Jishnu Gupta, often spelled Jishnugupta, () was a de facto ruler of Nepal in the 7th-century during the time of the Lichchhavi dynasty. Initially sharing the administrative powers with

Dhruvadeva Dhruvadeva, also spelled Dhruva Deva, () was a son of Shivadeva I of the Licchavi dynasty and a king of Nepal in the 7th century. He deposed his brother Udaydeva with the help of Jishnu Gupta and reigned as a figurehead monarch. Life After ...

from 624 CE, he became the highest authority in the realm from around 627. He belonged to the Abhira-Gupta dynasty.

Usurpation

Amshuverma Amshuverma or Amshu Verma (595 CE - 621 CE; Devanagari: अंशुवर्मा) rose to the position of ''Mahasamanta'' (equivalent to prime minister) about 595 CE when King Sivadev I was ruling in the Licchavi (kingdom) of Nepal. By 604 A ...

had appointed his brother-in-law

Udaydeva Udaydeva () was the son of Shivadeva I and a Lichchhavi king of Nepal. He succeeded Amshuverma in 621 CE but was soon ousted by Jishnu Gupta, and his brother Dhruvadeva. He is also believed to be the father of Bhrikuti. Life Udaydeva was ...

as the

monarch A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority ...

and after the death of the former, the latter became the king in 621. He was soon ousted along with his family to

Tibet Tibet (; ''Böd''; ) is a region in East Asia, covering much of the Tibetan Plateau and spanning about . It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people. Also resident on the plateau are some other ethnic groups such as Monpa people, ...

, and his brother

, with the help of Jishnu Gupta proclaimed the throne. Even though Dhruvadeva was the official monarch, Jishnu Gupta exercised much of the authority and from around 627, Jishnu ruled as a

de facto ''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...

ruler.

Reign

He issued several coins issued under his name beginning from 627, and at least ten inscriptions have been found starting from 616. Almost all of his inscriptions substantiate his reign as a de facto ruler under the powerless Lichchhavi monarchs Dhruvadeva, and later his son,

Bhimarjunadeva Bhimarjunadeva () was a son of Dhruvadeva of the Licchavi dynasty and a king of Nepal in the 7th century. He succeeded his father in and reigned as a figurehead monarch. Life Dhruvadeva died in around 630 CE and Bhimarjuna became the king. L ...

. The Lichchhavis resided at Managriha palace and Jishnu Gupta ruled from

Kailashkut Bhawan Kailashkut Bhawan was a palace in Nepal, built by Lichhavi King Amshuverma immediately after he was crowned in 598 CE. It was constructed in ''vedic tripura'' style, having three adjoining buildings, Indragriha, Managriha and Kailashkut, and three ...

. The following two addresses, given to the monarch Dhruvadeva "embody the most unostentatious form of address ever ascribed to a sovereign", opiniates historian D.R Regmi. * अनेक विजयानन्त प्रतिष्ठा पृथिवीराजकर्मणा लिच्छवी कुलकेतुः ** ''Translation:'' Lichchhavi Kulaketu, through numerous conquests, established his authority on the earth. * सकल सत्वानुग्रहित मनोहिराभिमान रमणीयं चरितं लिच्छवी कुलकेतुः ** ''Translation:'' Lichchhavi Kulaketu, with a charming character that captured the hearts of all, favored by all living beings.

Personal life

Jishnu Gupta was a grandson of Abhir Bhauma Gupta who, probably, also ascended to the highest authority during the reign of Ganadeva. He died in and was succeeded by the de facto rule of his son Vishnu Gupta with Bhimarjuna as the figurehead monarch.

References

{{authority control 7th-century Nepalese people