A copy of a purjī from Bhīma Samsera to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā approving pilgrimage funding for the ascetic Lakṣmaṇa Dāsa (VS 1968)
ID: K_0382_0012
Edited and
translated by Ramhari Timalsina
Created: 2024-07-05;
Last modified: 2025-09-03
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Abstract
This copy of a purjī from Commander-in-Chief General Bhīma Samsera Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā to the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā, responding to a petition submitted by the ascetic Lakṣmaṇa Dāsa from the Śaṅkhamūla akhaḍā, grants the petitioner 60 kaṃpanī rupees for travel expenses to the sacred sites of Śrī Badrīnātha and Śrī Kedāranātha.Diplomatic edition
[1r]
श्री\ Unknown sealUnknown seal26श्रीवद्रीनारायण२श्रीकेदारनाथ३श्रीजङ्गनंदप्रकाशेश्वर४श्री३सर्कार१1स्वस्तिश्रीमद्राजकुमारकुमारात्मजश्रीकम्यांडरइनचीफजनरलभीमसम्सेरजङ्गवहादुरराणाकस्य...१तर्फगुठीषर्चअ2डाकाहाकीमकारींदाहरुकेपुर्जीउप्रांत---२---३जांछुनीगाहलेवाटोषर्चपाउँभनीसंषमूलअषडाकासाधुलक्ष्मण
3दासलेहाम्राहजुरमावींती[?]कोहुनालेवाटोषर्चनीमीतहामीवाटकंपनीरु६०वक्सवक्सेकोछतेसअडालाइभया
4काऐनसवाल्कोरीतपुर्याई---४गुठीकास्याहामाषर्चलेषीसोकंपनीरु६०साठीनीजसाधु •लक्ष्मणदासहस्तेदिनुव
5हीवुझ्दानीजसाधुकासहीछापपरेकास्याहाभरपाईवमोजीम्मोजराहोलाइतीसम्वत्१९६८सालमीतीश्रावणगते२रोज२शुभम्¯ ¯ ¯1सकलवमोजीम्नकलदुरुस्तछस्ही
2तुलसीप्रसाद
Translation
[1r]
Unknown seal
Unknown seal
261
Śrī Badrī Nārāyaṇa 2 Śrī Kedāranātha 3 Śrī Jaṅganaṃdaprakāśeśvara 4 Śrī 3 Sarkāra 1
Hail! A purjī of the commander-in-chief general the venerable Bhīma Samsera Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā, a venerable prince born of a prince, to the chief and clerks of the Guṭhī Kharca Aḍḍā under -1-2 (i.e. Śrī 3 Sarkāra)
Uprānta: Since the ascetic Lakṣmaṇa Dāsa from the Śaṅkhamūlaakhaḍā has submitted a petition to us kindly requesting travel expenses to go to -2- and -3-3 (i.e. Śrī Badrīnātha and Śrī Kedāranātha), we have granted him 60 kaṃpanī rupaiyās.
Following the Ain and savālas as they apply to your offices, provide 60 (in words, sixty) kaṃpanī rupaiyās to the aforementioned ascetic Lakṣmaṇa Dāsa from the account of -4-4 (i.e. the Śrī Jaṅganandaprakāśeśeśvara) guṭhī. When accounts are cleared, reimbursement will be made on the basis of the accounting receipt that bears the ascetic’s signature.
Monday, the 2nd day (gate) of Śrāvaṇa month in the [Vikrama] era year 1968 (1911 CE).
Auspiciousness.
The copy is true to the original.
Signature [of] Tulasīprasāda
Commentary
This document encapsulates the interplay of religion, governance and society in early-20th-century Nepal. It highlights the importance of pilgrimages in Hindu culture and reveals the administrative mechanisms the government had in place to support them, Śrī Badrīnātha and Śrī Kedāranātha being two such destinations.
The request for funds to undertake a pilgrimage indicates the financial challenge faced especially by those who followed ascetic paths. Sixty kaṃpanī rupees, a considerable sum, demonstrates the degree of institutional support for such socially venerated religious endeavours.
The stipulation that funds were first to be drawn from the Śrī Jaṅganandaprakāśeśvara guṭhī, and that reimbursement was contingent on account clearance and the signature of the ascetic, suggests a well-defined system for financial management to be strictly followed by religious institutions.