इतिहासको अर्थ र यसका स्रोतहरू

Sources of history of Nepal

The sources of the history of Nepal are broadly divided into two types:

1. Primary sources – original, first-hand materials produced during the period itself. These include:

   • Inscriptions (Abhilekh): e.g. the Ashokan pillars at Lumbini, the Changu Narayan inscription of Manadeva, the stone inscriptions of the Malla kings.
   • Coins (Mudra): e.g. coins of the Licchavi, Malla and Shah rulers.
   • Vamsavalis (genealogies/chronicles): e.g. the Gopala Vamsavali, Bhasha Vamsavali.
   • Documents and records: land grants (lal mohar), sanads, treaties (e.g. the Treaty of Sugauli, 1816).
   • Monuments and archaeological remains: temples, palaces, stupas, sculptures.
   • Foreign accounts: writings of travellers and envoys such as Fa-Hsien, Hiuen Tsang, and later British officials like Kirkpatrick and Hodgson.

2. Secondary sources – works written later on the basis of primary materials. These include history books, research articles, journals, encyclopaedias, and modern scholarly writings on Nepal.

Explanation of any two sources:

(a) Inscriptions (Abhilekh): Inscriptions are writings engraved on stone, metal, wood or rock. They are the most reliable primary source because they are contemporary to the events they record and are difficult to tamper with. The Ashokan pillar inscription at Lumbini (c. 249 BCE) proves that Lumbini is the birthplace of the Buddha. The Changu Narayan inscription of King Manadeva (5th century CE) gives valuable information about the Licchavi dynasty, its kings, administration and religious policy. From inscriptions we learn about rulers, dates, land grants, taxation, social and religious conditions of the time.

(b) Vamsavalis (Chronicles/Genealogies): Vamsavalis are traditional accounts that trace the lineage of rulers and record important events of their reigns. Examples are the Gopala Vamsavali and the Bhasha Vamsavali. They provide continuous information about the succession of kings from the Gopalas and Mahispalas to the Mallas and Shahs. However, they must be used with caution, as they were often written long after the events and contain exaggerations and mythological elements. When checked against inscriptions and other evidence, they become a useful source for reconstructing Nepal's political history.