The Licchavis (लिच्छवि) claimed descent from the famous republic of Vaishali in Bihar — the clan of the Buddha's own era. Historians treat the claim as legitimizing mythology with a plausible kernel: the name is genuine, the precise bloodline is unverifiable. What is certain is when Nepal entered written history — 464 CE, Licchavi Samvat 386, when King Manadeva I (मानदेव प्रथम) raised a Garuda-pillar inscription at Changu Narayan (चाँगुनारायण).लिच्छविहरूले वैशालीको गणराज्यबाट आएको दाबी गरे — बुद्धकालकै विख्यात वंश। इतिहास लेखिन भने सन् ४६४ बाट सुरु भयो — मानदेवको चाँगुनारायण स्तम्भबाट।
An even older epigraph exists — an inscription of King Jayavarma (जयवर्मा) of 185 CE, found at Maligaon, the oldest physical record of the valley — but it is undated in its own right. Samudragupta's Allahabad pillar (c. 350–380 CE) also lists Nepāla among the frontier states paying tribute to the Guptas. Nepal was already on the map; Manadeva made it speak.झन् पुरानो अभिलेख पनि छ — १८५ का जयवर्माको। र समुद्रगुप्तको अलाहाबाद स्तम्भमा 'नेपाल' नाम उल्लेख छ। तर नेपाल 'बोल्न' भने ४६४ बाट सुरु भयो।
What the Pillar Saysस्तम्भले के भन्छ
- ◆A genealogy: Vrsadeva (वृषदेव) — "a lamp of the Licchavi lineage" — his son Shankaradeva (शंकरदेव), his son Dharmadeva (धर्मदेव), and Manadeva himself
- ◆The famous episode of Queen Rajyavati (राज्यवती), who intended to mount her husband's funeral pyre but was persuaded to live for the sake of the infant Manadeva
- ◆Conquests: campaigns east toward the Kosi, north to the Himalaya and the Gandaki — imperial titles paramabhattāraka-mahārājādhirāja
- ◆The installation of the Garuda image for Vishnu at Changu Narayan — and the standard Licchavi curse formula against anyone who destroys the grant
The Licchavi Kingsलिच्छवि राजाहरू
"Before 464, Nepal's history is remembered. After 464, it is recorded.
४६४ अघि नेपालको इतिहास सम्झिएको छ; ४६४ पछि लेखिएको छ।