Sankhadhar Sakhwa

<strong>Sankhadhar Sākhwā</strong> (also spelt Sankhadhar Sākhwāl) was a legendary Nepalese philanthropist who is believed to have paid the debts of the Nepalese people in 879 A.D.<span class="ref" data-source="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51748" data-title="Sankhadhar Sakhwa | The Rising Nepal" data-published="" data-retrieved="24 Nov 2024"></span> This event is commemorated as the beginning of the epoch of Nepal's national calendar year Nepal Sambat.<span class="ref" data-source="https://www.enepalese.com/2023/11/408786.html" data-title="Nepal Sambat | eNepalese" data-published="" data-retrieved="30 Nov 2023"></span>

Sankhadhar Sakhwa

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Sankhadhar Sakhwa

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<tr><~~td>~~<b>Birthplace</b></td>~~<td>Kathmandu~~(~~Modern Day~~ Nepal)</td></tr>

<tr><th scope="row">Birthplace</th><td>Kathmandu (modern-day Nepal)</td></tr>

<tr><th scope="row">Nationality</th><td>Nepali</td></tr>

<tr><~~td>~~<b>Occupation</~~b></td~~><td>Philanthropist</td></tr>

<tr><th scope="row">Occupation</th><td>Philanthropist</td></tr>

<tr><~~td>~~<b>Nationality</~~b></td~~><td>Nepali</td></tr>

<tr><~~td>~~<b>Known for</~~b></td~~><td>~~starting~~ the Nepal Sambat, Nepal~~'~~s indigenous lunar calendar era.</td></tr>

<tr><th scope="row">Known for</th><td>Starting the Nepal Sambat, Nepal’s indigenous lunar calendar era</td></tr>

<tr><td><b>Awards</b></td><td>National Hero Of Nepal</td></tr>

<tr><th scope="row">Honours</th><td>National Hero of Nepal</td></tr>

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Sankhadhar Sākhwā (also spelt Sankhadhar Sākhwāl) was a legendary Nepalese philanthropist who is believed to have paid the debts of the Nepalese people in 879 A.D. This event is commemorated as the beginning of the epoch of Nepal's national calendar year Nepal Sambat.

<h2>Legend and legacy</h2>

According to Bhāsā Vamsāwali and Rājbhogmālā Vamsāwali, in A.D. 879, an astrologer from Bhaktapur, or Bhādgāon, had predicted that the sand at the confluence of the Vishnumati and the Bhadrāmati rivers would turn into gold if gathered at the right moment. So Rājā Ānanda Malla, the then king of Bhaktapur sent out his workers in search of this extraordinary sand, who were witnessed by Sākhwā, then a local merchant.<span class="ref" data-source="https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfNepal/page/n199/mode/2up" data-title="History of Nepal – Archived Source (page n199)" data-published="" data-retrieved="14 Jan 2026"></span>

According to Bhāsā Vamsāwali and Rājbhogmālā Vamsāwali, in A.D. 879, an astrologer from Bhaktapur, or Bhādgāon, had predicted that the sand at the confluence of the Vishnumati and the Bhadrāmati rivers would turn into gold if gathered at the right moment. So Rājā Ānanda Malla, the then king of Bhaktapur sent out his workers in search of this extraordinary sand, who were witnessed by Sākhwā, then a local merchant. Legend has it that he had only curiously bought some of it from the king's workers. Surprisingly however, the next day, Sākhwā found that only his sand but not the king's had turned into gold. In an act of great compassion, however, instead of using the gold for himself, he used iOn 18 November A.D. 1999 (Vikram Samvat 2056–08–02), the government of Nepal officially acknowledged and declared Sankhadhar Sākhwā as one of the National Heroes of Nepal. On 26 October A.D. 2003, Nepal's Department of Postal Service also issued a postage stamp depicting his portrait, commemorating Sākhwā’s generous, compassionate philanthropyt to pay off every other Nepali's debts towards the king and offered it to him, therefore giving the Nepali people as well as the king a reason to dedicate and mark an era in this act of great generosity.

Legend has it that he had only curiously bought some of it from the king's workers. Surprisingly however, the next day, Sākhwā found that only his sand but not the king's had turned into gold. In an act of great compassion, however, instead of using the gold for himself, he used it to pay off every other Nepali's debts towards the king and offered it to him, therefore giving the Nepali people as well as the king a reason to dedicate and mark an era in this act of great generosity.<span class="ref" data-source="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51748" data-title="Sankhadhar Sakhwa | The Rising Nepal" data-published="" data-retrieved="24 Nov 2024"></span>

<h2 id="references">References</h2><ol class="references"><li id="ref-1"><a href="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51748" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sankhadhar Sakhwa</a> <small>(The Rising Nepal, Accessed 2024-11-24)</small></li><li id="ref-2"><a href="https://www.enepalese.com/2023/11/408786.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nepal Sambat</a> <small>(eNepalese, Accessed 2023-11-30)</small></li><li id="ref-3"><a href="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51314" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nepali Bhasa in curriculum</a> <small>(The Rising Nepal, Accessed 2024-11-02)</small></li></ol>

On 18 November A.D. 1999 (Vikram Samvat 2056–08–02), the government of Nepal officially acknowledged and declared Sankhadhar Sākhwā as one of the National Heroes of Nepal.<span class="ref" data-source="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51314" data-title="Nepali Bhasa in curriculum | The Rising Nepal" data-published="" data-retrieved="02 Nov 2024"></span> On 26 October A.D. 2003, Nepal's Department of Postal Service also issued a postage stamp depicting his portrait, commemorating Sākhwā’s generous, compassionate philanthropy.<span class="ref" data-source="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51314" data-title="Nepali Bhasa in curriculum | The Rising Nepal" data-published="" data-retrieved="02 Nov 2024"></span>

+Added: <strong>Sankhadhar Sākhwā</strong> (also spelt Sankhadhar Sākhwāl) was a legendary Nepalese philanthropist who is believed to have paid the debts of the Nepalese people in 879 A.D.<span class="ref" data-source="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51748" data-title="Sankhadhar Sakhwa | The Rising Nepal" data-published="" data-retrieved="24 Nov 2024"></span> This event is commemorated as the beginning of the epoch of Nepal's national calendar year Nepal Sambat.<span class="ref" data-source="https://www.enepalese.com/2023/11/408786.html" data-title="Nepal Sambat | eNepalese" data-published="" data-retrieved="30 Nov 2023"></span>
+Added: <div class="infobox" lang="en">
+Added:  <h2 data-infobox-title style="text-align:center; margin:0 0 10px; font-size:1.2em;">
+Added:  Sankhadhar Sakhwa
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+Added:  src="https://media.wikinp.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/sankhadhar-sakhwa.jpg"
+Added:  alt="Sankhadhar Sakhwa"
+Added:  title="Sankhadhar Sakhwa – Founder of Nepal Sambat"
+Added:  style="border-radius: 6px; display:block; margin:0 auto; max-width:100%; height:auto;"
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+Added:  <figcaption style="font-size:13.5px; color:#444; margin-top:6px;">
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+Added:  <table aria-label="Sankhadhar Sakhwa details">
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-Deleted:  <tr><td><b>Born</b></td><td>879 A.D</td></tr>
+Added:  <tr><th scope="row">Born</th><td>879 A.D</td></tr>
-Deleted:  <tr><td><b>Birthplace</b></td><td>Kathmandu(Modern Day Nepal)</td></tr>
+Added:  <tr><th scope="row">Birthplace</th><td>Kathmandu (modern-day Nepal)</td></tr>
+Added:  <tr><th scope="row">Nationality</th><td>Nepali</td></tr>
-Deleted:  <tr><td><b>Occupation</b></td><td>Philanthropist</td></tr>
+Added:  <tr><th scope="row">Occupation</th><td>Philanthropist</td></tr>
-Deleted:  <tr><td><b>Nationality</b></td><td>Nepali</td></tr>
-Deleted:  <tr><td><b>Known for</b></td><td>starting the Nepal Sambat, Nepal&#039;s indigenous lunar calendar era.</td></tr>
+Added:  <tr><th scope="row">Known for</th><td>Starting the Nepal Sambat, Nepal’s indigenous lunar calendar era</td></tr>
-Deleted:  <tr><td><b>Awards</b></td><td>National Hero Of Nepal</td></tr>
+Added:  <tr><th scope="row">Honours</th><td>National Hero of Nepal</td></tr>
-Deleted:  </tbody></table>
+Added:  </tbody>
+Added:  </table>
-Deleted:  </aside>
+Added: </div>
-Deleted: Sankhadhar Sākhwā (also spelt Sankhadhar Sākhwāl) was a legendary Nepalese philanthropist who is believed to have paid the debts of the Nepalese people in 879 A.D. This event is commemorated as the beginning of the epoch of Nepal's national calendar year Nepal Sambat.
+Added: <h2>Legend and legacy</h2>
+Added: According to Bhāsā Vamsāwali and Rājbhogmālā Vamsāwali, in A.D. 879, an astrologer from Bhaktapur, or Bhādgāon, had predicted that the sand at the confluence of the Vishnumati and the Bhadrāmati rivers would turn into gold if gathered at the right moment. So Rājā Ānanda Malla, the then king of Bhaktapur sent out his workers in search of this extraordinary sand, who were witnessed by Sākhwā, then a local merchant.<span class="ref" data-source="https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfNepal/page/n199/mode/2up" data-title="History of Nepal – Archived Source (page n199)" data-published="" data-retrieved="14 Jan 2026"></span>
-Deleted: According to Bhāsā Vamsāwali and Rājbhogmālā Vamsāwali, in A.D. 879, an astrologer from Bhaktapur, or Bhādgāon, had predicted that the sand at the confluence of the Vishnumati and the Bhadrāmati rivers would turn into gold if gathered at the right moment. So Rājā Ānanda Malla, the then king of Bhaktapur sent out his workers in search of this extraordinary sand, who were witnessed by Sākhwā, then a local merchant. Legend has it that he had only curiously bought some of it from the king's workers. Surprisingly however, the next day, Sākhwā found that only his sand but not the king's had turned into gold. In an act of great compassion, however, instead of using the gold for himself, he used iOn 18 November A.D. 1999 (Vikram Samvat 2056–08–02), the government of Nepal officially acknowledged and declared Sankhadhar Sākhwā as one of the National Heroes of Nepal. On 26 October A.D. 2003, Nepal's Department of Postal Service also issued a postage stamp depicting his portrait, commemorating Sākhwā’s generous, compassionate philanthropyt to pay off every other Nepali's debts towards the king and offered it to him, therefore giving the Nepali people as well as the king a reason to dedicate and mark an era in this act of great generosity.
+Added: Legend has it that he had only curiously bought some of it from the king's workers. Surprisingly however, the next day, Sākhwā found that only his sand but not the king's had turned into gold. In an act of great compassion, however, instead of using the gold for himself, he used it to pay off every other Nepali's debts towards the king and offered it to him, therefore giving the Nepali people as well as the king a reason to dedicate and mark an era in this act of great generosity.<span class="ref" data-source="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51748" data-title="Sankhadhar Sakhwa | The Rising Nepal" data-published="" data-retrieved="24 Nov 2024"></span>
-Deleted: <h2 id="references">References</h2><ol class="references"><li id="ref-1"><a href="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51748" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Sankhadhar Sakhwa</a> <small>(The Rising Nepal, Accessed 2024-11-24)</small></li><li id="ref-2"><a href="https://www.enepalese.com/2023/11/408786.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nepal Sambat</a> <small>(eNepalese, Accessed 2023-11-30)</small></li><li id="ref-3"><a href="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51314" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Nepali Bhasa in curriculum</a> <small>(The Rising Nepal, Accessed 2024-11-02)</small></li></ol>
+Added: On 18 November A.D. 1999 (Vikram Samvat 2056–08–02), the government of Nepal officially acknowledged and declared Sankhadhar Sākhwā as one of the National Heroes of Nepal.<span class="ref" data-source="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51314" data-title="Nepali Bhasa in curriculum | The Rising Nepal" data-published="" data-retrieved="02 Nov 2024"></span> On 26 October A.D. 2003, Nepal's Department of Postal Service also issued a postage stamp depicting his portrait, commemorating Sākhwā’s generous, compassionate philanthropy.<span class="ref" data-source="https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/51314" data-title="Nepali Bhasa in curriculum | The Rising Nepal" data-published="" data-retrieved="02 Nov 2024"></span>

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