History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c22.s1.9

v1.c22.s1.9

Thus we see that in the physical aspects of the country and the characteristics of the people Nepal much resembles Kashmir, except in the fact already noticed viz. that while Kashmir has always been famous for the learning of its Pandits who have in historical and modern times too, migrated into other provinces and made their mark, Nepali Brahmins are not known for learning. Indeed Brahmins from outside have usually been indented for in Nepal and we know that the worshippers of Paśupati are Brahmins from the south (both Deccan and Madras). There are also Brahmins from Kanauj and Tirhut or Mithila which are contiguous to Nepal. These Brahmins very probably in modern days have written out the chronicles of Nepal from ancient Vamśāvalis which as in Kashmir give a history of the valley from the most ancient times commencing with even Satyayuga down to the conquest of the country by the Gurkhas under Prithvi-Narayana in 1768 A. D. This legendery history has been given in summary by Dr. Wright in his book entitled History of Nepal. This account on the face of it is legendary and jumbles facts and fancies in an undistinguishable mass. The chronology too is hopelessly at fault owing to what is imaginery and later theory. Some inscriptions, however, enable us in conjunction with this history to give some interesting detailed facts of Nepal history from about 600 A. D. to 800 A. D. the period we are concerned with in this volume. Before proceeding to detail it we must give a short summary of the preceding history.