''Rajmala'' is a

chronicle A chronicle ( la, chronica, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and ...

of the

Kings of Tripura The Manikya dynasty was the ruling house of the Twipra Kingdom and later the princely Tripura State, what is now the Indian state of Tripura. Ruling since the early 15th century, the dynasty at its height controlled a large swathe of the north- ...

, written in

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

verse in the 15th century under Dharma Manikya I.

Overview

The ''Rajmala'' chronicles the history of the Manikya kings of Tripura. While it serves as an invaluable source of information for the region, its historical accuracy in some aspects has been doubted. The text is split up into six parts, written over the course of several centuries under the patronage of different Tripura monarchs. It was initially commissioned by Dharma Manikya I in 1458, who bestowed the task upon the royal priest Durlabhendra and two

Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...

pandit A Pandit ( sa, पण्डित, paṇḍit; hi, पंडित; also spelled Pundit, pronounced ; abbreviated Pt.) is a man with specialised knowledge or a teacher of any field of knowledge whether it is shashtra (Holy Books) or shastra (Wea ...

s, Sukheshwar and Baneshwar. Their work formed the first part of the text and covered the traditional period of Tripura's history and incorporated various mythological accounts. Subsequent portions were composed during the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries under

Amar Manikya Amar Manikya was the Maharaja of Tripura from 1577 to 1586. Early life Born Amardeva, he was a son of Maharaja Deva Manikya, but was only a prince as another family had taken over the throne. General Ranagan Narayan, the de facto ruler of Twip ...

Govinda Manikya Govinda Manikya (d. 1676) was the Maharaja of Tripura from 1660 to 1661 and again from 1667 to 1676. Though viewed as a capable and successful ruler, Govinda's reign was interrupted by his temporary overthrow and usurpation by his younger brother ...

Krishna Manikya Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one o ...

and Kashi Chandra Manikya respectively. The entire revised text was finally compiled by Durgamoni Uzir during the reign of Krishna Kishore Manikya in the mid-19th-century.

Royal genealogy

The Rajmala presents a list of 149 kings of Twipra as of 1431. The first king of the chronicle is

Chandra Chandra ( sa, चन्द्र, Candra, shining' or 'moon), also known as Soma ( sa, सोम), is the Hindu god of the Moon, and is associated with the night, plants and vegetation. He is one of the Navagraha (nine planets of Hinduism) an ...

, the Moon himself; the seventh is Druhyu, one of the sons of

Yayati Yayāti ( sa, ययाति, translit=Yayāti), is a king in Hindu tradition. He is described to be a Chandravamsha king. He is regarded to be the progenitor of the races of the Yadavas and the Pandavas. He is considered in some texts ...

, a

Lunar dynasty The Lunar dynasty ( IAST: Candravaṃśa) is a legendary principal house of the Kshatriyas varna, or warrior–ruling caste mentioned in the ancient Indian texts. This legendary dynasty was said to be descended from moon-related deities ('' ...

in mythology. The 46th king is called ''Tripur'' (''Tripura'') as a kind of mythological eponymous ancestor of the Sanskritic name of the kingdom. The list of historical kings begins with the 145th king, Ratna Fa (fl. 1280). He was the first to assume the title ''Manikya'' and as such can be considered the founder of the

Manikya Dynasty The Manikya dynasty was the ruling house of the Twipra Kingdom and later the princely Tripura State, what is now the Indian state of Tripura. Ruling since the early 15th century, the dynasty at its height controlled a large swathe of the north ...

Mythological or legendary kings

*118. Hamtor Fa (Jujaru Fa or Himti or Birraj), see also

Twipra Era The Tripuri calendar is the traditional luni-solar calendar used by the Tripuri people, especially in the context of Tripuri irredentism. Its era, the "Twipra Era", "Tripura Era" or ''Tripurabda'' is set at 15 April AD 590. The Tripura Era's Ne ...

*119. Jangi Fa (Rajendra or Janak Fa) *120. Partha (Debrai or Debraj) *121. Sebrai *122. Durgur Fa (Dankuru Fa, Harirai, Kirit, Adhidharma Fa) *123. Kharung Fa (Kurung Fa, Ramchandra) *124. Sengfanai (Nrisingha, Singhafani) *125. Lalit Rai *126. Mukunda Fa (Kunda Fa) *127. Kamal Rai *128. Krishnadas *129. Jash Fa (Jashoraj) *130. Muchung Fa (Udwab) *131. Sadhu Rai *132. Pratap Rai *133. Vishnuprasad *134. Baneshwar (Baneeshwar) *135. Beerbahu *136. Samrat *137. Champakeshwar (Champa) *138. Meghraj (Megh) *139. Sengkwchak (Dharmadhar) *140. Sengthum Fa (Kirtidhar, Singhatung Fa) *141. Achong Fa (Rajsurjya, Kunjaham Fa) *142. Khichung Fa (Mohon) *143. Dangar Fa (Harirai) *144. Raja Fa

Historical kings

:''see

List of Tripuri Kings The Manikya dynasty was the ruling house of the Twipra Kingdom and later the princely Tripura State, what is now the Indian state of Tripura. Ruling since the early 15th century, the dynasty at its height controlled a large swathe of the north- ...

for the post-Rajmala kings.'' *145. Ratna Fa ( Ratna Manikya) fl. 1280 *146. Pratap Manikya *147. Mukut Manikya (Mukunda) *148. Maha Manikya *149. Dharma Manikya fl. 1430

References

{{reflist

External links