Wikipedia
Banskota, also spelled as Baskota ( Devanagari : बाँस्कोटा) is a surname of Upadhyay Brahmins from Nepal. Throughout their history in Nepal, they have mostly held vocations as pandit, teachers, purohits, and government officers. Banskotas' gotra is Koudinya. Banskotas have their origin in Kannauj, India. As written in the comprehensive Banskota Bhansawali book, during the Muslim Invasion of India in the 13th century, Vedic Bhatt Brahmins escaped their home, Kanya Kubja, to escape the destructive Muslim forces. It is recorded in Indian history, as well as the Banskota Bhanswali book that the invaders wanted to destroy the Hindu Vedic culture and ways. In order to preserve the Vedic Sanskrit Hindu culture from the wrath of the invaders, the Bhatt Brahmins sought refuge in the hills of the Himalayas. During this time, many Brahmins migrated from the Muslims invaded areas seeking safety. The Bhatt Brahmins first settled in the part that is now western Nepal. One of the descendants of the Bhatt was relocated to a place called Banskot by a king to fulfill his Brahmin duties, which is where he gained the surname Banskota. Another descendant was given the surname acharya— hence is the reason Banskota and Acharya have the same gotra and cannot marry each other.
Current Day: Most Banskota communities in Nepal have maintained the very religious Hindu Brahmin culture all throughout Nepal by continuing the Brahmin way of life.
People with name Banskota or its variations include:
- Sambhujeet Baskota, Nepali music composer
- Prithu Baskota, Nepali cricketer
- Dipak Prakash Baskota, Nepalese politician
- Kali Prasad Baskota, composer, musician, singer