MSS EUR HODGSON/96 Buddhism, Newars: origin and religions, mythological and historical account of Nepal and legal courts of Nepal (Persian and Urdu manuscripts mostly translated from Nepali, Newari and Sanskrit) 1830s
Buddhism: prajnāpāramitā ff. 1-8, ṣaḍākṣarīmantra (Tibetan and Newari) ff. 9-15, Buddhism: miscellaneous and questions and answers, Buddhism: Tri-āṃnāyas, questions related to the origin of the Newars and their religion, account of Nepal by Sakar Ali (a merchant) and Munshi of the Residence named Madan, description of courts (adālat) ff. 16-20, miscellaneous material on Tibet or Bhoṭ; total folios: 186.
1[vol.96 fol(s)1-8b] Summary of the 14th Chapter of the Prajnāpāramitā and miscellaneous information on Buddhism Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hands, some pencil notes.
Farsi
Summary of the 14th chapter of the Prajñāpramitā translated into Persian from Tibetan and miscellaneous information on Buddhism, see also [vol 18/13 fol.270][vol 28/06 fol.21][vol 103/06 fol.28-37] ; Nepali, English and Persian title description.
2[vol.96 fol(s)9-18] Description of the ṣaḍākṣarī mantra and Padmapani Bodhisattva both from the tradition of the Bandyas (i.e. Bajracharyas and Shakyas) of Nepal and the Tibetans Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hands.
Farsi Sanskrit
Persian translation of the saḍākṣarī mantra and Padmapani Bodhisattva, both from the tradition of the Bandyas of Nepal and the Tibetans; original mantra in Sanskrit in various places; English and Persian title description.
3[vol.96 fol(s)19-35b] Questions and answers relating to the courts and their procedures Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair and rough hands mixed.
Farsi Hindi
Courts, law and powers of the tribunals and legal procedures including organisation of the police as found at different levels in the country.
4[vol.96 fol(s)36-41] English-Persian vocabulary and description of terms related to the titles of royalty, aristocracy, religious institutions, government officials and ordinary people Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hands.
Farsi
English-Persian vocabulary and description of terms related to the titles of royalty, aristocracy, religious institutions, government officials and ordinary people.
5[vol.96 fol(s)42-48] List of Tibetan Buddhist texts copied for Hodgson Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hands, folio 49 is blank.
Farsi Tibetan Farsi, Tibetan, script Persian
The list is in table form including number of volumes (pothī) for each title, serial number in previous and new series, total verses copied on number of pages, cost of copying in some cases.
6[vol.96 fol(s)50b-52b] Note on Dīpaṃkarayatrā (nowadays known normally as pañcadāna) of the Bandyas (Bajracharyas and Shakyas) of Nepal 08/04/1834 and 12/18/1834 Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hands.
Farsi
ff. 50-51b: Note on Dipankarayatra of the Bandyas celebrated on aṣṭamī (eighth day) of the waxing moon in Shravan (possibly the regular Panchadana rituals celebrated in Patan, Nagbahal nowadays?);
f. 52b: a note related to the expenses of the yātrā but without mention of figures.
7[vol.96 fol(s)53-56b] Notes on the funeral rite performed at the death of the daughter of a high Lama and the Bandya-bhoja (yātrā) 1834-1835 Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, neat and rough hands mixed.
Farsi
f. 53: Description of the funeral ceremony performed on the day of the death of the daughter of a high Lama and the rituals performed on the following days (Buddhist funeral ceremony);
ff. 54-55: Note on the Bandya-yatra or Bandya-bhoja celebrated on January 10, 1835 [vol 53/08 fol.37][vol 98/03 fol.55-56][vol 96/12 fol.78-93] ;
ff. 56a-56b: A rough copy of the description of the funeral ceremony mentioned above. Bandya-bhoja or yātrā here refer to feeding and donations (dāna) to monks. For discussion of the term Bandya, see the content summary of [vol 28/20 fol.56] .
8[vol.96 fol(s)57-58] A rough note on selected deities, different sub-sects, names of major Tibetan monasteries and the abbots of the monasteries Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hand.
Farsi
The note includes names of major Tibetan monasteries such as Tashilhunpo (in Sikache), deities like Sakya Thubpa, (Sakya-Thub-pa), Chokor, Kuntusangpo and the sects such as Ningma, Gelug, Sakya, Sarma, English title description but confusing.
9[vol.96 fol(s)59a and b] Menu of special food of the dīvāli day in the royal palace of Nepal Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hand.
Farsi
Menu of special food on the day of dīvāli (i.e. Lakṣmī pūja on the new moon day of Kartik) in the royal palace of Nepal.
10[vol.96 fol(s)60-73] Buddhist miscellaneous material including the description on the four saṃsāras, different types of jñānas and places of deities in monasteries and private houses Nepali hand-made paper, folio 74 is blank.
Farsi
The Buddhist saṃsāras described are: svabhāvika, aiśvarika, kārmika and jātika, similarly the jñānas included are: ādṛśa, pratyakṣaṇā, dharmadhātu, kṛtyānuṣṭhāna, samatā, one leaf is separated and misplaced at ff. 85-89 continuing the description of jātika saṃsāra. The four Buddhist saṃsāras described here are possibly the four 'world views' which Hodgson believed he had identified and found within the religion on the basis of his study of Newar Buddhism [vol 28/06 fol.21][vol 28/08 fol.28-34][vol 29/08 fol.19-21][vol 29/11 fol.54-101][vol 98/12 fol.71-207] (Buddhism and Buddhist philosophy).
11[vol.96 fol(s)75-77] List of major temples and important places of pilgrimage of Nepal Nepali hand-made paper properly restored, fair hand, folios not in order.
Farsi
Major temples and pilgrimage centres with names of deities and the description of different festivals and jātrās observed at those temples.
12[vol.96 fol(s)78-93] Miscellaneous items on Buddhism Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hand, the misplaced section (ff. 85-89) containing description of the jātika sāṃsāra is under Item 10 above.
Farsi
Items including the description of the 32 Buddhist lakṣaṇas (distinctive signs), good and bad karma, NewarBandyas (Newar Buddhist priests, also known as Bānḍyā or just Bānḍā) [vol 53/08 fol.37][vol 98/03 fol.55-56] , different Buddhist maṇḍalas and the designation of deities in the maṇḍalas, Prajnaparamita and Pancha-Buddha and different consorts or Taras.
13[vol.96 fol(s)94-101b] Account of Tibet 06/??/1831 Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, very neat hand.
Farsi
Account of Tibet including the detailed description of provinces, cities, villages, mountains, mountain passes, lakes, ponds, animals, wild-life, natural resources, customs, forts, different classes of people, religions including monasteries, trade and commerce, currency, agriculture, administration and judiciary, art and architecture; English title description incomplete (folio 98).
14[vol.96 fol(s)102-104b] Genealogy of the Gorkha rulers and the family names of the Khasas Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, very neat hand.
Farsi
Genealogy of the rulers of Gorkha and selected family names of the Khasas of Nepal.
15[vol.96 fol(s)106-128b] Questions and answers about Buddhism Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, very rough hand.
Farsi
Questions include customs and practices of Newar Buddhists (life-cycle rituals), different festivals (yātras) and fasts observed in different months, four āśramas (stages of life), forms of worships and prayers, Hindu and Buddhist deities (both male and female); English title description (Buddhism).
16[vol.96 fol(s)129-130b] List of different yātras (festivals) and Temples Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, fair hand.
Farsi
Different pilgrimage centres, temples and the yatrās (festivals) observed at those places in different months.
17[vol.96 fol(s)131-145] Miscellaneous notes on Buddhism particularly from Guṇakāraṇḍavyūha Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, very rough hand.
Farsi Sanskrit
Excerpts from the text of Guṇakāraṇḍavyūha relating to different names of pre-Buddhas, Dhyaniī and Manushi Buddhas, Boddhisattvas, names of different hells, religious terms; for other entries relating to Guṇakāraṇḍavyūha, see [vol 26/24 fol.132-135][vol 28/09 fol.36-37][vol 29/16 fol.157-158] .
18[vol.96 fol(s)146-153] Buddhist Account of Nepal Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, mostly fair hand.
Farsi Sanskrit
Descriptions of customs and manners of Buddhist Newars, Buddhist account of Nepal with collections of popular legends dealing with the origin of the kingdom and religion probably from Svayaṃbhūpurāṇa[vol 07/27 fol.165-170][vol 18/05 fol.27-99][vol 18/10 fol.158-175][vol 20/02 fol.62-102][vol 21/04 fol.14-18][vol 21/06 fol.25-57][vol 27/03 fol.21-34][vol 30/02 fol.3-22] ; English title description (Newar Buddhists).
19[vol.96 fol(s)154-161] List of commodities imported from Calcutta to Nepal Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, very neat hand.
Farsi
Extensive list of commodities with prices in local and Nepali currencies, cost of transportation from Calcutta to Nepal, prices paid in Calcutta market and the final price calculated in Kathmandu; merchandise included are: fabrics, spices, nuts, pulses, herbs, opium, vermillion powder and indigo.
20[vol.96 fol(s)162-180b] Account of Nepal by the merchant Sakar Ali and Munshi of the British Residency named Madan Nepali hand-made paper, heavily brittled and rotten, but properly restored, fair hand.
Farsi
Account including history, geography, religion, government administration including courts and judicial system, agriculture and products, economy including details of trade and commerce, imports and exports, taxes, army, ethnic groups; English title description with the names of the authors.
21[vol.96 fol(s)181-186] Listing of villages, cities, forts, waterfronts or landing places (ghāṭ), and their geographical locations from East to West and a list of royal relatives (Chautariyas) and high officials Nepali hand-made paper, properly restored, very neat hand.
Farsi
ff. 181-185b: Listing of places from East to West by dividing the geographic locations on the basis of the major rivers;
ff. 185b-186: List of the royal relatives (Chautariyas = collateral brothers of the king) and high officials including names of Pushkar Shah, Phatyajang Shah (Prime Minister who died in the Kot massacre), Shamsher Shah, Pran Shah, Jiv Shah and names from old Khajāñchi (treasurer of the state) families: Harihar Padhya, Shivananda Padhya, Chandrasekhar Padhya, Shrikanta Padhya, Shah, Phatyajang (often written as Fateh Jang).