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A copy of a purjī from C-in-C General Deva Śamśera to Kharidāra Harilāla re the Baḍādasaĩ rituals at the Pāñcāyana temple (VS 1947)

ID: K_0636_0036


Edited and translated by Astrid Zotter in collaboration with Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2020-08-26; Last modified: 2020-11-23
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Published by Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal, Heidelberg, Germany, 2020. Published by the courtesy of the National Archives, Kathmandu. The copyright of the facsimile remains with the Nepal Rashtriya Abhilekhalaya (National Archives, Government of Nepal). All use of the digital facsimiles requires prior written permission by the copyright holder. See Terms of Use.
The accompanying edition, translation/synopsis and/or commentary are available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License CCby-SA.

Abstract

Through the purjī, of which this is a copy, C-in-C General Deva Samsera Jaṅga Rāṇā Bahādura endorses the regular budget for the rituals performed during the autumnal Dasaĩ festival in the year VS 1947 (1890 CE) at the temple of the Rāṇās' lineage deity (kuladevatā) at Thāpāthalī, Kathmandu, in line with outlays of the previous year. It directs the secretary (kharidāra) of the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā, Harilāla, release funds for the projected expenses of 26.2.1 rupees in cash and 1 pāthī, 1 mānā in kind, as itemized in the appended details (tapasila) of revenue from the Jaṅgānandaprakāśeśvara Guṭhī.



Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1श्री\­

1

1सही­हस्ते­नौ­इन्द्रवीर­

1स्वस्ति­श्रीमद्राजकुमारकुमारात्मजश्रीकम्यांडरइनचिफ्‌जनरलदेवसम्सेरजङ्गराणावहादूरकस्ये­गु
2ठिगुठिका­षर्च­अडाका­षरीदार­हरिलालके­पुर्जि­उप्रांन्त­थापाथली­स्वर्गेवासी­श्री­३­महाराजवाट­स्थाप
3ना­गरीवक्सेका­पंचाये़णमा­श्री­कुलदेवताका­स्थानमा­वडादसैको­मामुली­पुजा­गर्नालाई­सावीक्‌
4मा­श्री­जगनन्दप्रकासेश्वरका­गुठिवाट­षर्च­गरी­गुठि­षर्च­अडाका­नाऊमा­सनद­भै­काम्‌­चलाई­आय़ा
5को­हुनाले­र­गुठिगुठिको­दान्‌पत्र­सीलापत्र­तावापत्रमा­नभय़ाको­सावीक्‌मा­सनद­पुर्जि­भै­आय़ाका­
6काम्‌­जोजो­छ­सावीक्‌­वमोजीम्‌को­वषत्‌वषत्‌मा­सनद­गरीदीनु­भंन्या­ये़स्‌­अडालाई­गरीवक्स्या
7का­१२­लम्वरका­सव़ाल्‌­हुनाले­सावीक्‌­४६­साल­वमोजीम्‌­षर्च­भय़ाको­नगदि­ज्मा­रु­२६॥.ऽ।­जी
8न्सी­पाथी­।१।१।को­तपसिलमा­दर्दा­ताकिय़ाको­छ­तापनी­ज्मामान­वढाई­तिम्रा­नाऊमा­भय़ाका­सव़ा
9ल­सनदको­रीत­पुर्‍याई­साछि­राषी­षरीद­गरी­नीज­गुठिका­स्याहामा­षर्च­लेषि­ये़हि­४७­सालको­वडा
10दसैको­मामुलीन्‌­पुजा­चलाउनु­वहि­वुझदा­साछिको­र­लिन्यादिन्याका­सहिछाप­पर्‍याका­स्या
11हा­वमोजीम्‌­मोजरा­होला­भंने­षर्च­अडाका­हाकिम्‌का­नाऊमा­सनद­गरीवक्सनु­पर्न्या­ठहराञ्यू­⟪जो­मर्जि­⟫भ
12नी­थापाथली­गुठि­वन्दोवस्त­अडाका­षरीदार­मेहेरमा­सीं­नाऐव­मुषीय़ा­लाल­वहादूर­
13हाम्रा­हजुरमा­वीन्ती­पार्दा­जाहेर­भय़ो­तसर्थ­सो­ठहराय़ाकोमा­हामीवाट­पनी­मुनासीव­ठहरा
14इ­सदर­गरीवक्सेको­छ­सो­वमोजीम्‌­गर्न्या­काम्‌­गर­————
15तपसिल्‌­

[table1]

1नगदि­ज्मा­रु­२६॥.।.­
2पैसा­१६­गंडी­११॥///॥।२­के­द्र­२५­गंडीले­मोरु­७॥।.­
3जौ­पाथी­१­र­फलफुल­स्मेत्‌के­॥।ऽ.॥.­नरीव़ल्‌­पगरि­जोर­३­के­॥।.­
4गणेशका­लाल­वस्त्रके­/।.­सुपारीके­ऽ॥.­
5व्राह्मणका­धोति­उपर्नाके­नैन­कीला
 त्‌­गज­९­के­
२॥//॥।.­रेषी­पीठो­चाव़ल्‌­माना­२­के­//॥.­
6पंचरत्नके­ऽ।.­
7सेतो­वस्त्र­गज­॥­के­//­वाटेका­धुप्‌के­
8अैना­वट्टा­धागो­पोटे­चुराके­///॥।.­गोकुल्‌­धुप्‌के­//­
9तोरन्‌का­कपडा­पाऊ­दुयाधाके­//­वती­ध्यूके­१///­
10घटस्थापना­गर्ने­थाउके­॥.­वती­धागोके­।.॥।.­
11वीसर्जन्‌­पुजाके­———१.­तेल्‌­कुर्वा­१­१­
12नीसान्‌­पुजाके­———।.­अक्षेता­चाव़ल्‌­पाथी­।१­के­॥/­
13————माटाका­गाग्रा­१­के­/॥।.­
14घडाके­र­दीय़ो­कलस्‌के­मोरू­१॥।//­के­२॥।//॥।२­
15————————————————————————
16रागावोकाके­मोरू­१९­
17मौलामा­माड्‌हांनाके­१२॥.­
18रागा­१­के­१०­वोका­१­के­२॥.
19————————
20पुजाको­वोका­२­के­५­
21कुवींडो­४­के­॥.­
22षडुव़ा­गज­३­के­१­
23————————————————

[table2]

1जीन्सी­।१।१­
2चाव़ल्‌­माना­।.।४­धान्‌­माना­।.।५­
3——————————

16इति­सम्वत्‌­१९४७­साल्‌­आश्वीण­वदि­७­रोज­१­शुभ्म्‌­——

Translation

[1r]

Śrī

71

Signature: In the hand of Nau[sindā]Indravīra2

Hail! A purjī of the venerable Commander-in-Chief General Deva Samsera Jaṅga Rāṇā Bahādura, a venerable prince born of a prince, to Harilāla, kharidāra of the office [responsible for] the expenses of different guṭhīs3

Uprānta: "Usually, in order to perform the customary worship of Baḍādasaĩ at the site of the śrīkuladevatā in the Pāñcāyana (text: paṃcāyeṇa) [temple] that was erected by the late (lit. 'dwelling in heaven') Śrī 3 Mahārāja4 [at] Thāpāthalī, the rituals have been performed with expenses being met by the Śrī Jaṅgānandaprakāśeśvara Guṭhī.5 A decree (sanada) addressed to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā was issued [to that effect]; it is directive (savāla) no. 12 addressed to our (lit. 'this') office,6 stating: 'Have a sanada be issued from time to time as appropriate for the ritual works, whatever they are, for which traditionally sanadas and purjīs were issued, because no deed of gift (dānapatra), stone inscription (śilāpatra) [or] copperplate (tāmāpatra) existed.' Because of [all this], as usual the expenses to be incurred have been projected in accordance with [what has been spent in] the year [19]46—in cash 26 [mohara]ru[paiyā̃]s, 2 [sukā]s, 1 [ānā], in kind 1 pāthī, 1 mānā—[at] the rates and prices (dardā for daradāma?) in the details (tapasila) [below]. Even if the sum is higher, buy [the necessary items,] having appointed witnesses [to the purchases], write the expenses in the said guṭhī's account book and have the customary worship (pūjā) performed during the Baḍādasaĩ of this year, [19]47, [thereby] adhering to the customs stated in the savālas and sanadas issued in your name. A reimbursement will be made when accounts are cleared according to the account book that bears the signatures and seals of the witnesses and those involved in the transactions (lit. ‘of those taking and giving’)." [All this] came to our notice when Kharidāra Meheramā Sīṃ and Deputy (nāyaba) MukhiyāLāla Bahādura of the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā of Thāpāthalī made the [above] petition to us, stating [in conclusion]: "We have determined that a sanada mentioning [these details] needs to be issued in the name of the chief of the [Guṭhī] Kharca Aḍḍā. Whatever [is your] wish [we shall obey]." Therefore, with regard to what has been determined [needs to be done,] we too have determined that it is proper, and [hereby] endorse it. Perform the task accordingly.

Details

[table1]

1cash, in total Rs.26[morus], 2 [sukās], 1 [ānā]
2for the sum [according to] the sohraganḍī [system]: 11 rupees, 2 [sukās], 3 [ānās], 3 [paisās], 2 [dāmas]7 [=] in terms of paccīsaganḍīmorus7 [morus], 2 [sukās], 1 [ānā]
3for 1 pāthī of barley together with fruits and flowers 3 [sukās], 2 [paisās] for 3 pairs of coconuts and turbans3 [sukās]
4for Gaṇeśa's red cloth 1 [ānā], 1 [paisā]for areca nuts2 [paisās]
5for 9 gajas of muslin [for] robes of honour (kīlāta for khillāta?) for Brahmins' lower (dhotī) and upper garments (uparnā) 2 [morus], 2 [sukās], 2 [ānās], 3 [paisās]for 2 mānās of flour (pīṭho) and husked rice for lines (rekhī) 2 [ānās], 2 [paisās]
6for the five jewels (pañcaratna)1 [paisā]
7for ½ gaja of white cloth2 [ānās]for twisted incense sticks1 [ānā]
8 for mirror, beauty box (baṭṭā), (red) ribbons (dhāgo)8 , necklace (pote) [and] bangles (curā)3 [ānās], 3 [paisās]for bdellium incense (gokuladhūpa)2 [ānās]
9 for two and a half pāus of cloth for the torana2 [ānās]for ghee for lamps1 [moru], 3 [ānās]
10 for [expenses at] the site where ghaṭasthāpanā is performed 2 [sukās]for wicks for lamps1 [sukā], 3 [paisās]
11for the dismissal (visarjana) worship: 1 [rupee]9 1 kuruvā of oil1 [moru]
12for the banner (nisānā) worship: 1 [sukā]for 1/8 pāthī of husked rice for akṣatā2 [sukās], 1 [ānā]
13---for 1 earthen jar (gāgro)1 [ānā], 3 [paisās]
14for big water vessel(s) (ghaḍā) and for the lamps and small water vessels (kalaśa), [equivalent to] 1 morū, 3 [sukās], 2 [ānās]2 [morus, 3 [sukās], 2 [ānās], 3 [paisās], 2 [dāmas]
15------
16for buffaloes and goats10 19 morūs
17for slaying at the sacrificial post (maulo)12 [morus], 2 [sukās]
18for 1 buffalo10 [morus]for 1 goat2 [morus], 2 [sukās]
19------
20for 2 goats [needed during] the pujā5 [moru]s
21for 4 ash-gourds (kubhiṇḍo)2 [sukā]s
22for 3 gajas of red cotton cloth (kharuvā)1 [moru]
23---------

[table2]

1[expenses] in kind (jinsī)1 [pāthi], 1 [mānā]
2husked rice, mānās4unhusked rice, mānās5
3---------

Sunday, the 7th of the dark fortnight of Āśvina in the [Vikrama] era year 1947 (1890 CE). Auspiciousness.


Commentary

The document concerns the rituals performed during the autumnal Dasaĩ festival at the Pāñcāyana temple, the site of the Rāṇā family's kuladevatā in Thāpāthalī maintained under the oversight of the Jaṅgānandaprākāśeśvara Guṭhī. For more on the temple, see the earlier document on the Dasaĩ of VS 1944 (1887 CE) (K_0476_0060).

The present document contrasts with the earlier one (which lays out the costs for the same items) in that its baseline is the budget for worship approved in the year VS 1946 (1889 CE). In that year a thorough auditing of the activities of the Jaṅgānandaprakāśeśvara Guṭhī seems to have taken place. This cannot only be inferred from the present document but also learned more directly from the "ledger of expenses of the Śrī Jaṅgānandaprakāseśvara Guṭhī" (śrī jaṅganandaprakāseśvarakā guṭhakā kharcako kītāp, K_0490_0035) kept by Mehera Siṃ, kharidāra of the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā, and handed over to Harilāla, kharidāra of the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā—the same officers who figure in the present document. The ledger states that it started being kept after a sanada sent by the C-in-C general on the first of the dark fortnight of the month of Śrāvaṇa in VS 1946 ordered theguṭhiyāras of different trusts to submit the details of income and expenditure to the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā within seven days. The entries are based on figures submitted by BiseṭḌiṭṭḥāSiddhimāna, guṭhiyāra of the Sadābarta Guṭhī of Jaṅgānandaprakāśeśvara (K_0037_0011). Though these entries mention worship to be performed in the Pāñcāyana temple of Thāpāthalī,11 they touch on neither the worship during Dasaĩ in general nor that of the kuladevatā in particular. Probably, then, the results of the VS 1946 auditing of these practices were recorded in separate documents, which so far have not been traced.


Notes

1. This Arabic numeral by a second hand was probably added when documents were either sorted or microfilmed. The count starts with 1 in K_0636_0030 and continues up to 98 in K_0637_0051. The documents in this series were all issued in VS 1947, and many of them are from C-in-C General Deva Samsera to Kharidāra Harilāla. []

2. This marginal note probably represents the signature of the scribe who wrote or copied the document. []

3. This seems to be an alternative way to denote the office otherwise referred to as the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā. []

4. By 1890 CE two Rāṇā prime ministers had already passed away. Jaṅga Bahādura died in 1877, and his immediate successor and younger brother, Raṇa Uddīpa Siṃha, in 1885, the latter assassinated by his nephews, the brothers of the issuer of the present document. According to the temple’s website (http://www.panchayanranakunwar.org.np/pages/panchayan-parichaye) it was erected by Jaṅga Bahādura between VS 1900 and 1911 (1843–1854 CE); see Commentary to K_0476_0060 for further discussion. []

5. The Jaṅgānandaprakāśeśvara Guṭhī was founded by Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā in VS 1903 (1846 CE) and oversaw several temples (see Commentary to K_0476_0060 for more details). []

6. I.e. the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā, this passage quoting what two officers of this government body reported to the C-in-C general. The following command, as quoted from savāla no. 12, probably meant that the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā had to initiate the administrative process for issuing a sanada (i.e. orders coming from the highest levels) by bringing the matter at hand to the notice of the office of the C-in-C general. There is a set of savālas extent that concern the operation of the Jaṅgānandaprākāśeśvara Guṭhi (K_0037_0011, K_0490_0035). These were issued in VS 1946, apparently when the activities of the guṭhī were undergoing an audit (see Commentary). This set comprises, however, only eleven numbered savālas. Moreover, the record book in which the audit appears does not mention the Dasaĩ worship of the kuladevatā, even if it does touch upon regular worship at the pañcāyana temple as being part of the Jaṅgānandaprākāśeśvara Guṭhī's duties. Was this special worship recorded in separate documents accompanied by the twelfth savāla, or else in another set of 12 savālas? []

7. This number gives the total sum spent on the items listed in the two columns below, where their prices are given in the sohraganḍī coinage system. Only the overall sum has been converted to the paccīsaganḍī system. Thus the final tally of 7.2.1 rupees for the worship material added to the 19 rupees for the sacrificial animals, yielding the total sum of 26.2.1 rupees, seems to be a figure in the paccīsaganḍī system. For the two systems, see Walsh 1908: 693–694. []

8. In the context of these items, which go to make up the saubhāgyasāmāna, the threads or ribbons would usually be red (Zotter 2018: 127). []

9. It is apparent from the above calculation and from the layout of the document, where this and the following item with their sums appear below the preceding line, with the sums indented, that these are meant to form a breakdown of the 2 sukās given for the site where the ghaṭasthāpanā is performed. Thus the present sum should be 1 sukā instead of one rupee. This is also the amount given for this item in the earlier document (K_0476_0060). []

10. The words rāgā and bokā denote the uncastrated male representatives of their species in the plural. For the sake of brevity, here and in the following, these terms are translated as "buffaloes" and "goats" respectively. []

11. These include the regular and occasional worship of Gaṇeśa, Rādhākṛṣṇa, Narasiṃha, Bhagavatī, Hanumān, Bhairava and Nandamukteśvara (pāṃcāyenabhītra sthāpanā bhayakā śrī gaṇeśa 1 śrī rādhākṛṣṇa 1 śrī nṛsīha 1 śrī bhagavatī 1 śrī hanumān 1 śrī bhairava 1 śrī nandamukteśvara 1 kā nītyanaimītya pujāke). The annual rituals accounted for include worship and a procession during Kṛṣṇajanmāṣtamī on the eighth of the dark fortnight of Bhādra and the worship for varṣabandhana on the fifth of the bright fortnight of Māgha (i.e. Vasantapañcamī) []