Ripu Malla

Ripu Malla
Painting of Ripu Malla and his son Sangrama worshiping Goddess Tara (center) c. 1312
King of Khasa Kingdom
Reign14th century
PredecessorAnanda Malla
SuccessorSangrama Malla
BornKhasa Kingdom
(present-day Nepal)
DiedKhasa Kingdom
(present-day Nepal)
IssueSangrama Malla
Nepaliरिपु मल्ल
DynastyMalla dynasty
FatherAnanda Malla
ReligionBuddhism

Ripu Malla (Nepali: रिपु मल्ल) 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)".[1] 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.[1] 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]

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