The coronation of the Nepalese monarch was a

rājyābhiṣeka The rājyābhiṣeka is a late Vedic ceremony of coronation. It also refers to anointing government officials, particularly heads of state, at the time of taking power or to mark a signal achievement. See also *Abhiṣeka *Rajasuya * Coronation of ...

, a

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

religious ceremony in which the

King of Nepal The King of Nepal (traditionally known as the Mahārājdhirāja i.e. Great King of Kings; it can also be translated as "Sovereign Emperor" ( ne, श्री ५ महाराजधिराज)) was Nepal's head of state and monarch from 1768 ...

was crowned. The last coronation was held on 4 June 2001 for

King Gyanendra Gyanendra Shah ( ne, ज्ञानेन्द्र शाह, born 7 July 1947) is a former monarch who was the last King of Nepal, reigning from 2001 to 2008. As a child, he was briefly king from 1950 to 1951, when his grandfather, Tribhuva ...

. The

Kingdom of Nepal The Kingdom of Nepal ( ne, नेपाल अधिराज्य), also known as the Gorkha Empire ( ne, गोरखा अधिराज्य) or Asal Hindustan ( ne, असल हिन्दुस्तान)(), was a Hindu king ...

was the last Hindu monarchy in the world at the time of its dissolution in 2008.

Preparations

The coronation would happen on a date selected by court

astrologers Astrology is a range of divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that claim to discern information about human affairs and terrestrial events by studying the apparent positions of celestial objects. Di ...

for its auspiciousness. On the chosen day, the new King would have eight different types of clay ceremoniously applied to parts of his body. He would then bathe in holy water before being sprinkled with a mixture of butter, milk, curd and honey by a representative of the four traditional varnas of the Hindu society – a ''

brahmin Brahmin (; sa, ब्राह्मण, brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a caste within Hindu society. The Brahmins are designated as the priestly class as they serve as priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari) and religious teachers (gur ...

'', a ''

kshatriya Kshatriya ( hi, क्षत्रिय) (from Sanskrit ''kṣatra'', "rule, authority") is one of the four varna (social orders) of Hindu society, associated with warrior aristocracy. The Sanskrit term ''kṣatriyaḥ'' is used in the con ...

'', a ''

vaishya Vaishya (Sanskrit: वैश्य, ''vaiśya'') is one of the four varnas of the Hindu social order in India. Vaishyas are classed third in the order of caste hierarchy. The occupation of Vaishyas consists mainly of agriculture, taking care ...

'' and a ''

shudra Shudra or ''Shoodra'' (Sanskrit: ') is one of the four '' varnas'' of the Hindu caste system and social order in ancient India. Various sources translate it into English as a caste, or alternatively as a social class. Theoretically, class ser ...

''.

Crowning ceremony

Only after these had been done was the King allowed to be crowned. At the most auspicious moment, selected by the astrologers, the King would be crowned by the royal priest with the Crown of Nepal, a large jewel-encrusted crown.

After the ceremony

The King's subjects, family and courtiers would salute him and there would be a parade. The King, royal family and other guests and courtiers would ride through the streets of the capital

Kathmandu , pushpin_map = Nepal Bagmati Province#Nepal#Asia , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = Bagmati Prov ...

on elephants.

Gallery

King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah in his coronation robe.png, The Coronation of

King Tribhuvan Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah ( ne, श्री ५ महाराजाधिराज त्रिभुवन वीर विक्रम शाह देव ) (30 June 1906 – 13 March 1955) was King of Nepal from 11 December 1911 until his ...

, aged 5, 1911 King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah and Queen Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Devi, shortly after the King’s coronation, 1955.jpg,

King Mahendra Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev ( ne, श्री ५ महाराजाधिराज महेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह देव; 11 June 1920 – 31 January 1972) was the King of Nepal from 13 March 1955 until ...

with his wife Queen Ratna during their coronation, 1955 Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.jpg, King Birendra depicted with the crown and sceptre in a portrait Medal, coronation (AM 2014.7.9-1).jpg, Medal commemorating the coronation of King Birendra, 1975

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coronation Of The Nepalese Monarch

Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...

Nepalese monarchy Ceremonies in Nepal