Jump to content

Shrestha: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
m Undid revision 627038163 by Shrofshrs (talk) undone of vandalism
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Line 34: Line 34:


*[[Jagat Lal Shrestha]] – Educator, author
*[[Jagat Lal Shrestha]] – Educator, author
*[[Chris Saverino]] – [[Honorary Shrestha]]
*[[Sarita Shrestha]] – First [[Ayurvedacharya|Ayurvedic physician]], OB/GYN of Nepal
*[[Sarita Shrestha]] – First [[Ayurvedacharya|Ayurvedic physician]], OB/GYN of Nepal
*[[Bishnu Shrestha]] – Nepali soldier in Indian Army
*[[Bishnu Shrestha]] – Nepali soldier in Indian Army

Revision as of 17:22, 25 September 2014

Shrēṣṭha (Nepali: श्रेष्ठ) is a Newar (Newar: नेवा) surname meaning "most excellent" or "Noble" in Sanskrit.[1] Prior to the unification of modern Nepal, Shresthas served as administrators and courtiers in the court of the Malla Kings of Nepal.[2] After the unification of Nepal, Shresthas took up business and trading since the former position as administrators and courtiers were supplanted by the invading Gorkha forces.[3] Shresthas are now one of the most dynamic communities of Nepal and have excelled in professional careers such as medicine, civil aviation, science and technology, government service as well as finance and banking.

Language, culture and religion

Shresthas are one of the oldest community groups in Nepal. They are a part of the Newar community of Kathmandu valley. As with all Newars, their mother tongue is Nepal Bhasa, one of the Tibeto-Burman languages. Shresthas are mostly Hindu (shiva margi) or Buddhist (buddha margi).Even hindu shresthas worship buddist shrines as a part of their own religion (culture).

According to historians, the word "Shrestha" is derived from the Nepal Bhasha word "Syashya" which is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Shrestha".[clarification needed] Similarly, "Shrestha" may also have been a derivative of the word "Sheshya" which means warrior. Syashyas served as administrators and courtiers during the rule of the Malla Newar kings that ruled Nepal for six hundred years – known as the "Golden Era" of Nepal – when much of the cultural and architectural development of Nepal took place. They took a prominent role in the governance and administration of the nation and fought against the Gorkha invasion and stopped it. They also contributed to protect their country Nepal from external powers like the Mughal and British. In the pre-historic and mid-historic periods, they used to be excellent Lhasa Newar businessmen. The surname Shrestha was later used for them for their excellence in living after the increase of Indo-Aryan domination.

Notable people include:

Politics and civil administration

Arts, literature and culture

Public figures

References

  1. ^ "Sanskrit dictionary". Sanskritdictionary.com. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Shrestha, Name Meaning, Origin, Detailed Name Information & Meaning of Names at NameLab". Genealogy.familyeducation.com. Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  3. ^ Wright, Daniel (1877). "History of Nepal with an Introductory Sketch of the Country and People of Nepal". Cambridge. Retrieved 23 September 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help) Page 86.
  4. ^ Shrestha, Buddhi Narayan (2003). Border management of Nepal (1st ed.). Kathmandu: Bhumichitra. ISBN 978-9993357421. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  5. ^ Shrestha, Buddhi Narayan (2009). Bharat-Nepal Simawarti Bandh (Indo-Nepal Frontier Dam) (1st ed.). Bhumichitra Co. ASIN B004UC58RO. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)