King Jayasimha Malla

Introduction to Jayasimha Malla

Jayasimha Malla was the leader of the Tripura Royal Family born in 1228 A.D. to Jagatenaka Malla and ruled Nepal from 1271 A.D. to 1274 A.D.

His Name as the Reigning Monarch of Nepal is found in only one Chronicle, namely the Gopal Raja Bansawali which means that he ruled Nepal for 2 years and 7 Months.

Rise of Jayasimha Malla

The Short Reign of Jayasimha Malla has loads of Uncertainty in itself. Although it is known that he was born to Jagateneka Malla, a relative of the Royal Malla Family, it isn’t clear how his reign started and ended.

Jayasimha Malla was born in 1228 A.D. in the Tripura Palace of The Tripura Royal Family and was the Feudal Overlords of the Tripura Region. After the death of King Abhay Malla in 1255 A.D., He maintained close relations with his son Jayadeva Malla earning his trust as well.

After the death of Jayadeva Malla, he entered into an agreement with the most Powerful Feudal Overlord of Nepal in the House Bhonta. House Bhonta was then led by Jayabhimadeva.

This Agreement was implicit and meant that Jayabhimadeva and Jayasimha Malla could rule over Nepal in an alternate manner because of the lack of an open heir.

As Jayasimha Malla and House Tripura were comparatively weaker in Power, he allowed Jayabhimadeva to reign over Nepal first. Jayabhimadeva had a long Political Career spanning nearly thirteen Years. After the End of Jayabhimadeva‘s Reign, he ascended the throne of Nepal at the age of 43 years.

Reign of Jayasimha Malla.

According to Gopal Raja Bansawali, Jayasimha Malla‘s reign was somewhat Prosperous in the context of Nepal. He ruled for Two Years and Seven Months. He is said to have been loving to the People and didn’t inflict any suffering on the People.

Even the Whole Nation was happy with his temporary reign. He also offered a Golden Chain studded with multiple valuable jewels to the Pashupatinath Temple. He conducted Jatras to celebrate his reign and established a lasting endowment in the name of Nepal.

This Account of Gopal Raja Bansawali certainly attributes King Jayasima Malla as being Humanitarian and religious in Nature. Although the rationale for Jayasimha Malla having a Malla surname isn’t clear, he was clearly accepted as a Malla King by the People.

End of Jayasimha Malla

The End of the reign of Jayasimha Malla seems to be tragic. Historical Accounts have mentioned that he was deposed while ruling over Nepal possibly by House Bhonta whose Leader has just died.

Dilli Raman Regmi predicted that there was a coup d’etat at the Royal Palace of Nepal by which he was deposed along with his son paving the way for Ananta Malla to be the King of Nepal. His Deposition would later help Jayastithi Malla become the King of Nepal nearly 100 years later.

Conclusion

Although Jayasimha Malla is seen as an insignificant King in the Large History of Nepal, his short period of reign saw a lot of devotion and activities, both Political and non-political.

It seems like there was an internal struggle for Power between the Great Houses of Bhaktapur and that one Family tried to replace the Other. However, he has been portrayed as a Reformative King in the Gopal Raja Bansawali.

References