Patan - Yoganarendra Malla's Column

In 1700 Patan's King Yoganarendra emulated Pratapa Malla of Kathmandu by erecting a column topped by statues of himself and his son. Protected by nagas both kneel in prayer in front of the Degutale Temple, shrine of the Malla family deity Taleju. Following the death of his son the grieving Yoganarendra is said to have renounced his kingly life for that of a wandering ascetic, declaring on leaving that he would live just as long as the face on the statue remained untroubled and the bird continued to sit on the cobra's head.

For a long time thereafter his bed was made up every evening, a hookah (water-pipe) was prepared, and a door and a window were left open in case the master should return.

Vishnu Malla had the Taleju Bell installed in front of Mul Chowk in 1737.