Documents on Elephants

Elephants possess a special role in the history of Nepal as a symbol of royalty, for their use in battles and hunting, or as a gift. They are well documented from Licchavi and Malla times. However, only from the Śāhā and Rāṇā periods onwards do we learn actual details about the functional keeping of elephants.

DNA_0001_0005: An arjī from Raṇadala Pā̃ḍe re the capturing of elephants (VS 1894)

DNA_0001_0010: An arjī by Raṇadala Pā̃ḍe to King Surendra re the description of elephants captured (VS 1897)

DNA_0001_0024: A letter by Kesara Siṃ Rāu re dowry given to the daughter of Śyāma Siṃ (VS 1893)

DNA_0002_0025: A letter by Vidyāvatī Devī to King Rājendra on living arrangements in Banaras (VS 1882)

DNA_0002_0071: A letter from Nagendrarāja Paṇḍita to Commander-in-Chief General Raṇa Uddīpa Siṃha re a fight between elephants (VS 1923)

DNA_0005_0048: An arjī of Mohana Siṃha on the receipt of an elephant (VS 1882)