A interesting slice of Nepal's history in the current issue of
Kathmandu's ECS magazine.
Read it in full at:
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http://www.ecs.com.np/article_1.htm Where have all the Mallas Gone?
The Descendants of Malla Kings
By Sampada Malla & Dinesh Rai
It is the third day after Dashain and a gathering of Malla family members waits inside the Taleju Bhawani temple of Bhaktapur. This Goddess has been the patron deity of the ruling families since the time of the Malla kings. The Mallas gathered today are direct descendants of the Malla rulers and have come to receive �tika� from the Royal priest.
They come here during all the major festivals and rights of passage ceremonies. It was here within the walls of the Royal Palace that the three Malla kings of the valley made their last stand against the invading Gorkhali army. The bullet holes on the statues of Saraswati and Laxmi that flank the temple�s doorway are a reminder of the last battle that brought an end to the long reign of the benevolent Mallas. It was 1768.
Today, we are proud of our architectural heritage and are delighted to show visitors the grandeur of the three Durbar Squares, which are World Heritage Sites. They were all built during the Malla period. Besides these, there are many fabulous temples that owe their existence to the creative zeal of the Mallas. It was the Mallas who transformed a tiny village into a well organized and planned city which later became known as Bhaktapur.
Art, music, drama and poetry flourished under their patronage and some kings are even known for their hand in literary works besides a bit of carpentry. The conduits that these kings constructed in the cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur still supply many of the citizens with a constant supply of drinking water. The water spouts that we come across everywhere we go, stand testimony to the organized society that the Mallas had built in the valley.
You may stumble upon a water spout that has run dry; it is only because modern building practices have destroyed the underground conduits and cut off the supply of fresh water. The Raj Kulo (Royal or main Conduit) that supplies Patan�s stone water spouts with water, is presently being renovated.
The caste system was introduced, whereby people of each caste had a duty to perform in society. 238 years since the fall of the Mallas, the Newar society still retains the system. There are the priestly classes, the butchers, sweepers, etc. In Bhaktapur, many citizens still live in their consigned areas with the lower castes living in the outskirts and the upper classes in the central area.
Festivals accompanied by drama, was an integral part of the peoples� lives. The performances took place on the dabalis (brick platforms) that can be seen around the three cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Art and entertainment was a way of life during the Malla period. Music and dance groups were supported by royal decree and were given land as a means of fund raising. Many festivals such as the Gai Jatra (Cow Festival) and the cult of the Kumari were the creations of Malla kings. The Living Goddess Kumari is still a powerful figure in Nepali society.
�After the defeat of the Malla Kings, their descendents left the valley and settled in different districts of Nepal. As an endeavor to develop a mutual relationship between the Malla descendents and to keep alive the rich traditions of our forefathers, we formed the foundation and have been regularly organizing various kinds of activities.� remarks Devendra Kumar Malla, Vice President of the Malla (Pradhananga) Foundation and the writer of the book, �Bhaktapur�s King Bhuwan Malla�s descendents.�
History
The literal meaning of �Malla� in Sanskrit is �wrestler�. �The Mallas as a class of people find a place in several ancient treatises with identical heroic tradition.� states D.R.Regmi in his book, �Medieval Nepal�. It is believed that Arideva�s father was so impressed by his ability as a wrestler that he conferred on him the title of �Malla� and with his reign in the Nepal valley during the twelfth century began a new dynasty.
The rest at:
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http://www.ecs.com.np/article_1.htm
