Soma Dynasty

The Rajputs belonging to the Soma dynasty in order to shelter themselves from the invasions and the growing influence of the Mughal Empire came to the western part of Nepal and established their own principality there. Kiranti kings were rul ing over the Valley, but Gasti, the last Kiranti king, being very weak, had to suffer defeat at the hands of Nimistakar Barma (Nimish I) who came from Soma dynasty. He got a palatial building built in the forest of Gokarna, now a picnic spot about five miles north-east of Kathmandu. He got a four-faced Linga of Pashupati Nath erected and established. He got a new town built in place of the old town of Bishal Nagar. Nimisha got a palace built at Godawari, too. Bhaskar Varma was the last ruler of the Soma dynasty. He came out to be a great conqueror. He conquered modern Orissa and many other territories. He donated a lot of money and jewels to Pashupati Nath. As he had no sons and daughters to succeed him, he adopted Bhoomi Varma, . a Lichchhavi Kshetri, of the Solar Dynasty. So after Bhakar Varma began the reign of the Lichchhavi Dynasty. When Soma Bamshi rulers were ruling over Nepal, Gupta rulers seem to have been ruling over India. It was the time of Constantine in Rome, It was the time when Christianity was 9 triumphantly spreading over Europe. About this time there was unrest in China owing to the scramble among political leaders for power. Lichchhavi Dynasty The Lichchhavis who were ruling over Baisali (modern Muzaffarpur) after having suffered defeat at the hands of Lich chhavis who ruled over Raj Griha seemed to have -migrated to Nepal. Bhoomi Barma the adopted son and successor of Bhaskar Varma got a palace built at Baneswar and ruled over Nepal. King Chandra, Jaya, Barsa, Sarva, Prithvi, Jestha, Hari Siddhi and Hari Dutta ruled oyer Nepal successively. During the reign of Hari Dutta the practice of worshipping four Narayans and of taking, a bath at Shankhamool on a particular day was obser ved. Brisha Barma, another king in the Lichchhavi dynasty, espoused and spread Buddhism. He established a Manju Bahal (a monastery known as Manju Vihar) and Bande Gaon at Chabahil. It was in his regin that a man Prachanda Deva by name came from Gaud and built a Swayambu Chaitya. After him Shankar Deva became king. It is written in family chronicle that he was named Shankar Deva in memory of the visit of Sankaracharya in Nepal. After Shankar Deva, Dharma Deva became king. His son Mana Deva is the most famous Lichchhavi king