Drawing of a Typical Nepali House - Hills

Drawing of a typical Nepali House in the Hills

Front Elevation

Side Elevation

Retrieved from facebook page of Mr. Rabindra Puri

Narasiṃha Dance at Kārtik Ḍabalī - 1965 AD

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Narasiṃha Dance being performed at
Kārtik Ḍabalī at Maṅgalbazār, Lalitpur in 1965 AD.

ललितपुरको मङ्गलबजारस्थित कार्तिक डबलीमा  नरसिंह नाच (वि.सं. २०२२)

Photo Courtesy: Kartik Nach Promotion Committee / Memory Zone

Kārtik Dance, called Kati Pyākha(n) (कति प्याखँ) in Newārī language, is one of the most popular masked dance since the late Middle Ages. Its history dates back to King Siddhi Narsiṁha Malla of Lalitpur.

Over a period of over 350 years, Kārtik Dance has seen a lot of changes. Now, Kārtik Dance is a 7-day long theatrical performance, and has recently been extended to 10-days. 

In the above photograph, Lord Narasiṁha is seen .

The performers in the above photograph are:

Narasiṁha = Pundit Chakradhar Sharma of Mahadyanani, Lalitpur
Hiraṇyakaśyapu = Maniklal Chitrakar

This photograph dates back to 1965 AD.

Lumbinī Inscription of Emperor Aśoka: Evidence that Buddha's birthplace is now in Nepāl

The Asokan Pillar at Lumbini

Photo: Abhas D Rajopadhyaya / Amalekh Weekly 2013

देवनागरी लिपिमा मूलपाठ

1. देवान पियेन पियदसिन लाजान वीसगिवसाभिसितेन
2. अतन आगाच महीयिते हिदबुधे जाते सक्यमुनीति
3. सिलाविगडभीचा कालापति सिलाथभेच उसंपापिते
4. हिदभगवम् जायेति लुम्मिनिगामे उबलिकेकटे
5. अठभागियेच ।

Transliteration:

(From impression taken by Dr. Führer)
1. Devānapiyena piyadasina lājina vīsativasābhitsitena
2. atan āgācha mahiyite hida budhe jāte sakyamunīti
3. sillā vigaḍabhichā kālāpita silāthabhecha usapāpite
4. hida bhagavaṁ jāteti luṁminigāme ubalikekaṭe
5. athabhagiyecha

A plate (erroneously?) providing transliteration and
translation of the inscription.

Photo: Abhas D Rajopadhyaya / Amalekh Weekly 2013

Transliteration in an information plate
at the pillar, Lumbini 

(Perhaps with errors(?))

1. Devāna piyena piyadasina lājina visativasābhitsitena
2. atana agācha mahīyite hidabhdhe jāte sakyamuniti
3. silāvigadabhīchā kālāpite silāthabhecha usapāpite
4. hide Bhagavam jāteti lumminigāme ubalike kate
5. athabhagiye cha 

Perhaps, the differences would be easier to locate in the following Devanāgarī transliteration of the above erroneous reading:

1. देवान पियेन पियदसिन लाजिन विसतिवसाभिसितेन
2. अतन अगाच महीयिते हिदब्धे जाते सक्यमुनिति
3. सिलाविगदभीछा कालापिते सिलाथभेछ उसपापिते
4. हिदे भगवम् जातेति लुम्मिनिगामे उबलिके कटे
5. अठभागिये छ ।

Translation in Nepālī:

(Derived from the same plate)

देवताहरूका प्रिय प्रियदर्शी (अशोक) राजा राज्यकालको बीसाैँ वर्षमा अाफैँ अाउनुभयो । यहाँ शाक्यमुनि बुद्धको जन्म भएकोले (बुद्ध जन्म) सङ्केतक शिलामा पूजा गरी यो शिलास्तम्भ स्थापना गर्नुभयो । यहाँ भगवान्को जन्म भएकोले लुम्बिनी गाउँको बलि (कर) घटार्इ अाठाैँ भाग मात्र कायम गर्नुभयो ।

Translation in English:

(Derived from the same plate)

King Piyadasi (Asoka), the beloved of the Gods, in the twentieth year of his reign, himself made a royal visit. Sakyamuni Buddha was born here, therefore the (birth spot) marker was worshipped and a stone pillar was erected. The Lord having born here, the tax of the Lumbini village was reduced to the eight part (only). 

This article is also available at: http://inscriptionsofnepal.blogspot.com/2014/11/lumbini-inscription.html.

नीतिशतक

'नीतिशतक'बाट

- चक्रपाणि चालिसे

विद्वानमा गुण नै हुन्छ, मूर्खमा दोष नै सब ।
तस्मात् मूर्ख हजारैाँमा विद्वान यैाटै विशेष छ ।। १ ।।

विद्वान हुनु नृप हुनु कसै हुन्न बराबर ।
राजा स्वदेशमा पूज्य हुन्छ, विद्वान सबैतिर ।। २ ।।

गुण छैन भने ठूला कुलमा जन्मि हुन्छ के ?
अकुलीन पनि विद्वान भए पुजिन्छ लोकले ।।  ३ ।।

विद्यामा नलगाएर छोरा स्वाँठ बनाउने ।
आमा बाबु दुबै शत्रु हुन् ती धोखा दिलाउने ।। ४ ।।

हाँसको फैाजमा जस्तो बकुल्लो हुन्न शोभित ।
त्यस स्वाँठ पनि विद्वत्सभामा हुन्न शोभित ।। ५ ।।

मूर्ख पुत्र हजारैाँमा बेश यैाटै गुणी सुत ।
जस्तो ताराविशे अन्धनाशक सूर्य झैँ ।। ६ ।।

जलेको वृक्ष यैाटैले वनै सारा जलाउँछ ।
त्यस्तै कुपुत्र यैाटैले कुलै सारा बहाउँछ ।। ७ ।।

सुन्दैन यदि सुन्नेले बोल्नेले मात्र गर्नु के ?
नङ्गाको देशमा धोबी गर्इ पाउँछ काम के ? ।। ८ ।।

Katuwal Karaune

A traditional Katuwāl from Myāgdī district, Nepal. 

Photo Courtesy: Annapurna Post

Katuwāl Karāune (shouters of Katuwāl caste) is one traditional means of communication in Nepāl.

Katuwāls would often go to hilltop or large open grounds and shout the messages of public importance.