- Licchavi
Licchavi (also "Lichchhavi", "Lichavi") was an ancient
republic which existed in what is nowBihar state ofIndia , since the before the birth ofMahavira (b. 599 BC), [ [http://p2.www.britannica.com/eb/article-9048151/Licchavi "Licchavi", "Encyclopedia Britannica Online"] ] [ [http://p2.www.britannica.com/eb/article-9074639/Vaisali "Vaisali", "Encyclopedia Britannica Online"] ] and later a kingdom inNepal which existed in theKathmandu Valley from approximately400 A.D to750 A.D.Origins
Early
Buddhist legends feature Licchavi as a ruling family duringGautama Buddha 's time inIndia , however links to the Nepalese kingdom are speculative. The language of Licchavi inscriptions isSanskrit , and the particular script used is closely related to officialGupta script s, suggesting thatIndia was a significant cultural influence. This was likely throughMithila - the northern part of modernBihar , India.Licchavi term is probably rooted toRikshavi ,Rukshavi or moreSanskrit ized toRkshvavati .Riksha orRksha inSanskrit meansStar .A table of the evolution of certain Gupta characters used in Licchavi inscriptions prepared by Gautamavajra Vajrācārya can be found online. [ [http://www.thdl.org/texts/reprints/kailash/1_2_1.html Gautamavajra Vajrācārya, "Recently Discovered Inscriptions of Licchavi Nepal", "Kathmandu Kailash - Journal of Himalayan Studies." Volume 1, Number 2, 1973. (pp. 117-134)] ]
Records
The Lichhavi,having lost their political fortune in India,came to Nepal,attacking and defeating the last Kirat King'Gasti.Lichhavi's were the Rajputs of India,from today's Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.In the Buddhist
Pali canon , the Licchavi are mentioned in a number of discourses, most notably the Licchavi Sutta, [ [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn55/sn55.030.than.html "Licchavi Sutta," translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2004).] ] the popularRatana Sutta [ [http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.01.piya.html "Ratana Sutta: The Jewel Discourse," translated from the Pali by Piyadassi Thera (1999).] ] and the fourth chapter of thePetavatthu . [ [http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/5Khuddaka-Nikaya/07Petavatthu/4-Mahavagga-p.html Petavatthu, Fourth Chapter, in Pali.] ]The earliest known physical record of the kingdom is an inscription of
Manadeva 1 , which dates from464 . It mentions three preceding rulers, suggesting that the Licchavi dynasty began in the late fourth century.Government
The Licchavi were ruled by a "
Maharaja " ("great king"), who was aided by a prime minister, in charge of the military and of other ministers.Nobles, known as "
samanta " influenced the court whilst simultaneously managing their own landholdings and militia.At one point, between approximately
605 and641 , a prime minister calledAmsuvarman actually assumed the throne.The population provided land taxes and conscript labour ("vishti") to support the government. Most local administration was performed by village heads or leading families.
Economy
The economy was agricultural, relying on
rice and other grains as staples. Villages ("grama") were grouped into "dranga" for administration. Lands were owned by the royal family, nobles, temples or groups ofBrahman s. Trade was also very important, with many settlements positioned along trading routes.Tibet andIndia were both trading partners.Geography
Domain
Settlements already filled the entire valley during the Licchavi period. Further settlement was made east toward
Banepa , west towardTisting , and northwest toward present-dayGorkha .Sites
Bodhnath
A stupa was located at
Bodhnath .Bhadgaon
Bhadgaon was a small village called "Khoprn" (
Sanskrit "Khoprngrama") along the main trade route. This is the precursor to Bhaktapur.Chabahil
A stupa was located at
Chabahil .Deopatan
A shrine of
Shiva was located atDeopatan .Hadigaon
A shrine of
Vishnu was located atHadigaon .Kathmandu
Modern day Kathmandu consisted of the two villages of
Koligrama ("Village of the Kolis";Nepal Bhasa "Yambu"), andDakshinakoligrama ("South Koli Village", Nepal Bhasa "Yangala") straddling the main Kathmandu Valley trade route.Patan
Patan was called "Yala" ("Village of the Sacrificial Post";
Sanskrit "Yupagrama"). It is probably the oldest center of Nepal, though building remains are scarce.wayambhunath
A stupa was located at
Swayambhunath .Rulers
The following list was adapted from The Licchavi Kings, by Tamot & Alsop, [ [http://www.asianart.com/articles/jaya/kings.html Tamot, Kashinath and Alsop, Ian. "A Kushan-period Sculpture, The Licchavi Kings", Asianart.com] ] and is approximate only, especially with respect to dates. "No complete, reliable chronology of Licchavi rulers yet exists."
*
185 Jayavarmā (also "Jayadeva I")
*Vasurāja (also "Vasudatta Varmā")
*c.400 Vrsadeva (also "Vishvadeva")
*c.425 unicode|Shaṅkaradeva I
*c.450 Dharmadeva
*464 -505 Mānadeva I
*505 -506 Mahīdeva (few sources)
*506 -532 Vasantadeva
*Manudeva (probable chronology)
*538 Vāmanadeva (also "Vardhamānadeva")
*545 Rāmadeva
*Amaradeva
*Gunakāmadeva
*560 -565 Ganadeva
*567 -c.590 Bhaumagupta (also "Bhūmigupta", probably not a king)
*567 -573 unicode|Gaṅgādeva
*575 /576 Mānadeva II (few sources)
*590 -604 Shivadeva I
*605 -621 Amshuvarmā
*621 Udayadeva
*624 -625 Dhruvadeva
*631 -633 Bhīmārjunadeva, Jisnugupta
*635 Visnugupta - Jisnugupta
*640 -641 Bhīmārjunadeva / Visnugupta
*643 -679 Narendradeva
*694 -705 Shivadeva II
*713 -733 Jayadeva II
*748 -749 unicode|Shaṅkaradeva II
*756 Mānadeva III
*826 Balirāja
*847 Baladeva
*877 Mānadeva IVee also
*
History of Nepal
*Nepal
*Mahajanapadas References
External links
* [http://www.asianart.com/articles/jaya/kings.html Tamot, Kashinath and Alsop, Ian. "A Kushan-period Sculpture, The Licchavi Kings", Asianart.com]
* [http://www.thamel.com/htms/history.htm "History of Nepal," Thamel.com]
* [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+np0015) "Nepal: The Early Kingdom of the Licchavis, 400-750", Library of Congress Countryreports.org (September, 1991)]
* [http://www.thdl.org/texts/reprints/kailash/1_2_1.html Vajrācārya, Gautamavajra, "Recently Discovered Inscriptions of Licchavi, Nepal", "Kailash - Journal of Himalayan Studies," Volume 1, Number 2, 1973. (pp. 117-134)]
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