Another victim of a prophecy

KATHMANDU, JUNE 4. With the assassination of King Birendra on Friday night, yet another member of the Shah dynasty has fallen victim to what many believe as an astrological prophecy that no Nepal King will live beyond 55.

When the King celebrated his 55th birthday on December 28 last, the Himalayan Hindu kingdom heaved a sigh of relief hoping its beloved monarch had defied the prophecy, proven wrong earlier by only Rajendra Bikram Shah, who ruled from 1870 to 1938.

The progenitor of the dynasty, King Prithvi Naran Shah (1779- 1831) died at the age of 52, while his three successors Pratap Singh Shah, Rana Bahadur Shah and Girvana Yuddha Bikram Shah died at the age 26, 31 and 19 respectively.

However, King Rajendra, who succeeded Yuddha Bikram, died at 68.

His successors Surendra Bikram shah (52), crown prince Trailokya Bikram Shah (30) and Prithvi Bir Bikram shah (36) too proved the prophecy right.

King Birendra's grandfather Tribhuvan Bir (48) and father King Mahendra (52) were no exception to what has now become a widely believed prophecy.

- PTI

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Bush mission to convince Europe on NMD
Next     : Iranian hawks soften stand towards U.S.