King Yaksha Malla

Introduction to Yaksha Malla

Yaksha Malla was the Grand Son of Jayastithi Malla. Yaksha Malla was born in 1408 A.D. He was the son of Jagajyotir Malla and Sansar Wati and also the Crown Prince of Nepal. He was quickly involved in the administration by his father and participated in State Activities.

He was a devotee of Hinduism with a dedication to Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Taleju Bhawani. Some HIstorians have even presented that Yaksha Malla conquered the Surrounding Areas of the Kathmandu Valley and expanded the Borders of Nepal.

Biography of Yaksha Malla

After the Birth of Yaksha Malla in 1408 A.D., he grew up in a royal household and received a quality education. He was trained in various arts, including music, dance, and poetry. He grew up in his teens as a skilled administrator and an abled child honorable to his Parents and Citizens.

The Father of Yaksha Malla, Jagajyotir Malla died when Yaksha Malla was 20 years old. Yaksha Malla was crowned the King of Nepal in 1428 A.D. and ruled Nepal for 52 Whole years until his death in 1482 A.D.

Conquests of Yaksha Malla

Yaksha Malla was the successful inheritor of a growing Nepal and he used the Armies to conquer the surrounding areas of the Kathmandu Valley.

Yaksha Malla inherited a strong army from his father, Jyoti Malla, and used it to expand Nepal’s boundaries.

According to some Nationalist Historians, his conquests Sikkim in the east, Kerung and Kuti in the north, Gorkha in the west, and Bihar in the south. Banepa, a town located in present-day Kavrepalanchok District, was also included in his kingdom. However, his conquest is often subject to Exaggeration.

However, Yaksha Malla failed to consolidate his newly conquered territories although he reached faraway lands.

He made his Feudal Lords take an oath of loyalty to prevent them from betraying him during the conquest. Yaksha Malla was given titles like Nepal Mandaleshwor, Nepal Punyabhumishwor, The Incarnation of Gaurishankar, and so on for his bravery and expansion of territory.

Wives

King Yaksha Malla had lots and lots of adultresses and multiple wives. They bore him many children. Some of the Wives of Yaksha Malla are:

1. Jiva Lakshmi
2. Jayatana
3. Kupurdevi
4. Saraswati Devi
5. Kirti Lakshmi
6. Sapar Devi
7. Udaya Devi

As his children were also large in Number, Yaksha Malla struggled to finalize the heir of his Kingdom as it could cause huge conflicts among the Queens. His Second Eldest Son, Ratna Malla opposed making Raya Malla (Eldest Son) the King of Nepal.

Final Years

In the final years of his life, he failed to choose the rightful heir of Nepal. Among the tens of sons of Yaksha Malla, six are more prominent. His Sons are:

1. Raya Malla
2. Ratna Malla
3. Rana Malla
4. Rama Malla
5. Ari Malla
6. Purna Malla

On his deathbed, Yaksha Malla called these three sons and distributed Nepal ending the Early Malla Period of Nepalese History. It divided Nepal into the Kingdom of Kantipur, the Kingdom of Bhadgaon, and the Kingdom of Patan

So, he decided to divide his kingdom among his children. Raya Malla, the crown prince, was given the kingdom of Bhaktapur, the second prince Rana Malla was made king of Banepa, the third prince Ratna Malla became the king of Kantipur, and Lalitpur was given to the princess.

This division of the kingdom sowed the seed of the downfall of the Malla dynasty. The rulers became jealous and non-cooperative towards each other, weakening the power of the rulers and paving the way for the invasion of Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah, the then-ruler of Gorkha.

Legacy of Yaksha Malla

Religion

Yaksha Malla is considered by Nepalese Historians to have been a Religious King. He was a devotee of Lord Shiva and ardently contributed to the Pashupat Sect of Nepal. Further, he appointed a Brahman from the Deccan Plateau to act as the Chief Brahman of the Pashupatinath Temple.

He also renovated several Shiva and Vishnu Temples in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Lalitpur. Moreover, he was a devotee of the Royal Goddess of the Malla Kings, Taleju Bhawani.

Arts and Literature

Yakshya Malla was a great follower of the arts and literature of Hinduism. Many Famous Writers were associated with the Royal Court of Yaksha Malla. They include Amritavarna Vidyavagish, Durgavati Vidyavati, and Sharada Kumari.

Further, he built several landmark Buildings in Bhaktapur including the Peacock Window and the Dattatreya Temple Complex.

The Sons of Yaksha Malla

After the death of Yaksha Malla in 1482 A.D., Raya Malla claimed the throne but the three senior brothers ruled Nepal like co-rulers. But the cracks started to appear again as it was evident and Nepal was divided like Property.

The sovereignty of a nation is brought to pieces. A history with such great culture pulled until it broke. And Unity with such strong glue watered until it became loose.

In 1984 A.D. Ratna Malla, the second eldest established his power and authority in Kathmandu, Patan, etc. with his brother Ari Malla. Raya Malla became the sole ruler of Bhadgaon or Bhaktapur. Rana Malla controlled the territory of Banepa.

So, when Raya Malla died in 1509 A.D., Rana Malla acted as regent to the son of Raya Malla. When Raya Malla died without an heir, Banepa became part of Bhadgaon. After struggles, Patan or Lalitpur became Independent and was ruled by one of the Mahapatras known as Visnusimha.

This, Instability, uncertainty, and division in Kathmandu itself was the major reason for the downfall of the Malla Dynasty 250 years later in the hands of Prithvi Narayan Shah.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Malla dynasty witnessed both glory and tragedy during its rule in Nepal. Although the reign of Yaksha Malla was amongst the longest in the History of Nepal with long-lasting Peace, the consequences of his decision after his death were troublesome.

Miscellaneous

References

Cite

Pokhrel, A. (2023). King Yaksha Malla – Itihasaa. Encyclopedia of Nepali History. https://itihasaa.com/malla-kings/yaksha-malla/

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