| Honorific Prefix: | First Kirat King |
| Yalamber | |
| Native Name: | यलम्बर |
| Native Name Lang: | ne |
| Known For: | First Kirat King of Nepal |
| Predecessor: | Bhuwan Singh (Last King of Mahispal dynasty) |
| Successor: | Palamba |
Yalamber or Yalung, Yalambar, Yalamwar, Yalamver (Nepali: यलम्बर) was a Kirati warrior and first King of Kirata Kingdom in Nepal. He established Kirata Kingdom in 800 B.C.[1] His capital was Yalakhom, present day Kathmandu Valley (Thankot) after conquering Central Nepal and his kingdom extended from river Trishuli in the west to river Teesta in the east of Bhutan.[2] [3] [1] Patan also known as (Lalitpur in Nepali and Yala in Nepal Bhasa) is resemblance to Yalamber as he ruled the regions.
Brian Houghton Hodgson elaborated more on the origins.
The epic Mahabharata mentions the Kiratas as a Mleccha tribe along with Pulindas and Chinas, Hunas, Pahlavas, Sakas, Yavanas, Savaras, Paundras, Kanchis, Dravidas, Sinhalas and Keralas. All these tribes were described as Mlechha tribes. The Kamvojas, Gandharas, Kiratas and Barbaras were also mentioned together as northern tribes. The Yavanas, the Kiratas, the Gandharvas, the Chinas, the Savaras, the Barbaras, the Sakas, the Tusharas, the Kankas, the Pathavas, the Andhras, the Madrakas, the Paundras, the Pulindas, the Ramathas, the Kamvojas were mentioned together as tribes beyond the kingdoms of Aryavarta.
In Nepal, Kirati king Yalambar, is believed to be the Barbarik of Mahabharata, son of Ghatotkach and grandson of Bheem. Barbarik had the dubious honor of being slain in the battle of the Mahabharata, in which gods and mortals fought alongside each other. Legend credits him with meeting Indra, the lord of heaven, who ventured into the Valley in human guise. It is said that during the battle of Mahabharata, Barbarik went to witness the battle with a vow to take the side of the losing party. Lord Krishna, knowing the vow of Barbarik and his strength of three arrows, thought that the war would end with only one survival and that is Barbarik himself by killing warriors of both sides. So, by a clever stroke of diplomacy, Lord Krishna cut off Barbarik's head. So, in his honor Indrajatra is celebrated and his head is worshipped as the god Akash Bhairav.[4] Barbarik is also known as Khatushyam and Baliyadev in Rajasthan and Gujarat respectively.
The descendants of Kirat, early inhabitants and settlers of Kathmandu valley, celebrate Yenya or Indrajatra in Kathmandu. Newars in Indrachowk are the caregivers for Aakash Bhairava.
His dynasty was succeeded by Licchavi (kingdom). His successors ruled Kathmandu valley for about 31 generations which lasted nearly 1225 years.