Kings of Patan

Introduction to Siddhi Narsingh Malla

Siddhi Narsingh Malla was the Greatest King of Patan who ruled it from 1618 A.D. to 1661 A.D. for a prosperous 43 years. His mother, Lalamatidevi, acted as his regent when he ascended the throne as a minor.

Siddhi Narsingh maintained diplomatic relations with Ram Shah of Gorkha, the rulers of the Indian plains, and the Terai Region of Nepal.

He was also known for his religious devotion. He built the famous Krishna Temple of Patan and the Bisheshwor Temple of Mangal Bazar. He was widely known for regularly practicing charity, and performing ritualistic fire ceremonies.

His son, Srinivas Malla, shared administrative responsibilities with him and was listed as a joint ruler by 1649 A.D. Siddhi Narsingh finally abdicated in 1661 A.D. to spend his remaining days in religious retirement. He died nearly a decade later.

Reign of Siddhi Narsingh Malla

Rise to Power

Siddhi Narsingh Malla was the grandson of Sivasimha Malla and was provided the Kingdom of Patan after the death of his grandfather. His Half-Brother, Laxminarasimha, inherited the Kingdom of Kathmandu.

Hi’s mother, Lalamatidevi, acted as his regent when he ascended the throne as a minor. After annexing Patan, Sivasimha Malla appointed his son, Hariharsimha, as the administrator of the Kingdom of Patan.

Unfortunately, Hariharsimha passed away, and Lalamatidevi wanted to retain Patan for her son who was still a minor. He ultimately became the King of the Kingdom of Patan in 1618 C.E.

Relation with Kathmandu and Gorkha

Siddhi Narsingh Malla fostered diplomatic relations with Ram Shah of Gorkha, and they vowed to be allies and have a joint successor if either of them died without a male heir.

He also maintained good relations with the rulers of the Indian plains and the Terai Region of Nepal. He also belonged to the Terai Region of Nepal, and his daughter, Bhimalaksmi was also married in the Terai Region.

After the Death of Laxmi Narasimha, multiple tensions arose between Patan and Kathmandu. Lakṣminarasimha’s son and heir, Pratap Malla, ascended to the throne of Kathmandu.

Unlike his father, Pratapa Malla was not content with the partition of the kingdom of Kathmandu. He frequently captured Patan’s border forts. He further employed an aggressive policy only because Kathmandu required Patan’s support against Bhadgaun.

Religious Reign of Siddhi Narsingh Malla

Despite having a liberal view of religion, Siddhi Narsingh Malla was a devout man who lived an ascetic and abstemious existence. He was devoted to the many deities of the Buddhist Vajrayana cult as well as the gods and goddesses of Shaivism and Vaishnavism.

He built the well-known Krishna temple in front of the Lalitpur Royal Palace in 1636 A.D. This style was characterized by verses from the Ramayan and Mahabharat and representations of the Visnu incarnations carved onto the outside walls.

According to the Krishna Mandir inscriptions, he vanquished his adversaries who invaded his domain while performing holy rites.

In Patan, Siddhi Narsingh also constructed the Shiva and Bishsheshwor temples. Like all Malla rulers, he was a follower of Taleju. As a gift to Taleju Bhawani, he also constructed a garden featuring a pond, water spout, and flower garden.

He regularly engaged in traditional fire ceremonies known as Kotyahuti and practiced altruism. Along with his passion for dance and drama, he started the Kartika dance-play series, which portrayed the events of the Ramayana.

Family Tree

Family of Siddhi Narsingh Malla

Siddhi Narsingh Malla traced his ancestry to Harisimhadeva, the Last King of the Tirhut Kingdom. He mentions that Mahendra Malla was his Great-Grandfather and Sivasimha Malla was his Grandfather.

Hariharsimha was the Father and Lalitamatidevi was the Mother of Siddhi Narsingh Malla. He also had a son named Srinivas Malla who ruled Nepal after him in a prosperous manner.

Contributions of Siddhi Narsingh Malla

Construction of Krishna Mandir

Siddhi Narsingh Malla was a man of religious disposition and constructed several temples during his reign. In this regard, his most prestigious religious contribution was the construction of the famous Krishna Mandir in front of the Royal Palace at Lalitpur in 1636 A.D.

Dance, Drama, and Culture

Siddhi Narsingh Malla was interested in dance and drama and initiated the Kartika dance-drama sequence depicting the events of the Ramayana.

He also wrote a dance drama in mixed Bengali and Maithili called Hariścandrantyam, which was staged in 1651 A.

Foreign Relations

Siddhi Narsingh Malla maintained diplomatic relations with neighboring states and rulers. He maintained friendly relations with the King of Gorkha, Rāma Saha, and they agreed to have a joint successor should one of them die without a male heir.

He also had diplomatic ties with rulers in the Indian plains and Nepal Terai. His activism for Patan helped establish a network of trade and cultural exchange.

Administration

Siddhi Narsingh Malla involved his son, Srinivasa, in the administration of the state at a young age. This helped prepare Srinivasa for the tasks of ruling and allowed him to gradually withdraw from the business of government to devote himself to religious exercises.

Religion and Art

Siddhi Narsingh Malla was a patron of the arts and encouraged artists and artisans to create works of art and handicrafts. He regularly practiced charity and performed ritualistic fire ceremonies called kotyähuti.

Legacy and Succession

When Srinivasa, the son of Siddhi Narsingh, reached maturity, his father enlisted him in the state government. Srinivasa was born in A.D. 1627.

This was a result of his intention to progressively distance himself from political concerns in order to focus on his religious activities, as well as an attempt to prepare his son for the duties of leadership.

Srinivasa began to share administrative responsibilities with his father in 1641, and by 1649, both of them were named as joint rulers.

He set off on a two-year trip to India in 1652. He finally abdicated in 1661 in favor of Srinivasa Malla. It may have been a commemoration of his coronation, to dedicate his last days to monastic seclusion.

Conclusion

Siddhi Narsingh Malla was a Man of Stoic Values and Wisdom. Siddhi Narsingh Malla is the only King in the History of Nepal whose not only reign was successful but his life was also fulfilling, religious and Spiritual.

Miscellaneous

References

  • Regmi, Dilli Raman. “Medieval Nepal” Four Volumes. Firma K, 1965-66
  • Shaha, R. (2001). Ancient and Medieval Nepal. India: Manohar.
  • Slusser, Mary S Nepal Mandala, “A Cultural Study of the Kathmandu Valley Two Volumes” Princeton University Press, 1982 C.E.
  • Levi Sylvain: Le Nepal, Etuda Historique d’um royaume Izindou, 3 volumes, Paris, 1905
  • Subedi, Raja Ram, 2061, “Nepalko Tathya Itihas,” Sajha Prakashan
  • Sangraula, Narayan Prasad, 2068, “Prachin tatha Madhyakalin Nepal,” Kankai Publishers and Distributors
  • Petech, Luciano. Medieval History of Nepal Volume II. Rome, 1985

Cite

Pokhrel, A. (2023). King Siddhi Narsingh Malla – Itihasaa. Encyclopedia of Nepali History. https://itihasaa.com/patan/siddhi-narsingh-malla/

FAQ’s

Who was Siddhi Narsingh Malla?

Siddhi Narsingh Malla was the greatest king of Patan who ruled from 1618 A.D. to 1661 A.D. for 43 years. He was a religious person who constructed several temples, such as the famous Krishna Temple of Patan and the Bisheshwor Temple of Mangal Bazar. He was also known for regularly practicing charity and performing ritualistic fire ceremonies.

Who acted as Siddhi Narsingh Malla’s regent?

Siddhi Narsingh Malla’s mother, Lalamatidevi, acted as his regent when he ascended the throne as a minor.

What was Siddhi Narsingh Malla’s relationship with Ram Shah of Gorkha?

Siddhi Narsingh Malla fostered diplomatic relations with Ram Shah of Gorkha, and they vowed to be allies and have a joint successor if either of them died without a male heir.

What were Siddhi Narsingh Malla’s contributions?

Siddhi Narsingh Malla was a man of religious disposition and constructed several temples during his reign. One of his most notable contributions in this regard was the construction of the famous temple of Krishna in front of the Royal Palace at Lalitpur in 1636 A.D. He also initiated the Kartika dance-drama sequence depicting the events of the Ramayana.

Who succeeded Siddhi Narsingh Malla as the ruler of Patan?

Siddhi Narsingh Malla’s son, Srinivas Malla, shared administrative responsibilities with him and was listed as a joint ruler by 1649 A.D. Siddhi Narsingh finally abdicated in 1661 A.D. to spend his remaining days in religious retirement. His son, Srinivas Malla, ruled Nepal after him in a prosperous manner.