MANJUBAJRA

 Manjuvajra is a form of Manjusri represented with his sakti. He has three heads. The center face is red, the right face is blue and the left white. He has six arms which the principal pair is engaged in embracing his female counterpart. The remaining four hands carry the sword, the arrow, the bow and the night lotus. He sits in Vajrasana or in the Bajra-Paryanka attitude in the orb of the moon supported by a lotus. 

MANI RIMDU

 This joyous festival of Sherpas is held annually at Thyangboche, Chewang Gompa and other monasteries in northern Nepal on he full moon day of Mangsir (November) continues for four consecutive days. They have masked dances and their traditional practices and rituals, mainly in the courtyards of the monasteries as the chief and other Lamas look on. 

MANGSIR

 Mangsir is the eighth month in Nepalese calendar. It begins by the middle of November. See Months in Nepal. 

MANDALA

 Mandala, literally meaning a circle, is a Tantric meditation device. It is a pictorial chart of Mahayana Buddhism with its own special entity and significance. It is considered as a visual aid for concentration or meditation leading to the attainment of insights and supernatural power known as Siddhi. The Mandala is the practical as well as graphic representation of the operational scheme of the thought processes. It involves a clear plan for practical realization of the thought process within oneself. It, thus, becomes a Yantra or an instrument. 

There are many types and varieties of mandala’s depending on the nature of the central deity. The most classic pattern of mandalas are of the Dhyani Buddha’s. A circular design in which Pancha Buddha’s, Bodhisatwa’s, demons and sinners along with protectors are arranged formally showing them all in their proper places is believed to be a powerful instrument for producing desired results.  Mandala as a whole is protected by Mahankala. Philosophically, the mandala represents personified sphere of Purity free from all obstacles and impurities. The square of the sacred sphere is enclosed inside multiple circles of flame, Bajra and protective deities.

MALLA, SIDDHI NARSHIGH

 He sat at the throne of Lalitpur city State in 1622 A.D. and ruled over it as the foremost ruler of that state. Kind, learned and religious minded, he was the builder of manu religious shrines and temples of Hinduism and Buddhism, Krishna Mandir (Temple) of Durbar square being the best of them. As a religious minded statesman, he established friendship with neighbouring states and did various other construction works for the benefit of the people. In the end, he abandoned worldly affairs and led the life of an ascetic. Later he went on a pilgrimage from which he never reported back. 

MALLA RANJIT

 Ranjit Malla was the last King of Bhaktapur. As a lover of rare and precious things, he added many courtyards to his palace. And to improve economic conditions in his Kingdom, he imported silver exporting it as coins. 

MALLA PRATAP

 Pratap Malla was the King of Kantipur, today’s Kathmandu. He was an authority in religion, music, and the art of warfare. And though he was a Hindu, he tolerated other religions. He even reconstructed the Buddhist shrine of Swayambunath. He constructed Krishna Mandir, the Shrine of Taleju, Rani Pokhari, and Guheswari temple.

MALLA, JAYASTHITI

 Jayassthiti Malla ruled the then Nepal from 1350 A.D. to 1395 A.D. as saviour, when the country was much weakened and was being threatened at its borders by neighbouring rulers. He was also a great reformer in social, religious and literary fields. As a staunch supporter of Bramhinism, he organised and reorganised society on the basis of ancient Hindu code according to which he classified people into different castes and professional groups. Jayasthiti was a builder of temples and a patron of art and literature. He was also an economic reformer and introduced a system of measuring land and houses.

MALLA, JAYA PRAKASH

 Jaya Prakash Malla was the last but a brave king of Kathmandu city state. He ruled Katmandu from 1736 A.D. to 1767 when he was defeated by the king of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayana Shah, the founder of united Nepal, though patriotic, strict, bold and intriguing in nature, he was also a victim of his own suspicious character. He intrigued against his own brother and killed his own commander Kashi Ram Thapa who was deputed at Nuwakot for suspicion of treachery and naturally that weakened his having to fight with many self made enemies who helped Prithivi Narayan Shah of Gorkha. However, inspite of all adversaries during his reign he fought bravely till the end of his life. His bravery was open heartedly appreciated by Prithivi Narayan Shah himself. 

MALLA PERIOD (1200 - 1769 AD)

 Though the people from the Malla dynasty were active in power also in some other areas, they didn’t come to Kathmandu valley until 1200 AD when King Ari Deva assumed the title and founded a new, highly accomplished dynasty. The Malla Period is a glorious era in the history of Nepal. Mallas developed trade and commerce, industry, religion and culture. They reached a high level of perfection in the fields of art and architecture.

The early Malla monarchs held absolute power by divine right: they were considered to be incarnations of Vishnu, as are the present Shah rulers. Although the Mallas were Hindu Shaivites following strict Brahmin rituals, they were tolerant of Buddhism, which was widespread at the court and among the people - especially in its Tantric form, the cult of Vajrayana.

A feudal administrative structure was imposed, dominated by an aristocratic elite whose powers at times overshadowed those of the sovereign. Below them, Brahmins and Chhetris monopolized all offices of profit around the palace. Next on the social ladder were the traders and farmers, divided into 64 strictly enforced occupational castes.

Some of the most popular kings of this period and their accomplishments are briefly described elsewhere. See Malla Jayasthiti, Malla Pratap, Malla Jaya Prakash, Malla Ranjit and Malla Siddhi Narsingh.