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TheGopal Raj Vamshavali (IAST: Gopālarājavaṃśāvalī,Devanagari: गोपालराजवंशावली) is a 14th-century hand-written manuscript of Nepal which is primarily agenealogical record ofNepalesemonarchs.
One of the most important and popularchronicles in Nepalese history is by this name. Thisvamshavali was previously calledBendall Vaṃśāvalī, as Prof.Cecil Bendall found the manuscript "in the cold weather of 1898–99 inKathmandu's Durbar Library"[1] or the Bir Library. This was later, and popularly, called theGopālarājavaṃśāvalī by scholars as Baburam Achayra andYogi Naraharinath to name a few, as a hand-written catalog list of the library termed the manuscriptGopālavaṃśādi prācīna rājavaṃśāvalī[2] (गोपालवंशादि प्राचीन राजवंशावली), meaning ancient royalvamshavali starting withGopala dynasty. Pant, however, questions if this could be called avamshavali proper, as the chronicler never mentions it thus.[3]
The original copy of Gopal Raj Vamshavali is now stored at National Archives, Kathmandu in an "unsatisfactory"[4] state, in contrast to an "excellent"[1] condition, when Prof.Cecil Bendall found it at the turn of the 19th century.
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With the advent ofKali Yuga in the primordial kingdom ofYudhisthira,Śrī Bhṛṅgāreśvara Bhaṭṭāraka emerged. There,ṛṣi (saint)Gautama came and establishedGautameśvara and other deities.
Gopālas (cow-herds) came to the valley and in theGopāla-vaṃśa, eight kings ruled for 505 years 3 months.
Thereafter,Mahiṣapāla (buffalo-herd) kings ruled up to 3 generations for 161 years 2 months. TheKiratas conquered the valley and ruled up to 32 generations for 1958 years 2 months.
Thereafter theSolar Line ruledVimalanagarī (Vaisali?) andNepal by defeating theKirata kings. To name some important contributions,Śrī Supuṣpadeva enforced thevarṇa system and constructed temple ofŚrī Paśupati Bhaṭṭāraka. He built a town dedicated to the Lord, enforced all laws and ruled with justice. Similarly,Śrī Bhāskaradeva observed penance atPaśupati, by merit of which he conqueredKāñcinagara Maṇḍala up to southern sea. Likewise, KingŚrī Haridattavarmā constructed LordViṣṇu Bhaṭṭāraka temple in all fourśikhara-pradeśa (hillocks).Śrī Viśvadeva consecrated acaitya Bhaṭṭāraka inSinaguṃ vihāra (Svayambhū) and set up stone water-conduit. He also installed a big trident at northern side ofŚrī Paśupati.Śrī Mānadeva unknowingly killed his father and observed penance atGuṃ vihāra and consecrated acaitya andŚrī Māneśvarīdevī temple. He regulated land measurements and rent, and started the tradition of celebratingHoli.Śrī Gaṇadeva offered treasury toŚrī Paśupati Bhaṭṭāraka to cause rainfall and propitiatedMahānāga after three years of drought.Gopālas vanquished the Solar Line and ruled for three generations.
Again, theLicchavis ruled.Śrī Aṃśuvarmā foundedRājavihāra, and started system of grammar and other branches of learning. They were from a different scion. Thereafter, the Solar dynasty ruled overNepal again.Śrī Narendradeva initiated the festival ofŚrī Lokeśvara ofBungamati andŚrī Bālārjunadeva offered his crown toBuṅga Lokeśvara Bhaṭṭāraka.Śrī Mānadeva constructed market-place;Śrī Guṇakāma deva constructed rest house and performedkoti-homa (crorehomas);Śrī Lakṣmīkāma deva sponsored ceremonies to bring peace in the nation (200 NS). In the same line,Śrī Bhāskaradeva sold paternal crown and destroyed the image ofŚrī Māneśvarī Bhaṭṭāraka, for which he suffered a great deal. In the same line,Śrī Śivadeva completed the (re-)construction of temple ofŚrī Paśupati Bhaṭṭāraka and temple of the Eastern mountain (Changu), four-storeyed royal palace with five courtyards, canals at Balkhu river, water-conduits, wells and tanks. He brought silver and gold coins in use.
WithŚrī Arimalladeva's reign, a great famine and epidemic spread. A great earthquake in NS 375 (1255 AD) brought a "lot of suffering" to propitiate which annuallakṣahoma and fortnightlypakṣaśrāddha were performed. TheKhaśas under Jayatāri (Jitārimalla) entered the valley for the first time from west in NS 408 (1288 AD) and were massacred in large number; next they set the villages on fire. TheTirhutiyās entered the valley in NS 411 (1291 AD). Sultān Shams Ud-dīn raided the kingdom and reduced the wholeNepal valley in ashes, including breaking of theŚrīPaśupatināṭh icon to three pieces.
Śrī Jayasthitirājamalla, brought byŚrī Devaladevī, became King upon marriage with Rājalladevī. By the grace ofSvayambhū, he made several reforms. Next is described the installment of fourNārāyaṇas in all four directions.
Following this, there is a detailed description of the events from 177 NS (1057 AD), which Malla (1985)[5] categorizes asVaṃśāvalī2 from folio 31. With full details of astrological dates (pañcāṅgas), this part describes the stories of birth, deaths and marriages of different kings.
In addition, it also covers events of political conflicts, religious contributions, construction works and disaster relief.
Considering the language of this Gopal Raj Vamshavali, it can be divided broadly into two sections, viz. theSanskrit and theNewari sections.
However, this is another popular division of the Gopal Raj Vamshavali:
Malla (1985),[5] however, sees no difference between V2 and V3; therefore he classifies it as onlyVaṃśāvalī1 andVaṃśāvalī2 particularly referring to the use of two different languages and styles.
The Gopal Raj Vamshavali dates back to the 14th century during the time of King (Jaya-)Sthiti Malla (1382–1395). Pant[3] argues that this chronicle could have been made as a personal diary for the language and verses in Sanskritlanguage is faulty, and that the King could have easily found any other pundits, much well-versed in Sanskrit, had he commissioned it himself.
The missing first folios would perhaps have a lot to tell about the Gopal Raj Vamshavali, but the knowledge of this chronicle begins only ofLicchavi period. Penned during the reign of King (Jaya-)Sthiti Malla (1382–1395 AD), details of his reign are abundantly found in this Gopal Raj Vamshavali.
The sources for the entry of King Jayasthiti Malla's reign could be what the chronicler himself saw; entries previous to it could have been sourced from other historical writings, as most are provided with fullpañcaṅga details with fumbled chronology.
Varied themes can be sorted out from this Gopal Raj Vamshavali—from that of political to religious and social works.[6] A few of such themes for the Gopal Raj Vamshavali are listed here under:
