Devanagara

デーヴァナガラ Devanagara de̞ːba̠na̠ɡa̠ɾa̠
Devanagara in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle
Information
Other Names	Capital City (都, Miyako)
Location	Somewhere in Mugenri, right of the Gloomy Straits
Ruler	Ooama no Ake no Mitori
Population	Roughly 10 million
Residents	Medias Moritake Kunimitsu Ooya Kaoru Kashiwagi Fujiwara no Shirogane no Sanra Ooama no Ake no Mitori Suzumi Kuzu Xeno a Kurohebi Taira no Fumikado (Formerly) Fujiwara no Iyozane (Formerly) Taira no Chouki (Formerly) Taira no Iwakado (Formerly; Deceased) Taira no Onikado (Formerly; Deceased) Taira no Fumina (Formerly; Deceased)
Appearances
Reactivate Majestical Imperial (Fumikado's profile) Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle (Stage 5 Brilliant route) Book of the Cafe (Battle scene setting)

Devanagara (デーヴァナガラ), or alternatively the Capital City (都, Miyako), is the imperial capital of the country Devanagara.

General Information

Devanagara, which means "Holy Capital" in Sanskrit, is the capital city of the country of the same name, with a population estimated to be roughly 10 million. It is ruled by a monarchy, historically the Fujiwara dynasty, but after a recent rebellion organized by Ooama no Ake no Mitori, it had been replaced by the Ooama dynasty, with Mitori as its first emperor. The Fujiwara clan has some opposers, such as the Taira clan. Taira no Fumikado originally lived here, but was forced to leave because of assassins.

Society in Devanagara is divided into three main classes:

• The ruling Imperial Family (皇族) led by the Heavenly Emperor (天皇) ("Imperial Emperor" (皇帝) during the Fujiwara Dynasty.)
• The noble class of Kazoku (華族)
• Commoners

The capital's primary religion is Buddhism, upon which its buildings are inspired by. While Buddhism holds the Imperial Family in high regards, it has no privileges in practice. Other religions can be found within Mugenri as well, and are generally accepted by the capital's residents, with the situation comparable to that of modern Japanese society.

During times of emergency, a colored mist will hang over the city, indicating a different message depending on the color. In Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle specifically, the red mist present indicates that leaving the capital was forbidden. These mists are created by Kaoru Kashiwagi.

Geography

Devanagara's territory is larger than both the Kanto and Kansai regions of Japan combined, which is approximately 65,548.72 km² (25,308.50 sq mi), while not as large as the prefectures of Japan, 377,972 km² (145,936 sq mi).

Devanagara has a concrete location in Mugenri. Where exactly on the map is unknown. However, a rough idea could be based on the cell grid system from BPoHC. Assuming one is looking down the Shrine Road with the Senri Shrine to their back, it is on the far right side of that road, past the Gloomy Straits. Devanagara is not connected to the Sanctuary via land.

Various key characters in the series take residence in Devanagara. Kurohebi also took up residence here after coming to Mugenri in Evanescent Existence, but they're living rather harshly.

Sukune Katano claims that they had a small part in building the capital, and while whether this is true is unknown, they at least had a hand in the construction of the Gloomy Sea Bridge, being its designer.

The locations of Devanagara include, but are not limited to:

• The government-operated Dhanya Nakta Hotel & Casino, where Xeno a works as a casino dealer.
• Pagoda of the Heavenly Mirror

Government

Although not entirely clear, Devanagara is an absolute monarchy supported by a government which seems to most closely resemble Japan's premodern Imperial government under the Ritsuryō political system (律令制, Ritsuryō-sei), which is divided into the Department of Divinities (神祇官, Jingi-kan), mentioned in the 2021 Interview with JynX (Q117), and the Great Council of State (太政官, Daijō-kan), mentioned in the Scoundrel Team's Brilliant Stage 6 Scenario in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle. The Department of Divinities was traditionally charged with oversight of Shinto clergy and rituals for the whole country, headed by the Jingi-haku (神祇伯); while the Great Council of State was traditionally the highest organ of Japan's premodern Imperial government under the Ritsuryō legal system, headed by the Chancellor of the Realm (太政大臣, Daijō-daijin). It is unclear how the government in Devanagara differs from the aforementioned system, if at all.

Despite being an absolute monarchy, it would seem that Mitori does have the government impose some limitations on their own power. For example, Mitori is unable to directly access the national treasury, and instead receives an allowance out of it, which is apparently "only enough to buy sweets" with.

Not many members of the Devanagara government are known, and even fewer by name, nevertheless, they are:

• Imperial Monarchy — Heavenly Emperor: Ooama no Ake no Mitori
• Department of Divinities
• Great Council of State
  • Ministry of the Imperial Household — Chief Secretary, from whom Mitori gets part of their allowance.
  • Ministry of Military Affairs: Oversees both the Imperial Military and the Goefu
    • Chief Secretary (Hyoubukyou-no-Miya (兵部卿宮)): Fujiwara no Shirogane no Sanra, from whom Mitori gets the other part of their allowance.

Technology & Development

The capital has long been one of the centers of technological development in Mugenri, even under Fujiwara rule. Being very proactive about incorporating Outside World culture and civilization, along with combining technology and magic or youkai sorcery to produce new technology as well. To do so, Devanagara makes use of any outsiders that are knowledgable or possess related materials, highly treasuring such people. According to some of the outsiders, certain fields of technology are even more advanced in Devanagara. It is said that most modern inventions, if available in the Outside World, can be found in Devanagara as well, provided that it is not too new. As such, TVs, refrigerators, sinks, cars and other modern inventions are available in the city. However, factories have yet to be popularized in Devanagara. Despite such rapid development, buildings of traditional and religious significance are preserved in Devanagara, with new buildings built around them while still accomodating for them as well.

History

Devanagara had historically been ruled by the Imperial Emperors (皇帝) from the Fujiwara dynasty. In recent history, they are known to be oppressive and corrupt rulers who maintained their rule by using the Great Mirror's powers to turn thoughts of rebellion into those of support. While the Fujiwara held the throne, the Taira were also known to be a prominent political force in the capital, although they had been mostly killed in political disputes or driven away from the capital by other means.

When the last Fujiwara emperor took to the throne, the mirror no longer took effect when it came to the people's opinions on the emperors, causing dissatisfaction of Fujiwara rule to rise among the people. During the period, the crown prince was Fujiwara no Iyozane, with Fujiwara no Mitori and Fujiwara no Sanra as the third and fifth in line for the throne. One day, Mitori snuck up the Pagoda of the Heavenly Mirror and learnt from the Great Mirror that they were not the child of either the emperor or the empress. After learning the fact, they started plotting their coup d'état with the support of the Imperial Military and the Goefu, amongst others.

In addition, claiming to take pity on their life in isolation, they collaborated with Iyozane's suicide, providing the poison Iyozane used to do so. After the crown prince's death, a secret state funeral was held for them, which implies that the entire event was kept secret. Despite so, rumours that the crown prince at least went missing started circulating, to the point where even Sukune Katano, a resident of the Sanctuary, heard of this rumour. (Although it should be noted that Sukune had more contact with the capital than the average Sanctuary resident, being the designer behind the Gloomy Sea Bridge and possibly other parts of the capital as well.)

After the coup, Mitori renamed themself "Ooama no Ake no Mitori", and changed the position of Imperial Emperor to Heavenly Emperor (天皇). Under Mitori's rule, the country is undergoing rapid military and political changes, while maintaining its status as one of the most technologically advanced places in Mugenri. As for their other siblings, Mitori decided what to do with them on a case-by-case basis: Collaborators were given warm reception; while others were released under supervision, made to become Buddhist monks or nuns, exiled, imprisoned or even executed, to give some examples. However, some of them also disappeared from the capital, their whereabouts unknown.

Historically speaking, Japanese use of the term "Heavenly Emperor" (天皇) to refer to its monarch is said to have begun with the rule of Emperor Tenmu, who Mitori is based on, or Empress Jitō, who Sanra is based on. Prior to this, the term "Great King" (大王) was used instead. The term "Imperial Emperors" (皇帝) is nowadays used for all foreign monarchs, but was most typically associated with the monarch of China, starting from the Qin dynasty.

Devanagara's Appearances

Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle

Devanagara plays a major role in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle, being one of the two prime factors of the ongoing war. The protagonists infiltrate the capital for various reasons, mainly to aim in putting a stop to the war. It appears on the stage 5 of in the Brilliant route, which can be reached by going right on Stage 4, the Gloomy Sea Bridge. If the player continues to go the Brilliant route (right), then they will encounter Fujiwara no Shirogane no Sanra, who is tasked to take down the intruders. Defeating Sanra will allow the player to transer to Devanagara's Pagoda of the Heavenly Mirror, the final stage.

If the player chooses to stay on the Neutral (middle) route, then they will encounter a random boss between Kuroji Shitodo, Sukune Katano and Taira no Fumikado. Choosing the Haze (left) route will also have the three random bosses, but also taking the player back to the Gloomy Sea Bridge.

Taking the Neutral route has the player remain in Devanagara for the final stage, where Tenkai Zuifeng is encountered, who was observing the emperor. If playing as the Preschool Team, this would instead be a random character between Yabusame Houlen and Tsubakura Enraku.

Book of the Cafe

Devanagara was revealed to be a battle scene in Book of the Cafe. The scene shows modern-like streets with buildings with the heavenly pagoda at the back.

Additional Information

• Devanagara is not based on anything in particular, but it is inspired by various places such as Tokyo and Shanghai.
• The casino's name possibly stems from the Sanskrit words "dhánya" (धन्य) and "nákta" (नक्त), which when taken together would literally mean "Fortunate Night" or "Blissful Night".

Gallery

• 

  Devanagara (left route) in Brilliant Pagoda or Haze Castle

• 

  Devanagara (right route) in BPoHC

• 

  Devanagara as shown in the alpha battle video for Book of the Cafe