Lakshmi Narasimha Malla

Lakshmi Narasimha Malla (also spelled Lakshminarasimha or Laxminarasimha) (Nepali: लक्ष्मी नरसिङ्ग मल्ल) was a Malla ruler and the seventh king of Kantipur. He was the youngest son of Harihara Simha and succeeded his grandfather Shivasimha Malla in 1619 as the King of Kantipur.^[1][2]

Lakshmi Narasimha Malla
King of Kantipur
Reign	1619–1641
Predecessor	Shivasimha Malla
Successor	Pratap Malla
Issue	Pratap Malla
Dynasty	Malla
Father	Harihara Simha Malla
Mother	Ganga Rani

Reign

The reign of Lakshminarasimha started when his grandfather Shivasimha Malla died in 1619.^[3] Kantipur had annexed Patan during the reign of Shivasimha Malla but after his death, Siddhi Narasimha Malla^[a] declared Patan independent and hence Laxminarasimha only ruled Kantipur.^[1][2]

Lakshminarasimha had a Kaji (minister) named Bhima Malla. Bhima Malla was sent to Tibet to negotiate a trade treaty. He succeeded in concluding a favorable treaty to Kantipur but after his return, other ministers conspired and accused him of trying to replace the King. The conspirators were successful, and Bhima Malla was sent to death.^[1] The then tradition dictated that his wife be burnt along in her husband's pyre (Sati). It is said that she, about to be burnt, cursed the entire country. Due to that event, Nepal is also called Sati le sarapeko desh (land cursed by Sati).^[4]

Soon afterwards, the King realized his mistake of sentencing Bhima Malla to death. It greatly depressed him and later on he went insane. He was imprisoned by his son Pratap Malla under the grounds of insanity who ruled Kantipur until 1674.^[1][2]

References

Notes

1. Siddhinarasimha and Lakshminarasimha were brothers; grandsons of Shivasimha Malla through Harihara Simha.

Sources

1. Shrestha, D.B.; Singh, C.B. (1972). The History of Ancient and Medieval Nepal (PDF) (1st ed.). Kathmandu: University of Cambridge. pp. 34–36.
2. Wright, Daniel (1877). History of Nepal (PDF). University of Cambridge. pp. 210–213.
3. Burleigh, Peter (16 February 2022). "A Chronology of Later Kings of Patan" (PDF). University of Cambridge: 31–32.
4. Shrestha, Ananya (2022-04-28). "Why Is Nepal Called "Sati Le Sarapeko Desh"? The Story Behind This Curse Goes Back To Four Centuries". Buzzativ. Retrieved 2023-02-05.

Preceded by Shivasimha Malla	King of Kantipur 1619–1641	Succeeded by Pratap Malla