The Kingdom of Nepal, also known as the Gorkhali Kingdom, was the government of Nepal, a landlocked state in South Asia, from 1768 to 2008, when it was replaced by a Republic. Being connected with the cultural and historical ties of India, it was founded in 1768 by Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Gorkha king, who succeeded in unifying the three existing smaller kingdoms of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur into a single state.
The Monarchy was abolished in 2008, seven years after the Nepalese royal massacre and following a Maoist democracy movemement that began in 2006 against the final monarch, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. In place of the monarchy, Nepal adopted an interim republican constitution and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal was established. At the point of the Kingdom of Nepal's disestablishment, it was the world's only country to have Hinduism as its state religion;[1] the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is an officially secular state.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Preamble - The Rajput Lineage
The former royal family of Nepal are the descendants of the Parmar Rajput dynasty of the Narsinghgarh state in Malwa (Madhya Pradesh, India).[1] The famous kings of the Malwa region were Raja Bhrathari, Samrat Vikramaditya and Raja Bhoj. Nepal was the only Hindu Kingdom very recently which is now reduced to a democracy and Monarchy has been abolished. Similarly the Rana dynasty who were hereditary prime ministers of Nepal traces their routes to the Sisodiya Rajput dynasty of Mewar (Former capital was Chittor and now Udaipur). Ajaya Simha claims himself as Prince of Nuwakot (Syangja), Lambjung, Kaski, and Tanhun in ca. 1495. His successor, Jagdeva, conquered the principality of Kaski and was awarded the title of Shah from the Emperor of India during the sixteenth century.
Drabya Shah, great-grandson of Jagdeva, conquered Gorkha, establishing himself as the founder of the fortunes of the dynasty. His descendant, Prithvi Narayan, entered the Kathmandu valley and defeated the Malla dynasty, becoming King in 1768. His successors conquered all the remaining petty principalities and unified the kingdom.[2]
[edit] Beginning of Shah dynasty
In the sixteenth century Yashobramha Shah gained the ruling title over the principality of Kaski. The rulers of neighboring Kingdom of Gorkha were Magar people. They had a tradition of choosing a ruler every fall by way of a running match open to everyone. Whoever won the race was to become the ruler for a year. However, when Dravya Shah tricked his way to the win and eventually gotten away with the tradition of choosing a ruler every fall. He ruled with an iron fist and executed anyone who suggested the reinstatement of the very tradition of choosing a ruler by which he himself became a ruler[citation needed].
Dravya Shah himself was not a physically robust man. He, however, had the backing of the Bhattarai, Aryal, Adhikari and Acharya clans of Bahun to propel him to the throne by defeating Magar aspirants to the throne by trickery and cheating instead of pure physical perfection as was the norm. Once he became the king, however, he discontinued the race that was essential among the Magar to anoint the ruler for the next year. By the time of his death in 1570, Dravya Shah had managed to erase the memory of the tradition of choosing the ruler by way of running a match open to everyone. He was a shrewd politician, and with the backing of the above mentioned clan of Bahun, he additionally sought the help of the Pant clan of Bahun. He was a totalitarian king who ruled with an iron fist to silence any dissent. He used the power and might of the magar army to increase the size of the kingdom to include some of the neighbouring states. His successors continued to increase the kingdom's territory.
Absolute monarchy (1768–1990)
In 1743 Prithvi Narayan Shah succeeded to the throne of Gorkha and set out for the unification of Nepal. By September 1768, he became the King of Nepal.
In 1815 the Gurkha War broke out between Nepal and the British East India Company. By the end of the war in 1816 Nepal had lost one third of its territory.
During the mid-19th century the Shah dynasty lost control of Nepal to the Rana dynasty, who reduced the King of Nepal to a figurehead while they ruled the country through hereditary government positions.
It wasn't until 1951 that the Shah dynasty regained control with the resignation of Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, the last Rana prime minister.
Drabya Shah, great-grandson of Jagdeva, conquered Gorkha, establishing himself as the founder of the fortunes of the dynasty. His descendant, Prithvi Narayan, entered the Kathmandu valley and defeated the Malla dynasty, becoming King in 1768. His successors conquered all the remaining petty principalities and unified the kingdom.[2]
[edit] Beginning of Shah dynasty
In the sixteenth century Yashobramha Shah gained the ruling title over the principality of Kaski. The rulers of neighboring Kingdom of Gorkha were Magar people. They had a tradition of choosing a ruler every fall by way of a running match open to everyone. Whoever won the race was to become the ruler for a year. However, when Dravya Shah tricked his way to the win and eventually gotten away with the tradition of choosing a ruler every fall. He ruled with an iron fist and executed anyone who suggested the reinstatement of the very tradition of choosing a ruler by which he himself became a ruler[citation needed].
Dravya Shah himself was not a physically robust man. He, however, had the backing of the Bhattarai, Aryal, Adhikari and Acharya clans of Bahun to propel him to the throne by defeating Magar aspirants to the throne by trickery and cheating instead of pure physical perfection as was the norm. Once he became the king, however, he discontinued the race that was essential among the Magar to anoint the ruler for the next year. By the time of his death in 1570, Dravya Shah had managed to erase the memory of the tradition of choosing the ruler by way of running a match open to everyone. He was a shrewd politician, and with the backing of the above mentioned clan of Bahun, he additionally sought the help of the Pant clan of Bahun. He was a totalitarian king who ruled with an iron fist to silence any dissent. He used the power and might of the magar army to increase the size of the kingdom to include some of the neighbouring states. His successors continued to increase the kingdom's territory.
Absolute monarchy (1768–1990)
In 1743 Prithvi Narayan Shah succeeded to the throne of Gorkha and set out for the unification of Nepal. By September 1768, he became the King of Nepal.
In 1815 the Gurkha War broke out between Nepal and the British East India Company. By the end of the war in 1816 Nepal had lost one third of its territory.
During the mid-19th century the Shah dynasty lost control of Nepal to the Rana dynasty, who reduced the King of Nepal to a figurehead while they ruled the country through hereditary government positions.
It wasn't until 1951 that the Shah dynasty regained control with the resignation of Mohan Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, the last Rana prime minister.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Malla rulers of the whole Kathmandu valley
Ari Deva c.1201 - 1216
Abhaya Malla c.1216 - 1235
Ranasura c.1216
Jayadeva Malla c.1235 - 1258
Jayabhima Deva c.1258 - 1271
Jayasimha Malla c.1271 - 1274
Ananta Malla c.1274 - 1310
Jayananada Deva c.1310 - 1320
Jayari Malla c.1320 - 1344
Jayarudra Malla c.1320 - 1326
Jayaraja Deva c.1347 - 1361
Jayarjuna Malla c.1361 - 1382
Jayasthiti Malla c.1382 - 1395
Jayajyotir Malla c.1395 - 1428
Jayakiti Malla c.1395 - 1403
Jayadharma Malla c.1395 - 1408
Jayayakshya Malla c.1428 - 1482
Abhaya Malla c.1216 - 1235
Ranasura c.1216
Jayadeva Malla c.1235 - 1258
Jayabhima Deva c.1258 - 1271
Jayasimha Malla c.1271 - 1274
Ananta Malla c.1274 - 1310
Jayananada Deva c.1310 - 1320
Jayari Malla c.1320 - 1344
Jayarudra Malla c.1320 - 1326
Jayaraja Deva c.1347 - 1361
Jayarjuna Malla c.1361 - 1382
Jayasthiti Malla c.1382 - 1395
Jayajyotir Malla c.1395 - 1428
Jayakiti Malla c.1395 - 1403
Jayadharma Malla c.1395 - 1408
Jayayakshya Malla c.1428 - 1482
MALLA ERA
The Malla Dynasty was a ruling dynasty of Nepal from the twelfth century to the eighteenth century. Malla kings of Nepal visited Lumbini in the 11th and 12th century. It was during their reign the people living in and around the Kathmandu Valley began to be called as "Newars" (or Nepa:mi in Newari language, meaning the citizens of Nepal). The Mallas were the ruling clan of the Malla Mahajanapada. They later shifted to Kathmandu valley. In Nepal, The first Malla king was Abhaya Malla, the son of Ari Deva.
Malla ruler Ananta Malla (r.1274 - 1310) was succeeded by his son Jayananda Deva (r.1310 - 1320). His son Jayaraja Deva (1317 - 1361) became king in 1347. During his reign Sultan of Bengal, Shams-ud-Din Ilyas Shah invaded Nepal. Jayaraja Deva was succeeded by his son Jayarjuna Malla (r. 1361 - 1382). Jayarjuna was overthrown by Jayasthiti Malla in 1382. Jayashtiti Malla (r.1382- 1395) was the most capable ruler of this dynasty who curbed the powers of the feudal chiefs. He is known for structuring of Newar society by implementing the caste system and fixing the status of the different castes. However, some historians and scholars consider this caste system to be the worse aspect of the Malla dynasty as the whole world sees this today as a social taboo. Lower castes like Chame, khadgi were treated as untouchable and totally outcasted from the society. Manandhar, Maharjan (middle caste) were considered lower than the those rulers but a slightly higher than the Chame and Khadgi.There always arose marriage conflicts among the working groups. The Malla rulers and the Shrestha (Administrators) have proven themselves hungry for power and creating a check and balance strategy among the working class. Even to this date, much changes are not seen in this social taboo issue and there has been reported issues of deriding the working class on the basis of their traditional profession and caste. It won't be untrue to say that the whole credit of forming and maintaining the world class Newar culture and tradition goes to the middle caste and lower caste of Newars than the greedy higher caste rulers who used to be considered as deities. He took the titles Dayitanarayana and Asuranarayana. He had three sons who ruled conjointly after their father's death but later his youngest son Jayajyotir Malla became the sole ruler (r.1395 - 1428).
Jayajyotir Malla was succeeded by his son Jayayakshya Malla or Yakshya Malla (r.1428 - 1482). He was the last Malla king of united Nepal, who divided his kingdom amongst his sons. Most noted Malla kings were:
Pratap Malla of Kantipur
Siddhi Narasimha Malla of Lalitpur
Bhupatindra Malla of Bhaktapur
The Malla dynasty rulers ruled the Kathmandu valley till Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley from them in 1768-69 CE. The last Malla kings were Jayaprakash Malla of Kantipur, Tejnarsingh Malla of Lalitpur and Ranajit Malla of Bhaktapur
Malla ruler Ananta Malla (r.1274 - 1310) was succeeded by his son Jayananda Deva (r.1310 - 1320). His son Jayaraja Deva (1317 - 1361) became king in 1347. During his reign Sultan of Bengal, Shams-ud-Din Ilyas Shah invaded Nepal. Jayaraja Deva was succeeded by his son Jayarjuna Malla (r. 1361 - 1382). Jayarjuna was overthrown by Jayasthiti Malla in 1382. Jayashtiti Malla (r.1382- 1395) was the most capable ruler of this dynasty who curbed the powers of the feudal chiefs. He is known for structuring of Newar society by implementing the caste system and fixing the status of the different castes. However, some historians and scholars consider this caste system to be the worse aspect of the Malla dynasty as the whole world sees this today as a social taboo. Lower castes like Chame, khadgi were treated as untouchable and totally outcasted from the society. Manandhar, Maharjan (middle caste) were considered lower than the those rulers but a slightly higher than the Chame and Khadgi.There always arose marriage conflicts among the working groups. The Malla rulers and the Shrestha (Administrators) have proven themselves hungry for power and creating a check and balance strategy among the working class. Even to this date, much changes are not seen in this social taboo issue and there has been reported issues of deriding the working class on the basis of their traditional profession and caste. It won't be untrue to say that the whole credit of forming and maintaining the world class Newar culture and tradition goes to the middle caste and lower caste of Newars than the greedy higher caste rulers who used to be considered as deities. He took the titles Dayitanarayana and Asuranarayana. He had three sons who ruled conjointly after their father's death but later his youngest son Jayajyotir Malla became the sole ruler (r.1395 - 1428).
Jayajyotir Malla was succeeded by his son Jayayakshya Malla or Yakshya Malla (r.1428 - 1482). He was the last Malla king of united Nepal, who divided his kingdom amongst his sons. Most noted Malla kings were:
Pratap Malla of Kantipur
Siddhi Narasimha Malla of Lalitpur
Bhupatindra Malla of Bhaktapur
The Malla dynasty rulers ruled the Kathmandu valley till Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the valley from them in 1768-69 CE. The last Malla kings were Jayaprakash Malla of Kantipur, Tejnarsingh Malla of Lalitpur and Ranajit Malla of Bhaktapur
Monday, July 12, 2010
LICCHAVI ERA
The Licchavis were the most famous clan amongst the ruling confederate clans of the Vajji mahajanapada of ancient India. Vaishali, the capital of the Licchavis was the capital of the Vajji mahajanapada also. It was later occupied by Ajatashatru, who annexed the Vajji territory into his kingdom.
Kautilya in his Arthaśāstra (ch. XI), describes the Licchavis as a tribal confederation (gaṇa sangha), whose leader uses the title of rājā (rājaśabdopajīvinah). A Buddhist text, the Mahāparinibbāna Suttanta refers them as Kshatriyas and one of the claimants of the relics of Buddha. According to the Dīgha Nikāya, the Licchavis were of the Vasiṣṭha gotra.
Buddhaghośa in his Paramatthajotikā, traced the origin of the Licchavis to Benaras. The date of the establishment of the Licchavi domination over the area consisting of present day north Bihar and terai region of Nepal is not known. By the time of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha this clan was already well settled in the area around their capital Vaiśālī. Buddhist tradition has preserved the names of a number of eminent Licchavis, which include prince Abhyaya, Oṭṭhaddha (Mahāli), generals, Sīha and Ajita, Dummukha and Sunakkhata. The Kalpasūtra of Bhadravāhu refers to the nine Licchavi gaṇarājas (chieftains) who along with the nine Malla gaṇarājas and the eighteen Kāśī-Kośala gaṇarājas formed a league against Magadha. The leader of this alliance was Cheṭaka, whose sister Triśalā was the mother of Mahavira.
Ananda Stupa, with an Asokan pillar, at Vaishali, the capital city
Only scattered reports of the Licchavi government system survive. The introductory portions of the Cullakalinga Jātaka and the Ekapaṇṇa Jātaka mention the Licchavi as having 7,707 Rājās. The number is one of convention, and unlikely to have been exact. It does demonstrate that Licchavi, unlike most of its neighbours, was not an absolute monarchy. Ultimate authority rested with the 7,707 raja who met each year to elect one of their member as ruler and a council of nine to assist him. It was far from a democracy as only a small portion of the Licchavi population qualified to vote. Those with raja status were only the male heads of households who belonged to the kshatriya varna.
The seat of the Licchavi administration was in Vaiśālī, the capital of the Vajjiian confederacy. The Rājā was the highest executive and judicial authority. The introductory portion of the Bhaddasāla Jātaka mentions about a tank, the water of which was used for the Abhiṣeka (the coronation) of the Gaṇarājas of Vaiśālī. The assembly hall where these Gaṇarājas met for discussion was known as the Santhāgāra.
Kautilya in his Arthaśāstra (ch. XI), describes the Licchavis as a tribal confederation (gaṇa sangha), whose leader uses the title of rājā (rājaśabdopajīvinah). A Buddhist text, the Mahāparinibbāna Suttanta refers them as Kshatriyas and one of the claimants of the relics of Buddha. According to the Dīgha Nikāya, the Licchavis were of the Vasiṣṭha gotra.
Buddhaghośa in his Paramatthajotikā, traced the origin of the Licchavis to Benaras. The date of the establishment of the Licchavi domination over the area consisting of present day north Bihar and terai region of Nepal is not known. By the time of Mahavira and Gautama Buddha this clan was already well settled in the area around their capital Vaiśālī. Buddhist tradition has preserved the names of a number of eminent Licchavis, which include prince Abhyaya, Oṭṭhaddha (Mahāli), generals, Sīha and Ajita, Dummukha and Sunakkhata. The Kalpasūtra of Bhadravāhu refers to the nine Licchavi gaṇarājas (chieftains) who along with the nine Malla gaṇarājas and the eighteen Kāśī-Kośala gaṇarājas formed a league against Magadha. The leader of this alliance was Cheṭaka, whose sister Triśalā was the mother of Mahavira.
Ananda Stupa, with an Asokan pillar, at Vaishali, the capital city
Only scattered reports of the Licchavi government system survive. The introductory portions of the Cullakalinga Jātaka and the Ekapaṇṇa Jātaka mention the Licchavi as having 7,707 Rājās. The number is one of convention, and unlikely to have been exact. It does demonstrate that Licchavi, unlike most of its neighbours, was not an absolute monarchy. Ultimate authority rested with the 7,707 raja who met each year to elect one of their member as ruler and a council of nine to assist him. It was far from a democracy as only a small portion of the Licchavi population qualified to vote. Those with raja status were only the male heads of households who belonged to the kshatriya varna.
The seat of the Licchavi administration was in Vaiśālī, the capital of the Vajjiian confederacy. The Rājā was the highest executive and judicial authority. The introductory portion of the Bhaddasāla Jātaka mentions about a tank, the water of which was used for the Abhiṣeka (the coronation) of the Gaṇarājas of Vaiśālī. The assembly hall where these Gaṇarājas met for discussion was known as the Santhāgāra.
THE KIRAT KINGDOM
The Buddhist missionaries who visited Nepal were generally Bhikshus (mendicants). They practized celibacy. Buddha had laid down the rule that one could become a Bhiskhu even in youth and resume a worldly life if one so wanted. Women too could do s. usually, only female Bhikshus could visit the inaccessible areas of Nepal. the influx of Bhikshus of both sexes continued till 187 B.C. In that year, Pushyamitra Sunga overthrew the Maurya dynasty and founded a new royal dynasty. He began to persecute Bhikshus, as a result of which many of them came to Nepal from the plains. It was against the law of Nature for young Bhikshus, male or female, to practice celibacy. Accordingly, they mixed with the local Nepar population, thereby joining Mongolian blood with Arya. Mixed marriages of this type improved the physiognomy of the Nepars. But because the Bhikshu men and women came to Nepal in small groups, they began to speak in the language of the Nepars rather than their own. Consequently, unlike the Tharus, the Nepars did not forget their language. At the same time, the influence of the Arya language wiped out Mongolian traces in their language, which gradually assumed the form of a Tibeto-Burman language
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
