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Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal

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A deposition submitted by Joga Bahādura Karmācārya before the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā re operating the trust of the Taleju temple in Bhaktapur (VS 1981)

ID: K_0269_0038

Edited and translated by Ramhari Timalsina in collaboration with Pabitra Bajracharya
Created: 2021-07-06; Last modified: 2023-08-29
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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, 2023. 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

Abstract

This is a deposition made by Joga Bahādura Karmācārya before the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā regarding the operation of a guṭhī of the Taleju temple in Bhaktapur as regulated by a copperplate of NS 875.

Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1श्री\

1स्हीमीनवाहादुरकर्माचार्जेतुलाछेतोलवस्ने

1स्हीजोगवा
2हादुरकमा

1दषवटुकनाथ

1९७नं

156

1लिषीतम्‌भादगाऊवीध्यापीठ्‌वस्नेतुलाछेटोलवस्नेजोगवाहादुरकर्माचार्जेआगे
2भाद्‌गाऊझोछेटोलवस्नेमांवाहादुरदेऊछुकीकोर∙तुलाछेतोलवस्नेजोग्‌वाहादुरस्मेत
3को∙श्रीभाद्‌गाऊतलेजुकास्थांमाधर्मलोपगर्‍यो∙भंने∙मुद्दाभएकोलेतिमीसंगसो
4मींछकीसोतलेजुकास्थांमासाल८७५कातामापत्रवमोजीं[...]मनोहराषेत⟪रोपनी⟫⟪।२६⟫कोधांमु:
5६१।षाने∙गरीआये़कोभंनेलेषेकोमा∙सोमनोहराषेत∙रोपनी२६ककसलेकमा
6ईआये़कोछसोभाद्‌गाऊश्रीतलेजुकास्थांमातामा∙पत्रवमोजीं∙आम्दानीषर्च∙
7केकटीगर्नु∙पर्छ∙सोफाट्‌स्मेतषोली∙सोजदेऊभनी∙आजये़सअडा∙वाटसोधनीगर्दा
8मेरोचीतवुज्यो∙सोभाद्‌गाऊतलेज्यू∙कास्थांमा८७५सालकातामापत्र∙वमोजीं∙
9कोआम्दानीषर्चको∙फाट्‌र∙सोतामापत्र∙वमोजींकोषेत∙कमाऊने∙मोहीतपसी∙
10ल∙मा∙दफादफाषोलीलेषीदीय़ावमोजींठीक∙बुझदछ∙घटीवढी∙फरकभ
11एअैंसव़ालवमोजींवुझाऊलाभनी∙षोलव़ामुचुल्का∙लेषीश्री५स∙र्कारगुठी
12वंदोवस्तअडामारफत∙श्री५सर्कारमाचढाञां
13तपसील

[table1]

1	स.सोमाथीलेषीय़ा∙का८७५सालकाता∙ वापत्र∙वमोजींकोमनोहरा∙जानीगालषे त∙रोपनी२६∙ककसलेकमाईआये़को छ ? ∙सोषेत∙रोपनी२६कोकुतधां कटिवुझीलीआये़कोछत ? ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯१	ज.∙सोमाथीलेषीय़ाका∙८७५साल∙कालालमो हर∙वमोजींभाद्‌गाऊतलेजुकास्थांमा∙मैले मात्र∙कांचलाउनेनभै∙अरुस्मेतकोपालो∙ भै∙सोलालमोहरवमोजींकोषेत∙रोपनी २६मध्येमेरापालोकांगरीसालवसालषाई आये़को∙मोहीजानीगालवस्नेव्रह्मवाहादुर षत्रीषेत्रीधां२ ।१०गभ्रेभंनेछेत्रीसंगधां २।३वुझीलीषाईआये़कोछुसोमाथीलेषीय़ाकोषेत∙रोपनी२६कामोही य़ोय़ोभंनेवालीषाईनआये़कोलेअरु∙मोहीकाम्माछैनसोअैलेआऊनेता रीषमाअरुगुठीय़ारस्मेतवुझीसोषेतरोपनी२६कोमोहीय़ोय़ोहो भंनेषोलील्याउनेछु¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
2	सो८७५सालकातावापत्र∙वमोजीं∙ श्रीतलेजु∙कास्थांमागर्नुपर्नेपर्व∙पुजाको आम्दानीषर्चस्मेतकोफाट्‌षोली∙ देउ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯१	ज.∙सो८७५सालकातावापत्रवमोजीं गर्नुपर्नेपर्वपुजा∙कोआम्दानीषर्चको फाट्‌व़ारीस्मेट्‌हालसंमछगनभये़को ले∙अवआउनेतारेषमा∙सोफाट्‌व़ा रीस्मेतलीआउनेछु¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯
3	स.तीम्रोव़य़ान्‌ठीकदुरुष्टभोत ? ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯१	ज.∙मेरो∙लेषीये़कोवयांठीकदुरुष्टछ फरकठहरेअैंसव़ालवमोजींवुझाऊला

14ईतीसंवत१९८१सालमाघ२गतेरोज५शुभ्म्‌¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯ ¯¯¯

Translation

[1r]

Śrī

Signature of Mīna Bāhādura Karmācārya, a resident of Tulācheṭola

Signature of Joga Bāhādura Ka[r]mā[cārya]

Da. ṣa.1 Vaṭukanātha

97 number

56 2

Written by Joga Bāhādura Karmācārya, a resident of Vidyāpīṭha Tulāche ṭola in Bhaktapur

Āge. I (i.e. Joga Bāhādura Karmācārya) agreed when this office (i.e. the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā) today asked me to clarify in detail the revenue and expenditures of the Taleju temple in Bhaktapur and to mention who is enjoying the 26 ropanīs of irrigated land along the Manoharā [River], which land is recorded in the copperplate inscription dated [NS] 875 installed at the Taleju temple stating that 61 murīs of unhusked rice [as the production] of the 26 ropanīs of land along the Manoharā [River] is regularly being consumed. This inquiry emerged when a legal issue was registered claiming that Māna Bāhādura Deuchukī, a resident of Jhocheṭola in Bhaktapur and [I], Joga Bāhādura [Karmācārya], a resident of Vidyāpīṭha Tulāche ṭola in Bhaktapur, have violated the dharma.

The details of the income and expenditure of the irrigated land mentioned in the inscription dated [NS] 875 installed in the Taleju temple have been exactly written in the details dealing with each topic. I, hereby, submit an elaborated deposition of that to the Srī 5 Sarkāra through the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā.

What is written exactly section by section in the details [below] is accurate concerning the tenants who cultivate the irrigated land in conformity with the copperplate inscription dated [NS] 875 installed at the Taleju temple, [namely] in conformity with phā̃ṭa 8 on revenue and expenditures relating to irrigated land. If there is any discrepancy in terms of overstating or understating, I shall pay in accordance with the Ain and savālas. I hereby submit an elaborated deposition to Srī 5 Sarkāra through the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā.

Details

[table]

	Q.3 Who has been farming the 26 ropanīs of irrigated Jānīgāla land located along the Manoharā [River] in accordance with the regulation made in the copperplate inscription dated [NS] 875 mentioned above. How much unhusked rice have [they] been receiving after harvesting it [on] this irrigated land, a kuta of 26 ropanīs? --- 1	A.4 Regarding the regulation made in the copperplate inscription dated [NS] 875 mentioned above, I am not the only one who has been working [there]; other persons also do so in turn, following the regulations made in the lālamohara. I have been taking and consuming yearly 2 murīs 10 pāthīs of unhusked rice from Brahma Bāhādura Khatrī Chetrī, a resident of Jānīgāla, and 2 murīs 3 pāthīs of unhusked rice from Gabhre Chetrī as [production from] the 26 ropanīs of irrigated land. No other tenants are working [under me], since no other specific tenants are consuming crop [production] from the above-mentioned 26 ropanīs of irrigated land [under my control]. On the next coming due date I will question other guṭhī members and present the names of other tenants on the 26 ropanīs of irrigated land.
	Q. Clarify in detail the revenue and expenditures during festivals and worship at the Śrī Taleju temple in accordance with the copperplate inscription dated [NS] 875.	A. Until now the details of the revenue and expenditures during festivals and worship in accordance with the copperplate inscription dated [NS] 875 have not been recorded. Therefore, on the next coming due date, I will present a detailed record.
	Q. Are your declarations correct and true?	A. My written declarations are correct and true. If any discrepancy is proven, I will pay [the penalty] according to the Ain and savālas.

Thursday, the 2nd day (gate) of Māgha in the [Vikrama] era year 1981 (1925 CE). Auspiciousness.

Commentary

See the commentaries of K_0262_0061 and K_0213_0039 for more information on the temple and the priest Joga Bahādura Karmācārya.

Notes

1. The meaning of the abbreviated form is not clear. Possibly ḍa. ṣa. stands for dartā ṣaradāra ‘registered [by] a ṣaradāra (a clerk)’. [⇑]

2. This Arabic numeral in a second hand was probably added when documents were either sorted or, more likely, when they were microfilmed. [⇑]

3. Sa. in the original text is an abbreviation of savāla, and is therefore rendered as Q., standing for 'question'. [⇑]

4. Ja. in the original text is an abbreviation of javāpha, and is therefore rendered as A., standing for 'answer'. [⇑]

Glossary

Word	Notes
āge	[fr. S. agre] adv. lit. "henceforeward" (Riccardi 1976: 150 n. 6), especially used in administrative and legal documents to mark the beginning of a text or paragraph. In its function it is similar to uprānta.
ain	var. āin, aina; n. 1) laws, statutes, rules, regulations enacted by authority 2) law-code of Nepal, first promulgated in 1854 during the rule of Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā and amended several times before it was completely revised in VS 2022. The revised law-code was renamed as Mulukī Ain.
guṭha / guṭhi / guṭhī	[fr. S. goṣṭhī] var. guṭh, guthi; n. 1) a socio-religious organization that manages and finances religious and charitable functions, a trust. 2) “endowed lands or other sources of revenue for financing religious and charitable functions“ (M.R. Pant 2002: 132; cf. M.C. Regmi 1988: 267).
Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā	var. Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍā; n. "Guthi Administration Office", office responsible for the management of guṭhīs; established under Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā in 1852-1853 as replacement of the former Guṭhī Kacaharī. Its foundation marks the change from the guṭhīyāri system of the guṭhī management to the contractor based system; remained the central office to coordinate all offices subsequently established for handling different aspects of guṭhī management, including the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā and others. Separate Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍās managed the śrī 5 sarkāra guṭhīs and the śrī 3 sarkāra guṭhīs (cf. M.C. Regmi 1978: 713-715).
kharadāra / kharidāra	[fr. P.] var. kharīdāra, ṣaridāra; n. secretary, official scribe, office superintendent (cf. Kumar 1967: 166).
kuta	var. kut; n. a system of tenancy under which a cultivator paid a fixed quantity of produce or a fixed amount of money as rent to the owner of the field.
lālamohara	var. lālmohara, lālamohar, lālmohora; abbreviated mohara; n. royal document bearing the red seal.
muri / murī	n. 1) also khetamuri; unit of land measurement in the hill region, comprising 1/4 ropanī with 100 muris in 1 kheta. The area varied according to the grade: 1190 sq. ft. for lands of the best grade, and 1339 sq. ft., 1487 sq. ft., and 1785 sq. ft. for lands of inferior grades. 2) volumetric unit comprising 20 pāthis (with 8 mānas to a pāthi), equivalent to 90.919 (M.R. Pant 2002: 134 ) or 87.23 (Pant and Pierce 1989: 93) liters. (M.C. Regmi 1978: 163; M.C. Regmi 1999: 235 ; M.C. Regmi 1978a: 228 ; M.C. Regmi 1978b: 862 ; Adhikari 1984: 354; M.C. Regmi 1988: 269).
pāthī	var. pāthi; n. 1) a volumetric unit equivalent to 4.546 litres comprising of 8 mānās with 20 pāthīs in one muri. 2) a container for grains having a volume of one pāthī.
phā̃ṭa	var. phāṭ, phāṭa, phā̃ṭ; n. “division or section of an office or a department“ (Adhikari 1984: 355).
ropanī	[fr. S.] var. ropani; n. unit of land measurement in the hill region, including the Kathmandu Valley, comprising four murīs. The area may vary according to the grade, but current standard area for a ropanī comprises 5,476 square feet (cf. M.C. Regmi 1999: 235 ; M.C. Regmi 1978: 864; Whelpton 1991: 286; M.C. Regmi 1995: 77; M.C. Regmi 1978: 163; M.C. Regmi 1988: 270).
savāla	n. 1) an enquiry. 2) a set of directives issued especially for the administrative purposes. Contrary to a sanada which is applicable to general public, a savāla refers to rules within a particular organization or an administrative unit (see Siṃha 1981 sv svāla. 3) rules and regulations enacted based on an existing law; administrative regulations (Adhikari 1984: 356; Karmacharya 2001: 328).
śrī	[S.] n. word of blessing, can be used as apprecatio, in which case it means 'good fortune' (Pant and Pierce 1989: 12), can be used as a prefix to names of persons and gods, in which case it means 'venerable' or 'glorious' respectively. The number of śrīs used varies, depending on context.
śrī 5 sarkāra	lit. "five-times venerable ruler"; commonly used to refer to the Śāha king (cp. Whelpton 2005: 266) and often indistinctively to his government (Lecomte-Tilouine 2015).
ṭola	[fr. New. tvāḥ/tvāla, Old New. tvāra] n. a quarter of a town or village; a part of a town inhabited by persons often belonging to the same community or caste; the distinguishing feature being a separate shrine of Ganedyaḥ/Gaṇeśa (Pant and Funo 2003).