Documents on Dasaĩ Festival

The Durgāpūjā/Navarātra/Navarātrī festival, in Nepal commonly known as Dasaĩ is celebrated during the bright fortnight of the autumn month Āśvina (Baḍādasaĩ) and, on a smaller scale, in the spring month Caitra (Caityādasaĩ). It stages the worship of the warrior goddess Durgā, her battle with and victory over “Buffalo Demon” (Mahiṣāsura). In royal Nepal as elsewhere, it was the prime calendric occasion to celebrate a conception of rule according to which the sovereignty of a human king is shared with and derives from his śakti, “might” or “regal power,” manifest in royal goddesses.

Under the Śāha kings Dasaĩ developed into the major state festival to be celebrated country-wide and by all groups. Especially the attending animal sacrifices became large-scale state affairs and were performed on behalf of the state all throughout the realm and in all army units.

Lieux

Gorkha

K_0029_0044A: A copy of a rukkā from King Gīrvāṇayuddha appointing Vaijanātha Josī to conduct the Dasaĩ rituals of Gorkhā Upallokoṭa (VS 1862)

K_0029_0044B: A copy of a rukkā from King Gīrvāṇayuddha ordering that Vaijanātha Josī be provided certain items regularly (VS 1862)

K_0030_0021F: A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha directing Sarvajita Nāu to provide plants for Dasaĩ rituals (VS 1863)

K_0030_0036B: A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha appointing Gajabhāryā Ḍamāī as drummer at Gorkhā's dasaĩghara (VS 1863)

K_0030_0050A: A copy of a lālamohara of King Gīrvāṇayuddha re the purchase of rams and he-goats for Dasaĩ rituals in Gorkha (VS 1863)

K_0029_0025A: A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha appointing Vaijanātha Arjyāla as priest of Gorkhā Upallokoṭa (VS 1864)

RRC_0009_0002: A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha appointing Raṇasura Thāpā as caretaker of the guṭhī attached to Śrī Kālī (VS 1866)

K_0013_0020E: A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha appointing Vaijanātha Arjyāla and Vetu Arjyāla as priests of Gorkhā Upallokoṭa (VS 1873)

K_0013_0022B: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Rāmacandra Arjyāla as priest of Gorkhā Upallokoṭa (VS 1873)

K_0013_0024E: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Rāmacandra Khatrī to perform Dasaĩ rituals (VS 1874)

K_0013_0033E: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Nityānanda Josī Arjyāla as priest of Gorkhā Upallokoṭa (VS 1878)

DNA_0010_0019: A rukkā of King Rājendra re the annual provision of certain items to Narāja Bāniyā̃ (VS 1880)

Purkoṭ Guṭhi

K_0120_0020: A copy of a copperplate recording the donation of land by King Gīrvāṇayuddha's mother for the worship of Mahāmāyā at Gorkha (VS 1856)

K_0020_0007B: A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha re financing worship of Śrī Kālikā at Gorkhā's dasaĩghara (VS 1865)

RRC_0009_0002: A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha appointing Raṇasura Thāpā as caretaker of the guṭhī attached to Śrī Kālī (VS 1866)

K_0015_0022B: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Tārānātha Arjyāla as caretaker of the guṭhī attached to Gorkha's dasaĩghara (VS 1876)

K_0016_0028B: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Lakṣmīnātha Bhaṭṭarāī as caretaker of the guṭhī attached to Śrī Kālikā of Gorkhā (VS 1889)

K_0003_0035C: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Hemalāla as caretaker of the guṭhī of Gorkha's dasaĩghara (VS 1890)

K_0120_0024: A copy of a lālamohara from King Pṛthvī Vīra Vikrama re rituals for Śrī Kālikā of Gorkhā Palace (VS 1942)

K_0120_0021: A note from Gorkha Palace to the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā accompanying the copy of a copperplate (VS 1960)

Kathmandu

K_0582_0045 : Copie d'un rukkā du roi Raṇabahādura répertoriant le matériel fourni pour le culte Navarātra (VS 1838)

K_0625_0039: A lālamohara from King Raṇabahādura to Lakṣmīnārāyana Putuvāra re the reward for building a dasaĩghara (VS 1849)

DNA_0013_0031 : Un lālamohara du roi Gīrvāṇayuddha accordant des terres à Badhuvā Nagārci pour la conduite de rituels (VS 1864)

K_0582_0046 : Une rukkā du roi Gīrvāṇayuddha aux administrateurs et serviteurs de Śrī Bhagavatī de Kaḍelacoka concernant le matériel de culte pour le festival Dasaĩ (VS 1867)

PN_0016_0004: A rukkā from King Rājendra re the provision of a sacrificial buffalo (VS 1870)

E_2776_0001: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1886)

E_2767_0049: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1888)

E_2775_0040: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1900)

E_2764_0036: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1902)

E_2779_0019: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1902)

E_2779_0005: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1908)

DNA_0012_0056 : Une rukkā du roi Surendra au chef des services administratifs du Kausī Tosākhānā contenant de nouvelles réglementations pour les danses Daitya et Kumāra au temple Taleju (VS 1933)

K_0476_0060 : Copie d'un purjī du général Deva Śamśera à Biseṭ Ḍiṭṭhā Jotirāja Śreṣṭha concernant les rituels Dasaĩ au temple Pāñcāyana (VS 1944)

K_0636_0036 : Copie d'un purjī du général Deva Śamśera, commandant en chef, adressé à Kharidāra Harilāla concernant les rituels Baḍādasaĩ au temple Pāñcāyana (VS 1947)

K_0379_0073 : Copie d'un purjī du général Deva Śamśera, commandant en chef, adressé à Kharidāra Narahari Pādhyā concernant les rituels Baḍādasaĩ au temple Pāñcāyana (VS 1951)

K_0625_0006 : Copie d'un purjī du général Deva Śamśera, commandant en chef, adressé à Kharidāra Narahari Pādhyā concernant les rituels Baḍādasaĩ au temple Pāñcāyana (VS 1953)

K_0640_0019 : Copie d'un purjī du général Deva Śamśera, commandant en chef, adressé à Kharidāra Candra Bahādura Sāha concernant les rituels Dasaĩ au temple Pāñcāyana (VS 1954)

K_0614_0041: A purjī from C-in-C Deva Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1955)

K_0614_0029: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C General Deva Śamśera to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā re the Baḍādasaĩ rituals at the Pāñcāyana temple (VS 1955)

K_0608_0055: A purjī from C-in-C Deva Śamśera ordering Candra Bahādura Sāhī to account for expenditures for feeding meat on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1957)

E_2766_0062: A list of expenditures for sacrificial animals for Dasaĩ (VS 1962)

K_0351_0071: A note from the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā asking for information on feeding the poor on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1964)

K_0351_0072: A purjī to the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā ordering that meat cease to be fed to the poor during Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1964)

K_0128_0057: A note from the Mulukī Aḍḍā to the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā re the serving of meat during Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1967)

K_0488_0009: A copy of a purjī from Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1967)

K_0488_0012: A copy of a purjī from Bhīma Śamśera to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā re the feeding of the poor during Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1967)

K_0382_0029: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1968)

K_0382_0036 : Copie d'un purjī du général Bhīma Śamśera, commandant en chef, ordonnant au Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā de verser des fonds aux mahantas à l'occasion du Baḍā Dasaĩ (VS 1968).

K_0384_0064: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1969)

K_0384_0065 : Copie d'un purjī du général Bhīma Śamśera, commandant en chef, ordonnant au Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā de verser des fonds aux mahantas à l'occasion du Baḍā Dasaĩ (VS 1969).

K_0395_0041: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1970)

K_0395_0049: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C General Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1970)

K_0395_0065 : Copie d'un purjī du général Bhīma Śamśera, commandant en chef, ordonnant au Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā de verser des fonds à des institutions ascétiques à l'occasion du Baḍā Dasaĩ (VS 1970).

K_0395_0066 : Copie d'un purjī du général Bhīma Śamśera, commandant en chef, ordonnant au Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā de verser des fonds à des institutions ascétiques à l'occasion du Baḍā Dasaĩ (VS 1970).

K_0394_0028 : Copie d'un purjī du général commandant oriental Dharma Śamśera Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā ordonnant au Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā de verser des fonds à des institutions ascétiques à l'occasion du Baḍā Dasaĩ (VS 1974)

Patan

K_0214_0044 : Une darkhāsta de Vimalāramaṇa Rājopādhyā au Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā demandant des provisions matérielles pour l'installation d'un nouveau Kumārī (VS 1980)

K_0214_0045 : Un purjī du Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā au Kausī Tosākhānā demandant le versement de fonds pour l'installation d'un nouveau Kumārī (VS 1980)

K_0214_0046 : Un purjī du Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā au Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā ordonnant le versement de fonds pour l'installation d'un nouveau Kumārī (VS 1980)

K_0214_0047 : Un purjī du Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā au Kausī Tosākhānā demandant le versement de fonds pour l'installation d'un nouveau Kumārī (VS 1980)

Bhaktapur

K_0230_0034 : Un purjī du commandant en chef Bhīma Śamśera ordonnant au Gūṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā de convoquer les ritualistes récalcitrants de Taleju à Bhaktapur pour le festival Dasaĩ (VS 1962)

Deopatan

K_0252_0018 : Un purjī du Mulukī Aḍḍā au Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā concernant la pratique des rituels Navarātra par Bharapūranātha (VS 1978)

K_0252_0021 : Note écrite du bureau comptable du Baḍā Gurujyu au Guṭhi Bandobasta Aḍḍā concernant la nomination de Bharapuranātha comme nouvel abbé du monastère de Gorakhanātha (VS 1978)

K_0252_0022 : Une kabuliyata de Bharapuranātha Jogī à Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā concernant sa nomination en tant que nouvel abbé du monastère de Gorakhanātha (VS 1978)

Argha

K_0020_0031B: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Hutadhvaja Sāhi to manage the Dasaĩ worship at Arghā (VS 1877)

K_0078_0022A: A copy of a rukkā from King Rājendra appointing Nītyānaṃda Acārja et al. to perform rituals at Arghā Palace (VS 1888)

K_0003_0036C: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Bhīmasena Mājhī and Punai Jaisī to manage the Dasaĩ worship of Śrī Mahākālī at Arghākoṭa (VS 1890)

K_0017_0001B: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Bhīmasena Mājhī to manage Dasaĩ worship at Arghākoṭa (VS 1892)

K_0031_0019C: A copy of a lālamohara from King Rājendra appointing Gokula Pādhyā and Curai Pādhyā to manage Dasaĩ rituals at Argha (VS 1902)

Nuvakot

K_0029_0033C: A copy of a lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha reconfirming Viṣṇu Sāhī as being in charge of the sword of the dasaĩghara at Nuvakot (VS 1864)

Garhwal

K_0029_0035A: A lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha appointing Joturāma and Mohyārāma to conduct the rituals of Śrī Candravadanī (VS 1864)

Jumla

K_0007_0043C : Copie d'un rukkā du roi Rājendra exemptant Viṣnupada Pādhyā et Badrī Pādhyā des paiements annuels en échange de la célébration des rituels Dasaĩ (VS 1895)

Dhankuta

K_0004_0003A : Copie d'un rukkā du roi Rājendra faisant don d'un terrain pour le culte de Śrī Mārgadevī de Dhankuta (VS 1892)

Salyankot

DNA_0013_0023 : Une lālamohara du roi Gīrvāṇayuddha accordant des terres à Cāmyā Damāī pour une fiducie destinée à l'entretien d'instruments de musique (VS 1869)

Palāñcoka

K_0579_0071 : Copie d'une lettre de Kaparadāra Kālidāsa Khaḍkā concernant le culte de Śrī Bhagavatī à Palāñcoka (VS 1841)

K_0580_0002 : Copie d'un lālamohara du roi Raṇabahādura concernant une fondation pour le culte de Śrī Bhagavatī de Palāñcoka (VS 1847)

Material provisions

Sacrificial animals

PN_0016_0004: A rukkā from King Rājendra re the provision of a sacrificial buffalo (VS 1870)

E_2776_0001: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1886)

E_2767_0049: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1888)

E_2775_0040: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1900)

E_2764_0036: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1902)

E_2779_0019: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1902)

E_2779_0005: A document listing the buffaloes sacrificed during Dasaĩ at the royal palace (VS 1908)

E_2942_0018: A letter from Gen. Raṇa Uddīpasiṃha Kũvara Rāṇā directing persons to pay for animals procured for Dasaĩ (VS 1916)

E_3446_0011 : Lettre de Jagata Jaṅga Rāṇā aux fonctionnaires de Kutāṅbhoṭ concernant les pratiques Dasaĩ (VS 1934)

K_0402_0058: A purjī from Prime Minister Bīra Śamśera to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā rejecting the purchase of fodder for he-goats and he-buffaloes (VS 1948)

E_3456_0041: A purjī from the Hanumān Nagara Aminī Gosvārā to Caudharī Rāmalāla of Khālīsā requesting provisions for Dasaĩ (VS 1952)

E_2782_0009: A rukkā from Bīra Śamśera to the officers of Rautahat and Sarlahi districts ordering the provision of sacrificial animals for Dasaĩ (VS 1956)

E_2766_0062: A list of expenditures for sacrificial animals for Dasaĩ (VS 1962)

Warfare, prasāda, ṭīkābheṭī et al.

K_0090_0049 : Copie d'un rukkā du roi Gīrvāṇayuddha confirmant Saṃkaradatta Vajhā dans ses fonctions de prêtre (VS 1860)

RRC_0006_0604: A bhanāi of a letter by the king to Kājī Aṃbarasīṃ Thāpā re the sending of a sword (VS 1862)

DNA_0002_0020: A patra from Kṛṣṇa Nārāyan Malla to Bhīmasen Thāpā re the message bearer Sarup Biṣṭa (n.d.)

DNA_0001_0066: An arjī from Badarībāṇa Sāhī re the sending of Dasaĩ prasāda (VS 1877)

K_0003_0017A : Copie d'un lālamohara du roi Rājendra confirmant la fonction de prêtre de Saṃkaradatta Jhā (VS 1887)

DNA_0015_0091: A rukkā from the king granting Prime Minister Jaṅga Bahādura Kũvara allowances previously enjoyed by Bhimasena Thāpā (VS 1903)

DNA_0002_0061: An arjī from Khaḍga Bahādura Kũvara Rāṇā re the sending of Dasaĩ tilakas and prasādas (VS 1905)

E_2778_0047: A receipt for the ṭīkābheṭ levy offered to the generals of Thāpāthalī (VS 1918)

Charity

K_0614_0041: A purjī from C-in-C Deva Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1955)

K_0608_0055: A purjī from C-in-C Deva Śamśera ordering Candra Bahādura Sāhī to account for expenditures for feeding meat on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1957)

K_0660_0052: A purjī from C-in-C Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1960)

K_0664_0017: A purjī from C-in-C Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1961)

K_0351_0071: A note from the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā asking for information on feeding the poor on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1964)

K_0351_0072: A purjī to the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā ordering that meat cease to be fed to the poor during Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1964)

K_0128_0057: A note from the Mulukī Aḍḍā to the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā re the serving of meat during Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1967)

K_0488_0012: A copy of a purjī from Bhīma Śamśera to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā re the feeding of the poor during Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1967)

K_0488_0009: A copy of a purjī from Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1967)

K_0382_0029: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1968)

K_0384_0064: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1969)

K_0395_0041: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1970)

K_0395_0049: A copy of a purjī from C-in-C General Bhīma Śamśera instructing the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā to disburse funds to the Pūrṇeśvarapākaśālā on the occasion of Baḍādasaĩ (VS 1970)