A stone lampstand inscription recording the initial construction of the Jhanāḥkhyaḥ Mandaḥ Phalcā and a stone water trough by Visarāma Bhābo and his family (NS 824)
ID: NHDP_0002_0108
Edited and
translated by Rajendra Shakya
in collaboration with
Chaaru Jain and Bharat Maharjan
Created: 2026-09-23;
Last modified: 2026-11-09
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Abstract
This is an inscription on a lampstand that records the initial construction of the Jhanāḥkhyaḥ Mandaḥ Phalcā and a water trough by Visarāma Bhābo and his family in NS 824 (1704 CE).Diplomatic edition
[1r]
1[?]सं८२४वैशाषशुक्रपादु2थ्वकुन्हुजरधेनुमन्द
3पदयकाविसराम
4भावो,त्रिजीरक्ष्मी
5मानसिंङभावोत्रि
6भागिनीमयि॥
7पुत्रभागिसिं[?]
8भावोशुभ
Translation
[1r]
The 1st of the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha in [Nepāla] Saṃ[vat] 824 (1704 CE): on this day, [we] built a water trough (text: jaradhenu, Mod. New. jaḥdhuṃ) [and] Mandaḥ Phalcā (text: mandapa). [The donors are] Visarāma Bhābo, [his] wife Jīrakṣmī, Mānasiṅa Bhābo, [his] wife Bhāginī Mayi [and their] son Bhāgisiṃṅa Bhābo. [May it all be] auspicious.
Commentary
This inscription is from a portable stone lampstand (dalū) adorned with a diminutive statue of Padmapāṇi Lokeśvara positioned atop the lamp and overlooking the burning dish, while flanked by what seem to be statues of the principal donor couple. As of January 2024, the lampstand is in the private collection of the descendants of the primary donor, belonging to a Jyāpu family residing in Jhyākucā Galli in Pulchok, Patan. The inscription relates to the rest house named Jhanāḥkhyaḥ Mandaḥ Phalcā (see DANAM LAL4308) in Pulchok, recording the rest house’s construction along with a water trough attached to it. Though no longer in its original form, the rest house (phalcā) still stands, but the trough is no longer in existence.
Another inscription (NHDP_0001_0339) on the back of the lampstand, dated NS 829 (1709 CE), records that largely the same donors established a trust for various activities five years after the initial founding. An inscription added on the rear wall of the rest house after the Mandaḥ Phalcā's 2020 CE reconstruction incorrectly claims that the structure dates to 1709 CE (NS 829). This error evidently occurred because the individual drafting the 2020 text confused the year the trust was founded with that of the phalcā's origin, which took place five years earlier. The descendants of the donor family continue the tradition of displaying the lampstand at Mandaḥ Phalcā and distributing traditional ceremonial food (samaybaji) on the 1st of the bright fortnight of Vaiśākha, as directed in the inscription on the reverse side of the lampstand. They also illuminate lamps on the occasion. The day also marks the enthronement of Buṅgadyaḥ, the most revered deity of Patan, on his chariot (see DANAM LAL0001) for the annual procession. The event takes place only a few metres south of the phalcā. The construction of both the phalcā and trough was obviously aimed at catering to devotees who throng the area for the enthronement. Although the inscription does not explicitly mention the distribution of samaybaji, the presence of such ingredients as puffed rice, soybeans, meat, peas and fermented rice beer strongly suggests their intended use in samaybaji. Additionally, the inscription discloses the offering of traditional spirituous liquor called thvã, brewed from fermented rice, to the people along with samaybaji.
