Pandit Hemraj Shakya was born in Nepal Sambat 1046 in Thaina Tole, Lalitpur, to father Punyaraj and mother Asthamaya. Through self-study, he received initiation into ancient scripts from various contemporary gurus and Buddhist philosophy from scholar Dharmaditya Dharmacharya, emerging as a prominent Buddhist scholar and script expert of Nepal. In Bikram Sambat 2009, at the Lalitpur Adarsh Kala Pradarshani (Ideal Art Exhibition) held in Lalitpur, various samples of his gold-inked Ranjana script calligraphy were displayed, recognizing him as an accomplished calligrapher. Because of this,the then government conferred upon him the title of Pandit and appointed him to work at the Buddhist school of Bir Library. From then on, he came to be known as Pandit. Similarly, he was also given the opportunity by the Department of Culture to receive training in epigraphy at the Epigraphy Oriental Studies Center in South India. There, he not only successfully completed his studies but also established his identity as a great scholar of Nepal.
Pt. Hemraj Shakya is a scholar who has written the most and largest number of books in Nepalbhasa. He has published more than six dozen books related to Nepalese scripts, Buddhist philosophy, history, art, culture, literature, etc. For example — Sri Swayambhu Mahachaitya, Patan's Vihara Chaitya and Dharmadhatu Index, Rudravarna Mahavihar Palm Leaf Inscriptions, various inscriptions of Rudravarna Mahavihar, Nepal Script Collection Script Development Table, Nepal Script Prakash, Hemraj Calligraphy, Buddha's Birth, Bodhi and Mahaparinirvana Stone Sculpture, Mahaboudh Temple History, Lichchhavi Inscription Prakash, Lokakirti MahaviharIntroduction to Woodcarving, Manigal Royal Palace (Mangal Bazar), Cultural Heritage, Samyak Mahadan Guthi, Itilhane Samyak, List of 1004 Buddhas according to Bhadrakalpimasutra, A Study of Buddhist Sculpture, Mahabodhimandapa Vihara Mahabuddha Temple Brief Introduction, List of Buddhist Monasteries and Texts, The Gateway to Nepalese Culture, etc. Among his published books, the most notable is the 900-page Swayambhu Chaitya (Nepal Sambat 198), a comprehensive research treatise. This Swayambhu Mahachaitya text, written About the history of Nepal Mandala, the development of its civilization and culture, etc.is the largest book published so far in Nepalbhasa, and this book has also been awarded the Shrestha Award. Hemraj Shakya is also the first calligrapher to scientifically study and analyze ancient Nepalese scripts and write books. Nepal Script Collection, Script Development Table, Nepal Script Prakash, Hemraj Calligraphy, etc., are his notable published works on scripts. These books have proved very useful for historians and researchers in reading ancient Nepalese inscriptions and texts. Similarly, in 2012 BS (1955 AD), for Nepal to gain membership in the United Nations,Hemraj Shakya presented the Ranjana script, written in his Nepal Script Collection (2009 BS), as the script of his country. Besides writing books on scripts, he has also done remarkable work for the preservation and promotion of scripts by organizing script exhibitions, conducting classes, and supporting the establishment of various institutions for script training.
Hemraj Shakya is an unparalleled Nepalbhasa researcher. He is also the researcher who discovered the palm-leaf manuscript of Nepal Sambat 235, which is considered the earliest record of Nepalbhasa. This record, named 'Niyam Paribhasha Patrika' (Rules Definition Journal), which contains seven complete sentences in Nepalbhasa, was found by him while studying inscriptions at Rudravarna Mahavihar in Yala. Hemraj Shakya, who was like an encyclopedia of Nepalese culture and Buddhism, assisted not only indigenous researchers but also foreign scholars such as Sylvain Lévi from France, Rahul Sankrityayan from India, and David Gellner from Britain.He also provided significant assistance to them and others in their research on Nepal's religion and culture. Furthermore, by participating in various conferences not only within the country but also abroad, he introduced Nepal's culture, religion, and philosophy.In recognition of his distinguished work, he was honored with the Mahendra Pragya Award by the Nepal Academy, and the Bhashathuva (Language Expert) title by the Nepal Bhasa Parishad, among other accolades. Following the universal law that all who are born must eventually depart, Hemraj Shakya passed away in Bikram Sambat 2066 (2009 A.D.), at the age of 84.
