Work index of Nyatapola temple.
Shrestha, Sukra Sagar
The five-storeyed temple, locally known as Nyatapola, is an
impressive and famous temple of Nepal, standing in the northern side of
Taumarhi square in Bhaktapur. This is the only temple that is named
after the dimension of architecture rather than from the name of the
deity residing inside. The temple was erected within a short period of
less than five months by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1701/1702 A.D. In the
present context of work-schedule, planning and programming, it is very
difficult to believe that the temple was erected within that short
period of time. But it was the fact. The incidents are recorded day by
day.
If we look at the calendar of construction it gives us an
interesting picture of the spirit of the people and speed of the work
accomplished within such a short period of time. The speed of work done
in religious faith can never be accomplished in modern-day society run
by materialistic considerations.
We find all these interesting details while going into the
manuscript. From the start of digging the foundation to the completion
of roofing, it took merely eighty-eight days. The excavation work for
foundation lasted for seven days. Then was commenced construction of six
plinths. That was accomplished in thirty-one days, and immediately after
that started the erection of the superstructure. That was also completed
within thirty-four days, after which roofing work was started from top
to the lowest roof. In sixteen days all the five roofs were completed
paving them with mini-tiles (jhingati). Then they had to wait for an
auspicious day for erecting the icons in the sanctum sanctorum and fix
the pinnacle on the top of the temple. For this, they did wait for 38
days. In the meantime the auspicious fire-sacrifice (Siddhagni Kotyahuti
Yajna) was going on.
Presented here are six pages (three folios) of the facsimile copies
of the manuscript which recorded major events from beginning to the end,
as summary of records in advance, incorporated in the manuscript
containing 264 folios. There are fifty major records in the summary
six-page facsimile.
The manuscript is preserved in the National Archives of Nepal. It
is readily available for the readers in micro-film as well, which can be
read in the office or could be purchased in photocopy paying certain
rupees per page.
The name of the manuscript is recorded as Siddhagni Kotyahuti
Devala Pratistha. The name itself kept the enthusiasts on the subject of
ancient architecture behind the curtain from knowing it. The accession
number of the manuscript is cat. I. 1115 NGMPP micro number A 249/5. The
manuscript is written in the Newar script in yellow Nepalese paper
coated with harital (orpiment). The size is 17.2 x 46.5 cm. Each page
has nine lines. The manuscript has 264 folios, and the rest are missing
Dr Janak Lal Vaidya thinks. Some folios are ink-stained and some are
damaged by rats. All the rest of the folios are in good condition. The
calligraphy
is magnificent.
Out of these six facsimile pages, Dr. Janak Lal Vaidya has
published three folios (1, 2 and 4) without any transliteration and
translation in Abhilekh No.8 published by the National Archives of
Nepal. It is, however, necessary at least to give a full picture of the
detailed records in those six important pages.
There are still interesting information contained in the following
folios of the manuscript which were published by Dr. Janak Lal Vaidya in
his articles published in Abhilekh, No. 8 and No. 14 and Kheluita No. 11
in English, Nepali and Newar respectively.
Translation of facsimile copy
Salute! To the god Ganesa. This is the work index of the
construction of Nyatapola Temple (Five-storeyed Temple) and the
performance of Siddhagni Kotyahuti fire sacrifice (done) by Bhupatindra
Malla. (The king of Bhaktapur) [Then starts the entry]
1. On Thursday, the third day of clear fortnight in the month of
karttika of Nepal Samvat 822, the people (the ones who fell the tree)
were sent to fell the trees in the jungle.
2. (After 25 days) On Monday, the twelfth of clear fortnight in the
month of Marga of Nepal Sam. vat 822, this day the wood work (carpentry)
started.
3. (After 31 days) On Thursdsy, the twelfth/thirteen of dark
fortnight in the month of Pausa of Nepal Samvat 822, the excavation work
for foundation started.
4. (After 7 days) On Thursday, the fifth of clear fortnight in the
month of Magha of Nepal Sam. vat 822, the foundation stone was laid
(construction of the foundation started).
5. (After 31 days) On Sunday, the sixth of dark fortnight in the
month of Phaguna of Nepal Samvat 822, this day the main entrance (to the
sanctumsanctorum) was erected.
6. (After 5 days) On Friday, the eleventh of dark fortnight in the
month of Phalguna of Nepal Samvat 822, this day the amoral spinal beam
(ninala). was laid.
7. (After 11 days) On Thursday, the seventh of bright fortnight in
the month of Caitra of Nepal Sam. vat 822, the windows (were) erected in
lowest (first) storey.
8. (After 11 days) On Saturday, the third of dark fortnight in the
month of Caitra of Nepal Sam. vat 822, the windows (were) erected in
second storey.
9. (After three days) On Tuesday, the seventh of dark fortnight in
the month of Caitra of Nepal Samvat 822, the windows were erected in the
third storey.
10. (After four days) On Saturday, the eleventh of dark fortnight
of Caitra of Nepal Samvat 822, the windows (were) erected in the fourth
storey.
11. (After two days) On Monday the thirteenth of dark fortnight in
the month of Caitra of Nepal Samvat 822, the windows (were) erected in
the last (fifth) storey.
12. (After 3 days) On Thursday, the fifteenth of dark fortnight (no
moon day) in the month of Caitra of Nepal Samvat 822, the pithapuja
performed (to appease the pithagana) in order to erect the top of the
temple.
13. (After 14 days) On Thursday, the third of clear fortnight in
the month of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the top of the temple offered
(erected).
14. (After 7 days) On Thursday, the seventh of clear fortnight in
the month of Vaisakha of Nepal Sawvat 822, the topmost roof was covered
with minitiles.
15. (After 2 days) On Saturday, the ninth of clear fortnight in the
month of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the roofing is completed on the
fourth storey.
16. (After 2 days) On Monday, the eleventh of clear fortnight in
the month of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the roofing is completed on
the third (middle) roof.
17. (After 4 days) On Friday, the first of dark fortnight in the
month Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the roofing is constructed on the
second roof.
18. (Next day) On Saturday, the second of dark fortnight in the
month Vaisakha of Nepal Sam vat 822, the ceremony of offering of areca
nuts is performed.
19. (Next day) On Sunday, the third of dark fortnight in the month
of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the puja (worship) was sent to Pithas,
Jawodaka, Shivasakti and Kalasa.
20. (Next day) On Monday, the fourth of dark fortnight in the month
of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the worship and propitious ritual is
performed in Pithas (Pitharchana).
21. (Next day) On Tuesday, the fifth of dark fortnight in the month
of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the act of purascarana is performed.
22. (After 2 days) On Thursday, the seventh of dark fortnight in
the month of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the arrangement for mandapa
is done.
23. (Next day) On Friday, the eighth of dark fortnight in the month
of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the roofing is done on the fifth (top
most) roof. Or the roofing work is completed in the temple.
24. (Next day) On Saturday, the ninth of dark fortnight in the
month of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the excavation work is done for
making fire altar (kunda).
25. (After 2 days) On Monday, the eleventh of dark fortnight in the
month of Vaisakha of Nepal Sara. vat 822, the foundation stone is laid
to erect the fire altar.
26. (After 2 days) On Wednesday, the thirteenth of dark fortnight
in the month of Vaisakha of Nepal Samvat 822, the tympanum is offered
(fixed) at the main entrance.
27. (After 3 days) On Saturday, the first of clear fortnight in the
month Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, Ankurarcana ceremony is performed.
28. (After 5 days) On Thursday, the sixth of dark fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, different (many-fold)
rituals-consecration, propitious, worships, offerings, are performed
like Punyahawachala, Rritwijavarna, Mandapa puja, sun-worship, door
worship, Guru-worship, and offering of roof hanging (pata) and so on.
29. (Next day) On Friday, the seventh of clear fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, different acts are done like
Rajapuja, Thandila Uddhara, Kalikaropana and Jalajaga.
30. (Next day) On Saturday, the eighth of clear fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, Javodaka (barley seeds) are
offered to alter. Padaprakshyalana, sheep-sacrifice, Vighnaharana,
Panchagavyasadhana, Tripuja, Sodhanyasa, Jnakhadgasadhana,
arghapatrasadhana, shivahastapuja, shivashaktibhramana, kalasarchana,
thandilamarcana and chetri avahana.
31. (Next day) On Sunday, the ninth of clear fortnight in the month
of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, the fire in was lit alter for
fire-sacrifice, Thapuja is performed along with jagarana (night spent
without sleep) or observed sleepless night (next day)
32. (After 4 days) On Thursday, the thirteenth of clear fortnight
in the month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, Thapuja and jagarana
(sleepless night) were also performed.
33. (After 7 days) On Thursday, the sixth of dark fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, again Thapuja and jagarana were
performed.
34. (After 4 days) On Monday, the tenth of dark fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, this day bathing the icon is done
with (again) thapuja and jagarana.
35. (Next day) On Thursday, the tenth/eleventh of dark fortnight in
the month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, ten sacraments (dasa karma) of
the icons are preformed.
36. (Next day) On Wednesday, the eleventh of dark fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, the god is given a bath and
purified.
37. (Next day) On Thursday the twelfth of dark fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, the sacraments to infuse life to
the icon are performed. Thapuja and jagarana are also observed.
38. (Next day) On Friday, the thirteenth of dark fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, the purification of sanctum
sanctorum and pedestal(as well) are performed.
39. (Next day) On Saturday, the fourteenth of dark fortnight in the
month of Jyestha of Nepal Samvat 822, the god (icon) is taken to the
temple and the ritual flag is consecrated and fluttered.
40. (After 2 days) On Monday, the first of clear fortnight in the
month of Asadha of Nepal Samvat 822, the icon (in the sanctum sanctorum)
and pinnacle (on top of the temple) are installed. The three
mini-temples and kotilinga are (also) adorned with pinnacles. Digpuja
Thapuja and jagarana are performed and observed.
41. (After 3 days) On Thursday, the fourth of clear fortnight in
the month of Asadha of Nepal Samvat 822, the pinnacle was offered and
puja performed in the fourth mini--temple and worshipped (the god
inside).
42. (After 7 days) On Thursday, the twelfth of clear fortnight in
the month of Asadha of Nepal Samvat 822, Thapuja is perfomed and
jagarana observed.
43. (After 6 days) On Wednesday, the third of dark fortnight in the
month of Asadha of Nepal Samvat 822, a partridge is sacrificed.
44. (Next day) On Thursday, the fourth of dark fortnight in the
month of Asadha of Nepal Samvat 822, the bell was offered and jgarana
observed (eighth time).
45. (After 6 days) On Wednesday, the tenth of dark fortnight in the
month of Asadha of Nepal era 822, the Kotipolduya ([TEXT NOT
REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]), Caurasi Paicalduya ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN
ASCII.]) Thapuja and jagarana are performed (ninth time).
46. (Next day) On Thursday, the eleventh of dark fortnight in the
month of Asadha of Nepal Samvat 822, the repentance sacrifice was
performed (repentance because of innumerable lives of unseen and seen
animals that might have been killed knowingly or unknowingly during the
construction period).
47. On Friday, the twelfth of dark fortnight in the month of Asadha
of Nepal Samvat 822, the bathing is done. ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN
ASCII.]).
48. (After 3 days) On Monday, the no moon day of dark fortnight in
the month of Asadha of Nepal Samvat 822, the Caturthi (No actifities are
mentioned afterwards).
49. (After 2 days) On Wednesday, the second day of clear fortnight
in the month of Sravana of Nepal Samvat 822, offerings to Inayadon
(Suryavinayaka) were sent. The king seemed to have gone to Suryavinayaka
for final thanks-giving puja.
50. (after 142 days) On Sunday, the twelfth of dark fortnight in
the month of Pausa of Nepal Samvat 823, the ashes (collected from the
sacrifice altar) were floated away (in the river Hanumante on the south
of the city) (after exactly one lunar year from the day of digging for
the foundation of the temple) on the first clear fortnight in the month
of Asadha of Nepal Samvat 823.
From the start of the sixth page onwards, the scribe records the
new subject and gives the details of the number of firewood oblations
made by, first the king, then by others to the fire sacrifice. The king
offered seventeen bundle of firewood and others, different number of
bundles, some did less than the king and some more than him.
The total number of the firewood bundles offered to the sacrifice
is 1102 and an equal number of bundles made of bamboo (pa) reed (ti) and
(I) were also offered.
Some words in Newar and Sanskrit which are used in this article
have not been found in English. Therefore they can not be translated
into English. Their exact meaning is not possible to find them in the
English dictionary. It has been tried to translate nearer to its
meaning. The words as they were used are reproduced here in Devanagari.
Therefore, the author invites the comment on the exact translation of
these words.
Glossary
1. Pumavabhrtasnan ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = A ritual
bath with clothes on the body after all ceremony performed
2. Pithapuja ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = Worship done in
different shrines of mother goddesses known as Pitha (a sacred Tantric shrine dedicated to the Mother Goddesses
3. Javodaka ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = worship by
oat-grains instead of rice-grains (or sprinkling of oat-grains before
five sacrifices start on the ground.
4. Kalikaropana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = The
plantation of the black seeds.
5. Bhetavali ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = offering to the
Goblins (?)
6. Bighniharana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = Eradication
of suspected problems.
7. Pancagavyasanghana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = The
preparation of Panchagavya (mixing five objects composed of milk, ghee,
curds, urine and dung of a cow.)
8. Arghpatrasadhana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) =
consecration of sacred water vessel (?)
9. Tripuja ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = worship of three
lamp (dipa), Kalasa and Ganesa.
10. Shodhanyasa ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = worship of
sixteen Sanyansis (worship with sixteen articles; sixteen worships) ?
(****) ? But in manuscript it is only written as
11. Gyankhadgasaghana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = ?
12. Sivahastapuja, ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = Worship of
the hand of the carvers on metal stone and wood
13. Sivasaktibhramna ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) =
pilgrimage to the shrines of tantric deities
14. Kalasarcana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = consecration
of Kalasa = or water pot representing Varuna, the Vedic god
15. Thandilarcana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = oblation at
the ground designated for fire sacrifice
16. Ksatri avahana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = invitation
to Chetrapalas = the guardian deities of sin/eight directives
17. Padaprksalana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = washing the
feet of Brats.
18. Kalesankiya ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = worship to
minimize the suspected obstacles
19. Purascarana yana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = The act
of ritual tantric consecration (repeating certain mantras)
20. Ankurarcana ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = Worship of
sprouting plant from oats to purify the sacrificial ground.
21. Punyahavacala ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = Sprinkling
of sacred water after homa (sacrifice)
22. Ritvijavarna ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = Appointment
of the Brahmin who recites the Mantras
23. Rajapuja ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = Commencement of
worship--(start of worship)
24. Deva Sodhalapa ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) =
(purification of the icon)
25. Caurasi duya ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = sacrifice of
a partridge.
26. Kotipola duya ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = Ton million
bundles (of fire wood) offered.
27. Caurasi Pecala duya ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = reed
vessels full of cereal grains put in the fire sacrifice.
28. Thapuja ([TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII.]) = A kind of tantric
worship.
