It is said that Guru Gorakhnath predicted to King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Nepal Monarchy that his lineage will have to leave the throne after 10 generations.
The most renowned king in Nepal’s history is Prithvi Narayan Shah, celebrated as the Father of the Nation for unifying a land once fragmented into 54 small kingdoms. Born in 1723 to King Narabhupal Shah and Queen Kaushalyavati Devi, Prithvi Narayan Shah became the ruler of the small kingdom of Gorkha at the age of 20. Even as a child, he displayed exceptional leadership, military skill, and administrative talent.
The Unification of Nepal
In the very year after he became king, he began his mission
to unify Nepal. His campaign started with the attack on Nuwakot in 1744. By 1768,
after capturing Kathmandu, and soon after Patan and Bhaktapur, his dream of a
unified Nepal became reality. He established Kathmandu as the capital and
became the first monarch of unified Nepal. Nepal celebrates January 11, his
birthday, as National Unification Day. In his final years, Shah convened a
council of ministers and royal family members—called the Bhardari Sabha—to
advise on Nepal’s future. These teachings were later compiled into a book
titled “Dibya Upadesh” (Divine Counsels).
Prithvi Narayan Shah passed away on January 11, 1775, on his
own birthday. His son, Pratap Singh Shah, succeeded him, continuing the royal
lineage.
The Legend of Prithvi Narayan Shah and Guru Gorakhnath
A famous folktale connects Prithvi Narayan Shah with Guru
Gorakhnath, a revered yogi and saint of the Nath tradition. Though a legend, it
is said to carry a prophetic truth.
Guru Gorakhnath, a great yogi revered across India, Nepal,
and Tibet, is associated with the famous Gorakhnath Temple and Monastery in
Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh. The Shah kings of Nepal, including Prithvi Narayan
Shah, were devoted followers of the saint.
According to the tale, during his childhood Prithvi Narayan
once saw Gorakhnath deep in meditation inside a cave. When the boy approached,
the yogi asked him to bring some curd. Prithvi ran to the palace, returned with
a clay pot of curd, and offered it to him.
After drinking some, Gorakhnath handed the vessel back and
asked Prithvi to drink the rest. But the young prince hesitated, and the pot
slipped, spilling curd over all ten toes of his foot.
Smiling, Gorakhnath said:
“The curd has fallen on your feet. Wherever your feet step,
you will conquer. But remember—curd touched all ten toes. After ten
generations, in the eleventh, your dynasty will fall.”
As legend would have it, the prophecy came true.
In 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra shot and killed King
Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, and several family members inside Narayanhiti Palace
before taking his own life. Within a few years, the Nepalese monarchy came to
an end.