A votive inscription on a gilt copper flag recording the flag's donation by King Vīra Mahendra Malla and Queen Regent Rājyeśvarī (NS 831)
ID: NHDP_0001_0151
Edited and
translated by Simon Cubelic and Rajan Khatiwoda
in collaboration with
Bharat Maharjan
Created: 2023-03-29;
Last modified: 2023-08-29
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Abstract
This inscription, engraved on a gilt copper flag, records that the object was donated by King Vīra Mahendra Malla and Queen Regent Rājyeśvarī and that the donation was executed by the bhāros of Gāḥ Bāhāḥ.Diplomatic edition
[1r]
[An embossed image of the moon in the middle of the top margin of the metal banner][An embossed image of Nairṛti standing on a corpse][An embossed floral ornament][An embossed floral ornament]1⟅संव८३१चैत्रशुक्लपुर्णमाशिहत्रनक्षत्रव्याघ्रायोगे2शुक्रवारथ्वकुन्हु॥श्री३करुणामयपितिन॥न्हओ
3नयात﹨﹨रुयादिकपताकश्रीश्रीवीरमहेन्द्र[?]दे
4व﹨﹨श्रीश्रीराज्येश्वरीदेविनिम्हसेनदुंताथ्वज्याया
5सचिंतायाकगारवाहारभा
61 जुरोशुभ॥
[1v]
[An embossed image of the moon in the middle of the top margin of the metal banner][An embossed image of Vāyu standing on a gazelle][An embossed floral ornament][An embossed floral ornament]Translation
[1r]
[An embossed image of the moon in the middle of the top margin of the metal banner]
[An embossed image of Nairṛti standing on a corpse]
[An embossed floral ornament]
[An embossed floral ornament]
On Friday, the full-moon day of the bright fortnight of Caitra in the [Nepāla] era year 831 in the hastānakṣatra and vyāghra-yoga—on this day, out of love for the thrice glorious Karuṇāmaya, the gilt flags of the [cardinal and intermediary] directions for the bathing ceremony (text: nhao) were offered by both, the twice venerable [King] Vīra Mahendra Malla Deva and the twice venerable [Queen Regent] Rājyeśvarī Devī. The bhāros of Gāḥ Bāhāḥ (text: Gārabāhāra) were the ones who took care of this task. Auspiciousness.
[1v]
[An embossed image of the moon in the middle of the top margin of the metal banner]
[An embossed image of Vāyu standing on a gazelle]
[An embossed floral ornament]
[An embossed floral ornament]
Commentary
This inscription, engraved on a gilt copper flag, belongs to a set totalling four similar objects (see NHDP_0001_0152, NHDP_0001_0153, NHDP_0001_0154). Each of these objects has on the front and back sides two different embossed images from among the eight protective deities of the cardinal and intermediary directions (aṣṭadikpāla): Indra on his elephant in the East, Agni on his ram in the South-east, Yama on his buffalo in the South, Nairṛti on a corpse in the South-west, Varuṇa on his makara in the West, Vāyu on his gazelle in the North-west, Kubera on his horse in the North, and Īśāna on his bull in the North-east (Gutschow 2011, II 465). All four flags have an identical inscription on their front side. The flags are used in the context of the bathing ceremony (New. naḥvaṃ, Skt. mahāsnāna) of Buṅgadyaḥ which takes place on the first day of the dark fortnight of Vaiśākha (Locke 1980, 262–65; Owens 1989, 201–04) at Lagankhel. During this ceremony, the four flags are tied in the four corners to the ropes securing the baldachin above the image of the deity on the bathing platform.