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Image identified: Maha-man*d*apa
Nepal,
Date (NS/AD): 942/1822

Transliteration:

1.? S'ubha . sambat 942 pha-lgurn*n*as'ukra . dva-dasi . svamava-la kuhnu . sam*krapa ya-n^a- jula .
? s'ri- 3 ma-ha-mandapa pattitha- ya-n^a- jula . cittaka-li laks*mi-si stri- mayajudham* nehma-nam* tha-pana- ya-n^a- taya- jula . suna- n^aya ka-la o(la)
2.sa- devayata-, puja- juchi dachina- dam*chi tha-pim*na ma-la jula . man*d*apasa cha-ya ka-ya dao . s'ri- 3 ku devata- ba-la ka-ya s'uka-chi- dachina- ma-la suna-nam* dabaya ya-tasa- uhma-yata- kudirtti nigra la-ka jula . s'ubhastu .

Translation:

[success] . [Be] good . It was done Samkalpa (solemn vow) in a Monday , twelfth lunar day of bright fortnight of Phalgun in Nepal Era 942 (AD 1822) .
[success] . Thrice venerable Mahamandapa was consecrated . It was established by a couple Laksmisinha Citrakar and his wife Mayajudhana . If anybody comes to borrow it , he should pay a Dam (each day) for the whole puja period as a Daksina to the god by one who establishes it . Whatever offered on the Mandapa could be taken (by the borrower) . Thrice Venerable god Ku (kuladevata ?) could be taken in rent giving a Daksina of a S'uka- . If anybody conceal it , he would be happened to be seen with bad eyes of the god . Let it be good .

This pat*a of the Mahamandapa was established by Laksmisinha Citrakar and his wife Mayajudhana taking solemn vow on a Monday, twelfth lunar day of the bright fortnight of Phalguna (February-March) of AD 1822. Donors' place is not given. This is made with a bit commercial view also, as it could be borrowed in rent of a Da-ma (1\64 S'uka-)for each worshiping day. The image of Kuladevata(lineage diety) could also be borrowed along with this giving rent of a S'uka-(1/4 rupee). The currency system of this period in Nepal is seen Da-ma, Paisa-, Anna-, S'uka- and Rupaiya- (a Rupee). Each earlier currency indicates quarter of the later.

The name Mahamandapa seems to be Mahamandala. Main meaning of Mandapa is "open hall" and Mandala is "circle". Here the pat*a is made in four layers of eight petals of lotus in circle. Mandala is famous to be a Tantric meditation device. Mandala and Mandapa is often cofused among Newars as both of them is spelled out shortly Man*dah*, which may be either Mandala or Mandapa in oblique form. So, here actually it seems to be Mahamandala "great circle" and not Mahamandapa" great open hall".


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