1707), he placed a Bhairava and Ugrachanda in the Nayakhachhē-tava-gōl-kwatha, built by his grandfather Jagatprakasa Malla.

Again, he built a temple in the Durbar, and placed his Dēvatā in it, that those persons who fast during the month of Kartik might worship there. This temple contains the following inscription.

"O thou whose lotus-feet are worshipped by gods and the king of gods, thou who art the husband of Gaurī, the destroyer of Manmatha, and whose forehead is adorned with the moon! I dedicate the faculties of my mind to thy two lotus-feet. Be thou propitious to thy humble devotee Bhupatindra. On Saturday the 10th of Bhadon Sudi, Nepal Sambat 828, Bhupatīndra Malla, to please his patron-goddess, placed Siva in this temple. May Sadasiva be gracious to him."

The Rājā and his son Ranjit Malla put a golden roof on the temple of the Bhairava in Nepal Sambat 838 (A.D. 1718).

On the 3rd of Phagun Badi, Nepal Sambat 841 (A.D. 1721), he dedicated a new bell for the temple of Batsalā (or Bachhlā) Dēvi, near the Durbar, the old one, dedicated in N. S. 820, after a Kōtyāhuti-yagya, having become damaged.

19. His son Ranjit Malla.

This Rājā was very prudent and economical. He sent a great quantity of his coin to Lhāsā, in exchange for which he got a large quantity of gold and silver. He collected a great many rare and curious articles, and made numerous Chōks in the Durbar, and also a golden door.

Being desirous of erecting a stone-pillar, like the one in Kantipur, he requested Jayaprakasa Malla, the Rājā of Kantipur, to send oil-men to put it up. Jayaprakāsa

Malla complied with his request, but privately told the men to spoil it. They went to Bhatgaon, and prepared to set up the pillar, but while doing so they let it fall, and broke it into three pieces. Seeing that the Rājā was displeased at this, they joined the pieces together again and put up the pillar. Ranjit Malla and Jayaprakasa Malla both gave the men dresses of honour.

Ranjit Malla dedicated a large bell to Annapūrnā Devi on the 1st of Phagun Badi, Nepāl Sambat 857 (A.D. 1737).

At this time the Rājās of Bhatgaon, Lalit-patan, and Kantipur, were on bad terms with each other. Hence Narbhūpāla Sah, Rājā of Gōrkhā, laid claim to the throne of Nepal, and crossed the Trisul Ganga to invade the country. Being, however, opposed and defeated by the Vaisya-rājās of Noākōt, he was obliged to return to Gōrkha, after burning the bridge over the Trisul Gangā.

A jyapu, who owned a field, near a plain to the south of Machchhindrapur (Bogmati), called Dēva-khēl, was one night sleeping in it, when he saw a strange sight. Some one came and lighted a lamp, and then others came and spread carpets, on which several persons sat down. At the bidding of one of these, another person went to call some one, but returned with the answer that he would come to-morrow. On this the meeting broke up. Next night the same events took place, but the vacant seat on the carpet was occupied by Machchhindra-natha, who, it seems, was the person who had promised to come the night before. A Bhairava then came forward and asked for food. Machchhindra told him to go to Gorkha, and enjoy the sovereignty of the country where Gorakhnatha resided.

The Bhairava then said that, if he would give him the sovereignty over Nepal also, he would go. To this Machchhindra-nātha agreed, and then the meeting broke up. From this the Jyapu learned that henceforth the Gorkhas would rule over Nepal.

Rājā Narbhūpāla Sah had two wives, of whom the senior was pregnant at this time. The junior dreamed one night that she swallowed the sun, and, awaking, she told the Rājā. He however only abused her, which so hurt her feelings that she did not sleep all the rest of the night. In the morning the Rājā told her that it was merely to keep her awake that he had abused her, because, if she had slept again, the effect of the dream would have been lost, and he considered this dream was as good as a promise that his kingdom would be enlarged. After this the junior Rani became pregnant, and after seven months gave birth to a son, who was named Prithinārāyana Sah.

When Prithinārāyana came of age he went to see Nepāl, and lived at Bhatgaon with Rājā Ranjit Malla, who, being pleased with his guest, promoted a friendship between him and his son Bir-narsinha Malla. In this way Prithinārāyana lived three years in Nepal, with the object of making himself acquainted with everything regarding the country.

On the Vijaya dasami, when the Navadurgas were being taken to the Mula Chōk, Rājā Ranjit Malla and Prithinārāyana Sah stood together at the door of the Kumārī Chōk. When passing, the Bhairava gave the prasāda to Prithinārāyana instead of to Ranjit Malla; and in like manner the Kumārī presented him with a blue lotus. A few days after this Prithinārāyana took leave and returned to Gōrkhā.

Ranjit Malla had several illegitimate sons, who conspired against the life of Prince Bir-narsinha Malla, and consulted some ill-disposed persons as to how they might remove him. These people said that he might be destroyed by performing a Kōtyāhuti-yagya and pronouncing the mantras so as to produce a bad effect. The sons then told the Rājā that, if he would have a Kōtyāhuti-yagya performed, the country would be prosperous and he would have done a meritorious act. The Rājā consented, and Prince Bir-narsinha died suddenly at the age of 32, and with him the dynasty of the solar race in Bhatgaon became extinct.

CHAPTER VI.

Ran Malla, king of Banepa. The Malla Rājās of Kantipur or Kathmānḍū, down to the time of the Gōrkha invasion. Repairing of the Swayambhu temple. Taking of Kathmandu by the Gōrkhas.

9. RAN MALLA, the second son of Rājā Yaksha Malla, became king of Banikāpur (Banepa) and seven adjacent villages. He reigned 21 years, and died without issue.

Dēvi gave a golden head of a buffalo to a certain oilman of Banikāpur, who, in consequence, made an offering to Pashupatinatha of a kavacha1 ornamented with precious stones, and an ek-mukhi-rudrāksha2, in N. S. 622 (A.D. 1502). At the time that he made this offering he presented a shawl to the Raja, which is still preserved at Kantipur. These riches had been given to him by the Kumārī-dēvī of Kumārī-kund, to be employed for charitable purposes.

9. The youngest son of Raja Yaksha Malla was named Ratna Malla, and he had quarrelled with his eldest brother Raya Malla. It was the custom at that time for the Rājā, when dying, to impart to his eldest son the mantra by which Turjā-dēvi was made subservient; but

1 Formerly a coat of mail, now any loose coat.

2 A rudrāksha is the seed of the Eleocarpus ganitrus. It is used by fakīrs to make rosaries. The seed in general has from two to eight or more lines, marking its divisions. Seeds with only one line are very rare, and considered especially sacred. There are two such ēk-mukhi-rudrākshas at Pashupati temple. Rudraksha means literally "the eye of Rudra or Siva."