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A bakapatra supplied by Pokharyā re the succession of Mahanta Chetranātha's abbatial succession in Rānagāũ (VS 1964)

ID: K_0469_0040


Edited and translated by Christof Zotter
Created: 2018-08-01; Last modified: 2018-12-13
For the metadata of the document, click here

Published by Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities: Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal, Heidelberg, Germany, 2018. 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

In this statement, made before Lieutenant Colonel Vīra Bahādūra Basynāt Chetrī of the Salyan dictrict office (gauḍā), the slave Pokharyā answers questions regarding the abbotship of Mahanta Chetranātha in Rānagāũ, Salyan.



Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1श्री­ले•­कर्णेल­रणवीक्रम­वहादुर­राणा­
2

141­⟫

[seal]

1दः­ले­कः­[...]
2रवहादू[...]­[...]
3स्न्यात्‌­[...]

1सल्ल्याना­मौजे­रानागाऊका­महंत­छत्रनाथ­परलोक­भय़ाका­•
2हुनाले­महंत्याञीमा­मेरा­हक­हो­भंन्या­लोकनाथका­वीन्तीप•
3त्रमा­लेषीय़ाको­साछी­•पोषर्‍या­केटाले­सल्ल्याना­गौडाका­ले­
4कर्णैल­वीर­वहादुर­वस्न्यात­छेत्रीका­सामुनेमा­धर्म­समझी­
5वकेको­वकपत्र­

[table1-part1]

1सव़ाल­•¯¯मामुली­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯जवाफ्‌­मेरो­नाऊ­पोषर्‍या­मेरा­वावुको­
 नाऊ­•कुंद्रा­घर्ति­•पेसा­मठ्‌को­टहल­गरि•
 षाय़ाको­छु­जात­मठको­कमारो­हुँ­नीजह
 रूसंग­लीन­दीन­केही­छैन­ऊमेर­वर्ष­१८को­
 भञा­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
2सव़ाल­•¯¯स्व­मौजे­रानगाऊका­महंत­•
 छेत्रनाथलाई­चीनेका­छौ­की­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­रानगाऊका­महंत­छेत्रनाथ­छेत्र
 नाथथीय़ा­नीज­छेत्रनाथ­ये़ही­•साल­
 जेष्ट­मैन्हाका­१७­गतेका­दीन­प्रलोक­भय़ा­
 छैनं­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
3सव़ाल­•¯¯नीज­प्रलोक­हुन्या­महंत­•
 छेत्रनाथका­चेला­पनी­कोहीं­छं­की­•
जवाफ्‌­नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथका­चेला­लो
 कनाथ­छन­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
4सव़ाल­•¯¯नीज­लोकनाथ­कती­वर्ष
 का­छं­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­नीज­लोकनाथ­जमेको­साल­मैन्हा
 को­थाहा­छैन­अंदाजी­वर्ष­१२को­नीज­
 लोकनाथको­उमेर­भय़ाको­छ­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
5सव़ाल­•¯¯नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथले­•
 नीज­लोकनाथलाइ­कैल्हेदेषी­चे•
 लो­वनाय़ाको­हो­¯¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­साल्‌­मैना­दीन­⟪[fingerprint]⟫⟪को­थाहा­छैन­⟫⟪[fingerprint]⟫अंदाजी­वर्ष­६­भ
 य़ा­•नीज­छेत्रनाथ­दाङ्‌­चौघेरामा­पीर­
 वस्ता­नीज­लोकनाथका­वावु­आमावाट­
 त्याग­चुकाई­नीज­छेत्रनाथले­नीज­लोकना
 थलाइ­ चेला­वनाय़ाको­हो­¯ ¯
6सव़ाल­•¯¯नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथ­प्र
 लोक­भय़ाका­हुनाले­सो­महंत्या
 ञीको­हक­कस्को­हो­¯¯ ¯¯
जवाफ्‌­नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथ­पलोक­भय़ाका­हु
 नाले­सो­महंत्याञीको­हक­नीज­लोक
 नाथको­हो­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
7सव़ाल­•¯¯नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथको­अरु­चेला­पनी­कोही­छं­की­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯जवाफ्‌­नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथका­अरु­चे
 ला­छैनं­लोकनाथ­मात्र­हुं­¯¯

[1r-part2]

[table1-part2]

1सव़ाल­•महंत्याञी­हुन्दा­सावीक­
 दरसावीकमा­केके­कस्व­गरीआ
 य़ाको­छ­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­नीज­महंतको­प्रलोक­हुने­अवस्ता­
 भय़ापछी­चेला­लोकनाथले­सोद्धा­नी
 ज­छेत्रनाथका­चेलाको­पाषुरा­समाई­पी
 ठीय़ामा­•पीठीय़ामाधाप­लगाईदी­मे
 रा­सेषपछी­महंत­त­भैस­वस्नु­भनी­भंन्या
 का­हुं­तेती­भै­नीज­महंत­पलोक­भय़ाका­
 हुं­प्रलोक­भय़ापछी­गरीआय़ा­बमो
 जीम्‌­काज­कृय़ा­गरी­चेलाले­महंत­भै­गद्दीमा­वस्ना­गरीआय़ाका­छन्‌­¯¯¯
2सव़ाल­•¯¯महंत­छेत्रनाथलाइ­कस्ले­•
 चेला­वनाई­महंत्याञी­दीय़ाको­हो­•¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथको­गुरु­
 महंत­हीरानाथले­नीज­छेत्रनाथलाई­
 चेला­वनाइ­महंत्याञी­पाउन­गरी­रा
 ष्याका­हुं­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
3सव़ाल­•¯¯महंत­हुनेले­सकारमा­वक्सा
 इ­गद्दीमा­वस्ने­गरीआय़ाको­छ­की­•
 आफै­वसीआय़ाको­छ­¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­¯¯¯सो­महंत्याञी­गद्दीमा­वस्ता­
 अघीदेषी­सल्ल्यां­गौडाका­भारादार
 संग­वक्साइ­गद्दीमा­वस्न्या­गरीआय़ाका­
 छन्‌­¯¯¯¯¯ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
4सव़ाल­•¯¯महंत­छेत्रनाथ­प्रलोक­हु
 न्या­वषत्‌मा­सो­मठको­कां­तीमीले­
 गर्नु­भनी­नीज­छेत्रनाथले­मलाई­अ
 षत्यार­गरीदीय़ाको­छ­भनी­देवीना
 थजीले­उजुर­गरेको­छ­सो­कुरा­हो­की­कस्व­हो­ ¯¯¯¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथ­प्रलोक­
 हुन्या­वषत्‌मा­नीज­देवीनाथलाई­
 अषतीय़ार­गरीदीय़ाको­होइन­नीज­
 चेला­लोकनाथलाइ­दीय़ाका­हुंन्‌­
5सव़ाल­•¯¯महंत­छेत्रनाथलाई­म
 हंत्याञी­दीय़ापछी­नीज­छेत्रना
 थ­गद्दीमा­वस्नालाई­सल्ल्यां­
 गौडाका­भारादारसंग­वक्साय़ाको­
 थीय़ो­थीये़न­ ¯¯¯¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­महंत­हीरानाथ­प्रलोक­भय़ा
 पछी­नीजको­चेला­महंत­छेत्रनाथ­गद्दी
 मा­वस्नालाई­ऊस्­वषत्‌मा­सल्ल्यां­
 गौडाका­भारादार­¯ ¯ ¯को­पनी­
 सव़ारी­भै­गद्दीमा­नीज­      छत्रनाथ
 लाई­वसाई­सर्कारमा­जाहेर­गरी­ला
 लमोहर­हुन­गय़ाको­हों­¯¯¯¯¯¯
6सव़ाल­•¯¯नीज­महंत­छेत्रनाथ•
 का­मठ्‌को­आम्दानी­लगत­कती­
 छ­वयां­गर­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­महंत­छेत्रनाथका­मठको­
 आम्‌दानी­लगत­मलाइ­थाहा­छैन­¯¯
7सव़ाल­य़ो­माथी­लेषीय़ाको­व
 यां­तीम्रो­दुरुस्त­भो­की­¯¯¯
जवाफ्‌­फरक­छैन­फरक­पारी­लेषी
 दीय़ाको­ठहर्‍यो­ऐनवमोजीम­वुझा
 उला­ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

6पोषर्‍या­केटा­¯¯¯¯¯१­
7इती­सम्वत्‌­१९६४­साल्‌­श्राव़ण­गते­१०­रोज­५­शुभ्म्‌­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

1 [fingerprint]

1दः­ले•­कः­
2सहि­

Translation

[1r]

Venerable L[ieutenant] Colonel Raṇavīkram Bahādura Rāṇā

411

[seal]

[signature of] Da.2 L[ieutenant] C[olonel] [Vī]ra Bahādū[ra] Basynāt [Kṣatrī] - - -

Testimony (bakapatra) given, keeping the dharma in mind, in front of L[ieutenant] Colonel Vīra Bahādura Basynāta Chetrī of the Salyan district office (gauḍā) by the lad (keṭā) Pokharyā, a witness mentioned (lekhīyāko) in the petition (bintīpatra) from Lokanātha which states "inasmuch as Chetranātha,3 the abbot (mahanta) of Rānāgāũmaujā, Salyan, has passed away, the right to the abbotship is [now] mine."4

[table]

Question: general [introduction]Answer: My name [is] Pokharyā; my father's name [is] Kuṃdrā Gharti. Profession: I serve the monastery (maṭha). Caste (jāta): I am the maṭha's slave. I have no business dealings5 with the said people. Age: 18 years old.
Question: You knew Mahanta Chetranātha of that6 maujā, Rānāgāũ, or not? Answer: The mahanta of Rānāgāũ was Chetranātha. The said Chetranātha passed away on the 17th solar day (gate) in the month of Jyeṣṭha of this year, [VS 19]64. [He is] no more.
Question: Was there also some disciple of the said late Mahanta Chetranātha , or not? Answer: There was a disciple of the said Mahanta Chetranātha: Lokanātha.
Question: How old is the said Lokanātha?Answer: The year [and] month of birth of the said Lokanātha I do not know. The said Lokanātha is approximately 12 years old.
Question: When did the said Mahanta Chetranātha make the said Lokanātha [his] disciple?Answer: The year, month [and] day I do not know.7 It was approximately six years ago. When the said Mahanta Chetranātha was residing as head of the monastery (pīra) in DangCaugherā8 [and] the said Lokanātha had conclusively left [his] father [and] mother, the said Chetranātha made the said Lokanātha [his] disciple.
Question: Now that the said Mahanta Chetranātha has passed away, who has the right to the abbotship? Answer: Now that the said Mahanta Chetranātha has passed away, the right to the abbotship is Lokanātha's.
Question: There are other disciples of the said Mahanta Chetranātha, or not?Answer: There are no other disciples of the said Mahanta Chetranātha. There is only Lokanātha.

[1r-part2]

[table]

Question: What all is traditionally done [and] how [is it done] in the customary practice when one accedes to the abbotship (mahantyāñī hundā)?Answer: When the said mahanta was about to die, the disciple Lokanātha asked [him a question].9 The said Chetranātha seized the disciple's upper arm,10 slapped the [disciple's] back [and] said: "After my death make sure that you become11 the mahanta [and] occupy [the throne]." That was the extent of it, and the said mahanta passed away. Traditionally, after [a mahanta] passes away, the disciple performs the kājakṛyā12 according to what is traditionally practised, becomes mahanta [and] occupies the throne.
Question: Who made Mahanta Chetranātha [his] disciple [and] gave [him] the abbotship?Answer: The guru of the said Mahanta Chetranātha, Mahanta Hīrānātha, made the said Mahanta Chetranātha [his] disciple and appointed him [his successor] so that he would receive the abbotship.
Question: Is it the tradition that a mahanta-to-be occupies the throne after being authorized by the government, or is it rather the tradition that he occupies [it] on his own?Answer: Once the [one who is selected for] the abbotship [is set to] occupy the throne, it is the tradition from earlier timesto do so [only] after being authorized by the bhārādāra of the Salyan district office.
Question: Devīnāthajī has submitted a complaint, saying "When Mahanta Chetranātha was passing away, the said Chetranātha gave me the authority, saying 'You do the work of [overseeing] the maṭha'." Is it so, or how is it?Answer: When the said Mahanta Chetranātha was passing away, [he] gave authority not to the said Devīnātha. [He] gave it to the said disciple Lokanātha.
Question: After [his guru] gave Mahanta Chetranātha the abbotship, was the said Chetranātha authorized to occupy the throne by the bhārādāra of the Salyan district office, or not?Answer: After Mahanta Hīrānātha passed away, in order for his (nījako) disciple Mahanta Chetranātha to [be able to] occupy the throne, the then13 bhārādāra of the Salyan district office, [venerable L[ieutenant] Colonel Raṇavīkram Bahādūra Rāṇā], 14 came (savārī bhai), installed the said Chetranātha (on the throne), informed the government [and the process of issuing] a lālamohara was initiated.
Question: How much was the said Mahanta Chetranātha's assessment of the maṭha's revenue? Declare [the amount].Answer: I do not know [how much] the said Mahanta Chetranātha's assessment of the maṭha's revenue [was].
Question: The declaration of yours written above is15 the exact truth, or not?Answer: There is no deviation. If it is proven that [the statement] deviates [from the truth], I will pay the price according to the law.

The lad Pokharyā - - - 1

fingerprint

signature Da.16 L[ieutenant] C[olonel]

Thursday, the 10th solar day (gate) of Śrāvaṇa in the [Vikrama] era year 1964 (1907 CE). Auspiciousness.17


Commentary

For more information about the background to such witness statements and related documents, see the Commentaries to K_0469_0033 and K_0469_0038.


Notes

1. This archival notation indicates the card number (of bundle 15 of the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā records). []

2. The meaning of this abbreviation remains unclear. Perhaps it stands for darabāriyā or darabārī, that is, a courtier. []

3. The name, here written Chatranātha, occurs everywhere else in the document as Chetranātha. Therefore the latter spelling is used in the translation. []

4. For this bintīpatra, see K_0469_0033. []

5. Lit."there is no giving [and] taking". []

6. I understand sva as graphic variant of so (cf. kasva for kaso below). []

7. The scribe added a few missing syllables above the line, and Pokharyā confirmed the addition with his fingerprints. []

8. For further details about this office, see note 9 in K_0469_0038. []

9. As other documents report, he asked his guru what to do (cf. note 10 in K_0469_0038). []

10. The document mistakenly has chetranāthako for °le (cf. K_0469_0038), and so literally says "the upper arm of the disciple of the said mahanta Chetranātha" without specifying the subject of the sentence. []

11. The document has ta bhais for mod. Nep. tã bhaes. In other documents the simplier construction mahanta or mahantyāi bhai basnu is used (see K_0469_0038, K_0469_0039 and K_0469_0044). []

12. Kājakṛyā (mod. Nep. kājakiriyā) denotes the ritual actions performed during the first thirteen days after a death. []

13. The translation follows the parallel passage in other documents (see K_0469_0038 and K_0469_0039), which read bakhatkā instead of bakhatmā. []

14. Inserted from the upper margin. []

15. The past tense "became" (bho for bhayo) is used. []

16. Cf. note 2. []

17. The word śubhaṃ is written in an ornamental fashion. []