Magarat is a name for the area settled and inhabited by Magars, one of the oldest and the largest indigenous ethnic groups of Nepal. It is a geographical cluster in Nepal that existed in the modern territory of Nepal before the Unification of Nepal. It extended westward from the Budhi Gandaki River and encompasses mordern-day districts like Palpa, Rukum, Rolpa, Myagdi, and others.
Palpa district, Eastern Rukum and Rolpa district of Nepal (majority of Kham Magars), located in Province 5 of Nepal, are the top three districts of Nepal with the highest indigenous Magar population, with significant population also in Baglung and Myagdi district, both located in Gandaki Province in western Nepal.[1]
Magars
Magars are martial people who first established their kingdom in present-day western Nepal. They were animistic and shamanic in their religious practices. The Kham Magar of the upper Karnali basin and their brethren of the mid-hills of Nepal had a flourishing kingdom. Archaeological proof of their existence can be found in the western mid-hills of Nepal. The Magar have a strong military and warrior tradition. However, their hospitality and concern for their fellow human beings is legendary.
Aramudi
Aramudi is a name of a legend in the 8th century Himalayan history, particularly of Kashmir and Nepal. In a war between King Aramudi and Kashmir (King Jayapida), the Kashmir king was defeated and imprisoned in a fortress built above the bank of Kali Gandaki river is called Kalhana aśma-veśman " (stone house) in present Gulmi district. Aramudi was also called king Baradev of ancient Nepal. Lalitpattan, presently Lalitpur, was his capital.
Etymology
Aramudi sounds like an indigenous Magar name with ‘di’ suggesting – ‘water’ or ‘river’. The four morphemes or segments ‘a’ + ‘ra’ + ‘mu’ + di’ or ‘mo + di’. Conjugating these morphemes produces either “aramu + di” or “ara’ + ‘mudi or modi”. In Magar ‘aramu’ or ‘armu’ means ‘sweet smell’ and ‘di’ means ‘water’ - hence literally “aramu + di” means ‘sweet smelling water’ or ‘sweet tasting spring water', in Nepali ‘jharanako mitho pani’. The ‘di’ in ‘Aramudi’ is suggestive of ‘water’ in Magar. In the Kali Gandaki region and western Nepal, rivers, small streams, towns and villages retain their Magar language names. Examples include Marshyang+di river in Tanahu, ‘Lang+di’, ‘Darang+di’; ’Lun+di’ in Gorkha, ‘Hosrang+di’ village in Parbat, Chhang+di in Tanahu, ‘Argaun+di’ village, ‘Hug+di’ in Plapa district. During the period of Magarat ( Confideration of 12 Magarat & 18 Magarat ) In the kingdom called Palpa the King was ‘ Mukunda Sen Magar” in Naradsmriti Granth. He waged a war against Nepal [KathmanduValley] twice in 1521 Bikram Era and on Chaitra 11,1522 BE.
Dalsur Magar of Liglig (Gorkha)
King Dalsur Ghale Magar[2] 1548-1559, (Ghale a sub-clan of Thapa Magar clan's) was the Magar King of Ligligkot, which was historically a Magar Principality that was later captured by Dravya Shah and became the foundation for the Kingdom of Gorkha.
Gangaram Rana Magar also helped Dravya Shah defeat Magars King Daslur Ghale Magar to seize the throne of Ligligkot and supported Dravya Shah claim to the throne in 1559 CE.
Mansingh Khadka Magar
Mansingh Khadka Magar was a king of Majhakot and Uppalokot in Gorkha until 1559. At an annual running event called Liglig Daud, the winner was chosen King Of Ligligkot Kingdom Dravya Shah (youngest son Of Yashobrahma) was invited to take over the throne by the Brahmins, in particular Bhagirath Panth and Ganesh Pande. On the 8th of Bhadon Badi, Saka 1481 (A.D. 1559) Dravya Shah was aided by Bhagirath Panth, Ganesa Pande, Busal Arjyal, Khanal Bohra, Murli Khawas and Gangaram Rana Magar of Liglig-kot. Ganesa Pande had collected all the people of Gurkha, such as the Thapas, Busals, Ranas and Maski Ranas of the Magar tribe, they went by the Dahya Gauda route and attacked the Durbar and defeated the Khadka Raja (Khadka a sub-clan of Rana Magar clan's). As Dravya Shah took his seat on the gaddi (throne) and named the new Gorkha Kingdom, Dravya Shah used the army of the Khas, Thakuri and Magars to invade neighboring states. His successors continued this aggression to increase the territory belonging to Gorkha.
Gorkha Kingdom
After the Magar rulers of Ligligkot and Gorkha principalities were defeated, which were part of the Magarat confederation, Magar military figures became key allies and generals in the Gorkha kingdom that eventually united Nepal. The founder of modern Nepal, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, considered himself "the King of Magarat" and had strong ties to the Magar community.
Kingdoms such as Rishing, Ghiring, Argha, Khachhi, Gulmi, Dhor, Satung, Paiung, Bhirkot, Gharung Mishikot, Isma were collectively known as Barha Magarat (12 Magarat) or Confederation of Twelve Magar Kingdoms and were ruled by Magar Kings.[3]
The annual festival of Barhakune Tal in Ghorahi of Dang district commemorates the founding of Twelve Magarats Confederation of Twelve Magar Kingdoms.[3] Similarly Athara Magarat (18 Magarat) or Confederation of Eighteen Magar Kingdoms was located west of Kali Gandaki, primarily inhabited by Kham Magars.
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