King Laxminarasimha Malla

Introduction to Laxminarasimha Malla

Laxminarasimha Malla was the Grandson of Sivasimha Malla who ruled the Kingdom of Kathmandu from 1617 A.D. to 1641 A.D. He was the Father of The Famous King Pratap Malla. Laxminarasimha was declared Insane and replaced by his son Pratap Malla.

Reign of Laxminarasimha

Laxminarasimha Malla inherited only the Kingdom of Kathmandu from his grandfather Sivasimha Malla. The Father of Laxminarasimha died in 1609 A.D. while being the Governor of Patan.

Interestingly, Sivasimha Malla had actually ruled over Patan as well as Kathmandu and divided the two kingdoms between his grandsons. Patan was given to Siddhinarasimha Malla, and Kathmandu was given to Laxminarasimha.

The two brothers swore not to violate each other’s territory and live in peace and maintain brotherhood and prosperity with each other.

Division of Kathmandu

When Laxminarasimha succeeded his grandfather on the throne, he was already quite grown up. It appears that he got himself reconciled to the situation of the division of the kingdom without making any effort to undo it and accepted the divided Kathmandu as his Kingdom.

The Royal Agreement

The agreement between Laxminarasimha and Siddhinarasimha, according to the lines inscribed in the Taleju copper plate, enjoined the two rulers to refrain from doing any unfriendly act towards each other, either by way of invading forts or capturing territories on any account whatsoever.

It was emphasized that one ought to treat the friend of the other as his friend and the opponent as his own enemy. Each person has to watch out for the other’s interests at all times. The challenge was to be met jointly to the best of their bodily strength and financial resources if one was ever threatened by an adversary.

Whoever committed a breach of this agreement was to incur the wrath of Goddess Taleju.

Laksminarasimha made several donations of Golden Palm Leaf and other religious activities. However, he also lost some of his territories to his brother that lay east of the Bagmati River. Despite this loss, he loved the peace and peaceful activities.

He allowed Courtiers like Bhim Malla to expand the glory of Nepal. He also concluded a treaty of peace and friendship with his Brother, Siddhinarasimha.

Retirement

After 1741 A.D., Lakshminarasimha had by that time retired to private life, leaving the affairs of the state in the hands of his son.

The chronicle states that one Mayasing Naradeva, a native of Bhatgaon, was the Chief Minister of Kathmandu while Laxminarasimha ruled. He caused friction between the father and son duo.

According to the chronicles, Pratap Malla ruled as a regent for some time before he was actually installed on the throne as his father Laxminarasimha, who developed an unsound mind in his old age, could not be trusted with administrative responsibilities.

Pratap Malla went on to become one of the most famous kings in the history of Nepal, but his reign would not have been possible without the groundwork laid by his father, Laxminarasimha Malla.

However, the character of Pratap Malla is in stark contrast with his Father Laxminarasimha. While Pratap Malla was ambitious, expansion oriented, active, and clever, his father was peaceful, not ambitious, and certainly not clever. Later he turned Mad which could have had effects on Pratap Malla because he also turned Semi-Mad.

Conclusion

Laxminarasimha Malla played an essential role in the history of Nepal as the father of Pratap Malla and the ruler of Kathmandu. Although his relationship with his Son Pratap Malla was inconsistent, he promoted Peace, Cooperation and Interdependence with other Kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley.

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