Rajamati

I think we’ve all heard the song of Rajamati growing up. It is so popular that many people in Nepal claim this is the only Newari song that they have heard. The song was written some 200 years back. The first few lines go like this, which I’m sure you must have heard of, unless you’ve been living under a rock:

Rājamati kumati, jike wasā pirati

Hāya bābā Rājamati-chā

Rājamati mabila dhāsā Kāshi wane tela bubā

Hayā biu Rājamati-chā.

San dhāsā kuli kuli, mikhā dhāsā bālā bālā

Sakumi yā mhyāy machā lā

Khwā dhāsā tuyu khwā, khwālay niga tee du

Tāhā Nani yā Rājamati-chā.

It is said to be written by or rather from the perspective of a man who was infatuated and in awe of the beauty of Rajamati. He describes with great admiration: her hair, her eyes, her complexion and the little moles on her face. However it is unknown who the writer of this beautiful song is. The song rushed into popularity after it was played in England in 1850 when Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana visited there and recorded for the first time on a gramophone in Calcutta in 1962.

The tale goes that Rajamati was this beautiful girl who caught the attention of many. She resided in Itumbahal where she slipped and fell flat on her back while fetching water from Maruhiti (as the song depicts). Enchanted by her beauty, the creator of the song wants to marry Rajamati and threatens that should he not get her, he would go to Kashi (Varanasi) to become ascetic.  Word was Rajamati was so beautiful that men would flock at her house to ask for her hand in marriage and to woo her. The tale goes on to say that the whereabouts of Rajamati were a mystery after she was given off in marriage by a devious matchmaker to a place without the traditional aakhijhiya/ tikijhiya (decorative window).

In 1995, a movie was released from the same name based on the story of Rajamati. It was the 2^nd film ever to be made in Nepal bhasa after Silu.

The movie casted Hishila Maharjan as Rajamati and was quite a hit. I watched the movie a couple of years ago and came to know that the house shown during the opening scene of the movie is the actual house of Rajamati at Itumbahal. If you’ve watched the movie, you might find a few differences between the movie and what the folk actually says about Rajamati. The movie shows a different perception of the story. But then again, it is just a movie.

I was curious enough when I watched the movie and found the difference, but my curiosity got the best of me when I came across the article published in ECS about Rajamati and her home in Itumbahal. 

This article “Where Rajamati Lived” speaks of Punya Ratna Shakya who claims to be a descendant of the legendary beauty. Shakya shares that Rajamati was his grandfather’s aunt. They are originally from Sankhu but were brought to ItumBahal to take care of the Kichandra Bihar. Shakya also shares that the curly hair and the moles on the cheek have been inherited by his daughter too. All of these clearly can be related with the song. 

Having read the article, I could not help but go take a peek by myself. The road there can be confusing: taking the lane right behind the Aakash Bhairab Temple in Indrachowk. A little farther into the alley, a turn will lead you into Itumbahal. In one of the small chowks of Itumbahal still stands the house where Rajamati resided. The house is not in good condition, if I have to be honest with you. And the house has already been sold off as well. Now the house is owned by Prithvi Narayan Maharjan, bought in the 1990s. A part of me was thankful that it still existed despite the earthquake. The house had to be sold off due to family poverty and so is the case with the jewelry that Rajamati intentionally left behind apparently.

Given that the place is popular by the name of Rajamati, the Bahal has been decorated with the legendary name.

The Keschandra Paravatra Mahavihar also known as the Kichandra Bahal that Shakya spoke of is close to the mentioned Rajamati residence.

Prior to the release of this movie, the painting of Rajamati was released: created by Udaya Charan Shrestha, one of the most popular artists in Nepal. This oil canvas painting poster created quite a buzz back then. A brief conversation with the artist led me to know that every newspaper and media was filled with the news of this movie coming up. 

This is the oil painting created by Udaya Charan Shrestha complete with the beautiful ornaments as shown in the painting. 
As forwarded by the artist, this is a brief glimpse of the research that went prior to the creation of this beautiful painting.

According to this “tamsuk” found in the department of Archaelogy by Mr Shrestha, evidence points to a woman named Rajamati Bada, a widow in the year 1892 selling her house in Lagan tole with her son and her uncle in law as witnesses to the sale. This depicts that Rajamati could have been married off to Lagan Tole. We can only assume if this is what happened. However, no one knows for sure where she ended up post her marriage and it saddens me that there is no way to know either.

Although you can find translations of the song, different versions of the song adapted over time, and the limited story that we know; that is about it, that is all there is to know. All that we are left with is a classic song of the legendary beauty.