Malla

The capital of Malla was Kushinagar. The Sanskrit language was mostly spoken in this kingdom. People followed Jainism and Buddhism. According to Agutara Nikaya, Malla was one of the Solasa mahajanapadas. Mahabharata referred to the kingdom as Maharashtra. Malla was situated on the north side of Magadh. Mahajanapada (Malla) was divided into two parts, and the river Kakuttha(kuku) flowed between the two parts.  Padrauna and Kasia were the two capitals of the parts. The name of the town was 

• First- Pava
• Second- Kushinagar
• Third- Anupiya
• Forth- Uruvela Kappa
• Fifth- Bhoganagara

History 

Gautam Buddha took his last meal at Kushinagar and felt sick at Pava, and went to his Mahaparinirvana in Kushinagar; that’s why Pava and Kushinagar are very important for Buddhism. After the demise of Gautam Buddha, mallas wanted to keep the ashes, but other kingdoms wanted them too. And a war resulted, which surrounded Kushinagar. Finally, an agreement was released, and cremation relics of Buddha were divided among his disciples and some royal families. It was idolised by 84,000 Stupas by King Ashoka over the centuries. The Siege of Kushinagar is shown on a view in Sanchi, which relies on ancient Indian construction. In the Pava of Malla Mahajanapada, the 24th Jain Tirthankara Mahavir Swami achieved Nirvana and Kushinagar. 

Mallas 

Mallas were a tribal people who were residing in the northern parts of today’s Bihar in the era of Gautam Budhha in 6th-4th century B.C.E. The two most important towns of them were Pava and Kushinagar.

The Mallas were a powerful tribe of the eastern part of India. Mallas has an assembly with a government in republican form.

The Magadha empire conquered the mallas, and they lost their independence in the time of Buddha itself.

In Mahabharat, it is mentioned that Bhim (Second Pandava) had dominated the chief of Mallas during his exploration of the eastern side.

Nepal was ruled by the Malla dynasty from the 10th century to 1769. They introduced the first social and legal code motivated by modern Hindu practices, and they were supporters of architecture and art.

Mahabharat acknowledges Mallas, along with Kalingas, Vangas, and Angas as eastern folks. The dominion of Mallas consists of nine territories. Manushruti acknowledged mallas like Lichhavis as Vratya Kshatriyas.

In Mahaparinibbana Suttanta, they are referred to as Vashishtha. The character of Mallas was brave. In the beginning, there were monarchical forms of government, but later on, they shifted to a republic/ non-monarchical form, of which members were called the Raja.  Mallas have also been cited in Agutara Nikaya. Many malls are followers of Buddhism and Jainism. 

Malla Yuddha

It is the traditional form of wrestling that emerged in India. In the 13th century Malla Purana, Indian wrestling is depicted. Malla Yuddha is closely related to naban, a southeast Asian wrestling style. Malla Yuddha includes punching, choking, biting, wrestling, joint breaking, and pressure point striking. Traditional matches were codified into four types.

Malla Yuddha is divided into four categories:

1. JambuVati– uses locks and clasps to force the competitor into submission. 
2. Bhimseni– concentrates on shear strength. 
3. Hanumati– focuses on technical superiority. 
4. Jarasandhi– focuses on breaking the joints and limbs while fighting. 

Malla Era History of Nepalese 

The Malla dynasty was the ruling dynasty of Nepal from 1201 to 1769. The Malla era is the period of the history of Nepal in which Kathmandu was ruled by Malla. Ruler of Malla Jaya Stithi introduced social and legal codes strongly influenced by Hindu practices. In the era of mallas, people who were living near and around Kathmandu began to be known as Newar. 

At the beginning of the 18th century, Gurkhas began to contest Mallas. Mallas at that time were weakened by familial conflicts and economic and social umbrage. Mallas were defeated by Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1769, who was the leader of the Gurkhas. Around 1200 in Kathmandu, the Valley, the first Malla king came into power. Malla’s period was almost 60 years long. 

Conclusion

Malla was an ancient republic that was among the sixteen mahajanapadas. Gautam Buddha and Mahavir Swami both attained Nirvana in this kingdom. Malla means wrestler in the Sanskrit language. The term Malla was first used in 1201 in Kathmandu Valley. It was a golden era that continued for 600 years. Mallas were originally Maithili. Mallas were known for the Maithili language, which had equal rights to the Sanskrit language in the court of mallas.