Ripu Malla Explained

Ripu Malla
Succession:King of Khasa Kingdom
Reign:14th century
Predecessor:Ananda Malla
Successor:Sangrama Malla
Birth Place:Khasa Kingdom
(present-day Nepal)
Death Place:Khasa Kingdom
(present-day Nepal)
Issue:Sangrama Malla
Native Lang1:Nepali
Native Lang1 Name1:रिपु मल्ल
Dynasty:Malla dynasty
Father:Ananda Malla
Religion:Buddhism

Ripu Malla was the Maharajadhiraja of the Khasa Kingdom who reigned in the early 14th century.[1] He is best remembered for being the last visitor to Lumbini, the birthplace of the Gautama Buddha that left an inscription of his visit.[2]

In 1312, he visited Lumbini and left in an inscription in Nigali Sagar that reads "Om Mani Padme Hum Sri Ripu Malla Chidam Jayatu Sangrama Malla (May Prince Ripu Malla be long victorious)". After his visit, Lumbini universally, known to be the birthplace of the Gautama Buddha, disappeared and slowly became a forest, due to the decline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent. The pillar was re-discovered in 1893 by Khadga Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana.[3]

The same year, he invaded the Kathmandu Valley (then known as Nepal Valley).[4] In Kathmandu, according to the Gopal Raj Vamshavali, Malla reportedly publicly worshiped at Swayambhunath, Matsyendranath, and Pashupatinath Temple to show his supremacy in Nepal.[5] [6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Weise, Kai . The Sacred Garden of Lumbini: Perceptions of Buddha's birthplace . 2013-10-29 . UNESCO . 978-92-3-001208-3 . 54 . en.
  2. Book: Silva . Kapila D. . Asian Heritage Management: Contexts, Concerns, and Prospects . Chapagain . Neel Kamal . 2013 . Routledge . 978-0-415-52054-6 . 124 . en.
  3. Book: Girī, Gitu . Art and Architecture: Remains in the Western Terai Region of Nepal . 2003 . Adroit Publishers . 978-81-87392-35-4 . 65 . en.
  4. Book: Bhattarai, Krishna P. . Nepal . 2009 . Infobase Publishing . 978-1-4381-0523-9 . 113 . en.
  5. Book: USA, IBP . Nepal Country Study Guide - Strategic Information and Developments . 2012-03-03 . Lulu.com . 978-1-4387-7514-2 . 45 . en.
  6. Book: Vaidya, Tulasī Rāma . Dr. D.R. Regmi as a Historian: An Assessment . 2007 . Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS) for Dr. Dilli Raman Regmi Foundation [Kathmandu] . 978-99933-52-85-3 . 103 . en.