The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c14.129

Language: English

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For Arimalladeva we have 3 dates (327-36 = A. D. 1201-16) from MSS. copied during his reign. A MS. of *Sattrabādhāpraśamana* in the Nepal Durbar Library is dated in 322 (A. D. 1201) in the *vijayarājya* of Arimalladeva.² A palmleaf MS. of the *Karmakriyā-kāṇḍa* of Somaśambhu carries the date 326 (A. D. 1206), in the reign of *Arimalladeva-nṛpa*.³ A Cambridge MS. of the *Sādhana-Samuccaya* bears the date 336 (A. D. 1216) in the *vijayarājya* of *Rājādhirāja-Parameśvara Arimalladeva*.⁴ In spite of these imperial titles, the instability of the Mallas' power in the Valley is shown by a unique MS. of the *Vidyāvalī* by Aghora in the British Museum which bears the date 342 (A. D. 1221) in the *Pravardhamāna vijayarājya* of *Paramabhaṭṭāraka-Mahārājādhirāja-Parameśvara* Raṇaśūra.¹ This prince is utterly unknown to the Nepal chronicles. It is likely that he was one of the local chiefs of the Valley who, as his high-sounding imperial titles show, for a time succeeded in seizing the sovereignty of *Nepāla*. But the Malla power appears to have been restored again before *c.* 344 (A. D. 1223) by Abhayamalla, for whose reign we have a MS. of the *Bhāratīya-nāṭyaśāstra* with this date. The dates found on MSS. copied during this reign range over a period of 30 years, from *c.* 344 to 373 (A. D. 1223-1252). A MS. of the *Devīmāhātmya* was copied in *Saṁvat* 358 (A. D. 1238) in the victorious reign of Abhayamalladeva.² A British Museum MS.

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of the *Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā* bears the date 367 (A. D. 1246), in the *vijayarājya* of Abhayamalladeva.³ A MS. of the *Pañcarakṣā* omitted in H. P. Śāstri's Catalogue but noticed by Bendall has the date 367 (A. D. 1247), in his reign, while a St. Petersburg MS. bears the date 373 (A. D. 1252).⁴ According to the chronicles, which assign him different reign-periods, 19 years, 42 years 6 months, or 48 years Abhayamalla's reign was marked by great calamities, a famine and frequent earthquakes.⁵ According to some of these Vaṁśāvalīs, he had two sons, *viz.*, Jayadevamalla and Ānandamalla. The younger brother allowed the elder to rule at Katmandu and Patan, and migrating eastward, founded for himself Bhatgaon and seven other cities—Banepur, Panavati, Nala, Dhaukhel, Khadpu, Chaukot, and Sanga, all situated to the east of Bhatgaon outside the Valley.⁶ Two MSS. bearing the dates 375 (A. D. 1255) and 377 (A. D. 1257) in the reign of a prince named Jayadeva are noticed by Bendall in his 'historical introduction' to H. P. Sāstrī's Catalogue of the MSS. of the Durbar Library of Nepal.¹ This prince is probably to be identified with Jayadevamalla to whom the chronicles assign a short reign of 2 years 8 months. Next follows the reign of Jayabhīmadeva, who is allotted by Bendall's chronicle a reign of 13 years 3 months. The same scholar has noticed the date 380 (A. D. 1260) in his reign from the tracings of a Katmandu MS.² He was succeeded by Jayasāha (Sīha ?

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= Simha) malladeva, who was probably associated with his predecessor as *Yuvarāja*. To this prince, for whom we have no dated records, the local annals have assigned a short reign of 2 years 7 months. Then came Anantamalla, son of Rājadeva, for whose reign we have dated MSS. extending over a period of 28 years (399-427 = A. D. 1279-1307). A MS. of the *Mahālakṣmīvrata* in the Nepal Durbar Library is dated in *Saṁvat* 403 (A. D. 1279), in the victorious reign of *Rājādhirāja Anantamalladeva*.³ Two MSS. of the *Ekādaśīvratamāhātmya* were copied in the *Paśupati-sthāna* of the *Nepāla-deśa* in *Saṁvat* 400 (A. D. 1280) in the reign of Anantamalladeva.⁴ A MS. of the *Lakṣmyavatāra-stotra* bears the date 403 (A. D. 1283) in the same reign. Another MS. of the Durbar Library, the *Anantavratavidhi*, is dated in 405 (A. D. 1285) of Anantamalla. A MS. of the *Sārāvalī* of Kalyāṇavarman, preserved in the British Museum is dated in *Saṁvat* 406 (A. D. 1286), in the victorious reign of *Rājā-Rājādhirāja-Parameśvara Anantamalladeva*.⁵ A MS. noticed by Kirkpatrick and the Vaṁśāvalī of Bendall supply two dates, 408 (N. S.) or (V.) S. 1341 (A. D. 1287) and 417 (1297 A.D.) respectively.⁶ A MS. of the *Bodhisattvāvadānakalpalatā* of Kṣemendra in the Cambridge Library bears the date 422 (A.D. 1302) while Bendall's Vaṁśāvalī supplies a further date 427 (A.D. 1318) in the same reign. The chronicles assign him a reign of 30 to 35 years.

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In the latter part of his reign Nepal appears to have been overwhelmed by a series of invasions by the fierce tribes of the western mountains, known as the Khaśas and Magars. Under their leaders Jayatāri and Mukundasena they are reported to have carried fire and sword throughout the Valley, burning villages, massacring its inhabitants, and desecrating its temples. The invasions probably began about the year 408 (A.D. 1287), and appear to have continued beyond 411 (A.D. 1290). According to the chronicles a *mahāmārī* or pestilence at last drove away from the Valley these unwelcome emigrants.¹ It is interesting to note that the region of Palpa, from which these invaders came, was also the stronghold of the Mallas and later on of the Gurkhas before they conquered the Bagmati valley. The period that followed the reign of Anantamalla was also full of troubles. But its outlines are extremely uncertain. From the Vaṁśāvalī of Bendall it appears that the next ruler was Jayānandadeva, for whose reign we have a MS. of the *Nāgānanda* dated in the year 438 (A.D. 1318).² He was succeeded by Jayarudramalla, who was the son of Jayatuṅgamalla, and had as his co-regent (*samrāja*) one Jayārimalla.³ According to the dates given in Bendall's Chronicle, Jayarudramalla was reigning in 440 (A. D. 1320), and died in 446 (A.D. 1326).⁴ The invasion of the Khaśas however had weakened Nepal so much that it was not long before it saw another invader, this time from the south.