A votive inscription installed on the railing of the Buṅgadyaḥ chariot recording Sundaralāla Khaḍgī's and Gītādevī's donation for the luthāma (VS 2047)
ID: NHDP_0001_0163
Edited and
translated by Simon Cubelic and Rajan Khatiwoda
Created: 2023-09-06;
Last modified: 2023-12-19
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Abstract
The votive inscription engraved on a panel to be installed on the railing of the Buṅgadyaḥ chariot in front of the sanctum records Sundaralāla Khaḍgī's and his wife Gītādevī's donation of gilt parts for the luthāma such as the khaḥjalā and hariñcakra.Diplomatic edition
[1]
1श्रीआर्यावलोकितेश्वरायनम:न्हापातया:त:गुलुँसाहाजीर्णशीर्णजूगुलिंख:जला2निसेंहरिञ्चक्रतकपेखेरसंपुननवनिर्माणयानावि.सं.२०४८चैत्र२९गतेशुक्रवारया
3दिनसल.पु.यितिटोलनिवासिसुन्दरलालखड्गीवगीतादेवीपाखेछायाब्यूगुजुल।
Translation
[1r]
Obeisance to glorious Āryāvalokiteśvara! Since the previously installed lũsāhā has become worn, Sundaralāla Khaḍgī and [his wife] Gītādevī, residents of Yitiṭola, Lalitpur, have newly prepared [the parts from] the khaḥjalā up to the hariñcakra on all four sides and donated them on Friday, the 29th solar day of Caitra in the Vikrama era year 2047 (1991 CE).
Commentary
The inscription is one of a set of three recording the sponsorship for the renovation of the gilt parts of the luthāma by Sundaralāla Khaḍgī and his family, the other two being NHDP_0001_0158 and NHDP_0001_0164. NHDP_0001_0163 and NHDP_0001_0164 are classical votive inscriptions detailing the donation, whereas NHDP_0001_0158 provides an historical account written by Hemarāja Śākya on the donative history of the luthāma. NHDP_0001_0158 and NHDP_0001_0163 are engraved on parts of the parapet, NHDP_0001_0164 is affixed to the sill of the door to the sanctum. According to an interview conducted by Monalisa Maharjan with Sundarlāla Khaḍgī on 4 April 2021, he applied for a permission for his donation with the Guṭhī Saṃsthāna on 26 Maṅgsīra VS 2046 (1989 CE) under the following conditions: 1) The Guṭhī Saṃsthāna should bear the cost to take out all worn gilt copper plates; 2) The Guṭhī Saṃsthāna should take the permission from the previous donors of the gilt plates before removing; 3) The Guṭhī Saṃsthāna should be responsible for storing, safeguarding and assembling the donated plates for the procession; 4) Sundarlāla Khaḍgī and his descendants are not liable for any future repairs or replacement of the donated objects, but have to be informed before the Guṭhī Saṃsthāna carries out any repair and replacement. 5) Sundarlāla Khaḍgī is granted the permission to attach inscriptions recording his donation on the chariot. After several months of waiting, he received the permission for his donation from the Guṭhī Saṃsthāna after being visited by Buṅgadyaḥ in his dream. In the permission letter Sundarlāla Khaḍgī was asked to worship Kāryavināyaka and Hayagrīva Bhairava of Buṅgamati and Viśvakarmā before commencing the renovation which he did on 8 Bhadra 2047 VS (1990). According to Sundarlāla, he spent in total 17 lākha Rs. for the renovation, out of which 4 lākha was paid as wage for the artisans Rājakumāra Śākya and his father Rudrarāja Śākya. One hundred thirty tolā of gold were used to gild the donated parts.