Mahendra of Nepal

King of Nepal

11 June 1920 Narayanhity Royal Palace Kathmandu, Kingdom of Nepal

31 January 1972(1972-01-31) (51) Diyalo Bangala, Bharatpur, Kingdom of Nepal

Regnal nameShree Paanch Maharajadhiraj Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev

King of Nepal Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah DevKing of NepalReign13 March 1955 – 31 January 1972Coronation2 May 1956PredecessorTribhuvanSuccessorBirendraBorn(1920-06-11 ) 11 June 1920 Narayanhity Royal Palace Kathmandu, Kingdom of NepalDied31 January 1972(1972-01-31) (aged 51) Diyalo Bangala, Bharatpur, Kingdom of NepalSpouseCrown Princess Indra Rajya Lakshmi Devi (m. 1940–1950, her death) Queen Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Devi (m. 1952–1972, his death)Issue (Details) Princess Shanti Princess Sharada King Birendra King Gyanendra Princess Shobha Prince DhirendraDynastyShah dynastyFatherTribhuvan Bir Bikram ShahMotherKanti Rajya Lakshmi DeviReligionHinduism Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (Nepali: महेन्द्र वीर विक्रम शाह ; 11 June 1920 – 31 January 1972) was King of Nepal from 1955 to 1972. Mahendra was born on 11 June 1920 to King Tribhuvan of Nepal. Although Tribhuvan was nominally king since 1911, the royal family had been held captive in Narayanhity Palace since the rise of the prominent Rana dynasty. In 1940 he married Indra Rajya Lakshmi Devi, daughter of General Hari Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana. Mahendra had three sons, Birendra, Gyanendra, and Dhirendra and three daughters Shanti, Sharada, and Shobha. Crown Princess Indra died in 1950. In 1952, Mahendra married Indra's younger sister, Ratna Rajya Lakshmi Devi. This marriage produced no children as King Mahendra had married on the condition his personal life shall not hinder his national duties and the to be queen agreed to be childless.