472 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. {N.S., XIX, 
sufficient for the new needs brought about by family lie, 
and had to adopt secular professions. In this way the Bandyas 
formed into a clearly defined social class, and the material 
condition of their existence, added to an imitation of Brahmans, 
quickly hardened class into caste. The religious aristocracy 
thus formed regarded the ordinary layman as inferior, and 
the very natural unwillingness to share the privileges they 
possessed because of their former condition made the caste 
bonds more rigorous. Finally. the arts exercised in the con- 
vents, transmitted from father to son, attained a high degree 
of excellence, and as the knowledge was kept a secret in the 
monasteries, finally became monopolies. 
On the other hand. the royal families of Nepal,the Lich- 
ehhavis (as well as Mallas) could scarcely obtain acceptance as 
true Ksatriyas without opposition. ‘Their names were too well 
by Manu among inferior castes as Vratya or fallen Ksatriyas. 
o wipe out this stain and take their rightful place among 
him seven castes, the Brahmans, Bhadelas (?), Acharyas. Jaisis, 
Vaidyas, Rajakas and Khadgis (butchers). This actual caste 
element introduced into the population leavened the whole 
ass. The work of Harisimhadeva was completed by the 
royal Jayasthiti Malla, who invited to his court learned Brah- 
mans from India to draw up a systematic rule of castes and 
customs,! a 
e recent conquest of Nepal by the stricter Hindus, the 
Gurkhas, has helped the growth of Brahmanic ascendancy still 
noi to the detriment of Bauddha religion, customs and social 
rules. 


cera le 
1 §, Lévi: Vol I, «* La population ; les nevars.” 
