A stone inscription memorializing the establishment of the Viśveśvara temple (Bhāi Degaḥ) at the Patan Darbar Square (NS 798)
ID: NHDP_0001_0206
Edited and
translated by Manik Bajracharya, Pradip Ghimire and Ramhari
Timalsina
Created: 2024.03.28;
Last modified: 2024-12-04
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Abstract
The inscription, attributed to Minister Bhagīratha Bhaiyā Bhāro, commemorates the construction of the Viśveśvara Temple in Lalitpur, Nepal, under the reign of King Śrīnivāsa Malla in 1678 CE. Composed in Sanskrit and Newari, it glorifies the deity Śiva (Viśveśvara), King Śrīnivāsa, and Bhagīratha's piety, generosity, and administrative skills. Bhagīratha is credited with recreating the Viśveśvara image from Kāśī to Lalitpur due to threats from invading forces and establishing extensive land endowments and guthi for temple maintenance and rituals. The inscription details rules for rituals, including daily worship, offerings during key festivals like Śivarātri, and lamp-lighting during local processions. The stone slab containing the inscription, adorned with deities and motifs, is now preserved at Patan Darbar.Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1᠀श्री३विश्वेश्वरायनमः॥ ॥गजासुरेन्द्रदारिणंविदारितान्धकासुरं,सदाशिवंसदाशिवप्र2दंसदारमीश्वरम्।विभूतिभूषितंविभुंस्वभक्तभूरिभूतिदं,भजेभुजङ्गभूषणंभवंभवाभयप्रदम्॥
3श्रीश्रीनिवासोयशसोनिवासोभूवासवोवासरनाथतेजाः।ज्ञाताचदाताललितानगर्य्यां,विभातिने
4पालनृपालसिंहः॥महीयसस्तस्यमहीभुजोऽभूत,भगीरथोनाममहान्सुमन्त्री।वशीकृतानेकपरा
5वनीन्द्रः,परावनीन्द्रैःसुसमर्प्पितेभः॥साधौयःसुखदःशशीवचखलेसन्तापदोवह्निवत्।गाम्भीर्य्येज
6लधिर्य्यथासुरतरुर्दातृत्वशक्तौयथा।धैर्य्येधर्म्मसुतोयथाचसमरेभीमोयथाभीषणः।सोऽयंमन्त्रिमणिर्व्वि
7भातिमतिमान्देवेद्विजेभक्तिमान्॥धर्म्मात्मनातेनभगीरथेन,विश्वेश्वरस्थापितएषभक्त्या।संपूज्यविप्रान्दि
8वसेऽनुकूलेश्रीश्रीनिवासस्यविभोःप्रसादात्।असौभगीरथोधीमान्,प्रासादमकरोन्मुदा।भक्त्याश्रीविश्व
9नाथार्थं,श्रीनिवासनृपाज्ञया॥प्राचीनेनभगीरथेनगिरिशान्नीताक्षितौजाह्नवी।विश्वेशःकिमुनूतनेनयव
10नाद्भीतःप्रचण्डादिव।काश्याःपुण्यपुरःपुरेचललितेनीतस्त्रिलोकेश्वरः।किंकिंनोहिकृपाभरेणलभतेश्रीश्रीनिवा
11सप्रभोः।नेपालाव्देगजविलमुनौमाधवेमासिपक्षे।कृष्णेऽष्टम्यांविधिवदमुना,शैवयज्ञंविधाय।प्रासादेऽस्मिन्
12कनककलश:स्थापितोव्राह्मणेभ्यो,दत्वावस्त्रंकनकरचितंभूषणंचाश्वमुख्यान्॥श्रीहरिवंशेनकृताःश्लोकाः
13॥ ॥श्रेयोऽस्तु॥सम्वत्७९८माघशुक्लषष्टम्यान्तिथौ।थ्वकुन्हुश्रीमाणिग्लाधिपतिमहाराजाधिराजश्रीश्रीजय
14श्रीनिवासमल्लदेवठाकुलसमन्त्रीभगीरथभैयाभारोसन,श्री३विश्वेश्वरस्थापनायाङन,स्वंतपोललदेवल
15दयकंवैशाखकृष्णसप्तमीपरअष्टमीथ्वकुन्हुप्रतिष्ठायास्यंसुवर्णकलशध्वजावरोहनयाङाजुरो॥थ्वतेधुङ
16कावश्री३विश्वेश्वरप्रीतिनगुथिदुन्ताजुरो॥रोव७तवदोलक्षेत्र,रोव५वदेग्रामक्वक्षेत्र,रोव३xम्यालथंक्षेत्र
17रोव९कोटिजोलक्षेत्र,रोव२विसिंद्वक्षेत्र,रोव१०जव३नवकक्षेत्र,रोव७नतुख्वातक्षेत्र,रोव४जव१यखादोल
18एतेक्षेत्रसएवभगीरथभैयाभारोसनभ्राताभागीभारोसमोहोनदुन्ताजुरो॥भाषाथ्वतेवुयावर्षप्रतिवरसानन,नि
19त्यपूजायातदानपत्रसचोस्यंतक्वअविछिन्नयाङनदयकंपूजायायमाल॥संक्रान्तिप्रतिपञ्चामृतदयकेमा
20ल॥भूयशिवरात्रिकुन्हुपेपहलसंपञ्चामृतदयकंमोहोरशुकी२व्यालपत्र,घेलकुड१घेलदिवायातवो\\आ
21रतीयातवोदयकंपूजायायचेक्नफं२तोचकंचाक्रमतछोयकेमा॥भूय,वुंगलगनयातकुन्हुवोईन्द्रजा
22त्रायामणिग्लयातकुन्हुवोनेपघातसंचेक्नकुड६धालेतोचकंचाक्रमतछोयकेमाल॥भूयवैशाखकृष्ण
23अष्टमीकुन्हुहोमयाङनदेशवलिछोस्यंवोसाधनयायमाल॥प्रशेषनजाक्यफं२७०,भूयकोटिजोलया,श
24स्यदक्ववोदेवलहिकब्राह्मणयातपिंवियमालजुरो॥जाक्यफं३०देवलसवंपुकजोगियातव्रषंप्रति
25पिंवियमालजुरो॥थ्वतेयाचिन्तायाकगोष्ठीनकवहिरिअमात्तेवलिमाहातभ्रात्तेसह,ईन्द्रराजमा
26हातभ्रात्तेसहदेवीदासभारोभ्रात्तेपुत्रसह,देवीदासभारोभ्रात्तेसह,थ्वतेसनव्रर्षंप्रतिअविछिन्न
27याङननिस्त्रपेमाजुरो॥भूयरोव६वुयावरसाननगुथिमुनेयातजुरो॥शुभ
28थ्वज्यासचिन्तायाकश्रीराजवंशरावुत्तनरसिंहभाजुरो॥
Translation
[1r]
[May there be] success. Homage to thrice glorious Viśveśvara.
I worship the one who has slain Gajāsurendra [and] defeated Andhakāsura, the endlessly kind-hearted one who shows uninterrupted kindness [to his followers]—the lord accompanied by his consort (i.e., Pārvatī), whose body is smeared (lit. “decorated”) with ashes, who is all-pervading, who grants abundance to his worshippers, wears a serpent as an ornament and gives fearlessness to the world. Venerable Śrīnivāsa, the abode of glory and nectar (āsava) of the earth, shines like the morning's splendour. The knowledgeable and generous one shines in the city of Lalita. He is a lion among the kings of Nepāla, the glory of the world.
[The person] by name Bhagīratha, being the [right] hand of this king, is a great and able minister. He has subdued various kings, while other kings have surrendered themselves to him. He gives pleasure to the virtuous, just as the moon does, and he burns the wicked, just as fire does. He is like the sea in his profoundness, like the [wish-fulfilling] tree of the gods in the power of his generosity, like Yudhiṣṭhira in his patience and like terrifying Bhīma in battle. Being wise and devout towards the gods and the twice-born (i.e., Brahmins), this gem among ministers shines.
This pious Bhagīratha has established Viśveśvara with devotion. On an appropriate day, after worshipping Brahmins, and by the grace of lord Śrīnivāsa, this wise Bhagīratha joyfully built this temple (prāsāda). By order of King Śrīnivāsa, he devotedly [built it] for the sake of Viśveśvara. The Bhagīratha of ancient times brought Jāhnavī (i.e., Gaṅgā) residing on [the head of] Giriśa (i.e., Śiva), [down] to earth. Just so has the Bhagīratha of the new [age] brought Viśveśa (i.e., Śiva aka Viśvanātha aka Viśveśvara), lord of the three worlds—frightened by violent Yavanas (i.e., Muslims)—from the sacred city of Kāśī to the lovely city [of Lalitapura]. What is not obtained by the grace of lord Śrīnivāsa?
On the 8th of the dark fortnight of Vaiśākha in the Nepāla Era year 7981 (1678 CE), having performed fire sacrifices (yajña) for Śiva according to the rules, he set up the golden vase (kalaśa) at the aforementioned temple. He gave [gifts] to the Brahmins—especially garments, golden ornaments and horses.
[These] verses have been composed by Harivaṃśa.
On the 6th of the dark fortnight of Māgha in the [Nepāla Era] year 798, Bhagīratha Bhaiyā Bhāro—the minister of the twice venerable victorious lord of Māṇigla, the king of great kings, Śrīnivāsa Malladeva Ṭhākura—in order to install [the image of] thrice glorious Viśveśvara, completed construction of the temple with a three-tiered roof. On a day when the 7th and 8th days coincided in the dark fortnight of Vaiśākha, he gifted the golden vase and a banner [to the temple].2
Having completed this, he gifted the guthi [endowments] in [his] love for the thrice glorious Viśveśvara. The aforementioned Bhagīratha Bhaiyā Bhāro, together with his brother Bhāgī Bhāro, gifted following plots of land: 7 ropanīs of land at Tavadola, 5 ropanīs of land at Badegrāmakva, 3½ ropanīs of land at Myālathaṃ, 9 ropanīs of land at Koṭijola, 2 ropanīs of land at Visiṃdva, 10 ropanīs and 3 javas of land at Navaka, 7 ropanīs of land at Natukhvāta and 4 ropanīs and 1 java of land at Yakhādola.
[Observe the following] rules: with the annual income from these plots of land, one should prepare the materials needed for the daily ritual worship as written in [this] deed of donation, and perform the rituals uninterruptedly. One should prepare pañcāmṛta on every saṅkrānti day. Furthermore, on Śivarātrī, during all four praharas [of the night], one should prepare pañcāmṛta and perform the ritual after securing these things: 2 sukī coins, leaves of the bael tree (Aegle marmelos), 1 butter container, a butter lamp tray and an āratī tray. Use 2 phaṃs of oil to keep lamps burning around [the temple] (cākramata). Furthermore, on the days of the Buṅgadyaḥ procession at Lagana and the Indrajātrā procession at Māṇigla burn lamps around [the chariots] using 6 kuḍas of oil at both places. Moreover, on the 8th of the dark fortnight of Vaiśākha, perform the annual worship ritual 3 by making a fire oblation and by offering a deśabali4 . 270 phaṃs of the remaining rice grains along with all the grains harvested from the land at Koṭijola should be given to the deity's Brahmin caretaker. 30 phaṃs of rice grains should be given every year to the jogī who cleans the temple.
The guthi (text: goṣṭhī) for taking care [of the temple] consists of following members: Minister Bali Māhāta of Naka Bahī (text: Nakabahiri)5 , together with his brother, Indrarāja Māhāta, together with his brother, Devīdāsa Bhāro, together with his nephew, Devīdāsa Bhāro, together with his brother. These people should see to [the aforementioned tasks] every year uninterruptedly. Furthermore, the annual income of a plot of land measuring 6 ropanīs should be used for the gatherings of the guthi [members]. Auspiciousness.
The person who has taken care of this task is venerable Rājavaṃśa Rāvutta Narasiṃha Bhā.
Commentary
This inscription, commissioned by Minister Bhagīratha Bhaiyā Bhāro, is engraved on a stone slab affixed to the outer wall of the eastern side of the Viśveśvara temple situated to the west of the palace at the Patan Darbar Square. As the minister constructed the temple together with his brother Bhāgī Bhāro and with the support of King Śrīnivāsa Malla, it is commonly referred to as Bhaiyādevala or Bhāi Degaḥ. The inscription is written in two languages: Sanskrit and Newari. The first part of the inscription is in Sanskrit, having been composed in different metres such as pañcacāmara, indravajrā, śārdūlavikrīḍita, anuṣṭupa and mandākrāntā by a certain Harivaṃśa. This section primarily consists of panegyric stanzas glorifying the god Viśveśvara (i.e., Śiva), King Śrinivāsa Malla and Minister Bhagīratha Bhaiyā Bhāro. The Newari portion of the text records land endowments, rules regarding management of the temple and its rituals, and a detail concerning the oversight guthi. At the bottom of the inscription, a person named Narasiṃha Bhā is mentioned as having been responsible for organizing some unspecified task. The same Narasiṃha is mentioned in the Taḥ Bāhāḥ edict of Śrīnivāsa as the one in charge of setting up the inscription.
The inscription is adorned with various images of deities, lotus leaves and other decorative motifs. Six deities are depicted above the text of the inscription. The topmost image is of Śiva-Pārvatī, with Kīrtimukha positioned directly below them. The identities of the other four deities are uncertain. Flanking the inscription are two pillars, each with a pūrṇakalaśa vase at its base. Lotus leaves are featured at the bottom of the inscription. The text, written in Pracalita Newari script, consists of 28 lines.
This inscription records the construction of the temple by Minister Bhagīratha, his land endowments and formation of a guthi to support the maintenance of the temple and to manage the regular rituals of the deity Viśveśvara. The endowment consists of eight plots of land measuring a total of 48½ ropanīs.
The inscription issues a set of rules regarding the management of the temple and
its rituals. These include:
- Ritual worship with pañcāmṛta and other essentials, to be conducted on every first day
of the solar month (saṅkrānti) day and on
Śivarātrī
- An offering of lamps, to occur during the Buṅgadyaḥ procession
at Lagankhel and the Indrajātrā procession at Mangal
Bazar
- An annual ritual ceremony, to be organized for the 8th of the dark
fortnight of Vaiśākha to mark the establishment of the temple
- A
guthi to be formed to support the temple and the ritual,
and to include members of four families from Patan
The original three-tiered pagoda-style temple was destroyed in the great earthquake of 1934. It was later on rebuilt to culminate in a small dome. Since 2010 it has been under restoration to return it to its original three-tiered shape. For a detailed documentation of the temple, see the report of the Nepal Heritage Documentation Project (NHDP) at https://danam.cats.uni-heidelberg.de/report/d5354d0a-fb98-11e9-a3c8-0242ac130002. At the time the NHDP carried out a photographic survey of the temple, the current inscription was stored inside of the Patan Darbar.
Earlier editions of the inscription are available in Tevārī et al. VS 2019: 14–15 and D. Vajrācārya 1999: 197–201.