Ganga Rani

Ganga Devi
Queen of Bhaktapur
Queen of Bhaktapur
ReignOctober 1558 - ?
PredecessorVishva Malla
SuccessorTrailokya Malla
Co-ruler(s)
BornThimi, Kingdom of Bhaktapur, Nepal (according to folklore)
(Present day Bagmati Province, Nepal)
Diedsometime after 1601
Bhaktapur, Nepal
SpouseVishva Malla
IssueTrailokya Malla
Tribhuvana Malla
Regnal name
Sri Sri Jaya Ganga Rani Devi Thakurini
DynastyMalla (by marriage)

Ganga Rani (Nepal Bhasa: 𑐐𑑄𑐐𑐵 𑐬𑐵𑐣𑐷‎ ) or Ganga Maharani, also known as Ganga Devi was a queen of Bhaktapur first as the consort of Vishva Malla and later as the ruler who in October 1558 took control of the throne and alongside her two sons co-ruled the Kingdom of Bhaktapur for a significant time.[1][2][3] Ganga Rani made both her sons Tribhuvana and Trailokya the co-kings of Bhaktapur. Ganga Rani was first a regent for her two sons, but later became the co-ruler or ruling queen of Bhaktapur.[4] She is credited with unifying the kingdom under a single monarch by seizing powers from the cadet branches of Yaksha Malla.[5] During her reign, the Kingdom of Banepa, which included Banepa, Panauti, Dhulikhel, Nala was annexed into the Kingdom of Bhaktapur. The locals of Lubhu believe her to be the founder of their city, although the antiquity of the city can be dated before her reign.[6][7] She is also credited with fortifying the city of Sankhu.[8] The locals believed her to be a pious leader. She was referred to as "Ganga Maharani".

Her last reference found till date is from an inscription at a Buddhist temple in Bhaktapur dated to 1601 (NS 723) around which time she must have either abdicated or died.[9]: 15  There is one other palm leaf manuscript dated to 1672 (NS 792) which mentions Ganga Rani's donation of 3 sq km of land for funding a Guthi for the maintenance of Balkumari temple in Thimi which Historian Raj posits was either a dating error or the scribe was referring to her donation during her reign.[9]: 18 

  1. ^ Dhaubhadel, Om Prasad. "Talejuma diksha pratha" [Diksha Ceremony at the Taleju Temple] (PDF). Bhaktapur (in Nepali). Vol. 288. Bhaktapur. pp. 21–23.
  2. ^ Pokhrel, Aupson (2023). "Ganga Rani". Itihasaa: Encyclopedia of Nepali History. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  3. ^ Regmi 1966, p. 210.
  4. ^ Pokhrel, Aupson (2023). "King Trailokya Malla". Itihasaa: Encyclopedia of Nepali History. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  5. ^ Dhaubhadel, Om Prasad (26 September 2021). "'राजा' समेत हुन मान्दैनथे भक्तपुरे, उल्टै विस्थापित हुनुपर्थ्याे". Deshsanchar (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 11 May 2024.
  6. ^ Shrestha, Purna. "लुभू जात्रा" [The carnival of Lubhu]. nagariknews.nagariknetwork.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  7. ^ "लुभूको कपडा उद्योगको भविष्य" [The fabric industry of Lubhu]. Aviyan. Retrieved 2024-05-11.
  8. ^ Singha, Tulasi Lal (2016). Sakva Vajrayogini Ya Shanti Svasti Saphoo (in Newari). Lalitapur, Nepal: Lumanti Dabu. p. 3.
  9. ^ a b Yogesh Raj (May 2006). "Thimi Balkumāri mandira sambhandhit kehi kāgajāt" [Documents relating to the Balkumari Temple of Thimi] (PDF). Ancient Nepal (in Nepali). 160.