Bhupatindra Malla (Nepal Bhasa: ; 3 November 1674 – 19 May 1722) was a Malla Dynasty King of the Kingdom of Bhaktapur (present day Bhaktapur, Nepal) who reigned from 1696 until his death in 1722. He is the most widely known king of Bhaktapur and is among the most popular of the Malla dynasty. He is popularly known in Bhaktapur as nepaḥ juju, meaning the king of the Newars. His reign was characterized by the construction of numerous palaces and temples with the Nyatapola temple being his most revered contribution. An integral part of the local folklore, Bhupatindra Malla is regarded as a great builder and a lover of arts whose reign is considered the cultural high point of Bhaktapur.
His parents, Jitamitra and Lālamati, wanted him to be a skilled ruler and since childhood he was given a chance to rule alongside his father. He was also keen on building, having built a hiti and a public shelter (called a phalcā in Nepal Bhasa) at Thimi as a prince. His most famous contributions are the Nyatapola Temple, a Nepalese-style five-storey temple completed in a six month period between 1702 and 1703 and the palace of fifty-five windows, both of which are often considered an apogee of Nepalese architecture. He was also an avid lyricist and playwright with some of his songs still being sung in Bhaktapur. Bhupatindra Malla was also a politically strong figure in the Nepal Valley and established the reputation of Bhaktapur as a strong military principality similar to that of Kantipur. He has been described by Ippolito Desideri as "the first ruler of Bhaktapur to not pay tribute to the king of Kantipur". Bhupatindra Malla is among the most popular and influential of the Malla kings and also has great cultural importance in Bhaktapur. The silhouette of his gold-plated bronze statue at the royal palace complex is often used by various organizations and corporations as a symbol to represent Bhaktapur.
Early years
Bhupatindra Malla was born to Jitamitra Malla and Lālamati on kārtika śukla khaṣṭhī (or the sixth day of the bright half of the month of kārtika) in Nepal Sambat 795, translating to 3 November 1674 on the Gregorian calendar. Bhupatindra Malla was most likely the second male child of Jitamitra Malla and Lālamati. A contemporary ledger book (dhala pau in Nepal bhasa) translated by historian Cundā Bajrācārya contains the expenditure of two post-natal ceremonies of a nameless prince prior to the birth of Bhupatindra Malla. One of these ceremonies, the fruit feeding phalaprāsana ceremony was conducted on pauṣa śudi of Nepal Sambat 794 or around January of 1673 while the other ceremony, Annaprashana (jarakō in Classical Nepal Bhasa) is mentioned as: The Jarakō ceremony of the thākura (prince) of Sri Sri Jitamitra Malla was done by the royal priest Shidharatās during the Akshaya Tritiya of Nepal Sambat 795. As per the ledger, the Jarakō ceremony was conducted on 29 April 1674, a few months before Bhupatindra's birth. Since the word thākura was used to describe the prince, it was certain that he was the legitimate eldest son of Jitamitra Malla and his queen consort Lālamati. Apart from the ledger book, this prince finds no mention in any other documents or inscriptions which might suggest a premature death. Bhupatindra Malla being the second child is further supported by his birth chart, where him being the eldest child of Jitamitra Malla is not mentioned. Similarly, Bhupatindra Malla had one sibling–an older sister named Bhānumati.
Bhupatindra Malla was raised by his mother Lālamati who played a very important role to shape the psychology of the young prince. Lālamati was a powerful figure herself and is known to have helped her husband, Jitamitra Malla, in his construction works. Lālamati was a connoisseur of arts and to her are attributed at least four pairs of gold-plated bronze sculptures of herself and her husband, most of them consecrated after her husband's death.