The History of Ancient and Medieval NEPAL

Introduction

 Like all other countries of the world, Nepal has also its pre-historic period, shrouded in obscurity. Its records of early times are as legendary as those of Homer and India. In the absence of facts and figures and other authentic records which help one to say something definitely about a particular histo rical event, one has to depend, whether one likes it or not, on myths and legends. Nepal has. its own myths and legends to tell us of its origin. Regarding the origin of Nepal which, in the pre-historic period, was taken to mean only the valley of Kathmandu, Swayambhu Puran and Nepal Mahatmya have it to say that to begin with, Nepal was a lake with no outlet of water whatsoever. The valley of Kathmandu remained under water till Manjushree, a Bodhisatwa (potential Buddha) who came from China on pilgrimage sometime in Tretayuga to pay unreserved homage to Swayambhu which appeared on the lotus that grew out of the seed thrown in the lake by Bipasvi Buddha who came to Nepal sometime in the golden age, cut a rock through which the water of the lake flowed out, making the valley habitable.

 The authenticity of the legend, though to a 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 goes to lend evidence to the fact that Nepal was once a lake. Ancient Nepal having thus come into existence was ruled over by the rulers of different tribes and clans which immigrated into the valley from time to time. Manjushree not only made the valley habitable but also founded a town which extended from the hillock of Swayambhu- to Guhyeswari and was named Manjupattan after him. He then returned to China after hav ing made Dharmakar (who had accompanied Manjushree to Naghrada,) King of Manjupattan. Dharmakara ruled over the territory in his own way, but as he had no issue, he made Dharmapal his successor. Dharmapal is said to have come to Nepal with Krakuchhanda Buddha. After him Sudhanwa 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 over by Prachanda Deva from Gaur (present Bengal). He is said to have been sent to Nepal by Kankamuni Buddha who came to Nepal on pilgrimage. Basupur, Agnipur, Bayupur, Nagpur and Shantipur-all shrines dedicated to the different elements of nature as earth, fire, air, water etc, which stand even to this day in the precincts of Swayambhu, are said to have been built by Prachanda Deva. After the death of Prachanda Deva, his son Shakti Deva ruled over Nepal. 

After him Gunakama Deva and his son Simha Ketu ruled over the valley. Gunakama Deva is said to have founded the city of Kathmandu. According to some sources it was about 723 A.D. If we are to accept those sources, the city of Kathmandu was founded twelve hundred forty eight years ago. From this it can be affirmed that Gunakama Deva must have only extended the city and not founded it, but its authenticity still awaits research and investigation. 

Kiranti Dynasty

Though mention of Gopal Dynasty and Ahir Dynasty is found in the chronicles, Nepal enters into real historical era with the conquest of Kathmandu valley by the Kirantis. The Kirantis are said to have been the aborigines inhabiting Eastern Nepal and having their own administrative set-up. Under the able leadership of their chieftain Yalambar the Kirantis defeatedBhuwan Singh; the last king in the Ahir Dynasty and brought the Kathmandu valley under their sway. Yalambar is said to be the contemporary of the Pandavas. When the battles of Mahabharat were fought between the Kauravas and the Pan davas, Yalambar with a view to siding with the losing party went to witness the battles. Shree Krishna knowing the intention of Yalambar and the'strength and unity of the Kirantis thought that the Mahabharat war would be unnecessarily prolonged in case Yalambar sided with the Kauravas. So by a clever stroke of diplomacy Krishna cut off Yalambara's head. It is said that Gautam Buddha visited Nepal proper during the regime of Jitedasta, the seventh ruler in the Kiranti Dynasty. Ashoka is said to have visited Nepal in about 250 B.C. during the regime of Sthunko, . the fourteenth ruler of the Kiranti Dynasty. To commemorate his visit he got four "stupas'' erected in four quarters of Lalitpattan. They exist even to this day. Ashoka's visit to Kathmandu is testified even by the fact that he gave away his daughter Charumati (who accompanied him in his pilgrimage to Nepal) in marriage to Devapal, a Kshetriya prince. She founded the town of Devapatan in memory of her husband, Devapal. She also got a Vihar ( a nunnery ) erected for herself and it was called Charumati Vihar after her. The nunnery and its surrounding area are now known as Chabahil.f The twentyeighth 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 came from the western part of Nepal. There he built a palace known as "Patuko Palace"

Though nothing but a mound of the palace in ruins now exists, the place is still called Patuko. The last Kiranti ruler Gasti was, however, defeated by the army of Nimish, a prince of Somavamshi.

Soma Dynasty

 The Rajputs belonging to the Soma dynasty in order to shelter themselves from the invasions and the growing influence of the Mughal Empire came to the western part of Nepal and established their own principality there. Kiranti kings were rul ing over 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 from Soma dynasty. He got a palatial building built in the forest of Gokarna, now a picnic spot about five miles north-east of Kathmandu. He got a four-faced Linga of Pashupati Nath erected and established. He got a new town built in place of the old town of Bishal Nagar. Nimisha got a palace built at Godawari, too. Bhaskar Varma was the last ruler of the Soma dynasty. He came out to be a great conqueror. He conquered modern Orissa and many other territories. He donated a lot of money and jewels to Pashupati Nath. As he had no sons and daughters to succeed him, he adopted Bhoomi Varma, . a Lichchhavi Kshetri, of the Solar Dynasty. So after Bhakar Varma began the reign of the Lichchhavi Dynasty. When Soma Bamshi rulers were ruling over Nepal, Gupta rulers seem to have been ruling over India. It was the time of Constantine in Rome, It was the time when Christianity was triumphantly spreading over Europe. About this time there was unrest in China owing to the scramble 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 son and successor of Bhaskar Varma got a palace built at Baneswar and ruled 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 worshipping four Narayans and of taking, a bath at Shankhamool on a particular day was obser ved. Brisha Barma, another king in the Lichchhavi dynasty, espoused and spread Buddhism. He established a Manju Bahal (a monastery known as Manju Vihar) and Bande Gaon at Chabahil. It was in his regin that a man Prachanda Deva by name came from Gaud and built a Swayambu Chaitya. 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 in Nepal. After Shankar Deva, Dharma Deva became king. His son Mana Deva is the most famous Lichchhavi king. 

Medieval Nepal Malla Dynasty

Arideva Malla seemed to be the first Malla ruler in Nepal. No mention of the Malla kings before him is made in the his tory of Nepal. The word 'Malla' literally means a wrestler. It is said that Arideva Malla was very fond of wrestling. Once while he was engaging himself in wrestling, he heard the news of the birth of a son to him. As a son was born to him at the time when he was engaged in wrestling, he added the word 'Malla' after his name and from that time on Malla dynasty came into existence. But this story of the origin of the word 'Malla' is not so con vincing for a number of reasons. First, the word 'Malla' is added to the name of Arideva. Secondly, the Mallas had their republican form of Government at Kushinagar, Pawa and in the neighbourhood of Vaisali before the sixth century B.C., and according to the Buddhist scriptures Buddha explained to his disciple Ananda the importance of the land of the Malla kings. From the inscription in the temple of Changu Narayan we learn that Mana Deva led a campaign against Mallapuri, the land of the Mallas on 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 reasons we can say that the origin of the Mallas was ancient and was not in vented by Arideva. Arideva reigned from 1320 A.D. to 1344 A.D. After him his son Avaya Malla (1300 A.D.) became king. He was succeed ed by Jaya Deva and Bheem Deva, Jaya Singh, Ananta Malla, 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 (a corrupt form of Simadhanigu Gadh a fort unfinished). 

A HISTORY OF NEPAL

              

                      Nepal emerged as a unified state over 200 years ago, centred on the Kathmandu Valley with its 2000 years of urban civilization. While John Whelpton’s history focuses on the period since the overthrow of the Rana family autocracy in 1950–1, the early chapters are devoted to the origins of the kingdom and the evolving relations of its diverse peoples. By drawing on recent research on Nepal’s environment, society and political institutions from the earliest times, the author portrays a country of extraordinary contrasts, which has been constantly buffeted through history by its neighbours, the two Asian giants, China and India. Economic and political turmoil over the last fifty years came to a climax in the massacre of the royal family in 2001, when the country erupted into civil war. The book represents the first widely available one-volume treatment in English of the whole span of Nepalese history to appear for over a generation. Its comprehensive and accessible approach will appeal to students, professionals and those visiting the region for the first time. john whelpton, who works as a teacher in Hong Kong, is a historian and linguist. He has worked and travelled extensively in Nepal, and has written numerous articles and books on the country. These include People, Politics and Ideology: Democracy and Social Change in Nepal (1999, with the late Martin Hoftun and William Reaper) and Kings, Soldiers and Priests: Nepalese Politics and the Rise of Junga Bahadur Rana, 1830–1857 (1991).