Ripu Malla
Painting of Ripu Malla and his son Sangrama worshiping 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

References

  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.


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