sir J ung Bahadur after his return frorn England in<br />

1851. On the top, t1ll lately, stood a figure <strong>of</strong> Sir<br />

Jung Bahadur, holding a sword 1n one hand and a scroll<br />

1n the other, and at the four corners were hideous<br />

brazen griffins or dragons. All these have however<br />

been removed to a new te1nple built by Sir Jung<br />

Bahadur on tl1e bank <strong>of</strong> the Bagmat1. To the west


INTRODUCTORY SKETCH 2I<br />

Pashnpati stands on the western bank <strong>of</strong> the Bagmati,<br />

about three miles north-east <strong>of</strong> Kath1nandu. The<br />

town itself1s rather d1lap1dated, and consists <strong>of</strong> one main<br />

street, runn1ng east and west, and a few side streets,<br />

which are horribly dirty and abound w1th pigs. Close<br />

to the bank <strong>of</strong> the river stands the holiest temple <strong>of</strong><br />

Nepal, the shr1ne <strong>of</strong> Pashupat1natha It is a handsome<br />

building m the pagoda style, with a brazen -gUt ro<strong>of</strong>,<br />

and large richly carved silver gates. A good view <strong>of</strong><br />

it Is obtarned from the high bc1nk on the opposite side<br />

<strong>of</strong> the river, but no European IS ever allowed to approach<br />

even the outer wall <strong>of</strong> the temple The banks <strong>of</strong> the<br />

river are paved for several hundred yards, and there<br />

are stone steps and places for burning the dead here<br />

and there. The r1 ver IS crossed by two handsome<br />

bridges, from which a good view <strong>of</strong> the buildings is<br />

obtained. The stream IS here narrow, and runs between<br />

precipitous banks <strong>of</strong> 80 or 100 feet in height. The<br />

banks are wooded above the temples, and amongst the<br />

trees on the face <strong>of</strong> the banks are some curious fakirs'<br />

ca veg. On the eastern side <strong>of</strong> the river is a hill, covered<br />

with l<strong>of</strong>ty trees (chiefly oak and champa) and jungle,<br />

which IS alive with monkeys, who are as familiar and<br />

impudent as 1n most other holy places Th1s wood is<br />

the Mrigasthali <strong>of</strong> Nepalese tradition. In the centre<br />

<strong>of</strong> the wood are numerous small shrines and temples,<br />

1nclud1ng a large one lately built by S1r J ung Bahadur.<br />

To Pashupat1 almost all the dying are brought when<br />

tl1e1r end approaches, and at the last moment they are<br />

hurried to the edge <strong>of</strong> the stream, and their lower extremities<br />

are immersed m the water. Here too the<br />

bod1es <strong>of</strong> the dead are burned, and there is a spot close<br />

by vvhere Satis are Immolated.


CHAPTER II.<br />

Popul.a.tlon <strong>of</strong> the count1y Var1oud races Gurkhas, Newars, Maga1s,<br />

Gurungs, LunLUB, Kucl.tis, Bhot1yas, and Lepchas Then appearance,<br />

la-nguages, dress, and ornaments Food Dnnks Educat1on<br />

Rehg1ons l\farr1age Sa tis Adultery and 1ts punishment Divorce.<br />

Eras In use in Nepal Rebg1ous festivals<br />

FoR the size <strong>of</strong> the country Nepal possesses a great<br />

variety <strong>of</strong> races m Its population The pr1ncipal <strong>of</strong> these<br />

are the Gorkhas, N ewars, Magars, Gurungs, Limbus,<br />

K1rat1s, Bhottyas a.nd Lepchas<br />

The Gorkhas, or Gorkhal1s, so named from "tl1.e former<br />

capital <strong>of</strong> their country, are the domtnant race. They<br />

formerly occup1ed the d1strict around the .town <strong>of</strong><br />

Gorkha, which is about forty miles west <strong>of</strong> Kathmandu.<br />

They are sa1d to be <strong>of</strong> RaJpilt descent, and to have<br />

been driven out <strong>of</strong> RaJpntana on the occasion <strong>of</strong> an<br />

invas1on by Musulmans 1 They first settled near Palpa,<br />

having passed through the Kumaon hills, and gradually<br />

extended their dominions to Gorkha. A little more than<br />

a hundred years 2 ago they Invaded Nepal, and the<br />

country to the eastward, and they have remained the<br />

ruling race ever since<br />

The Gor.khas are in general rather £ne-looking men.<br />

Some <strong>of</strong> the higher castes, such as are found in some<br />

regiments <strong>of</strong> the army, are tall and slirn in £g1..1re, but<br />

1 The royal fanuly chnms to be descended from that <strong>of</strong> U da1pilx<br />

2 The centenary <strong>of</strong> the conquest was m 1868


lPlate V) A RANI OR NEPALESE LADY OF HIGH RANK


n] INTRODUCTORY SICETCH<br />

we


n] INTRODUCTORY SKETCH 41<br />

18 Ganesh Chauth.<br />

This jestival, wh1ch is held on the 4th <strong>of</strong> Magh, is<br />

in honour <strong>of</strong> Ganesh, the god <strong>of</strong> wisdom Fasting and<br />

worship are the order <strong>of</strong> the day,-with feastrng as a<br />

sequence at n1ght.<br />

19. Basant or· Srrpancha1ni<br />

This takes place on the 20th <strong>of</strong> Magh, and IS m<br />

honour <strong>of</strong> Saraswati, the goddess <strong>of</strong> learning.<br />

20. Holi.<br />

This festival takfls place on tl1e last day <strong>of</strong> Phagun.<br />

In Nepal a wooden post or chir, adorned w1th flags,<br />

1s erected in front <strong>of</strong> the palace, and this IS burned at<br />

night, representing the burnmg <strong>of</strong> the body <strong>of</strong> the old<br />

year.<br />

21. - Maghi Purnima<br />

Some <strong>of</strong> the young N ewars bathe in the Bagmati<br />

every morning dnr1ng Magh, and on the last day <strong>of</strong><br />

the month some <strong>of</strong> the bathers are carried in process1on<br />

from the bathing-places to the temples. They are earned<br />

in ornamented Q.olis, lJing on therr backs, with lighted<br />

chirags (lamps) on their chests, arms and legs. As most<br />

<strong>of</strong> them V{ear green spectacles, to protect their eyes from<br />

the sparks, the sight is rather mirth-provoking. Behind<br />

the dolis follow the other bathers, bearing on their heads<br />

earthen water-pots, perforated with innumerable straws,<br />

through which the water escapes. Passers-by catch a<br />

fe,v drops and sprinkle them on their foreheads.


CHAPTER III.<br />

Occupations <strong>of</strong> the people Brd.hmans Pnests Astrologers Eaids.<br />

Clerks Laws and pun1shments Caste'!l Slavery. Trade and<br />

manufactures. Agnculture L1ve stock The army The revenue<br />

ThEl roads<br />

As this sketch is not intended for a Gazetteer, it is<br />

unnecessary to enter at great length into the subject<br />

<strong>of</strong> the occupations <strong>of</strong> the people.<br />

Priests and Brahmans <strong>of</strong> course are very nUlllerous,<br />

and have much m:fluence in a country where there are<br />

so many temples, and at least half the time <strong>of</strong> the<br />

people seems to be spent in piijas and religious holidays.<br />

The Raj Guru 1s a wealthy and influential person in the<br />

state, and has a large income from government lands,<br />

and also from the £nes inflicted for <strong>of</strong>fences against the<br />

rules <strong>of</strong> caste. Many other priests, Gurus and Purohits,<br />

have lands assigned to them, and many <strong>of</strong> the temples<br />

have been richly endowed by their founders. Still, a<br />

great many <strong>of</strong> the priests depend for their s11pport on<br />

the <strong>of</strong>ferings <strong>of</strong> their jajmans (clients), who pay them<br />

fees for the ceremonies performed at births, mru:·riages<br />

and deaths. Every family has a special priest, whose<br />

<strong>of</strong>fice is hereditary. Immense sums are wasted in feeding<br />

Brahmans on all sorts <strong>of</strong> occasions. As an instance, it<br />

.may be mentioned, that, when Sir Jung Bahadur met<br />

with an accident at Bombay in 1875, fifteen thousand<br />

rupees were spent in feeding Brahmans at Kathmancjii.


44 HISTORY OF NEPAL [cHAP<br />

Astrologers form another large class <strong>of</strong> the learned<br />

community Some <strong>of</strong> them are also priests, but 1n<br />

general the pr<strong>of</strong>essions are distinct. In Nepal astrology<br />

must be a pr<strong>of</strong>itable pursu1t, as no great man thinks <strong>of</strong><br />

sett1ng out on a journey, or undertaking any business<br />

whatever, w1thout having an auspicious moment selected.<br />

Indeed the time for everything, from the taking <strong>of</strong> a<br />

dose <strong>of</strong> physic to the declarat1on <strong>of</strong> a war, is determined<br />

by the astrologers<br />

Ba1ds, or medical men, are also numerous in Nepal,<br />

and all fam1lies <strong>of</strong> any pretension have at least one<br />

permanently attached to their service There are, however,<br />

no public hosp1tals or dtspensaries, nor any means<br />

provided for the relief <strong>of</strong> 1ndigent sick people.<br />

The duties <strong>of</strong> clerks and accountants are performed<br />

by a special class <strong>of</strong> people, chiefly N ewars<br />

Lawyers are not held in much estimation in Nepal<br />

f<br />

The chief justice gets a salary <strong>of</strong> some two hundred<br />

rupees a month, so that the inducements for bribery<br />

and corruption are great<br />

As an appeal can always be made to the Councll<br />

(which practically means Sir J ung Bahadur), justice is<br />

on the whole pretty fairly administered<br />

The old savage code <strong>of</strong> punishments, involving mutilations,<br />

stripes, etc., etc., was abolished by Sir Jung<br />

Bahadur on his return from England. Treason, rebellion,<br />

desertion in time <strong>of</strong> war, and other <strong>of</strong>fences against the<br />

state, are punished by death or imprisonment for life ;<br />

bribery and peculation by government servants, by fines,<br />

imprisonment, and dismissal from <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />

Killing cows and murder are punished by death ;<br />

maiming cows and manslaughter, by imprisonment for<br />

l1fe; and other acts <strong>of</strong> violence by imprisonment ordines.


III) INTRODUCTORY SKETCH 45<br />

If a low caste person pretends to belong to a higher<br />

caste, and induces a high caste person to pc1rtake <strong>of</strong><br />

food or water from his hands, he renders himself hable<br />

to a heavy fine, or imprisonment, or the confiscation <strong>of</strong><br />

all his property, or he may even be sold Into slavery ..<br />

The victrm <strong>of</strong> his deception is re-admitted to his caste<br />

on payment <strong>of</strong> certain fees to the priests, and the performance<br />

<strong>of</strong> certain fasts and ceremonies (prayaschit)<br />

Brahmans and women are never capitally punished.<br />

The severest punishment for women pubhcly is imprisonment<br />

for life with hard labour, and for Brahmans the<br />

same with degradation from caste.<br />

Slavery 1s one <strong>of</strong> the institutions <strong>of</strong> Nepal. Every<br />

person <strong>of</strong> any means has several slaves in his household,<br />

and the wealthy have generally a great number <strong>of</strong> both<br />

sexes. It is said that there are from twenty to tlurty<br />

thousand slaves in the country. Most <strong>of</strong> these have<br />

been born slaves; but free men and women, with all<br />

their families, may be sold into slavery as a punishmen_t<br />

for certain crin1es, such as incest and some <strong>of</strong>fences<br />

against caste. In a few <strong>of</strong> the wealthier households the<br />

female slaves are not allowed to leave the house ; but in<br />

general they enjoy a great deal <strong>of</strong> freedom in this respect_,<br />

and the morals <strong>of</strong> the female slaves are very loose in<br />

consequence They are generally employed in domestic<br />

work, wood-cutting, grass-cutting, a,nd similar labour.<br />

The price <strong>of</strong> slaves ranges for females from 150 to 200<br />

rupees, and for males from 100 to 150 rupees. They<br />

are usually well treated, and on the whole seem quite<br />

contented and happy. Should a slave have a child by<br />

her master, she can claim her freedom.<br />

All the trade and manufactures <strong>of</strong> the country may<br />

be said to be in the hands <strong>of</strong> the N ewars and a few


HISTORY OF NEPAL. (CHAP.<br />

foreigners. A few families <strong>of</strong> Kashmiris have been settled<br />

at Kathm.an


III] INTRODUCTORY SKETCH 47<br />

and goats for food are all imported What few there<br />

are in the valley are small and <strong>of</strong> infer1or breeds. , Ducks<br />

and fowls are plentiful and <strong>of</strong> good quality. Much pains<br />

are bestowed on the rearing <strong>of</strong> ducks, as their eggs are<br />

greatly prized as an article <strong>of</strong> food. They are carried<br />

out daily to the rice fields in large baskets and allowed<br />

to fcled there, and in the evening they are collected and<br />

carried home again.<br />

The military art <strong>of</strong> course has great attention bestowed<br />

on it by the Gorkhas. In fact, most <strong>of</strong> the<br />

revenue <strong>of</strong> the country is wasted in playing at soldiering,<br />

and rn manufacturing very useless rifles and cannon.<br />

The actual standmg army consists <strong>of</strong> about 16,000 men.<br />

These are divided into twenty-six regiments <strong>of</strong> from 500<br />

to 600 men each. Besides these, however, there is a<br />

large force consisting <strong>of</strong> men who have served for several<br />

years and taken their discharge. These men, after staying<br />

a few years at home, may again enter the ranks, and<br />

take the place <strong>of</strong> others, who in turn lie by for a yearor<br />

two. Thus the Nepalese could with little trouble<br />

raise a force <strong>of</strong> 60,000 or 70,000 men, who have been<br />

trained to arms.<br />

The regiments are formed on the British model, and<br />

are drilled with English words <strong>of</strong> command, or at least<br />

what are supposed to be so. The army is <strong>of</strong>licered much<br />

in the same way as the English army. There is, however,<br />

no regular system <strong>of</strong> promotion, all appointments<br />

being renewed annually, and greyhaired lieutenants are<br />

<strong>of</strong>ten to be seen in the same regiment with beardless<br />

co1onels. In fact, all the higher ranks are :filled up by<br />

the sons and relatives <strong>of</strong> Sir J ung Bahadur and his<br />

brothers.<br />

Practically speaking, Sir Jung Bahadur is the head


IV] INTRODUCTORY SKETCH 55<br />

the bridge leading from the town across the Vishnumat1<br />

to the west. So ended the life <strong>of</strong> a gallant old chief,<br />

who had ruled Nepal for five-and-twenty years.<br />

From this time on to 1843, the enemies <strong>of</strong> Bhimasena,<br />

the Kala Panre faction, continued in power, though sometimes<br />

ousted from <strong>of</strong>fice for a t1me by other factions.<br />

Intrigues both within the country, and in H1ndustan<br />

were being constantly carried on ; and there were frequent<br />

disputes with the British Government, which sometimes<br />

threatened to terminate 1n open hostilities. Fortunately,<br />

however, by the sk1lful management <strong>of</strong> the Resident,<br />

Mr Hodgson, war was averted<br />

In 1843 the nephew <strong>of</strong> Bhimasena, a dashrng soldier<br />

named Matabar Singh, returned from exile 1 • He soon<br />

obtained favour with the Court and army, and the first<br />

exertion <strong>of</strong> his power was to effect the destruction <strong>of</strong> his<br />

enemies, the Kala Panres, who were seized and executed<br />

in lVIay 1843.<br />

About this time mention is <strong>of</strong>ten made, in the reports<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial proceedings, <strong>of</strong> a rising young soldier named<br />

Jung Bahadur. He was one <strong>of</strong> a band <strong>of</strong> seven brothers,<br />

the sons <strong>of</strong> a Kaji, or Nepalese <strong>of</strong>ficial. He had, as usual,<br />

entAred the m1l1tary service when young, and for a time<br />

had been the personal attendant <strong>of</strong> the young prmce By<br />

this time, howevar, he had risen to the rank <strong>of</strong> Colonel,<br />

and in 1844 his uncle, Matabar S1ngh, expressed some<br />

alarm at the Increase <strong>of</strong> his influence at Court and w1th<br />

the army.<br />

The Resident, Srr Henry (then MaJor) Lawrence,<br />

mentions h1m as an intelligent young man, particularly<br />

1 He had 'been sen"C on an embassy to Calcutta. m 1836, and subsequently to<br />

RanJit Smgh H1s conduct hav1ng been su.sp1c1olls on the latter occa.s1on, he had<br />

been de tamed by the Br1t1sh under survellla.nce, recel'Vlng, however, an allo'!ance <strong>of</strong><br />

1000 rupees a month


HISTORY OF NEPAL [cHAr<br />

beyond Junga, and the l{erong and K utt1 passes The<br />

dlfficult1es to be encountered, had they advanced farther,<br />

would have increased at every footstep, and It may be<br />

doubted If they would ever have succeeded 1n ente1ing<br />

'11bet.<br />

In November 1855, news reached Kathmandf1 that<br />

Kutti had been surprised and retaken by the Bhotiyas,<br />

and that Junga and Kerong were also surrounded by<br />

large bodies <strong>of</strong> troops. Reinforcements were at once<br />

hurried up, Kutti was retaken, and after some severe<br />

fighting Jiinga and Kerong were rel1eved. The rehev1ng<br />

force at Jiinga, hov\rever, was besieged for twenty-nine<br />

clays, and the troops snffered greatly from cold and want<br />

<strong>of</strong> food.<br />

The T1betans now began to find that they could not<br />

contend successfully w1th the Nepalese, and proposals<br />

for peace were made The negotiations, however, lasted<br />

for months, as frequent references had to be made to the<br />

Chine&e authorities at Lhasa. In the meantime siX fresh<br />

regnnents were being ra1sed at KathmanQ.u, a war-tax<br />

was about to be levied on all <strong>of</strong>ficials, above the rank <strong>of</strong><br />

J amadar, <strong>of</strong> one-thn·d <strong>of</strong> the produce <strong>of</strong> thelr land, and<br />

every p1eparat1on was made for pushing on the war in<br />

the next season. Fortunately, however, terms were agreed<br />

on, and a treaty <strong>of</strong> peace was signed on the 25th <strong>of</strong> March<br />

185G. The main points <strong>of</strong> it were, that Tibet sbould<br />

pay 10,000 rupees (£1_900) annually, on condition <strong>of</strong> the<br />

Nepalese evacuating the Tibetan territory which they had<br />

occupied , that the import duties on goods from Nepal<br />

should be rem1tted ; and that a Gorkha <strong>of</strong>ficial should be<br />

allov1ed to res1de at Lhasa, to protect the interests <strong>of</strong><br />

Nepalese traders. Several other m1nor points, such as<br />

exchange <strong>of</strong> prisoners, pardon for Tibetan subjects who


CHA.PTER V.<br />

Remarks on the aspect <strong>of</strong> pohtwal matters 1n Nepal at the present time.<br />

Sn J"ung Bahd.dur's Influence. H1-s numerous rela,t1ves P1.ospect<br />

<strong>of</strong> the country be1ng thrown open to Europeans T1 ade Ohazacter<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Ne-palese Pos1t1on <strong>of</strong> the Res1don.t and othe1 Europeans<br />

1n Nepal Means <strong>of</strong> obtaining 1nforma.t1on regardmg the countty.<br />

Amusements and employm.ents <strong>of</strong> young men <strong>of</strong> the upper classes.<br />

lJq.ncl.uillng general 1.emarks on the couutty and 1ts chrnate<br />

'VING now described the Valley <strong>of</strong> Nepal) and given<br />

brief sketch <strong>of</strong> its people and its <strong>history</strong>, it only remains<br />

for me to add a few remarks on the probable<br />

future <strong>of</strong> the country, the general condrtion <strong>of</strong> the people,<br />

the prospects <strong>of</strong> trade, and the social intercourse eXIsting<br />

between the Nepalese and Europeans. To treat <strong>of</strong> all<br />

these subJects fully would Increase the bulk <strong>of</strong> th1s<br />

uitroduction to an unreasonable extent :1 I shall therefore<br />

be as succinct as possible<br />

As long as S1r J ung Bahadur retains his present<br />

Influence In tl1e count1y, It 1s extremely unlikely that<br />

there w1ll be any change in the relations ex1stmg between<br />

the British and Nepalese l-Ie has obtained a most<br />

astonishing hold upon the country HlS word is law,<br />

and h1s power seems unlim1ted. Owu1g to the lntermarriages<br />

bet\veen h1s numerous relatives and all ranks<br />

<strong>of</strong> the upper classes, his family interests are interwoven<br />

with those <strong>of</strong> almost every other fa1nily_, from that <strong>of</strong> the<br />

king down to the lowest <strong>of</strong>ficials.<br />

:J-2


72 1-IISTORY OF NEPAL (CHAP.<br />

the year, when any especially Important business occurs,<br />

or on the occasion <strong>of</strong> a 1narriage In the royal family the<br />

Resident may be mv1ted to look on at the procession, but<br />

this is all the intercourse that tal\:es place<br />

There Is a guard <strong>of</strong> Nepalese soldiers on tl1e road<br />

leacl1ng to the Residency, and no Gorkha can enter the<br />

hmits <strong>of</strong> the Residency without permiSSion frotn S1r Jung<br />

Bahadur, and w1thout be1ng accompanied by the Vakil<br />

Whenever n. European goes out walking, lle 1s followed<br />

by a Nepalese soldier fro1n the guard ; and I<br />

believe a daily report is 1nade <strong>of</strong> everything that occurs<br />

nt the Residency.<br />

Such being the state <strong>of</strong> affa1rs, 1t can be e[Ls1ly understood<br />

how difficult it IS for the Res1dent, 01 any Europe<br />

to obta1n inform


74 HISTORY OF NEPAL. (cHAP<br />

the Terai; and they have 110 literature to occupy them in<br />

their houses. In short, they seem. to have nothing to fill<br />

up their leisure hours, which must be numerous! ,and in<br />

consequence they are given up to goss1pping, gambling,<br />

and debaucpery <strong>of</strong> all sorts. Attempts have been made<br />

at various times by their tutors to get the young men to<br />

play at cricket and other games, but such amusements<br />

are thought degrading Even to walk is beneath their<br />

dignity, and when moving about in their own houses and<br />

grounds, they are generally carried pick-a-back by a slave<br />

or attendant. I have <strong>of</strong>ten seen boys <strong>of</strong> from eight to<br />

£.ftee11 years <strong>of</strong> age thus rid1ng to the1r tutor's house <strong>of</strong><br />

a morning, a distance <strong>of</strong>, perhapf3..t. two hundred yards.<br />

I may be thought harsh in my statements regard<br />

the Nepalese. All I can say is, they are true, and l<br />

no good purpose to be served by praising and saymg<br />

£ne thmgs <strong>of</strong> people who do not deserve it. Of course<br />

I do not say that there are no except1ons. Sir J ung<br />

Bahadur himself is always most kind and courteous in<br />

his demeanour, and whatever may be his failings, he<br />

always bears himself as a gentleman. He is undoubtedly<br />

also a most acute and talented man, and it would be well<br />

for Nepal, if there were a few more amongst the rising<br />

generation fit to be compared to h1m. Some <strong>of</strong> the<br />

young men also are pleasant and gentlemanly in their<br />

manners, but I am afraid that what I have preVIously<br />

stated is true with regard to most <strong>of</strong> them.<br />

, .As for the country <strong>of</strong> Nepal, it would take the pen <strong>of</strong><br />

,\ Ruskin and the pencil <strong>of</strong> a Turner or a Claude to do<br />

justice to its beauties .. , The road through the Terai, and<br />

the Noakotl valley, are most lovely; and the views <strong>of</strong><br />

the snowy range obtainable in the cold season from the<br />

Valley, and from the hills on the northern side, are, I


v] INTRODUCTORY SKETCH 75<br />

bel1eve, unrivalled for extent and magnificence. The<br />

cl1mate 1s delicious. In winter the air is clear and<br />

bracing, and t.here are frequently hoar-frost and ice in<br />

the mornmgs. I have seen the thermometer as low as<br />

20°, when exposed in the open air at n1ght. The summer<br />

is not very hot, and t.he thermometer indoors, with<br />

all tb.e Windows open, seldom ranges above 80°. The<br />

average mean temperature for the year 1s 60°, and the<br />

average rainfall 60 inches. What a magnificent sanatorlum<br />

the Valley would be for the inhabitants <strong>of</strong><br />

Calcutta t


I J BODHISAT,iVA MANJUSRi 79<br />

water run out. As the water escaped, several Nags<br />

and otl1er anitnals l1v1ng In 1t went out,. but he persuaded<br />

Karkotak;l king <strong>of</strong> the Nags, to rema1n; and on<br />

the Mesh Sankranti day, having pointed out to him a<br />

large tank to h.ve in 1, he gave hun power over all the<br />

"vealth <strong>of</strong> the valley.<br />

He then saw Swayambhu, 111 the form <strong>of</strong> Biswarupa,<br />

on the day <strong>of</strong> the full moon in Kart1k. He also discovered<br />

GnhJeswari, and saw her m the form <strong>of</strong><br />

Biswarupa, 011 the night <strong>of</strong> the 9th <strong>of</strong> Pus Kr1shn<br />

He tl1en became absorbed in 1ned1tation, and worshipped<br />

Swayambhu in the centre <strong>of</strong> the lotus-flower, whose<br />

root was at Guhjeswar1 2 • He next made the hill<br />

Padma 3 , from wh1ch place to Gu.hjeswari he built a<br />

to-vvn called Manj-u Pattan He planted trees near<br />

Guhjeswari, and peopled the town with those <strong>of</strong> his<br />

disciples wl1o wished to hve as Gr1hasths, or householders.<br />

To those <strong>of</strong> them who wished to live as<br />

Bh1kshiis, or religious mendicants, he allotted a ·bthar 4 •<br />

He then mstalled a king, by name Dharmakar, and<br />

himself returned to Ch1na.<br />

So1net1me after tlus, some disciples <strong>of</strong> MaUJU.sri built<br />

the ManJfisri Cha1tya, or Buddhist mound, near Swayambhii<br />

5 , to worsh1p ManJU.sri In connection with Swaya.mbhu.<br />

Th1s took place on the 5th <strong>of</strong> Magh Sudi ..<br />

Therefore 6 , from that time, the tank appo1nted as the<br />

dwelhng-place <strong>of</strong> the Nag was called Tau-dahan (or<br />

1 The tauk called Taudah, <strong>of</strong> whlch more hereafter<br />

2 About a quarter oi a mile abo-ve Pashupn.tl temple, on the left bank oi the<br />

JJ:tgmati, and on the north <strong>of</strong> the Pash1..1pat1 wood<br />

J The same as Swayambhu h1l1<br />

4 A square <strong>of</strong> houses, w1th a shnne 1US1de, used 1n former tnnes as a monastery,<br />

but nowadays occupwu by Blnras and theu fannhes<br />

'l Th1s temple 1Ion he1e 1n the MS


I] DHAR1viA SRI MI1"RA GUNKAMDEVA ss<br />

to his house, where he instantly caused a good bihar<br />

to spring up, in which he lodged h1s guest. During the<br />

night Dharma Sri M1tra overheard some conversation<br />

between Manjusri and his wife, which made known to<br />

him the disguised Manjusri, and he slept at the threshold<br />

<strong>of</strong> his._ room. In the morning Manjusri made him his<br />

disciple, and told him the meaning <strong>of</strong> the mantra The<br />

bihar, m which he lodged, he called Vikram Sil Bihar,<br />

and the field which he was ploughing, when met by<br />

Dharma Sri M1tra, he called Sawa Bhiirn1; and to this<br />

day this is the field in which rice is planted before all<br />

the other fields rn the valley 1 •<br />

Hearing that there was no Raja in this country,<br />

a descendant <strong>of</strong> Raja Sakti Deva came from Gaur.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> his descendants, Gun.k.amdeva, having committed<br />

incest, the gods were illspleased, and sent a drought<br />

and famine on the country. He then, having been<br />

initiated in the mysteries by Santikar Acharya, who<br />

l1ved concealed in the Sant1pur <strong>of</strong> Swayambhii, brought<br />

the nine Nags under his control, and caused them to<br />

grve a plentiful rain. When he was performing the<br />

ceremonies to summon -the Nags, Karkotak, who lived<br />

in the Nag-dah, d1d not come, but the other eight did.<br />

Upon this Santikar Acharya gave Gunkamdeva some<br />

dub:..grass and kund-:fl.owers, through the virtue <strong>of</strong> which<br />

be JUmped into the tank, and catching hold <strong>of</strong> Karkotak,<br />

made h1m a prisoner. On his way home he became<br />

t1red, and sat dewn to rest at the foot <strong>of</strong> the Swayambhu<br />

mo11nt. This place is still marked by an Image<br />

<strong>of</strong> Karkotak, at the south-east corner <strong>of</strong> the moilnt,<br />

I<br />

1 V1kram Sil Blhlr 1s now Thambalnl (vulgarly Thamel), a suburb on the north<br />

s1de <strong>of</strong> Katbma.ndu Sawd. Bhumi 1s now called Bhagwan's Khet, a field about a<br />

quarter <strong>of</strong> a m1le south-west <strong>of</strong> the Res1dency It belongs to the pr1ests. <strong>of</strong> '!hamel<br />

and 1s the first spot planted w1th r1ce every year.


92 HISTORY OF NEPAL [cHAP<br />

to his senses, and he returned to h1s rosary. Once more,<br />

however, he forsook it, but on seeing a man attempting<br />

to make a mountain and a plain level with a few handfuls<br />

<strong>of</strong> dust, he returned to his rosary and completed<br />

his ta,sk. After this he saw an emblem <strong>of</strong> Siva (the<br />

Linga), and saying, 'It was you who advised me to lose<br />

my hfe/ he began to break every emblem <strong>of</strong> Siva he<br />

met w1th. At last he ca1ne to Pashupati, who prayed<br />

to Buddh to save him, and through his blessing, and being<br />

provjded with a head-dress <strong>of</strong> Buddh, B1rfipaksha, instead<br />

<strong>of</strong> breaking, worshipped him 1 . For this reason every<br />

emblem <strong>of</strong> Siva is a little bent to one side, except the<br />

one at Pashupati. Then, as Buddhists do not eat when<br />

the sun is gone down 2 , he requested the sun, whom he<br />

caught hold <strong>of</strong> w1th one hand, not to set until he<br />

had taken h1s meal ; and in this posture he died at<br />

Pashupati."<br />

Having heard all these praises <strong>of</strong> the country from<br />

the devotee, RaJa Dharma Datta made over the charge<br />

<strong>of</strong> his c1ty Kanchi to Balketu, one <strong>of</strong> his ten sons, and<br />

went to the country <strong>of</strong> Pashupati, with the rest <strong>of</strong> his<br />

sons, and h1s minister Buddhikshem. He then prayed<br />

to Bagmati at the Sundara Tirtha, who gave him a<br />

blessing, by virtue <strong>of</strong> which he subdued the K1rat1 Raja<br />

Sankii, and took possession <strong>of</strong> the country. He then<br />

built a town, extending from Buddha Nilkantha to<br />

Kotwal, wh1ch he named Bisalnagara, and peopled with<br />

the four castes (t e. H1ndus). He reigned a thousand<br />

years, and w1th great rites and ceremonies he built the<br />

1 In commemoration <strong>of</strong> tlns, once a year 1 on the 8th <strong>of</strong> Kart1k sud!, the 1mage<br />

<strong>of</strong> Pashupat11s decorated w1th a head-dtess hke that <strong>of</strong> the Images <strong>of</strong> Buddha, and<br />

worshlpped<br />

2 Th1s 1s not now the custom m Nepal1 where the Baudd.hamargis always eo.t<br />

after ?lLllset.<br />

.


I1ISTORY OF NEPAL. (cHAP<br />

mountain, where he had placed an image <strong>of</strong> Akshobhya<br />

Buddh, to worship Swayambhii 1 • As the water filled the<br />

valley, It rose up to the navel <strong>of</strong> this itnage, whereupon<br />

Nagarjun caught the Nag that was playing In the water<br />

and mak1ng it rise, and confined him in the cave. Whatever<br />

water -is required In tlus cave 1s supplied by th1s<br />

Nag to the present day, and for this reason the Nag is<br />

called Jalpurit 2 Th1s NagarJunpad Acharya made an<br />

earthen cha1tya, and composed or compiled many tantrashastras1<br />

and discovered many gods. He died 1n the<br />

cave. The mountain then became known as Nagarjun,<br />

and it is considered very sacred. People who are anxious<br />

to obtain salvation leave orders w1th their relatives to<br />

send their skull-bone (the "frontal bone") to this mountain,<br />

where It IS thrown high Into tl1e air, then buried,<br />

and a cha1tya built over it. ..<br />

The valley continuing to be a lake, some say that<br />

Bhimsen (one <strong>of</strong> the Pandavas <strong>of</strong> the Mahabharatha)<br />

came from Dolkha and used to amuse h1mself on it in<br />

a stone boat. The daughter <strong>of</strong> Danasur, see1ng Bhimsen,<br />

ran away. After this Vishnu can1e, and, having lnlled<br />

Danasur, opeu.ed a passage for the water through the<br />

Chaubahar or Kachhapal mountain, and carried <strong>of</strong>f Prabhavati<br />

After Vishnu returned to his Ba1kunth (paradise),<br />

and the other gods to their respective abodes, this valley<br />

<strong>of</strong>, Nepal again became maccess1ble. When the valley<br />

was changed into a lake by Danasur, some inhabitants<br />

<strong>of</strong> ManJu-pattan, Sankasya .. nagara, and Bisal-nagara,<br />

saved their lives by fleeing to other places, and some<br />

1 Tlus hlll1s now callea Nagi'i.rJun, and on 1ts northern s1de are numerous caves,<br />

some <strong>of</strong> wh1ch contatn Images One <strong>of</strong> these 1s sa1d to be the 1dent1cal cave men ..<br />

twned m the text.<br />

2 Ltteutlly, maktng full <strong>of</strong> water.


106 HISTORY OF NEPAL<br />

Satya Yuga lasted 1,728,000 years.<br />

men lived 10,000 years, and practised<br />

Vayu, or the princ1ple <strong>of</strong> hfe, existed<br />

marrow. The abode <strong>of</strong> men was white.<br />

(CHAP I<br />

In this Yuga<br />

virtue. Pran<br />

in the spinal<br />

Treta Y-aga lasted 1,296,000 years. Men lived in<br />

thiS Yuga for 5,000 years.. Pran Vayu existed l"'l the<br />

bone.<br />

Dwapar Yuga lasted 834,000 years. Men in this<br />

Yuga lived for 1,000 years. Pran Vayu existed in the<br />

blood, fle.sh, and skin.<br />

Kali Yuga will last for 432,000 years. In its first<br />

quarter, Pran Vayu exists in food. In the second<br />

quarter, great eaters will live for 50 years. In the third<br />

quarter, men will live 16 years, feeding on vegetables"<br />

fruit, and flowers. In the middle <strong>of</strong> Kali Yuga, a Raja,<br />

by name V1jayabhinandana, will bring all kings under<br />

his rule, and he will live 1,000 years. At the end <strong>of</strong><br />

Kali Yuga the incarnation <strong>of</strong> Vishnu as Kalaki will<br />

take place.<br />

The Kirat!s came into Nepal at the 15,000th year<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Dwapar Yuga, and they ruled over the country<br />

for 10,000 years. The gods came into the country after<br />

the Kirat1s.. Dharmadatta Raja reigned 1,000 years.<br />

After this the country :r,-emained without a king for one<br />

thousand years. Bisal-nagara existed for 2,000 years.<br />

Pingala's adventures extended over fifty years. When<br />

950 years <strong>of</strong> the Dwapar Yuga still remained, the gods<br />

came to the decision that it was necessary to appOint<br />

a Raja. After this the Kali Yuga commenced.


122 HISTORY OF NEPAL (CHAP<br />

married their aunts through fear <strong>of</strong> Shankaracharya.<br />

After consultation, these Bhikshus sa1d · a 0 nephews 1<br />

what can we do 1 The people <strong>of</strong> this place, contented<br />

with their scanty means <strong>of</strong> livelihood, have kept the<br />

things they- know in therr hearts, and have remained<br />

silent through fear <strong>of</strong> Shankaracharya; for wruch Slll<br />

they will all be affhcted with goitre 1 • What are we to<br />

do 1 Those who were hv1ng as bh1kshus have been<br />

forced to hve as grihasthas. The rules established by<br />

Bhaskara-barma Raja for this place, and written on a<br />

copper-plate, kept in th1s b1har, have been replaced by<br />

others made by Shankaracharya; and a rule for sacrificing<br />

animals has been added to the copper-plate, which<br />

is now ordered to be ,kept here. If we are obliged to<br />

live as grihasthas, and to obey the rule abo1.1t sacrificmg<br />

animals, we shall commit a great breach <strong>of</strong> the rules<br />

<strong>of</strong> our own religion.. We have therefore made 11p our<br />

minds to go elsewhere) and live in a new b1har. Let<br />

those remain here who Wish to rema1n , but we w1ll not<br />

stay. You too have made up your minds to remove, and<br />

we will accompany you."<br />

They then went to Pingala Bahal, and worshipped<br />

with great ceremomes the Iswari N arratma. Then they<br />

made a chaitya for Swayambhii and an image <strong>of</strong> Sakya<br />

S1nha Buddha; and to keep up the worship <strong>of</strong> these, they<br />

took blukshus (living now as gnhasthas), the descendants<br />

<strong>of</strong> those who had followed Sakya Smha 1nto Nepal,<br />

and appointed them as priests. They made these follow<br />

the Tantra Shastras, and settled down along with them.<br />

They rud not make any change in the grili.astha priests,<br />

1 Th1s ongm <strong>of</strong> goitre 1s stul beheved 1n S1muarly I have heard mtelhgent<br />

and educated Nepalese assert that hydrocele (wh1ch 1S very prevalent there)<br />

or1gmated mth the 1ntroduct10n <strong>of</strong> the potato as an article <strong>of</strong> food.


124 lfiSTORY OF NEPAL (cHAP<br />

The RaJii told him to remain as a Bandya, or Banra, if<br />

he d1d not wish to renotlnce the Buddhist rehg1on, and<br />

he would make a b1har for hun on the other s1de <strong>of</strong><br />

the Bag1nati. While they were uncertain where to build<br />

the bihar, and where to place the image <strong>of</strong> the deity, a<br />

peacock came and alighted on a certa111 spot, and when<br />

this was dug, an image <strong>of</strong> Vishnu was found and taken<br />

out. On this spot an n11age <strong>of</strong> Bhagavan Sakya Sinha<br />

was placed; and for thls reason the bihar bu1lt there<br />

was called Mayiira-barna (Mayftr·a, a peacock). Some<br />

people call it Vishnuksha B1har 1 •<br />

20. The son <strong>of</strong> Shankaradeva was Dharmadeva.<br />

Thi.s Raja repaired the Dhanado Chaitya, built by<br />

RajJ, Dharmadatta.<br />

21. HIS son Mandeva.<br />

Some say that Khasa Chaitya was built by this Raja 2 ..<br />

He built Chakra Bihar, near Matirajya, known now by<br />

the name <strong>of</strong> Mandeva-sanskarit-chakra-maha-bihar 3 •<br />

22. His son Mahadeva.<br />

23. His son Basantadeva-barma.<br />

He was crowned m the Kahgata year 2800.<br />

24. His son Udayadeva-barma.<br />

25. His son Mandeva-barma.<br />

26. His son Gunakamadeva-barma.<br />

27. His son Sivadeva-barma.<br />

Tliis RaJa was crowned before he was married In<br />

his reign the Durbar near Baneswara was abandoned,<br />

and one <strong>of</strong> nine stories in height was bu1lt in Deva<br />

Patan, where the Raja estabhshed his court After<br />

removing to Deva Patan) he brought Nritya Natha 1<br />

1 Th1s bmldmg 1s at Patan.<br />

! Now called Bodhnath<br />

J In });ttan, near the statue <strong>of</strong> Balbala.


n] SURY.ABANSI DY'NASTY 129<br />

one day met a bhik.shu, who was living in the Banprastha<br />

state. He made this bhikshu his Guru, and built a<br />

bihar, in which he placed images <strong>of</strong> Swayambhii and<br />

Sakya Sinha Buddha.. and then he hirnself became a<br />

bhikshu. Four days after becoming a bhikshu, the Raja<br />

told h1s Guru that 1t was impossible for a man, who had<br />

enjoyed the comforts and luxuries <strong>of</strong> a kmg, to lead that<br />

kmd <strong>of</strong> hfe. He therefore begged him to show him<br />

some means, by which he could hve comfortably in this<br />

world, and yet obtain salvation In the next. "It is<br />

written," rephed the Guru, "in the Dharma-shastra,<br />

that a bhlk:shu can return to the grihastha mode <strong>of</strong><br />

l1fe, and is then called a BaJradhrlk or BaJriicharya .<br />

.Also, that those who are descendants <strong>of</strong> Sa.kya 1\Iuni,<br />

are, after the ten sanskaras or ceremonies, Bandyas or<br />

Blukshus, and they can also worship Kuliseswara, and<br />

still lead a grih:=tstha hfe." Having said this, the<br />

Guru took <strong>of</strong>f the ochre-dyed cloth from the RaJa's<br />

body, and performed the ceremony <strong>of</strong> Acharyabhisheka.<br />

The RaJa then, "vith the sanction <strong>of</strong> the Guru, built<br />

a bihar near his o'Yn, and lodged the Guru in it. For<br />

his maintenance he assigned some land, which up to the<br />

present time 1s giVen only to those who live as bhlk:shus<br />

1n that b1har 1 • The RaJa then, with his Guru's sanction1<br />

placed an Agama .. devata or Buddha in h1s own bihar,<br />

meditated there da1ly, and performed his devotions and<br />

worsh1p there. He then married, and many sons and<br />

daughters were born to hun. It was his datly custom<br />

to srt before the K uliseswara or Buddha, which he had<br />

erected, and one day, while thus meditating, his skull<br />

burst, and his soul escap1ng, he obtained salvation.<br />

1 S1vadeva's blbar 1s m Patan<br />

WN 9


132 HISTORY OF NEPAL (cHAP II J<br />

The RaJa then, having received the permission <strong>of</strong><br />

the gods and the people, went back to UiJain, and<br />

having brought the god <strong>of</strong> three Shaktis, or attributes,<br />

named Harsiddhi, placed him near Nil-tara. From this<br />

the village <strong>of</strong> Harsiddhi took its origin 1 • The Raja<br />

then, under the direction <strong>of</strong> the goddess 2 , brought all<br />

the gods <strong>of</strong> Nepal to that place, with great ceremonies,<br />

and dramatic performances, and vocal and instrumental<br />

music. It is well kno-wn that there is no dramatic<br />

performance equal to that <strong>of</strong> Harsiddhi. The people,<br />

in gratitude to the Raja for having paid <strong>of</strong>f all the<br />

debts <strong>of</strong> the country, promised t.o continue the Harsiddhi<br />

perrormance. .After this Raja VlkramaJit obtained<br />

salvation. Being a stranger, he left no son in Nepal,<br />

so that Ansu-barma, who had married the daughter <strong>of</strong><br />

Viswadeva-barma, and was about to ascend the throne<br />

when prevented by the descent <strong>of</strong> VikramaJit, now became<br />

king, (and thus began a new dynasty).<br />

1 About halfway between Patan and GodaV'ari<br />

a Hart:nddhl 1s a delty <strong>of</strong> both sexes


n] THAKUR! DYNASTY. 139<br />

formmg all the requisite ceremonies, he named N arendrarleva..<br />

He then caused his son to be crowned, and being<br />

himself old, he ascended into Heaven.<br />

7.. N a1 endra-cleva reigned 7 years.<br />

This RaJa built a bihar near Lomri-devi, whom<br />

Bandhudatta ..A.charya had brought and placed there for<br />

the protection <strong>of</strong> the country. After nammg 1t Tirtha,<br />

because the Acharya came from Tirtha, he gave it to<br />

the spiritual gmde <strong>of</strong> his father. He then gave much<br />

away in charity, and settled down at Madhyalakhu.<br />

He had three sons, the eldest <strong>of</strong> whom was named<br />

Padma-deva, the second Ratna-deva, and the youngest<br />

Bar-deva. Tbe Raja sent the eldest to become a<br />

bandya in the Pingala Bahal, where there were at one<br />

time six hundred bandyas. The second he put under<br />

the guidance <strong>of</strong> Bandhudatta in the Tirtha Bihar. The<br />

third was anomted as Raja.<br />

Bandhudatta placed Padmantaka 1 in the Tirthabahal,<br />

and then brought ten Krodha-devatas, 'Or avenging<br />

deities, from Kamuni, and also placed them there,<br />

along w1th Asta-pithas and .Asta-smashans 2 • At the<br />

north-east corner <strong>of</strong> the Tirtha-bahal he placed Mahakala,<br />

whom he brought from Bhot (Tibet). Having<br />

thus placed gods on all the ten sides, the Raja and<br />

Acharya hved happily.<br />

After tlus, the Raja, having lost his love <strong>of</strong> the<br />

cares <strong>of</strong> state and worldly riches, went to the distance<br />

<strong>of</strong> two kos to the east <strong>of</strong> the city, and built a bihar<br />

there, in wlnch he hved. From his living alone there,<br />

the bihar was nan1.ed Alag-bahal 1 which has been corrupted<br />

into Ak-bahaJ 3 •<br />

l A Bhauava 2 Etght places <strong>of</strong> '\Olbhlp nud erght bmnmg-gh;Lts.<br />

3 At the boutlJ.eru end <strong>of</strong> Bha.tgaon.


HISTORY OF NEPAL. [cHAP,<br />

versation between him and his wife The wile asked<br />

the .A.ch3Jrya the cause <strong>of</strong> the drought and its remedy.<br />

The Acharya repl1ed: "The only one who is able to put<br />

a stop to this is Aryavalok1teswara, who resides m<br />

the Kapotal ... mountain; and he cannot be brol1ght<br />

except by the prayers <strong>of</strong> the ruler <strong>of</strong> the country.<br />

Now the Raja is young and foohsh, and the old man<br />

his father, Narendra-deva, is liVIng in a lonely b1har,<br />

because he and h1s son do not agree."<br />

Having -OverheFLrd this, the Raja returned to his<br />

palace, and next morning he went to his father and fell<br />

at his feet. He brought the old RaJa home w1th him,<br />

and having sent for the aged .L\.charya, asked hrm to do<br />

something to relieve therr d1stress. The Acharya said<br />

that he would do all he could to help them, but that, as<br />

he could not be successful through a priest alone, without<br />

h1s yajamana, he must take the father N arendra-deva<br />

with him. They then took a large supply <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ferings,<br />

and taking a mali and malini (gardener and his wife)<br />

with them1 they took leave- <strong>of</strong> Raja Bar .. deva. They<br />

halted at the spot where Dolana 1 has been erected,<br />

and with great ceremonies and <strong>of</strong>ferings performed<br />

purascharanas, at :first one thousand, and then up to<br />

ten millions in number. After thjs, Bandhudatta,<br />

N arendra-deva, the carrier <strong>of</strong> the articles <strong>of</strong> worship,<br />

and the malini with the kalas 2 remained there, and<br />

Bandhudatta performed a purascharana to summon<br />

tlogambara-gyana-ctakini After the mantra had been<br />

recjted a crore <strong>of</strong> times ( connt1ng each one as a thousand),<br />

1 A place where there was a tree, under whwh Ma.chchbindra-natha rested The<br />

old tree bas fallen, but some young ones ha-ve sprung up ar01.1nd 1t The place IS<br />

to the south <strong>of</strong> Pata?, between the town and the la1ge Asoka cha1tya<br />

fi .A. pot <strong>of</strong> water earned by a gartlener before mo.rrmge process1ons and 1n<br />

rellgrous ceremonies, &c


HISTORY OF NEPAL [CHAP<br />

griva, Harsiddhi, Lutabaha <strong>of</strong> Pachhilu village 1 , and<br />

Tyanga. Brahma swept the road, reciting Vedas as<br />

he did so ; Vishnu blew the sankha ; Mahadeva sprinkled<br />

kalas-water on tbe road ; Indra held an umbrella ;<br />

Yama-raj lighted the incense; Varuna sprinkled water<br />

from a sankha, and rain fell; Kuvera scattered riches ;<br />

Agni displayed light; Nairitya retnoved obstacles;<br />

Vayu held the flag; and !shan scared away dev1ls. In<br />

this manner all the gods showed their respect, while<br />

bringing in Aryavalolnteswara-Matsyendranatha. These<br />

gods, however, were not vis1ble to any except Bandhudatta<br />

and N arendra-deva. The people only saw Bandhudp.tta,<br />

N arendra-deYa, the mali and malin!, and the gods<br />

In the shape <strong>of</strong> birds and beasts.<br />

A plentiful rain now fell 1n Nepal. When the procession<br />

reached a certain spot they sat down to rest,<br />

and here Harsiddhi Bhairava, in the shape <strong>of</strong> a dog,<br />

barked and said "bu ", which Bandhudatta explained<br />

to the RaJa Narendra-deva to mean "birth-place", and<br />

that they were to consider that Machchhindranatha was<br />

born on this spot.<br />

In honour <strong>of</strong> the Amaras} or gods, who came so<br />

far in company with them, and <strong>of</strong> the spot thus mysteriously<br />

pointed out by the dog, Bandhudatta, after<br />

consultation witl1 the RaJa, determined to build a town<br />

und name it Amara pur 2 , and here he placed the kalas<br />

containing Aryavalokiteswara-Machchhindranatha. They<br />

then appointed two priests to worship him in turn.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> these was a distant cousin <strong>of</strong> Bandhudatta, and<br />

a descendant <strong>of</strong> a priest <strong>of</strong> Swayambhu, who lived 1n the<br />

l On the roo.d between Kotpitl and Pa.tn.n<br />

J Or Eogmnt'i, about three m1les south <strong>of</strong> Pittan<br />

'


III] THAKURl DYNASTY. 1 55<br />

the west <strong>of</strong> the country he renewed the worship <strong>of</strong><br />

Panchlinga Bhairava, whose jatra takes place on the<br />

5th <strong>of</strong> Aswin Sudi This Bhairava had come to play<br />

with a Khargini, or Kasaini.<br />

He also brought from Indrani-ghat the goddess Manamaiju-pitha,<br />

and placed her jn the east <strong>of</strong> the country,<br />

at a place called Agama-choka. To the east is the<br />

Lomri-devi, brought by Bandhudatta Acharya from the<br />

Kamrup mountain. Then he established, or rather<br />

revived, the Hilya jatra, Krishna jatra, and Lakhya jatra.<br />

The last <strong>of</strong> these was in honour <strong>of</strong> Sakya Muni having<br />

obtained a victory over Namuchi-mara 1 , when the latter<br />

came to distract his attention, while he was sitting under<br />

a bodhi tree 2 in pr<strong>of</strong>ound meditation for the purpose<br />

<strong>of</strong> becoming a Buddha. After his victory Brahma and<br />

other gods caJne to pay their respects to Sakya Muni,<br />

for which reason the gods are represented in these jatras.<br />

He also instituted the Matayata and Sringabh&rl<br />

jatras. The Hllya, Krishna, and Lakhya jatras were iu<br />

existence before the time that Kantipur was founded ..<br />

He then instituted the Indra jatra by erecting images<br />

<strong>of</strong> Kumaris. Then, in imitation <strong>of</strong> the Lokeswara<br />

jatra <strong>of</strong> Patan, he made an image <strong>of</strong> Khasarppa Lokeswara,<br />

and caused his jatra to be celebrated every year.<br />

He then founded a village named Thambahtl, at the<br />

place where formerly Vikrama-sila B1har stood. The<br />

image <strong>of</strong> Thambahtl, consecrated by Sinhal Baniya, the<br />

survivor <strong>of</strong> the party <strong>of</strong> 501 baniyas, had been destroyed<br />

when the waters <strong>of</strong> the Bagmati had been stopped up<br />

by Danasur, but it had been replaced by the descendants<br />

<strong>of</strong> Sinhal.<br />

1 Another name for K&m.deva, or more hkely for Indra.<br />

' The Bhot1ya.s use the seeds <strong>of</strong> thls txee as beads 1n theu rosar1es.


160 HISTORY OF NEPAL [cHAP Ill J<br />

bulent, that no one would venture to pass that way The<br />

Raja, therefore, in order to put a stop to this trouble,<br />

caused an ernblem <strong>of</strong> S1va to be placed there by venerable<br />

pandits Thrs emblem, having been erected for the Santi,<br />

or peace, <strong>of</strong> the Brah1na-p1sd.chas, was called Santeswara<br />

It IS also called NandikesV\,.ara 1 , from Its having been<br />

erected by a Brahman <strong>of</strong> Bisal-nagara, named Nand1, who<br />

himself after death was de1fied as Mopta-deva or Bh:itbhatyani.<br />

This Ra.Ja, to estab]ish peace on a more secure footmg,<br />

instituted the custorn <strong>of</strong> a yearly Jatra <strong>of</strong> the Navasagara<br />

Bhagavati <strong>of</strong> B1sal-nagara, on the anniversary <strong>of</strong> the Pretachaturdasl.<br />

The orrgrnal Image <strong>of</strong> th1s Devi, made by<br />

VIS"\Ya-karma_, was so frightful, that no one would pass<br />

that -way. The people therefore bur1ed It.:o and covered<br />

the place w1th stones<br />

After the seven hundred Brahmans had been massacred,<br />

the rest left B1sal-nagara, and went to live at Deva-patan,.<br />

where they built a house having seven courts.<br />

The dynasty <strong>of</strong> the V a1s Thakuris <strong>of</strong> N oakot ends<br />

here A descendant <strong>of</strong> a collateral branch <strong>of</strong> the solar race<br />

<strong>of</strong> the former RaJa Ansu-barma, by name Bama-deva, havrng<br />

ga1ned over the nobles <strong>of</strong> Lalitapur and Kantipur,<br />

succeeded in expelling the Va1s Thakur! RaJas, and made<br />

himself king ..<br />

1 A large temple on the north stde <strong>of</strong> the Pashupab roacl


ISO HISTORY OF NEPAL. (CHAP IV]<br />

3. H1s son Sakti-sinha-deva reigned 22 years ..<br />

This RaJa abdicated in favour <strong>of</strong> his son Shyama<br />

sinha-deva, and took 1.1p his residence at Palamchok 1,<br />

wl1.ence he sent presents to China, whicl1. so pleased the<br />

Emperor that he sent in return a seal, with the name<br />

Sakti-si.nha engraved on it, and 1n addition the title <strong>of</strong><br />

Rama, with a royal despatch, in the Chinese year 535.<br />

4.. His son Shyama-sinha-deva reigned 15 years.<br />

In this reign a tremendous earthqualte was felt in<br />

Nepal. The temple <strong>of</strong> Machchhindranatha and all othe-r<br />

buildings fell down, and innumerable human. beings<br />

perished. This took place on the 12th <strong>of</strong> Bhadra Sudi,<br />

IJ?- Nepal Sam bat 528 (A D. 1·408).<br />

This Shyama-sinha-deva had no male issue, but only<br />

a daughter, whom he gave in marriage to one <strong>of</strong> the<br />

descendants <strong>of</strong> the Malla Rajas, who fled to Tirhiit on<br />

the invasion <strong>of</strong> Nanyadeva Raja. He then made his<br />

son-in-law Raja.<br />

1 To the east <strong>of</strong> .Bancpt\.


L<br />

r


' ] I>YN ASTY OF THE MALL.A RAJAS OF BHATGAON 197<br />

Malla compJied with his request, but privately told the<br />

men to spoil it They went to Bhatgaon_, and prepared<br />

to set up the pillar, but wh1le doing so they let It fall,<br />

and broke 1t Into three pieces Seeing that the Raja<br />

was d1spleased at th1s, they JOined the pieces together<br />

aga1n and put up the p1llar. Ra11Jit Malla and Jayaprakasa<br />

1Yialla both. gave the men dresses <strong>of</strong> honour.<br />

RanJit Malia ded1cated a large bell to Annapiirna<br />

Devi on the 1st <strong>of</strong>Phagun Badi, Nepal Sambat 857 (A.D.<br />

1737 ).<br />

At th1s t11ne the RaJas <strong>of</strong> Bhatgaon, Lal1t-poltan,<br />

and Kant1pur, 'vere on bad terms ·w·ith each other.<br />

Hence Narbhupala Sah, Rfi.ja <strong>of</strong> Gurkha, laid clain1 to<br />

the throne <strong>of</strong> Nepal, and crossed the Trisul Ganga to<br />

Invade the country Be1ng, however, opposed and defeated<br />

by the Va1sya-rajas <strong>of</strong> Noakot, he was obliged to<br />

return to Gorkha, a.fter burning the bridge over the<br />

Trisill Ganga<br />

A jyapu, who owned a field, near a plain to tl1e<br />

south <strong>of</strong> Machchhindrapur (Bogmat1), called Deva-khel,<br />

lvas one n1ght sleep1ng 1n it, when he saw a strange<br />

sight. So1ne one came and l1ghted a lamp, and then<br />

others came and spread carpets, on wlnch several persons<br />

sat down. At the b1dd1ng <strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> these, another<br />

person went to call some one, but returned wrtl1 the<br />

answer that he would come to-morro1v. On this tl1e<br />

rneeting brok:e up Next n1ght the same events took<br />

place, but the vacant seat on the carpet was occupied<br />

by Machchhjndra-natha, who, it seerns, was the person<br />

who had pron11sed to come the n1ght before A<br />

BhairaYa then came forward and asked for food. Machchhindra<br />

told him to go to Gorkha, and enjoy the<br />

sovere1gnty <strong>of</strong> the country where Go1akhnatha resided.


v] DYNASTY OF THE MALLA RAJAS OF BHATGAON 199<br />

RanJit Malla had several illeg1tilnate sons, who conspired<br />

against the life <strong>of</strong> Prince Bir-na.rs1nha Malia, and<br />

consulted some ill-disposed persons as to how they m1ght<br />

remove him. These people s::ud that he might be destroyed<br />

by performing a Kotyahuti-yagya and pronouncing<br />

th.a mantras so as to produce a bad effect. The sons<br />

then told the RaJa that, if he would hu.ve a Kotyahuti-yagya<br />

performed, the country would be prosperous<br />

and he would have done a meritorious act. The RaJa<br />

consented, and Pnnce Brr-nars1nha d1ed suddenly at the<br />

age <strong>of</strong> 32, and w1th h1m the dynasty <strong>of</strong> the solar race<br />

jn Bhatgaon became extinct.


vr] THE MALLA RAJAS OF KATH!v.I:ANDU<br />

The Nepalese KaJIS, noblemen, and sardars wore armour<br />

In the battle the troops <strong>of</strong> Deva-patan, being encouraged<br />

by their local goddess J a ya bages-vvari, struck the first<br />

blow On the Gorkha s1dej Surpratap lost one <strong>of</strong> h1s<br />

eyes, and Kalu Panre was k1lled. Th.e battle lasted for<br />

twelve .. gharis (nearly five hours), and both Sides lost rJJany<br />

men. On the Nepalese s1de twelve thousand sepoys,<br />

brought from the pla1ns <strong>of</strong> Ind1a by Sakt1ballabh Sardar,<br />

were k1lled. MaharaJ Pr1thw1narayana Sah was in a<br />

dola (palanquin), and a sepoy raised h1s khoda to cut<br />

him down, but h1s hand was held by another, who exclaimed<br />

that he was a RaJa and not to be killed A<br />

Duan and a K asa.i then carried the P"aJa in one n1ght to<br />

N oakot. The Raja praised the Duan and sa.td Syabas<br />

pz1t ("Well done, my son"), and from that day the people<br />

<strong>of</strong> his caste came to be called Putwar and had access to<br />

the king' s person.<br />

Jaya-prakasa now thought that the Go1khalis were<br />

annihilated, and made great reJOicmgs. In th1s way the<br />

Nepalese repulsed the attacks <strong>of</strong> the Gorkhalis for<br />

eighteen years.<br />

At this time the Raja had put a stop to the yearly<br />

stonethrow1ng at Kankeswar1, but having heard a great<br />

noise at midnight, he was obliged to allow the custom to<br />

be eontinued. He built a house in Kant1pur for the<br />

Kumaris to l1ve m, wh1ch was constructed according to<br />

bastu-chakra, and instituted the1r rath-Jatra.<br />

After some t1me S!tala, the goddess <strong>of</strong> small-pox, to<br />

brtng r1.un on Nepal, entered Mohan-chok, and J yot1 ...<br />

prakasa, the son <strong>of</strong> the RaJa, died <strong>of</strong> that dtsease The<br />

RaJa took the dead body with great pomp to the RaJghat<br />

at Pashupatr and burned 1t<br />

The four Thari:s, be!ng Jeal01.lS <strong>of</strong> the Tirhutlya BI ah-<br />

15-2


HISTORY OF NEPAL [CHAP<br />

acre. On the 6th <strong>of</strong> Aswin Sud1, In the san1e year, Sri Sri<br />

b<br />

Jaya Sri Jyoti Nars1nha Malia died His wife Ra1.LI<br />

Chhatramati becctme a sati, and a slave g1rl also Immolated<br />

he1Rel£ The roads to KJntrpur and Bhatgaon<br />

be1ng closed, on account <strong>of</strong> enmrty, the body was taken<br />

to N1kl1u l{hola to be burned 1<br />

Tins year the Dasfiin was not publicly celebrated, but<br />

the RaJIL and priests only perfor1ned the ceremonies.<br />

The derty was not even b1ought down, and no buffaloes<br />

1vere sacr1ficed The god <strong>of</strong> Madtchhe (a part <strong>of</strong> the Durbiii)<br />

was lnought down stairs, and the god <strong>of</strong> Thanchhomandal<br />

had a buffalo sacrificed to hinl, but the head <strong>of</strong><br />

the buffalo was not 1no.,de to dance 2 • No musical instruments<br />

were played on, and the BisarJan, or brddrng<br />

ad1eu to the goddess, was done privately. The Prasthapana<br />

was only made to go seven paces, and the deity was<br />

not taken outside.<br />

InN. S 77 4 (A. D. 1654) the ro<strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong> Yappa Pitha was<br />

carr1ed away by a storm, and the fire, with which a dead<br />

body was being burned at the t1me, fell on the Pitha,<br />

and the (sacred) stone cracked In N S 77 4, on<br />

the 1st <strong>of</strong> Chait Badi, the painters <strong>of</strong> Bhatgaon did<br />

not come to the Snan-jatra <strong>of</strong> Machchhi:ndra-natba3;<br />

the image was taken out by Gangaram <strong>of</strong> Kobahal and<br />

two otl1ers, and the de1ty was bathed by two instead<br />

<strong>of</strong> four persons. The jatra commenced, but the rath<br />

stopped after advancing a bowshot The next da.y the<br />

same thrng occurred On the sixth day the rath reached<br />

Gwalti-chok. The next day the wheels again stuck in<br />

I A am all stream south <strong>of</strong> Patan, fallmg mto the 13a.gmati JUSt above Chaubahal<br />

On thla stream the new cannon manufactory and workshops are bUilt<br />

2 After sacrifiomg the buffalo, a man outs o:ff the head and dances Wtth 1t<br />

before the shr1ne<br />

s It was their d1.1ty to take out the Image for batlung


HISTORY OF NEPAL. [CHAP. VIII.]<br />

my hfetime, but in that or-my grandson." Jaya Prakasa<br />

consented, and took the gut. He then said that the<br />

person who should <strong>of</strong>fer a silver jalhar! to Pashupati-natha<br />

would be himself returned to the earth. After saying<br />

this he died, and was absorbed into the southern or<br />

Aghor face <strong>of</strong> Pashupati-n3ttha.<br />

Tej-Narsinha, the Raja <strong>of</strong> Lalitpur, thought that all<br />

this evil was brought about by Ranj1t Malia, and that<br />

there was no use in speaking to any one. He therefore<br />

sat engaged in the worship <strong>of</strong> God., and would not speak.<br />

For this reason he was sent to Lakshmipur, to be kept<br />

in confinement ; and there he died.


[ l.HAP<br />

remaining there, and the younger go1ng to the northern<br />

hills.<br />

The latter arr1vecl at R1d1 When setting out fron1<br />

Ujja1n, he took With him his Ishta-clevata (pa.tron. de1ty),<br />

who told h1m to halt and not to go beyond tl1e place where<br />

he put h1m (the devata) upon the ground. In Sak:a 1417<br />

(A.D. 1495) he set out f1o1n R1ch and reached Sargha,<br />

where, being much fatigued, h.e put the devata. on<br />

the ground, and the devata remained tl1ere Bhtlpal<br />

Rana-ji stayed there for a sho1 t t1rne, but, finding that,<br />

withotlt some settled mode <strong>of</strong> life, 1t vvas difficult for lnn1<br />

to live there, he went to Kh1lum, tt place In Blu1kot, ancl<br />

brought 1ts vvaste land into cultivation. In that place<br />

two sons were born to h1m, Khancha and M1cha. 'Their<br />

bratabandha (talt1ng tl1e brahinanicu.l thread) was performed<br />

there, and daughters <strong>of</strong> Raghubans1 Raj puts were<br />

brought from the pla1ns for them to marly.<br />

The elder with h1s rani went to Dhor, conquered<br />

Mangrat, and reigned over Garhon, Sathun, Bhnk.ot and<br />

Dhor.<br />

The younger, Micha Khan, went to N uwakot 1 with his<br />

rani, and ruled over it.<br />

The raJ its who ruled over N uwakot were .-<br />

36. Micha Khan 39. Micha Khan<br />

37. Jayan , 40. Bichitra ,,<br />

38 Surya , 41. Jagdeva ,,<br />

Kulmanda.n, the son <strong>of</strong> J agdeva Khan, obtained the<br />

sovereignty over Kaski. He pleased the Emperor in<br />

something, and received from him the title <strong>of</strong> Sah. He<br />

had seven sons The eldest succeeded him in the<br />

5overnment <strong>of</strong> Kaski. The second, Kalu Sah, was asked<br />

1 Not the Noakot near Kathmiindn, but another fa.r to the west


x] HISTORY OF THE GORKHALIS<br />

twenty-fourth year would be very unlucky, and that<br />

he would lose either his throne or his l1fe in it. He<br />

therefore abdicated in his son's favour, m Saka 1721<br />

(A. D. 1799)<br />

56. Sri Girban-juddha Vikram Sah reigned 17 years.<br />

When giv1ng up the gaddi to his son, Ran Ba.hadur<br />

Sah ordered that no change should be made in the<br />

<strong>of</strong>fices <strong>of</strong> state for the next twelve years, and he appointed<br />

Damodar Pande, Kirtiman Sinha Bashnyat,<br />

Tribhuvan, and N arsinha, to be Kaj!s. After th1s he l1ved<br />

the hfe <strong>of</strong> one removed from worldly cares<br />

The Kajis, however, did not adhere strictly to the<br />

instructions <strong>of</strong> the late RaJa, who, on receiving a defiant<br />

reply to some <strong>of</strong> his angry remarks> thought it best to<br />

remove himself to Kasi (Benares), for fear <strong>of</strong> an outbreak<br />

on the part <strong>of</strong> the traitor ministers.<br />

In Benares Bhimasena Thapa became hrs confidant,<br />

through his talents. He advised him to make soroeJarrangement<br />

with the British, and to return to Nepal,<br />

where he would then be able to punish the faithless and<br />

ungrateful, as the unlucky days were past.<br />

The Swami Maharaj then returned to Nepal, after<br />

taking a fr1endJy leave <strong>of</strong> the British. He k1lled some<br />

<strong>of</strong> the traitors and dismissed others. After putting<br />

Bhimasena at the head <strong>of</strong> the government, with the title<br />

<strong>of</strong> Chief Kaji, he began to seek for seditious persons ; and<br />

Sher Bahadur, a son <strong>of</strong> Pratap Sinha by a N ewari woman,<br />

fear1ng for rus own l1fe, one night killed the Raja.<br />

Grrban-juddha came to the gadd1 in Saka 1721 (.A.. D.<br />

1799). On the death <strong>of</strong> Ran Bahadur Sah, lns Junior<br />

rani, Lalit-Tr1pur-Sundari-devi became regent, and<br />

Bht_masena 1nanaged the affairs <strong>of</strong> state under her orders.


(Plate XV)<br />

SRI SURENDRA VIKRAM SAH,<br />

'M.icllll'e .t Matdolldlu Lull· Lon(tua<br />

THE REIGNING KING OF NEPAL (p Z84)


XVl)<br />

lhr hot t M'lldtlll lid L11Jt Lnudou<br />

MAJOR GENERAL JAGAT JUN G BAHADUR 7 ELD:CST SON OF<br />

SIR JUNG BAHADUR/ ANIJ A NEPALESE GENTLEMAN (p


APPENDIX.

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