DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0325
Chap. II.
NEPAL.
301
There are two accounts of the mode in which the Hindu or Rajput
element was introduced into the valley. The favourite one is, that
after the sack of Chittore by Ala'-u-din, in 1306, the conqueror sought
the hand of the proud Rajput's daughter, and to avoid the con-
tamination he and his followers fled and sought refuge in Nepal.1
Another account represents the Rajas of Mithila and Semrun — de-
scendants of the Surya Vansa kings of Ayodhya —and the Rajputs of
Canouge flying in like manner, in 1326, to avoid the tyranny of the
Delhi emperors; and that it was these tribes, and not the fugitives
from Chittore, who conquered and colonised a part of the valley.-
Both accounts are probably to some extent true, and they and their
followers form the Parbuttya or Hindu element in the population
at the present day, and make up the bulk of those who profess the
Hindu religion and worship Siva and Vishnu and the other gods of
the Hindu Pantheon.
Before they entered the valley, however, it seems to have been
occupied by Kiratas, Bhot}Tas, Newars, and other tribes of impure
origin,3 according to the Hindu idea of purity — in other words,
Tartars or Thibetans—and they are those who had early adopted
the doctrines of Buddha and still adhere to them. The Newars seem
to have been the governing caste till the year 1768, when a weak
sovereign having called in the assistance of a neigbouring Gorkha
Raja, he seized the kingdom, and his successors still rule in Nepal.
They apparently were originally of the Magar tribe,4 but having mixed
with the immigrant Hindus call themselves Rajputs, and have adopted
the Hindu religion, though in a form very different from that known
in the plains, and differing in a manner we would scarcely be inclined
to expect. When the religion of the destroyer was introduced into
a country that professed the mild religion of Buddha, it might
naturally be supposed that its most savage features would be toned
down, so as to meet, to some extent at least, the prejudices of the
followers of the religion it was superseding. So far from this being
the case in this instance, it is said that when first introducing the
religion the Gorkhas propitiated the deity with human sacrifices, till
warned in a dream to desist and substitute animals.5 Besides this,
the images of Durga or Kali, though hideous and repulsive enough in
the plains, are ten times more so in Nepal; and, in fact, throughout
there is an exaggeration of all the most prominent features of the
religion, that would lead to the belief that it found a singularly
congenial soil in the valley and blossomed with unusual exuberance
there. This, in fact, is one of the reasons that lead to the belief that
'Buchanan Hamilton, 'Account of 1 3 Buchanan Hamilton, 'Account of the
the Kingdom of Nepal,' p. 12. Kingdom of Nepal,' p. 190.
a Ibid., p. 49. I * Ibid., p. 22. 5 Ibid., pp. 35 and 211.
NEPAL.
301
There are two accounts of the mode in which the Hindu or Rajput
element was introduced into the valley. The favourite one is, that
after the sack of Chittore by Ala'-u-din, in 1306, the conqueror sought
the hand of the proud Rajput's daughter, and to avoid the con-
tamination he and his followers fled and sought refuge in Nepal.1
Another account represents the Rajas of Mithila and Semrun — de-
scendants of the Surya Vansa kings of Ayodhya —and the Rajputs of
Canouge flying in like manner, in 1326, to avoid the tyranny of the
Delhi emperors; and that it was these tribes, and not the fugitives
from Chittore, who conquered and colonised a part of the valley.-
Both accounts are probably to some extent true, and they and their
followers form the Parbuttya or Hindu element in the population
at the present day, and make up the bulk of those who profess the
Hindu religion and worship Siva and Vishnu and the other gods of
the Hindu Pantheon.
Before they entered the valley, however, it seems to have been
occupied by Kiratas, Bhot}Tas, Newars, and other tribes of impure
origin,3 according to the Hindu idea of purity — in other words,
Tartars or Thibetans—and they are those who had early adopted
the doctrines of Buddha and still adhere to them. The Newars seem
to have been the governing caste till the year 1768, when a weak
sovereign having called in the assistance of a neigbouring Gorkha
Raja, he seized the kingdom, and his successors still rule in Nepal.
They apparently were originally of the Magar tribe,4 but having mixed
with the immigrant Hindus call themselves Rajputs, and have adopted
the Hindu religion, though in a form very different from that known
in the plains, and differing in a manner we would scarcely be inclined
to expect. When the religion of the destroyer was introduced into
a country that professed the mild religion of Buddha, it might
naturally be supposed that its most savage features would be toned
down, so as to meet, to some extent at least, the prejudices of the
followers of the religion it was superseding. So far from this being
the case in this instance, it is said that when first introducing the
religion the Gorkhas propitiated the deity with human sacrifices, till
warned in a dream to desist and substitute animals.5 Besides this,
the images of Durga or Kali, though hideous and repulsive enough in
the plains, are ten times more so in Nepal; and, in fact, throughout
there is an exaggeration of all the most prominent features of the
religion, that would lead to the belief that it found a singularly
congenial soil in the valley and blossomed with unusual exuberance
there. This, in fact, is one of the reasons that lead to the belief that
'Buchanan Hamilton, 'Account of 1 3 Buchanan Hamilton, 'Account of the
the Kingdom of Nepal,' p. 12. Kingdom of Nepal,' p. 190.
a Ibid., p. 49. I * Ibid., p. 22. 5 Ibid., pp. 35 and 211.