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Magarat is a name for the area settled and inhabited by Magars , one of 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.
Palpa district and Rolpa district of Nepal (majority of Kham Magars ), both located in Province 5 of Nepal, are the top two districts of Nepal with the highest indigenous Magar population. [1]
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 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.
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 Twelve Magarat & Eighteen 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.
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 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.
Kingdoms such as Rishing, Ghiring, Argha, Khachhi, Gulmi, Dhor, Satung, Paiung, Bhirkot, Gharung Mishikot, Isma were collectively known as Barha Magarat or Confederation of Twelve Magar Kingdoms and were ruled by Magar Kings. [2]
The annual festival of Barhakune Tal in Ghorahi of Dang district commemorates the founding of Twelve Magarats Confederation of Twelve Magar Kingdoms. [2] Similarly Athara Magarat or Confederation of Eighteen Magar Kingdoms was located west of Kali Gandaki, primarily inhabited by Kham Magars .
The Kingdom of Nepal was a Hindu kingdom in South Asia, formed in 1768 by the expansion of the Gorkha Kingdom, which lasted until 2008 when the kingdom became the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. It was also known as the Gorkha Empire, or sometimes Asal Hindustan. Founded by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Gorkha monarch who claimed to be of Thakuri origin from chaubisi, it existed for 240 years until the abolition of the Nepalese monarchy in 2008. During this period, Nepal was formally under the rule of the Shah dynasty, which exercised varying degrees of power during the kingdom's existence.
Prithvi Narayan Shah, was the last king of the Gorkha Kingdom and first king of the Kingdom of Nepal. Prithvi Narayan Shah started the unification of Nepal. He is also credited for moving the royal seat of power to Kathmandu.
The Magars, also spelled Mangar and Mongar, are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group native to Nepal and Northeast India, representing 6.9% of Nepal's total population according to the 2021 Nepal census. They are one of the main Gurkha tribes.
The Gorkha Kingdom, also known as the Gorkha Confederation or the Gorkha Empire, was a member of the Chaubisi rajya, a confederation of 24 states, located at the intersection of Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent. In 1743, the kingdom began a campaign of military expansion, annexing several neighbors and becoming present-day Nepal.
The Shah dynasty, also known as the Shahs of Gorkha or the Royal House of Gorkha, was the ruling Chaubise Thakuri dynasty and the founder of the Gorkha Kingdom from 1559 to 1768 and later the unified Kingdom of Nepal from 1768 to 28 May 2008.
The unification of Nepal was the process of building the modern Nepalese state, from fractured petty kingdoms including the Baise Rajya and the Chaubisi Rajya, which began in 1743 AD. The prominent figure in the unification campaign was Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Gorkha. On 25 September 1768, he officially announced the creation of the Kingdom of Nepal and moved his capital from Gorkha to the city of Kathmandu.
Palpa District (Nepali: पाल्पा जिल्ला, a part of Lumbini Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district, with Tansen as its headquarters, covers an area of 1,373 km2 and has a population of 245,027.
Baglung is a municipality in Gandaki Province, in western Nepal, 275 km (171 mi) west of Kathmandu. It is the administrative headquarters of Baglung District. Baglung serves as the major center for business, finance, education, service and healthcare for the people of mid-Kali Gandaki valley that encompass Beni, Jaljala, Baglung, Kushma, Kathekhola, Galkot, Phalewas and Jaimuni local bodies. The city is located at the cross-section of Kaligandaki corridor highway and midhill highway that transverse Nepal in north–south and east–west directions respectively.
Magar Dhut is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken mainly in Nepal, southern Bhutan, and in Darjeeling, Assam and Sikkim, India, by the Magar people. It is divided into two groups and further dialect divisions give distinct tribal identity. In Nepal 810,000 people speak the language.
Thapa (pronunciation:[t̪ʰapa]) is an Indo-Aryan surname belonging to the Chhetri/Rajput caste (Kshatriya) in Nepal and parts of Northern India.[2][3] It is also used by the Magar tribes, a Sino-Tibetan speaking ethnicity.
Chaubisi Rajya, Chaubise Rajya or Chaubisye Rajya, were sovereign and intermittently allied petty kingdoms ruled by theThakuri kings located at the intersection of Himalayas and the Indian subcontinent. One of these kingdoms, Gorkha, annexed the others, becoming the present-day country of Nepal. This conquest began soon after Prithvi Narayan Shah ascended to the Gorkha throne in 1743 AD. The Chaubisi Rajya were annexed during the unification of Nepal from 1744 to 1816 AD. A parallel group of 22 small kingdoms, Baisse Rajya, existed to the west of the Gandaki Basin.
Khadka, anciently called as Khaḍka, is a surname of Khas/Chhetri caste. Khadga was an ancient Paikelā (warrior) rank along with Thāpā, Rānā and Buḍhā chhetri. Khadka is also a surname of Magar caste which is sub-clan of Rana Magar clan “i.e.” the last magar King Mansingh Khadka Magar of Majhakot (Gorkha), before Drabya Bikram Shah became King of Gorkha
Kaji was a title and position used by nobility of Gorkha Kingdom (1559–1768) and Kingdom of Nepal between 1768 and 1846. Many other contemporary kingdoms used the same title for their ministers.
Liglig, better known as "ligligkot" is a hill top located in Palungtar Municipality of Gorkha, Nepal. It is located at the height of 1437 meters (4790 feet) mean sea level. Gorkha District has a long and intriguing history. It’s where a Royal Shah Dynasty got its start and the famous Gurkha soldiers got their name. Located 80 kilometers (50 mi) due west of Kathmandu. It is the place where the former monarchy of Nepal was established.
Kaji Biraj Thapa Magar played an important role in the Gorkha Kingdom. His leadership, prudence and courage all exhibit that he was one of the important Gorkha Bhardars that helped Narbaupal Shah become King of Gorkha. He may also be seen as a King Maker in the modern day term. According to different genealogies, he had taken Narabhupal Shah and his mother Malikavati in custody for three months. The Queen Mother and her son were secretly protected at his residence. After the death of his grandfather, Narabhupal Shah became the King of Gorkha in 1716 and died in 1743. His son, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, succeeding him began unification of small principalities to found modern Nepal.
Mansingh Khadka was the king of Majhakot and Uppalokot in Gorkha until 1559. An annual running event called Liglig Daud whose winner was chosen as King Of Liglig-Kot Kingdom. Dravya Narayan Shah was invited by the Brahmins in particular Bhagirath Panth and Ganesh Pande.
Vamshidhar Pande known by Alias Kalu Pande was a Nepalese politician and general who was appointed as Kaji of The Gorkha Kingdom. He was born in 1713 A.D. in a Gorkha family. He was the commander of the Gorkhali forces during the Unification Campaign of Nepal who died in the first Battle of Kirtipur in 1757 A.D. Pande's real name was Banshidhar Pande. He was a son of Kaji Bhimraj Pande who was minister during reign of King Prithivipati Shah of Gorkha. He was descendant of Minister of Gorkha and Dravya Shah's accomplice Ganesh Pande. He had three sons: Dewan Kajisaheb Vamsharaj Pande, Sardar Ranasur Pande and Mulkaji Sahib Damodar Pande.
Dravya Shah was the first King of the Gorkha Kingdom in Nepal. He was the father of Purna Shah, king of Gorkha. Dravya Shah's accomplices were Bhagirath Panta, Ganesh Pandey, Narayan Arjyal, Sarveshwar Khanal, Keshav Bohora and Gangaram Rana Magar all of whom belonged to Gorkha and knew all areas, ins and outs of the region. Narayan Arjyal was Drabya's Guru spiritual tutor. Ganesh Pandey and Bhagirath Panta were minister and commander-in-chief, respectively. Sarveshwar Khanal was the royal pandit.
Ganesh Pandey or Ganesa Pande
The Battle of Nuwakot also called Siege of Nuwakot or Invasion of Nuwakot was fought in Nuwakot in 1744. Nuwakot was controlled by the Kingdom of Kantipur and it was an important location as it had a trade route to Tibet. The Gorkha Kingdom previously attacked twice by Nara Bhupal Shah and his son Prithvi Narayan Shah respectively. To prepare for the war Prithvi Narayan Shah visited Varanasi to get war materials, ammunition, acquire weapons, train the soldiers, and Pilgrims. He improved his army personnel and included people from any caste including the blacksmiths, cobblers, sweepers, Damai, and anyone who was bodied and physically fit was able to join the crew.