An inscription on a copper cover for the main beam of the Buṅgadyaḥ chariot recording the year of the cover's commission and details of its manufacture (VS 1996)
ID: NHDP_0001_0150
Edited and
translated by Simon Cubelic
in collaboration with
Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2023-02-23;
Last modified: 2023-12-19
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Abstract
The inscription, engraved on the back side of copper cover for the main beam of the Buṅgadyaḥ chariot, records the year of the cover's commission under the prime ministership of Juddha Śamśera Jaṅga Bahādūra Rāṇā and details of its manufacture.Diplomatic edition
[1]
1सम्वत्१९९६सालमाश्री३महाराजजुध्दसम्सेरजङ्गवहादुरराणा2कापालामाश्रीमछीन्द्रनाथकोसालवसालरथजात्रामावाँङ्गेकाठमा
3दाञावाञारहनेतावापातामाठाउठाउवुताकाटिसुन्लेमोलम्वागरीको
4सुरूपाता२नञावनाईवक्सेको॥
Translation
[1r]
In the [Vikrama] era year 1996 in the reign of the thrice venerable Juddha Śamśera Bahādūra Rāṇā 2 new cover (?) (kosurū)1 plates—embossed with ornaments on various places of the copper plate and gilded—for the right and left [side] of the curved wooden beam (kāṭha)2 [of the chariot] for the annual chariot procession of the glorious Macchindranātha were commissioned.
Commentary
The inscription is engraved on the back side of one of a set of two copper covers in the shape of a nāga which are affixed on the front part of the main beam (Nev. dhaḥmā) of the chariot. The beam, which rests on the two axles, is identified with the nāga Karkoṭaka and a mask of Hayagrīva is put on its front (Locke 1980, 265-66). The inscription does not reveal the person or association sponsoring the new covers. The honorary reference to Juddha Śamśera Bahādūra Rāṇā serves rather a further specification of the date.