Chapters
Introduction to Ari Malla
Ari Malla was the First Malla King who ruled Nepal from 1200 A.D. to 1216 A.D. and established Malla Dynasty that continued in Nepal for more than 500 years. He ruled Nepal during the occurrence of Several Famine and Natural Disasters such as Extreme Rainfall, landslides, Floods, etc.
He was born in 1154 A.D. and died at the age of 63 years in 1216 A.D. He paved the way for future Malla Kings like Jayastithi Malla and Yaksha Malla.
Ari Malla is described as the King who pleased each and every soul, an educated King with the Knowledge of Shastras and Tantras, the King who assisted the Weak and has multiple talents and qualities.
Rise of Ari Malla
Ari Malla was the Son of Jayasi Malla and was born in 1154 A.D. He could have acquired the throne of Nepal by either conquest or Dynastic Link. The Events that led to his rise to the throne of Nepal are still unclear and mystical.
There is a document of Vijayakamadeva that proves that a King ruled Nepal just seven months before him. Therefore, his rise was sudden and yet he gradually accumulated Power. His reign was the beginning of the Early Medieval Period.
According to Luciano Petech, Ari Malla acted as a Regent before being a claimant to the throne. He gradually increased his Power. At the beginning of his reign, the Title he was provided with was only Raja whereas. Only in 1211 A.D., he was provided the Title of “Rajadhiraja Parameshwora Parambhataraka.”
According to Dilli Raman Regmi, Ari Malla had to face various difficulties from both the Feudatories as well as the Princes. The Kathmandu Valley was deepened into Conflict and War during the War.
Therefore, he must have shown rare strength and defeated all other Feudal Lords to become the King of Nepal and restore peace in the Land. Even the Chronicles don’t mention how he became the King of Nepal.
Personality of Ari Malla
A Document named Amriteshwor Puja has shed light on the Personality of Ari Malla. According to the Document, he is described with the adjectives of bringing joy to the heart of all beings, specialist of Tantra, Mantra, and Shastra, etc., servant and lover of the Poor and fulfilled by Gods with multiple Qualities and Talents.
Although these adjectives may be exaggerated to a certain extent, they certainly seem to be positively describing the King. This also hints that he was well-loved by the General Public.
Reign of Ari Malla
Ari Malla was the first King to use the title of Malla. The Term Malla means Wrestler and it was used as a Nickname and Epithet by Kings to express their glory.
The Reign of Ari Malla is further clarified by 14 Documents that have been found that exclaim his reign in Nepal. In all these Inscriptions, he has been provided with the Epithet of Vijayarajye which is the highest of honor received only by the Kings.
As Ari Malla became the King of Nepal in 1200 A.D., he attempted to install peace in the conflicting lands of Nepal which he partially managed to achieve. However, his reign was plagued by Dangerous Famine and Hyper-Inflation.
The Reasons for these catastrophic situation hasn’t been mentioned in either chronicles or Inscriptions.
The Gopal Raja Bansawali has stated that an epidemic was registered in the Reign of Ari Malla. As it happens with Medieval Epidemics, it was fatal with the festering of diseases and presumably the death of many citizens.
Also, the Price of goods and necessities hiked during the Period. The Cost of Rice was multiplied several times due to the Scarcity observed. Therefore, Ari Malla struggled to conduct significant development activities during his reign because of the dangerous Epidemic, Famine, and the dissatisfaction of Feudal Lords.
Even the Total Regnal Years of Ari Malla hasn’t been concluded. Gopal Raja Bansawali states that he ruled for 25 years and 10 Months whereas his Inscriptions clearly highlight the regnal years from 1200 A.D. to 1216 A.D. for 16 years. To Conclude, He ruled Nepal for 16 years.
Gopal Raja Bansawali
Conclusion
Ari Malla is a significant King in the History of Medieval Nepal for being the First King to use the Surname of Malla and consequently being the First Malla King of Nepal. Although his reign was devasted by Famine and Epidemics, he still tried to maintain peace and brotherhood in Nepal for which he should be remembered.
Miscellaneous
References
Cite
Pokhrel, A. (2023). King Ari Malla – Itihasaa. Encyclopedia of Nepali History. https://itihasaa.com/malla-kings/ari-malla/
FAQ’s
Who is Ari Malla?
Ari Malla was the First Malla King who ruled Nepal from 1200 A.D. to 1216 A.D. and established Malla Dynasty that continued in Nepal for more than 500 years. He was the first king to use the surname of Malla, which became a tradition for future Malla kings.
How did Ari Malla become the King of Nepal?
The events that led to Ari Malla’s rise to the throne of Nepal are still unclear and mystical. According to some historians, he gradually increased his power by acting as a regent before being a claimant to the throne. He had to face various difficulties from both the feudatories as well as the princes
What is the contribution of Ari Malla in Nepal?
According to the document named Amriteshwor Puja, Ari Malla is described as a king who pleased each and every soul, an educated king with knowledge of Shastras and Tantras, the king who assisted the weak, and has multiple talents and qualities. Although these adjectives may be exaggerated to a certain extent, they certainly seem to positively describe the king.
What were some of the challenges faced by Ari Malla during his reign?
Ari Malla’s reign was plagued by dangerous famine and hyper-inflation, and he struggled to conduct significant development activities due to the dangerous epidemic, famine, and the dissatisfaction of feudal lords.
How long did Ari Malla rule Nepal?
The total regnal years of Ari Malla are still a matter of debate. Gopal Raja Bansawali states that he ruled for 25 years and 10 months, whereas his inscriptions clearly highlight the regnal years from 1200 A.D. to 1216 A.D. for 16 years. To conclude, he ruled Nepal for 16 years.
