Unit 1: (d) Ya-tse Empire and its role in the

promotion of Buddhism
The origin of Ya-tse ( Khasa)
 Establishment of Ya-tse Kingdom ( khas
Samrajya)
 The Main Ya-tse Kings ( Khas Malla kings)
and their contributions to Buddhism
Nepal Map
Karnali Province
Sinja Valley
 The Origin of Ya-tse(Khasa)
• The Khasas are the ancient people who reached the
Himalayas through Kashgar and Kashmir and settled in the
western Himalayan region of Nepal.
• Kashgar, Kashkara, Kashmir, Khashali (south-east Kashmir),
Kashatwar, Khashdhar (Simla Hills), and other places are
thought to bear their names.
• The historical reference of the Khasas traces back to
Baudhayana’s "Dharmasutras", which mentions Kaskara.
• The Kaskara and Karaskara tribes, originally described as
Arahat's neighbors, are regarded as despised and impure
people.
 The Origin of Ya-tse(Khasa)
• The Karaskaras are also mentioned in Baudhayana texts(A Late Vedic
literature describing the rituals of the Taittiriya Shakha school of the Black
Yajurveda) , such as the “Shrauta Sutra (श्रौत सुत्र )”,“Apastamba Shrauta Sutra
( अपस्तम्भ श्रौत सुत्र )” and “Hiranyakeshi Shrauta Sutra ( हिरन्यके शी श्रौत सुत्र )”.
• The historians mention that the Ya-tse (Khasas) moved to the Western
Himalayas of Nepal during the 5th century from the Kumaun and Garwal
regions of India.
• Khasas were well-known warriors.
• The Khasas influx into this county continued even in the subsequent
centuries.
• Karnali region was occupied by them even before the establishment of the
khasas kingdom in the 12th century
• The Khasas dominated the society and politics of the western Nepal during
the early medieval period of Nepalese history.
 Establishment of Ya-tse Kingdom ( khas
Samrajya)
• Nagaraja is regarded with founding the Khasa kingdom. He was therefore the first
Ya-tse (khas) king.
• He is thought to have arrived from Western Tibet's Khari province (Ngari).
• There are still disagreements regarding Nagraj's identity, ancestry, and aristocracy
in terms of the establishment of the Khas empire.
• Some people say that he is from Tibet, while others say that he is from Khas origin.
The Tibetan genealogy says that he came from Tibet to Sinja in western Nepal and
set up the Khas Empire there.
• In Tibetan history, Nagraj is seen as a king from the Thi Ki-de Nimagon’s royal
dynasty, and it is said that he founded the Khas Empire in Sinja.
• According to the Tibetan chronicle, Nagraj (Nagdev) represents the Lde dynasty's
successor after Bkrasis Lde.
• According to the Dullu inscription of Prithivi Malla, Nagraj expanded the Khari
region(Ngari) of Tibet to the south and set up the Khas Empire in Sinja as its capital.
 Establishment of Ya-tse Kingdom ( khas
Samrajya)
• Before Nagraj came to this area, there were a number of small states.
Later, he annexed all of these states to his empire.
• In Tibetan chronicles, Khas kings are said to be Ya-tse Gyalpo, while in
Gopalrajbanshavali they are called Khasia raja.
• The Khasa rulers were respectful to Hinduism, Buddhism and Shamanistic
beliefs known Masto tradition.
• The availability of statues of Buddhist deities, Buddhist inscriptions of
Jumla, Dullu, the Masto images of various locations of the region are the
important proofs of the patronage to Buddhism and Masto tradition of the
Khasa rulers like Ashok Challa.
• The Khasa rulers had constructed the Kakre Vihara of Surkhet and
managed the caves in Dailekh for the propagation of Buddhism in their
territory and maintenance of Masto tradition practice.
 Establishment of Ya-tse Kingdom ( khas Samrajya)

• Many copper and golden plates and other literary texts found in the
western part of Nepal are equally important as the sources of the
history of the Khasa kingdom.
• Professor G. Tucci and Yogi Naraharinath are credited with much of the
exploration of the Dullu inscription and other sources of this region.
• Nagraj was the founder of the Khasa kingdom of western Nepal.
Besides Nagraj, Kra Challa, Ashok Challa, Jitari Malla, Ripu Malla, Aditya
Malla, Punya Malla, and Prithvi Malla were the most popular Malla
kings of the Khasa kingdom.
• The Khasa kingdom reached the height of its power during the rule of
Prithvi Malla. The capital of the Khasa kingdom, Sinja, became the
center of learning and the place of the origin of the Nepalese
language. 
 The Main Ya-tse Kings ( Khas Malla kings) &
their contributions to Buddhism
1. Nagraj :
•Founder of Khasa Kingdom. His Nick name: Javeshwar or the king of Jumla
•Sinja was controlled by Palas before Nagraj. He defeated Palas and established his own
administration.
•A big part of the Khas empire was spread out over both the trans-Himalayan and cis-
Himalayan regions.
•He defeated the small states and established the large Khasa kingdom.
•The inscription on the Buddha statue of Barahat in Garhwal proves that Nagraj's
western boundary was up to Garhwal in those days. In his regime, he conquered both
Garwal and Kumaun.
• According to the inscription at Dullu, Nagaraja was not only Sinja's first king, but also a
brave warrior and a leader who improved the then circumstances of the western
Nepal .
•After Nagaraja, the Khasa kingdom was controlled by kings named Chapa, Chapilla,
Krashichalla, and Kradhichalla, according to the Dullu inscription and Tibetan histories.
However, much more information regarding those kings' reigns is still unknown.
•It can be examined in several Khasa rulers' contributions, aside from the reigns of the
aforementioned kings.
•  
•  
•  
•  
 The Main Ya-tse Kings ( Khas Malla kings) & their
contributions to Buddhism
• Krachalla
• Father- Kradhi Challa
• On a copper-plate(ताम्रपत्र) in the Baleshwar temple of the king Kra Challa in Kumaon,
the date Shak Sambat 1145 (1123 A.D.) is written. This record is the first reliable
way to find out when they took control of the Khasa kingdom.
• The Chronological history of the Khasa kingdom begins from that date.
• These sources establish that King Kra Challa was mighty, glorious, and determined
to rule the kingdom.
• This inscription says that Kra Challa attacked Kumaun and made it a part of the
Khasa kingdom.
• His campaign was attended by eight governors(मण्डालिका) and two Raut kings. King Kra
Challa worshipped Ekrudra Baleshwar Mahadev( Lord Shiva) after conquering
Kumaon and donated huge amounts of money and land to the temple.
• King Krachalla himself, on the other hand, was a Buddhist.
 The Main Ya-tse Kings ( Khas Malla kings) & their
contributions to Buddhism

• Inscriptions say that he was the most devoted person to

Buddha. But he was tolerant of other religions because he
worshipped the Hindu god Shiva.
• Apart from Sinja, King Kra Challa made Dullu his winter
capital. After Kra Challa, the Khas kings started ruling from
both Sinja and Dullu.
• The reign of Krachal is of great importance in the history of
the Khas kingdom. From this point begins the chronological
history of the Khas kings.
 The Main Ya-tse Kings ( Khas Malla kings) & their
contributions to Buddhism

• Ashok Challa
• He became the emperor after his father, Kra Challa, passed away.
• Emperor Nagraj's creation of the Khas Empire was not only
continued by his successors, but they also went out of their way
to enlarge it.
• The Tibetan chronicles mention Ashoka Challa (1280–1344) as a
Bodhisattva incarnation, so he was known as "Hevajra
Charanabinda Makaranda Madhukara."
• Ashoka Challa had donated the 44 villages of Bodh Gaya by
buying from the Mugal emperor and offered to the Bodh Gaya as
a Buddhist pilgrimage.
 The Main Ya-tse Kings ( Khas Malla kings) & their
contributions to Buddhism
• This is why, at the time, everyone had to get permission from Ashoka Challa
before construction in Bodh Gaya.
• The reference available in Bodh Gaya is another solid proof to state that Ashok
Challa made a great effort to patronize Buddhism and make a gift to collect merit
in Buddhism.
• Ashoka Challa is referred to with various titles as: Garuda Narayana, Abhinav
Bodhisattvatara, Pravarmahayanayayin, etc.
• The gurus and their attendants of Ashoka Challa were the great followers of
Buddhism. The great master of Kashmir, Guchapathi, had taken shelter and
received respect in Ashoka Challa’s palace.
• He sent his people to Bodh Gaya and instructed them to establish Viahara with
Buddha images and to manage the regular worship there. He had also conducted
the religious council in Bodh Gaya with the tax collected from 44 villages in his
regime. This reference is inscribed in the Dullu inscription by his successor Prithvi
Malla after more than a hundred years. 
 The Main Ya-tse Kings ( Khas Malla kings) & their
contributions to Buddhism
The major historical events of Ashoka Challa's patronage of Buddhism can be
explained as follows:
• He assisted in the construction of viharas.
• During his rule, Ashoka Challa took over Garhwal, which was to the west of
Kumaon, and put up a Trident(Trishul) pillar to mark the spot in Gopeshwor,
Garwal.
• Ashok Challa patronized the practice of Vajrayana Buddhism.
• Ashoka Challa bought 44 villages of Bodh Gaya from the Muslims and offered
them to Bodh Gaya itself. This is the most important reference to his
patronizing of Buddhism.
• He also supported the practice of the Masto tradition, and thus his followers
maintained the Shamanistic practices in the region.
• He gave shelter to the Ksahmiri Buddhist Pundit and received Buddhist
teachings from him.
 The Main Ya-tse Kings ( Khas Malla kings) & their
contributions to Buddhism
•In the inscription in Garhwal Gopeshwar, Ashoka Challa is mentioned as the king
like Vikramaditya, a mighty one. It is also described that Kedarbhumi was
conquered by his "SarvagaminiVahini" (military force).
• Ashoka Challa probably set up Gandaki Pradesh as the eastern border of his
empire.
•He was tolerant of both Hindu and Buddhist religions and liked to respect
scholars.
•He used to gather great minds and scholars in his palace.
•He was the first to write the first inscription in the Nepali language.
•He also built Kakre Vihar in Surkhet and many Buddhist Vihars in the Karnali
region.

 
 
 
 
 Jitari Malla

•King Jitari Malla was the son of King Ashok Challa. According to the Dullu
Inscription, Tibetan Chronicles, and Shreepali Chronicles, Jitari Malla took over as
king after Ashok Challa. The Malla chronology of the Khasa kingdom was started by
the king named Jitari Malla. This is shown by the inscriptions that have been found
so far. Three times, King Jitari attacked the Kathmandu valley. The first time was in
1287 A.D., when King Ananata Malla was in charge of the Kathmandu valley. 
•King Jitari was the first king of the Khasa kingdom who took the surname Malla after
leaving his previous one, Challa. In the Kathmandu valley, there were two royal
dynasties named "Deva" and "Malla" who ruled the country one after another. The
Khas kings were intimate friends of the Deva dynasty, and they were always against
the Malla dynasty. In that medieval period of Nepalese history, the Malla kings were
regarded as wealthy, powerful, and prestigious. In one war, the king, Jitari, defeated
the Mallas of the Nepal Mandala. That victory filled him with pride, and he might
have decided to take the surname of the great "Malla" for the Khas dynasty as well.
While going through the medieval history of Nepal, it is found that such a type of
tradition was in practice in some kingdoms in western Nepal. For example, the king
of Doti once took the surname Malla instead of Pala. It all shows that the surname
"Malla" of ruling dynasty was one of the most fascinating and prestigious surname
in the medieval Nepal.
 Ripu Malla

• Jitari Malla had two sons, Akshya Malla and Aditya Malla. These two sons
became the kings after Ripu Malla. Actually, Ripu Malla was a nephew of
the king, Jitari Malla. When Jitari Malla passed away, Ripu Malla became
the king of the Khasa Kingdom. It seems that there might have been some
disputes and power exercises between Ripu Malla and Ripu Malla's sons.
His reign was from 1312 A.D. to 1313. But in such a short time, he did so
many significant things in history. In Tibetan chronicles, it is mentioned that
Ripu Malla had become the king of various Indian states too. He was a
noble, wise, and spiritual person. He had been to the Kathmandu valley
and worshipped different Buddhist power places. He also visited Lumbini
and Kapilvastu while returning from the Kathmandu valley. Based on the
inscription of the Ashoka pillar of Lumbini, he had ordered to put his and
his son's names on that Ashok Stambha.
• Ripu Malla and his son Sangram Malla have stood on the sides of Swet Tara
(one of the Buddhist deities) in an image of Pauva that has become a
source of Buddhist fellows (disciples). "Long live the king," Ripu Malla has
written in Ranjana script on the down side of the Pauva image.
 Aditya Malla

• He was the eldest son of Aditya Malla, He became the king of Khas
kingdom after his elder brother, Akshya Malla passed away. His reign
was about 12 years. The inscription of Taghbai Gonpa in Tibet
mentions that the king Aditya Malla had appointed some security
force to look after the Gonpa. Also he had provided some regular
funds to manage the monastery in a better way. Such type of
contributions show that he had a deep faith in Buddhism and
preservation of Dharma. In his later days, his one son died suddenly
at his young age, and another son took ordination as a Buddhist
monk. So, Punya Malla, a daughter in law of the king Aditya Malla,
became the king of khasa kingdom. Before marriage his name was
Punya pala.
 Punya Malla

• According to Shreepali's chronicles, two Khas princesses had

been married to Punya Malla. Since Aditya Malla's generation
ended in the kingdom, Punya Malla had been made the
successor of the throne of the Khas kings. However, he was the
daughter-in-law of king Aditya Malla. His reign was from 1328
A.D. to 1337 A.D., i.e., his total tenure of reign was 9 years. In
his ruling period, the kingdom was flourishing and lavish. He
was brave, mighty, victorious, and religious as well. Punya
Malla had three descendants: two sons; they were Shree Malla
and Prithivi Malla; and one daughter named Chandramala.
 Prithivi Malla
•Despite being Punya Malla's eldest son, he was crowned King of the Khasa kingdom.
There are some controversies between these two brothers, Shree Malla and Prithivi
Malla. He ordinated as a Buddhist monk in his later half. More than a dozen
inscriptions have been found till date in the name of King Prithivi Malla. These
inscriptions show that the Khasa dynasty started by Nagaraja has also been
successfully ruled by Prithivi Malla as well. His ruling time is important in terms of
scholarly development, art, and architecture. Being interested in education, religion,
art, and architecture, King Prithivi Malla prioritized these matters in his territory.
•Business and commerce in his period were satisfactory compared to previous
regimes. In 1357 A.D., he established the benchmark of a stone pillar in Dullu
Padukasthan. He directed that the history of the Khas kings, beginning with the first
king, Nagaraja, and their chronicles be written in chronological order. Besides, he
started doing the genealogy work of Khas and Pala on both sides of the inscription.
Because his father represented the Pal family, he did for both dynasties.
•There was a sorrowful stage during his ruling period. The main thing was that his
ancestors' land, Khari, was occupied by other kings of Tibet. On the other hand,
Kumaun and Garwal have been freed as well. Joseph Tucci writes that the king tried
his best to settle the issues of his regime but could not succeed as he desired.
 Abhaya Malla
•Abhay Malla is the last king in the line of kings in the Khas Empire. He became king in
1383 A.D.
•During this time, the central Khas state was under attack from all sides. At that time,
various areas under the control of the state wanted to be independent.
•The Doti kingdom became independent and lost the Khari province of Tibet under its
control.
•During his time, some members of the state became stronger than the administration
of the empire.
•Mainly the royal members of Verma surname did not allow him to remain on the
throne. The copperplate issued in 1391 is considered to be his last inscription issued
from Myagdi.
•So it is believed tha he took refuge in Myagdi and Malay Verma’s rule began in Jumla.
•Thus the Khas Empire started by Nagraj ended in the time of Abhay Malla and at the
same time Buddhism in that region also came to an end.
 Buddhism in Khasa kingdom
• Based on research done and mythology found till date, it could be said that there
was a practice and civilization of Mahayana/Vajrayana Buddhism in the Khasa
kingdom of medieval Nepal.
• Vajrayana Buddhism flourished in Bengal and, especially, it was enriched by the
contributions of the Pala kings of Bengal, India.
• The Pala kings of Bengal were devotees of Buddha, and they had great respect for
Vajrayana Buddhism.
• With those kings of Bengal, Vajrayana Buddhism spread all over the Indian
territories, like Northern India, the Kathmandu valley, the Himalayan regions of
Nepal, and Tibet as well.
• Then it might be assumed that before Khas ruled over the Sinja and surrounding
area, there was the presence of Palas' rules with Buddhist domination.
• It is possible that the Palas of western Nepal came from Bengal, India, with Buddhist
culture and practices.
• The Pala rulers might have a special connection to Buddhism in Bengal to continue
the Dharma and practice in their territory.
• On the other side, Sinja was close to western Tibet which was the Buddhist territory
around 12th century and Palas also had some influence or connection with them.
 Buddhism in Khasa kingdom
• It is obvious that when Khas kings entered the Sinja valley, they
met Pala rulers who also believed in Vajrayana Buddhism.
• Khasa kings had a belief in similar practices of Buddhism came
from Tibet's Khari province.
• In such a case, we could speculate that the Khasa and Pala kings
had a cordial relationship due to their same faith in Vajrayana
Buddhism.
• The first king of the Khasa kingdom, Nagaraja, had a good
opportunity to set up the great Khasa kingdom with the help of
the Buddhist faith of the local people and the existing rulers of
Sinja and the surrounding area.
• In some historical evidence, it is said that during the reign of
King Nagaraja, the previous rulers, Palas helped the Khasa kings
in their administration.
 Buddhism in Khasa kingdom

• The second transmission of Buddhism in Tibet obviously

helped the western Tibet and Himalayan regions
flourish in Buddha Dharma in a great way.
• According to this course, Vajrayana Buddhism from
Tibet may have spread in the Nepal Himalayas such as
Sinja, Mustang, Humla, Dolpo, Gorkha, and surrounding
border areas of Tibet.
• Furthermore, there might be Buddhist missionaries in
order to propagate the Dharma in that area.
 Buddhism in Khasa kingdom
Other avenues for discussing Buddhism in Khasa kingdom can be
discussed in this way:-
• Sinja and Khari provinces had good business relations at that time.
• The monastic education of Sinja was influenced by the westernTibet.
• Buddhist monks frequently travelled to Tibet, especially in Shakya
Math for practices, and Tibetan monks visited Sinja Valley to
propagate Buddhism.
• There was a marriage relationship between the two families of these
two territories.
• After establishment of Khasa kingdom in the Sinja Valley, King
Nagraja ruled with the assistance of Palas who had been living with
Buddhist belief before he arrived.
• At the same time, Nepal Mandala also had a great practice of
Vajrayana Buddhism. So there was a good relationship between the
Nepal Mandala and the Khasa rulers in terms of Dharma practice.
 Buddhism in Khasa kingdom
• The main stream religion, Buddhism, might have played a big role in linking
Tibet, Nepal, Mandala, and the Khasa kingdoms enormously. Also, it could help
them in building good diplomatic relations and trade.
• The art, architecture, and inscriptions of Khasa kings are the solid evidence that
prove the practice and culture of Buddhism in the western region of medieval
Nepal.
• Hevajra is one of the major Tantric practices in Vajrayana Buddhism.Some Khasa
kings had declared them as Buddhist practitioners like a Tantric of Hevajra.
• King Ashok Challa would like to call himself "Hevajra Charanaravinda
Makarandmadhukar". Also, King Aditya Malla liked to name himself "Hevajra
Padapadam Parichayaparan" (servant of Hevajra).
• The general people and kings of the Khasa period always liked to call themselves
Buddhist devotees, and they did remarkable activities during the rule of the
Khasa kings.
• Any religion can survive if there is Dharma practiced among the people.
Considering this point, we could say that there were descendant practices of
Buddhism all over the Khasa kingdom.
 Buddhism in Khasa kingdom
The Khasa kingdom's major activities to Buddhism:
• Influence of the Khasa kingdom in Bodh Gaya ( Songpo attacked here and Palas saved, Khasa
gave the revenue from 44 villages, managed the Vihara to continue daily ritual)
• The religious and spiritual relationship with Tibet ( Second Transmisson of Buddhism, Atisha,
Yese-hod, Rinchen Zangpo, Tibetan Chronicles and inscriptions show, Shakya Math in Tibet)
• A centre of Buddhist studies and practices ( Dullu inscriptions say the khasa kings as :
“Dharmabhanak”, “sootradhar”, these mean they are like good managers for the
propogation of Buddhism, Punya Malla offered Kangyur and Tengyur in monastaries of
Dolpo, prithivi malla gifted Shatshashrika pragyaparmita to Nepal Mandala, Itumbahal, ktm,
sanponkang gomba of tibet got the Buddhist texts from Surkhet during Ripu Malla’s period,
Ripu Malla had written laghuratnatraya..)
• Buddhist art, architecture, and the establishment of inscriptions
- Jumala (Kanak Sundari Temple, Chaityas in Lamthada)
• -Dailekh (Dhuleshwara, Dhuleshwara Buddha image, Buddhamurti of Baleshwara temple,
Three Pillars of Dullugadhi, Sauna Karki and Saukya Karkini in Padukasthan, Pathanauli and
Panch Chaitya, and Kotila, Pancha Dewala)
-Surkhet (Prakatar pillar and Buddha image, Kankrevihara)
-Achham (Kuchi Vihara, pillar in Bhandari Gaun)
-Dolpo (pillar of Tripurakot, Railing Gompa, Rincheling Gompa)
 Buddhism in Khasa kingdom
• Punya Malla had offered a copy of Kangyur and Tengyur to
Namsar Gumba in Dolpa. Similarly, the king had offered the
same texts to Khojarnath.
• The Khas kings are not only familiar with the Buddhist
religious sites in Nepal Mandal, but they also pay homage and
worship there.