Image title: Inscribed stone slab (2)

This photograph depicts a Shilapatra or “inscribed stone slab”.—The central shilapatra, decorated with a garlanded sword, emblems of the sun and moon, and surrounded with vines was erected near Svayambhu in A.D.1836 in the reign of Rajendra Vikram Shah. It records the meritorious act of repairing a public rest-house (dharmashala/dharamshala) for the eternal welfare of a deceased grandson of a Buddhist family. Effigies of the donors inscribed with their names are carved below. The script is Newari, the language Sanskrit and Newari.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.