Rajbhandari

Rajbhandari (राजभण्डारी) is a Newar surname of people originating from Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.^[1] It is said that the Malla king, Jayasthiti Malla, appointed treasurers to look after the wealth. The king honored them with the title of “Bhandari”. As time passed, the Bhandari were replaced by the Raj-bhandari.^[2] Rajbhandaris continue to perform their traditional profession as assistant priests and treasurers of Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu. Presently, 108 Rajbhandaris perform rituals as assistant priests to the various temples in the Pashupati area. Rajbhandari belong to the high-caste "Chathariya" (छथरीय/क्षत्रीय) sub-group of Shrestha (श्रेष्ठ) caste who among other surnames such as Malla (मल्ल), Māskay (मास्के), Joshi (जोशी), Pradhānanga (प्रधानांग), Pradhān (प्रधान), Acharya/Karmāchārya (आचार्य), Amātya (अमात्य), Vaidhya (वैद्य), etc.^[3] They are considered as “Brahmaputra Kshatri (ब्रह्मपुत्र क्षत्री)” who are required to wear “Janai” (the sacred thread) around their neck. In modern times, the tradition became less strict. Surnames "Bhani (भनी)", Talchabhari (ताल्चाभारी)", "Bhandel/Bhadel (भँडेल/भदेल)" are all local variants of "Rajbhandari".^[1]

Originally, three types of Rajbhandari lived in Nepal according to their “Gotra” (lineage) and the social status

Rajbhandari of Bhadgaon (Bhaktapur): Bhāradwaja
Rajbhandari of Kantipur (Kathmandu): Kāsyapa
Rajbhandari of Lalitpattan (Lalitpur): Kashib

Famous Personalities

Gehendra Bahadur Rajbhandari - "Senior Minister", Acting Prime Minister of Nepal, 1970-71.
Phatteman Rajbhandari - Popular singer, musician
Kaji Manik Lal Rajbhandari - Bada Kaji, senior bureaucrat
Sonie Rajbhandari - Miss Nepal International 2014

References

^ ^a ^b Levy, Robert I. (1990). Mesocosm Hinduism and the Organization of a Traditional Newar City in Nepal. University of California Press.
^ Gellner, David (1986). Language, caste, religion and territory: Newar identity ancient and modern. Cambridge University Press.
^ Dor Bahadur Bista (People of Nepal)

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[Levy_1990-1] Levy, Robert I. (1990). Mesocosm Hinduism and the Organization of a Traditional Newar City in Nepal. University of California Press.

[Gellner-2] Gellner, David (1986). Language, caste, religion and territory: Newar identity ancient and modern. Cambridge University Press.

[3] Dor Bahadur Bista (People of Nepal)

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