Rajyavati

Introduction to Rajyavati

Queen Rajyavati was the Famous Mother of King Manadeva who decided to not go to Sati and help her son in Governance. She was the Wife of King Dharmadeva, the Religious King of the Lichhavi Dynasty.

She established an eagle Pillar in the Changunarayan Temple with her son King Manadeva. She is also one of the rarest Women that is actually mentioned in the Inscriptions with Pride and Glory.

Life of Rajyavati

The Ancestry of Rajyavati isn’t known. The Inscription of Changunarayan states that she belongs to a Pure Family. She is said to have been the eldest Queen of King Dharmadeva. As King Dharmadeva suddenly died of an illness, Rajyavati had to go to Sati as per the practices of the Time.

Her Description

Purified in body and mind by doing deeds, bright like the moon was King Dharmadeva, attained mantras and opulence, worshiped the deities through sacrifices with good animals. Born in the Chokho clan, Queen Rajyavati became the king’s (Dharmadeva’s) chief love of his life just like Vishnu and Lakshmi due to her qualities.

Inscription of Changunarayan

Some have said that King Dharmadeva was killed by his own Father. However, the story rarely holds up to be true. When Queen Rajyavati was informed of the death of her husband, she is said to have been devastated. She called her Young Son Manadev to inform him about his Father’s death and said that she would also go with him. Rajyavati said that she had no meaning without her husband.

However, King Manadev convinced his Mother, Rajyavati to stay with him and help him in the Governance of the Nation. Later, Manadeva was married to Bhogini and they had a daughter named Bijayavati.

How Rajyavati Didn’t Go Sati?

Rajyavati wanted to go to Sati but her son convinced him that she should live a life of purity but not die and instead help her son in Governance

When he came back, he took a long breath and wept deeply. The queen loved her son (Mandev) and said – ‘Your father has passed away, my son! After your father passed away, what is the use of me living for free? Dear son! Reign, I will follow my husband today and die.

What is the use of me to live without a husband with the net of hope spread for the sake of pleasure after the work of meeting becomes like a dream? I will go Son. But her Son Mandev who was fed up with the empress who was so stubborn, put stones on both feet (of the empress) with devotion and begged at that time.

After parting with you mother, what is the use of my Reign! What is the purpose of happiness in life! I leave my life ahead. May you go to heaven later. In this way, she remained like a bird caught in a trap by the trap of such words, wet with tears coming out of a lotus-like mouth.

Staying with her son and doing her husband’s work, she cleansed her mind with the rules of chastity, self-restraint, fasting, etc.

Inscription of Changunarayan

Later, there was a huge revolution against King Manadev from the East and the West. She wished her son King Manadeva all the best and sent her with her Brother to defeat the revolutionaries. After the successful victory against the revolutionaries, King Manadev and Queen Regent Rajyavati established a Garud Dhwaj in the Changunarayan Temple for the sin of not going to Sati.

Rajyavati lived a life of purity and self-restraint after the death of her beloved Husband. She also had a grandson named Manudeva, son of King Manadev. The Exact date of her death isn’t known. But she could live till 490 A.D. according to our estimates as Manadeva started ruling from 464 A.D.

Conclusion

Queen Rajyavati is an important Female Figure in the History of Nepal. In fact, She is the First Female to appear in Inscriptions which makes her special. She also built several temples during her life and left a lasting legacy as the Queen who didn’t go Sati.

Alert: Queen Rajyavati and King Manadeva didn’t build the Changunarayan Temple. They just established Garud Dhwaja in it.

References