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Home , Bhutan, Dharmaraja (Buddhism), Kaji (Nepal), Nepal

- Relations (A Study Of Its Past)

- Dr. Suman Dhaka1

The two SAARC membercountries, Nepal and the Dukpa ,arenownedscholarly monk belonging Bhutan, are well known to all as the most beautiful to Ralung in the Kham province of . He Himalayan kingdoms situated between and the left Ralung Gompa and came to then Lho-Mon Tibet with very potential geopolitical province of modern Bhutan where he is known as importance. Although from the earliest times, Nepal Syawadung Rimpoche Nawang Namgyal. and Bhutan have extremely good relations between Nawang Namgyal, by conquering some them in political, religious and cultural fields, at influential feudals and , completed the present there seems a kind of uneasy diplomatic work of unifying Bhutan and established a new type relations between them due to the problem of the of rule based on religion. In this system two types of Nepali origin Bhutanese citizensexiled from Bhutan rulers were appointed to administer the kingdom: and taking in Jhapa and Morang of Dharmaraja, the spiritual ruler, and Devraja, the Nepal. Therefore, the study of the changes that have temporal ruler. It is since this time that Bhutan had occurred in these two countries becomes quite political, religious as well as cultural relations with significant to anyone interested in the study of the the Malla of Valley and the relations between these two almost neighboring Gorkhas. Religion, especially , also played countries. a significant role in bringing Nepal and Bhutan Nepal has a long history extending more than closer. The religious activities of the then popular 2000 years, though modem Nepal was found just a tantrik of Bhutan, and the existence of little more than 250 years ago. On the other hand, in Kathmandu as the Buddhist Bhutan, also primarily divided among small states, educational and cultural center were the two major was unified more than 450 years ago. Nepal was sources of the close friendly ties between these two unified by Prithivi Narayan , similarly, countries. Soon afterthecompletion of the unification Bhutan was unified by a Lama Nawang Namgyal of of Bhutan by the first Bhutanese King, Bhutan 2 \ Ancient Nepal established close relationship with Gorkha and According to the Bhutanese history, Bhutan had of Nepal in 1624125AD. relations with Gorkha even in the reign of the earlier After Nepal-Tibet war in 1855 AD (VS 19 12), Shah Kings- DrabyaShah and PurnaShah. Bhutanese an officer of Bhutanese Dharmaraja, namely Da-Pon sources mention this, but the Nepalese history doesn't. wrote a petition to Prime Jung Bahadur of Bhutan's foreign relations began only after its Nepal. This petition mentions the relations between unification, by Lama Nawang Namgyal in 1616 AD Bhutan and Gorkha since the regime of Ram Shah. even though Gorkha might have relations with the After the Tibet-Nepal war a Bhutanese Lama wrote northern part of it (viIlagesofTibetan origin) through a letter to of Nepal. In this he mentioned that six and religious sects. Gompas()oftheEast, which are presented In 1640AD theBhutaneseDharmaraja,Nawang to him as gift at the time of Ram Shah, were being Namgyal, visited Gorkha when Dambar Shah was in ruined due to confiscation and improper care from power. On his visit, he took some Gorkhali the Nepalese side. So, he requested the Kaji to help to Bhutan and let them settle among the western hills preserve the religious property set by the ancestors. It and . Since then, courtesy visits by every new can be surmised that the Gompas were given to Dharmarajaand Devrajaof Bhutan to Gorkha became Bhutanese by the Gorkhas on variousdates, i.e., since a regular feature. Ram Shah to Krishna Shah and later by Prithivi Again during the reign of Narabhupal Shah (c. Narayan Shah. In total, it isexpected thattheNepalese 1716-1743 AD), some of the gompas and land kings provided the Bhutanese Lamas authority over belonging to the gompas were bestowed upon 12 Ghyangs or Gompas. Dharmaraja. During his reign, beside the cultural and According to the Bhutanese source, the first religious relations, both the countries had political Dharmaraja Syawadung Nawang Namgyal himself ties as well. The Tamrapatra of 174 1 AD, issued to a visited the Kathmandu valley and took with him 401 popular Lama (known as Lhopa Lama) providing 50 Gorkha families to Bhutan. Among them were Nagathali Gompa and a vast tract of land around it, Brahmins, Chhetriyas, Vaishya and Sudras. Bisan supports the Nepal-Bhutan relations.The inscriptions Magarwas the leaderofthe migrated Gorkhalis mention that prior to this much land and property to Bhutan. Being influenced by the political system were provided to Lama (Tsyong Lama) as of Gorkha constituted by King Ram Shah, the kusa birta by issuing Tamrapatra. Dharmaraja Nawang Namgyal introduced the same According to the Bhasa Vamsavali, Narabhupal in Bhutan with some necessary changes. The system Shah, being childless, invited Dharmaraja to Nepal of "Mana-panthi" of Gorkha known as "Gorge and with the blessings and ritual and Tantrik Jhappa" among the Dukpa and Pyapsa people of commencement performed by him, he became the Bhutan has been popularized in Bhutan. A system as father of a child, Prithivi Narayan Shah-the founder such is still in existence in Arunanchal. of modern Nepal. This time also Narabhupal Shah As Ram Shah's Political administration issued a Lalmohar in the name of Bhutanese influenced the Bhutanese; the Gorkhalis were also Dharmaraja. This event is popular as a legend among greatly influenced by the Tantrik knowledge of the the Nepalese residents of Bhutan. Lamas of Bhutan. Thus these tworegimes came into Since the reign of Drabya Shah, the Gorkha close contact and established a good relationship. rulers had to face frequent wars with the Barpaki Nepal ...... 3 rulers at the boundary between these two the visit of Dugpa Lamas to Kathmandu and the states. Bhasa Vamsavali narrates that Ram Shah and renovation of Swayambhu . Moreover, the Narabhupal Shah fought battles with Tibet and the silver coins-tankas-of the Mallas were also in large Gorkha army being victorious over Kyi-Ron went up circulation in Bhutan. From what is mentioned above, to Kukuraghata and thus because of the enmity with we can surmise that during the Malla period, the Tibet, Bhutan might have good relationships with economic ties between the valley of Kathmandu and Gorkha. Bhutan were at their peak. Thus the existence of Bouddha Gompas in the The famous Gopal Vamsavali mentions northern belt of Gorkha, the settlement of Buddhists that Bhutan's relations with Nepal were established of the Tibetan origin, the schooling of Nawang in the beginning of the sixth century AD. However it Namgyal at Swayambhu and the Tibet-Bhutan and is not yet proved. Tibet-Gorkhaenmity brought both Nepal and Bhutan Since the 17th century, the Nepalese artisans into close contact with one another. Besides, the began toenterThimpu and valley of Bhutan Gorkha rulers were also deeply influenced by the and have worked there since then. During the reign of Tantrik knowledge and commencement of the Devraja Tan-Jin-Kh-Gye (1638-1696 AD) some of Bhutanese Lamas. theGompas in Bhutan were renovated by theNepalese Very similar to Gorkha, Bhutan also had close artisans and decorated them with pieces of art based relationship with the Malla Kings of the valley of on Buddhism. The bronze icons in connection with Kathmandu. Her cultural and religious relationship the ntnhaynna, sculptured by the Nepalese artisans with the valley lasted for a long time. The existence can still be found there in thesegompas. Many artists of Buddhism and the Buddhist culture were the main from the Valley of Kathmandu went to Bhutan and factors for such relationship. Ram Shah, who had resided in the northern part of Thimpu at Bebuna, good relations with Bhutan, was also friendly with near De-Chen. Some of them also settled in Pachu the Malla Kings of the valley, especially that of and Bel-Nang of Thimpu Valley recently known as Patan. As a result of the friendship with Gorkha, the Bal-Po, the name for Nepal in the Tibetan language. Bhutanese got the opportunity of making close From this fact, we can estimate that the places contacts with the artisans of Patan. Moreover, the inhabited by theNepalese in Bhutan might have been first Dharmaraja of Bhutan, Syawadung Rimpoche called 'Bal-Po'. The Bhutanese artisans, who had Nawang Namgyal, had been a at Swayambhu, close links with the Nepalese artists who received the center for Buddhist Teachings, and as such was their services, were also influenced by the Nepalese well acquainted with the art, artists and culture ofthe style of art and . The two of valley. While visiting gorkha in 1614 AD, he also Bhutan - the oneconstructed at Sgo-mang-Kho'-ra of visited the valley of Kathmandu and offered one Bkra-'sis-Yang-tse province and the other in hundred thousand votive lamps to the deity at the Chendebji ofTon-Sara-are itsexamples. These stupas temple of Swayambhu. He also befriended King have big eyes marked on the Hermika, above the Laxmi Narsingh Malla of and took some dome, and the architectural style of these stupas artisans with him to Bhutan. Later when he visited coincides with that of Bouddhanath of Nepal. Nepal in 1640 AD, he renovated the Swayambhu Once an illustrious Lama from Bhutan during Temple. There are several documents, which support the reign of Syawadung Nawang Namgyal visited 4 Ancient Nepal

Gorkha and Kathmandu and with the permission of Pundi, Nama-syun (Nasa), Cho Jodath, New Gompa, the rulers there set some gompas of the Dukpa sect in Chiran-cha, Yate, Thate are some of the Gompas both these kingdoms. Probably, it is the very time among them. Before the unification ofNepal, Bhutan (mid 17th century) when the Dukpa Gompa at received annual tribute from Vijayapur. But during Swayambhu was erected and the Dharmaraja was the unification Bhutan did not claim its domination provided land at and near Swayambhu as a gift from over the territory, instead helped Prithvi Narayan the king of Kantipur. Shah, for which Haku village and 5 plots of land near During the reign of Sen Kings in Eastern Nepal Swayambhu were provided to Bhutan as Dan Birta. (recent Morang ), there was an annual tribute In 1774 AD Bhutanese Dharmaraja 'phrin-las- (Sirto)from VijayapurtoBhutan. Later, when Prithivi 'brug-rgyal" visited Nepal accompanied by one of Narayan Shah, in the process of unification merged his officers Gsim-dpon-wang-chuk to meet Prithivi Morang-VijayapurwithinunifiedNepa1, he presented Narayan Shah. On that occasion he presented some Haku village and 5 Kheta with some sloppy land for gifts to the king on behalf of the Bhutanese Swayambhu trust. This additional property was government. Dharmaraja wanted to keep good presented to Dharamaraja Si-daras gift.Thus Prithivi relations with Nepal possibly because of the threat Narayan Shahsettled the business regarding Morang. from the British toBhuf+anduringwaragainstsikkim, The Chiran-cha Gompa, Nagathali Gompa and Kuchbihar and . Thus to maintain good some other gompas including some land were relations and mutual help, both the countries presented to the Bhutanese Lama by King Krishna exchanged their Mohars. The Lalmohar of 1772 AD Shah and Narabhupal Shah of Gorkha too. provided the facility of Jhara (forced or statutory Centuries old Gorkha-Bhutan relations were labor) to theLamas of Nagathali Gompa tocarry their widely extended during the reign of Great King load between Nepal and Bhutan.Theother Lalmohars Prithivi Narayan Shah. Bhutan helped Nepal during were issued to provide them land as Dan Birta. its unification. At the outset of unification there was Nepal's relations with Bhutan remained intact a deal between Prithivi Narayan Shah and Bhutanese even after Prithivi Narayan Shah. To give continuity Dharamaraja according to which Bhutanese to the age-lod relations, Pratap Singh Shah in 1776 Dharmaraja Syav-dun-rin-po-che was given the AD (VS 1833) sent a new Lalmohar to Bhutanese authority of all the Gompas within the Nepalese Dharmaraja, Phrin-las-brug-rgyal.He, after thedeath territory soon after the completion of unification. of Pratap Singh Shah, visited Nepal at the request of Following the deal Prithivi Narayan Shah provided 6 queen Rajendra Laxmi performed Tantrik gompas and their land as Dan Birta and retained the commencement for blessing long life of the two- authority of Bhutanese Dharmaraja over all the year-old King . Pleased with his gompas and land provided to them by his ancestors performance, Nepal Darbar provided land in gift at and the kings of the valley as well. Altogether 12 Ghyangs (gompas) were given Sinduri and Chene. Similarly, Bahadur Shah also had good relations with the Bhutanese Lama to the Bhutanese and were retained from time to time Tanjin Dugyal. Bahadur Shah invited him to Nepal by Shah Kings till the later period. Although all these gompas cannot be recognized now, Charikota, and provided Thon-mon and Kalari Villages to Nagathali, Yolmo, Nagare, Teri, Lichyakhu, Humi, Dharmaraja in gift. Nepal ...... 5

Nepal, under the regency of Bahadur shah, Nepalese coins in Bhutan. The Mohars, which were once attempted to marched upto Assam and for this, being used by Bhutanese rulers, were marked with Nepal demanded Bhutan for providing the route Devnagari letters, soit is presumed that those Mohars through her land. This happened in the time of Lama were prepared by Nepalese artists. 'Sa-Ga' of Bhutan. Similarly, the historical system of It is already mentioned that Swayambhunath is communications between these two countries an important means to bring Nepal-Bhutan closer. cannot be ignored. Under the procuracy of Bhimsen Similarly, it is also stated that the renovation of Thapa there existed a postal service between Swayambhu was done by Dukpa Lamas. In Kathmandu and Punakha, Bhutan. During the July of 1817 AD (VS 1874) Lama Senge-Nor-bu premierships of Janga Bahadur and Bir Samsher arrived Kathmandu and changed the Mahayesthi of some reforms were made in the postal service. Swayambhu Mahachaitya (Sogsin) with some minor Since the time of Bir Samsher at the request of the reparation. Again in 1915 AD (VS 1972) Chewang King of , the route of postal service between Jigme, the son of Gelong-sekh-dorje-kham-topden- Nepal and Bhutan was linked through Gangtok, the Sakya repaired Swayambhu Mahachaitya. This work capital of Sikkim. Besides, there were alsoexchanges of reparation was completed in 1918 AD (VS 1975). of emissaries between Nepal and Bhutan for Nepal-Bhutan friendship was cordial upto the sometime. The chief priest of Swayambhu also holds beginning of Rana regime. But in 1855 AD (VS the post of Bhutanese representative. Similarly from 1912) when Janga Bahadur Rana was in power, time to time Vakils were deputed to represent Nepal Nepal suspected that Bhutanese were in favor of in Bhutan. In the time of 's procuracy Tibet during Nepal-Tibet war. Therefore, theNepalese Ahiman Ale was at the post of Vakil representing government confiscated all the lands, gompas and Nepal. Likewise, under the premiership of Bir trusts whatever have been provided in the past to Samsher Kancha Colonel Kesar Simha Thapa was Bhutanese Lamas as gifts. Thus, for the time being deputed for the same. the friendship became strained. The gompas having The Nepalese rulers were also allowed to catch lack of proper care remained in ruined condition. But elephants in the Jungle of the border of Bhutan. later Nepal realized the misunderstanding. So, to It is mentioned on the letter of 1872 AD that the normalize the matter with a great respect petitions Bhutanese government at the request of Nepalese were made from Nepal to the Bhutanese Dharmaraja delegates, permitted for the same. and Devraja. Nepal reestablished the right of Thus there is a 320 to 325 years long history of Bhutanese Lamas to enjoy the lands and the trusts friendly relationships between Nepal and Bhutan. alienated. Nepal has always played a friendly but significant While discussing Bhutan-Nepal relations, the role in the context of providing a good shape with currency of Nepalese coins in Bhutan and the Mohar regards to Bhutanese statecraft, its development and of Bhutanese rulers (Dharmaraja and Devraja) its administrative setup. Therefore, hopefully it can prepared by the Nepalese artist cannot be ignored. be presumed that the present problem between these Nepalese coins were in use in Sikkim from 1788 AD two countries regarding the will to 1892 AD. Similarly, the Bhutanese were also using be solved through well diplomatic practices. 6 Ancient Nepal Reference Materials: Singh, Nagendra, Bhutan: A Kingdom in the Aris, Michael, Bhutan: The Early History of a Himalaya. : Thomson Press (India) Ltd., Himlayan Kingdom. Delhi: Vikash Publishing 1972. , 1980. , Dhanvajra & Kamal P. Malla, Bell, C. Tibet: Past and Present, Oxford at the The Gopalraj Vamsavali, Frang Steiner Vevlag Clarendon Press, 1968. Nisebaden Gomb H., 1985. Coelho, V.H. SikkimandBhutan, Delhi: Vikash Walsh, E..H. the coinage of Nepal. Delhi: Publications 197 1. Indological Book House, 1973. Dhungel, Rames. "Nepal ra Bhutan White, J.C., Sikkimand Bhutan. Reprint, Delhi: sambandhalai prakas parne thap samagri.' Arthik Vivek Publishing House 1971. Nepal, 4: 1-3,pp. 9-13, 1986. Yogi Naraharinatha, Gorkha Vamshavali, ------, "Dasau Sya-mar-pa Lama KO Kashi, Yoga Pracarini, VS 2009. Swayambhusthit Abhilekh ra tyeskoanubada," Arthik Nepal, 6:l-2,pp. 1-10,1988. Gordon, A.K. 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