Notes | also known as: Bhagavaṃtanātha, Bhagavaṃntanātha Gosāī̃jyū, Bhavaṃntanātha o.a.;
born: before 1763 (VS 1820);
died: 1786/87 (VS 1843);
gender: male;
details:
influential siddha of the Nātha tradition;
appeared in 1763 (VS 1820, cf. Naraharinātha n.d.: 85) in the kingdom of Salyan and impressed the local ruler, King Śrīkṛṣṇa Śāha, by working miracles (ibid.: 85f., Bouillier 1991: 8f., Unbescheid 1980: 27f.);
seemingly Surapratāpa Śāha introduced Bhagavantanātha to his brother Pṛthvīnārāyaṇa Śāha, the king of Gorkha, whose adviser and rājaguru he became (Baral 1964: 232, Unbescheid 1980: 25, Panta et al. VS 2025: 1070);
known for arranging the marriage between King Pṛthvīnārāyaṇa's daughter, Vilāsa Kumārī Śāha, and King Śrīkṛṣṇa Śāha's son, Raṇabhīma Śāha, in 1766 (VS 1823, cf. Bouillier 1991: 155, Naraharinātha n.d.: 87, Unbescheid 1980: 27);
legends ascribe him an important role in Pṛthvīnārāyaṇa's conquest of Kirtipur in 1767 and later documents (NH) mention a rich reward, including the royal insignia of the conquered king, his male and female slaves and a gift (bheṭī) of 125,000 rupees (Bouillier 1991: 155f., Naraharinātha n.d.: 87, Unbescheid 1980: 25f., Zotter 2022: 214);
returned to Salyan and founded his first monastery (maṭha) in Rānāgāũ;
appointed as central overseer (maṇḍalāi) of jogīs in 1770 (K_0469_0009), a privilege repeatedly reconfirmed by Pṛthvīnārāyaṇa's successors Pratāpa Siṃha Śāha (DNA_0014_0050) and Raṇabahādura Śāha (K_0469_0008 and K_0469_0010);
kept on supporting Pṛthvīnārāyaṇa by managing alliances with western principalities (such as Jumla and Jajarkot) and sending emissaries, spies or blessed swords for military campaigns (see e.g. K_0469_0032, Naraharinātha n.d.: 83-85, cf. Bouillier 1991: 13f., Bouillier 1991: 155, Unbescheid 1980: 27, Zotter 2022: 215);
was granted a piece of land in Dang by Śrīkṛṣṇa Śāha in 1780 and founded his second monastery in Śrīgāũ (cf. Bouillier 1991: 155f.);
took samādhi in Śrīgāũ in 1786/87 (VS 1843, Bouillier 1991: 15, Naraharinātha n.d.: 88, Unbescheid 1980: 27);
successors on his monastic throne (gaddī) are (cf. K_0469_0033 and Bouillier 1991):
1. Bhuvaneśvaranātha (1787-?);
2. Rūpanātha (?-1832);
3. Lokanātha (1832-1848);
4. Jagadīśvaranātha (1848-1878?);
5. Khīmānātha (1878?-1886);
6. Hīrānātha (1888-1905);
7. Chatra- or Chetranātha (1905-1907);
8. (after a struggle between Lokanātha and Devīnātha) Puṣkaranātha? (cf. Bouillier 1991: 168);
9. Yamanātha (son of Puṣkaranātha, cf. Bouillier 1991: 168).
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