Gopal Raj Vamshavali

The Gopal Raj Vamshavali (IAST: GopÃÂlarÃÂjavaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂÃÂvalÃÂ«, Devanagari: Ã Â¤ÂÃ Â¥ÂÃ Â¤ÂªÃ Â¤Â¾Ã Â¤Â²Ã Â¤Â°Ã Â¤Â¾Ã Â¤ÂÃ Â¤ÂµÃ Â¤ÂÃ Â¤Â¶Ã Â¤Â¾Ã Â¤ÂµÃ Â¤Â²Ã Â¥Â) is a 14th-century Nepalese chronicle and genealogical record of monarchs, written in Classical Newar and Sanskrit language in the Bhujimol script. The Gopal Raj Vamshavali is considered one of the most important works in the Newar language and the most authoritative and widely cited chronicle in Nepalese history.

Etymology

This vamshavali was previously called Bendall VaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂÃÂvalÃÂ«, as Cecil Bendall found the manuscript in 1898Ã¢ÂÂ99 CE at Kathmandu's Durbar Library or the Bir Library. This was later, and popularly, called the GopÃÂlarÃÂjavaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂÃÂvalÃÂ« by scholars as Baburam Acharya and Yogi Naraharinath to name a few, as a hand-written catalog list of the library termed the manuscript GopÃÂlavaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂÃÂdi prÃÂcÃÂ«na rÃÂjavaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂÃÂvalÃÂ«(Ã Â¤ÂÃ Â¥ÂÃ Â¤ÂªÃ Â¤Â¾Ã Â¤Â²Ã Â¤ÂµÃ Â¤ÂÃ Â¤Â¶Ã Â¤Â¾Ã Â¤Â¦Ã Â¤Â¿ Ã Â¤ÂªÃ Â¥ÂÃ Â¤Â°Ã Â¤Â¾Ã Â¤ÂÃ Â¥ÂÃ Â¤Â¨ Ã Â¤Â°Ã Â¤Â¾Ã Â¤ÂÃ Â¤ÂµÃ Â¤ÂÃ Â¤Â¶Ã Â¤Â¾Ã Â¤ÂµÃ Â¤Â²Ã Â¥Â), meaning ancient royal vamshavali starting with Gopala dynasty.

Pant, however, questions if this could be called a vamshavali proper, as the chronicler never mentions it thus.

History

The Gopal Raj Vamshavali was commissioned by King Jayasthiti Malla in the 14th century. The sources for the entry of King Jayasthiti Malla's reign was what the chronicler himself saw; while entries for earlier events were sourced from other historical writings, as most are provided with full paÃÂ±caÃ¡Â¹Âga details with fumbled chronology. Penned during the reign of King Jayasthiti Malla, details of his reign are abundantly found in the Gopal Raj Vamshavali.

The first 16 folios of the Gopal Raj Vamshavali are missing. The accuracy of this chronicle begins from Licchavi period. The original copy of Gopal Raj Vamshavali is now stored at National Archives, Kathmandu in an unsatisfactory state, in contrast to an excellent condition, when Cecil Bendall found it at the turn of the 19th century.

Structure

Considering the language of this Gopal Raj Vamshavali, it can be divided broadly into two sections, viz. the Sanskrit and the Newari sections. The majority of the Gopal Raj Vamshavali is written in the Newar language, comprising 33 folios, while the Sanskrit portion consists of only 14 folios. The original manusscript was written in the Bhujimol script. Kamal P. Malla, classifies it as VaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂÃÂvalÃÂ«1 and VaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂÃÂvalÃÂ«2 particularly based on the use of two different languages and styles.

V1 (Folio 17Ã¢ÂÂ30a): This section is in the form of annals or king-lists. It is in Sanskrit language, but has abundant grammatical errors.
V2 (Folio 30bÃ¢ÂÂ63b): This section is mainly about the births of royal and distinguished personages, political conflicts, religious contributions, construction works and natural disasters. It begins with NS 177 (1057 AD) and is composed in Newari language.

Summary

With the advent of Kali Yuga in the primordial kingdom of Yudhisthira, ÃÂrÃÂ« BhÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂgÃÂreÃÂvara BhaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂraka emerged. There, Ã¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹Â£i (saint) Gautama came and established GautameÃÂvara and other deities.

GopÃÂlas (cow-herds) came to the valley and in the GopÃÂla-vaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂa, eight kings ruled for 505 years 3 months. Thereafter, MahiÃ¡Â¹Â£apÃÂla (buffalo-herd) kings ruled up to 3 generations for 161 years 2 months. The Kiratas conquered the valley and ruled up to 32 generations for 1958 years 2 months.

Thereafter the Solar Line ruled VimalanagarÃÂ« and Nepal by defeating the Kirata kings. To name some important contributions, ÃÂrÃÂ« SupuÃ¡Â¹Â£padeva enforced the varÃ¡Â¹Âa system and constructed temple of ÃÂrÃÂ« PaÃÂupati BhaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂraka. He built a town dedicated to the Lord, enforced all laws and ruled with justice. Similarly, ÃÂrÃÂ« BhÃÂskaradeva observed penance at PaÃÂupati, by merit of which he conquered KÃÂÃÂ±cinagara MaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¸Âala up to southern sea. Likewise, King ÃÂrÃÂ« HaridattavarmÃÂ constructed Lord ViÃ¡Â¹Â£Ã¡Â¹Âu BhaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂraka temple in all four ÃÂikhara-pradeÃÂa (hillocks). ÃÂrÃÂ« ViÃÂvadeva consecrated a Caitya BhaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂraka in SinaguÃ¡Â¹Â vihÃÂra (SvayambhÃÂ«) and set up stone water-conduit. He also installed a big trident at northern side of ÃÂrÃÂ« PaÃÂupati. ÃÂrÃÂ« MÃÂnadeva unknowingly killed his father and observed penance at GuÃ¡Â¹Â vihÃÂra and consecrated a caitya and ÃÂrÃÂ« MÃÂneÃÂvarÃÂ«devÃÂ« temple. He regulated land measurements and rent, and started the tradition of celebrating Holi. ÃÂrÃÂ« GaÃ¡Â¹Âadeva offered treasury to ÃÂrÃÂ« PaÃÂupati BhaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂraka to cause rainfall and propitiated MahÃÂnÃÂga after three years of drought. GopÃÂlas vanquished the Solar Line and ruled for three generations.

Again, the Licchavis ruled. ÃÂrÃÂ« AÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂuvarmÃÂ founded RÃÂjavihÃÂra, and started system of grammar and other branches of learning. They were from a different scion. Thereafter, the Solar dynasty ruled over Nepal again. ÃÂrÃÂ« Narendradeva initiated the festival of ÃÂrÃÂ« LokeÃÂvara of Bungamati and ÃÂrÃÂ« BÃÂlÃÂrjunadeva offered his crown to BuÃ¡Â¹Âga LokeÃÂvara BhaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂraka. ÃÂrÃÂ« MÃÂnadeva constructed market-place; ÃÂrÃÂ« GuÃ¡Â¹ÂakÃÂma deva constructed rest house and performed koti-homa (crore homas); ÃÂrÃÂ« LakÃ¡Â¹Â£mÃÂ«kÃÂma deva sponsored ceremonies to bring peace in the nation (200 NS). In the same line, ÃÂrÃÂ« BhÃÂskaradeva sold paternal crown and destroyed the image of ÃÂrÃÂ« MÃÂneÃÂvarÃÂ« BhaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂraka, for which he suffered a great deal. In the same line, ÃÂrÃÂ« ÃÂivadeva completed the (re-)construction of temple of ÃÂrÃÂ« PaÃÂupati BhaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂraka and temple of the Eastern mountain (Changu), four-storeyed royal palace with five courtyards, canals at Balkhu river, water-conduits, wells and tanks. He brought silver and gold coins in use.

With ÃÂrÃÂ« Arimalladeva's reign, a great famine and epidemic spread. A great earthquake in NS 375 (1255 AD) brought a "lot of suffering" to propitiate which annual lakÃ¡Â¹Â£ahoma and fortnightly pakÃ¡Â¹Â£aÃÂrÃÂddha were performed. The KhaÃÂas under JayatÃÂri (JitÃÂrimalla) entered the valley for the first time from west in NS 408 (1288 AD) and were massacred in large number; next they set the villages on fire. The TirhutiyÃÂs entered the valley in NS 411 (1291 AD). Sultan ShamsuddÃÂ«n raided the kingdom and reduced the whole Nepal valley in ashes, including breaking of the ÃÂrÃÂ« PaÃÂupatinÃÂÃ¡Â¹Âh icon to three pieces.

ÃÂrÃÂ« JayasthitirÃÂjamalla, brought by ÃÂrÃÂ« DevaladevÃÂ«, became King upon marriage with RÃÂjalladevÃÂ«. By the grace of SvayambhÃÂ«, he made several reforms. Next is described the installment of four NÃÂrÃÂyaÃ¡Â¹Âas in all four directions.

Following this, there is a detailed description of the events from 177 NS (1057 AD), which Malla (1985) categorizes as VaÃ¡Â¹ÂÃÂÃÂvalÃÂ«2 from folio 31. With full details of astrological dates (paÃÂ±cÃÂÃ¡Â¹Âgas), this part describes the stories of birth, deaths, marriages of different kings and as well as political to religious and social works. A few of such themes listed here under:

Power struggles among different rulers and elites, including wars, raids, violence etc.
Governance and reforms mostly based on Hindu religious doctrines.
Maintenance of peace, social harmony and security.
Development works and consecration, reconstruction of temples, rest houses, canals, etc.
Cultural performances including dances, theatres, festivals, feast etc.
Environmental concerns, especially towards coping with disasters, drought and famine etc.

In addition, it also covers events of political conflicts, religious contributions, construction works and disaster relief.

References