A copy of a royal order appointing three former biṣeṭs as diṭṭhās in the service of Matsyendranātha (VS 1862)
ID: K_0341_0018
Edited and
translated by Manik Bajracarya and Rajendra Shakya
Created: 2020-11-02;
Last modified: 2023-03-30
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Abstract
The royal order of which this is a copy reappoints three biseṭs of Patan to manage the affairs of Buṅgadyo, Matsyendranātha.
Diplomatic edition
[1r]
[?]नं¯¯¯¯1आगेश्रीमछीन्द्रनाथकोथीतीचाजोपाजो∙आलमालकोसहीय़ारनय़ा2विसेट्पर्दाहुन्दोहुदोरहेनछतसर्थपुरापर्ववंसदेषीकोपुरानोविसेट्
3इषालषुकेरतनवुढाइषालषुकोसिवनर्सिंतौझ्यालकोभाजुनर्सिंटूसुलाईडीठ्ठा
4राषीईतिनजनालाईश्रीमछीन्द्रनाथकोटहलषजानाकोसहीआरघरषेतवनव़ा
5रीगाऊगुवादामकोपंजनीचिताईबक्स्यौंअनाजलहनागहनाधनमालोभ
6लालचनगर्नुलोभलालचगर्यादवाईछपाईषायाश्रीमछींद्रकोकुदृष्टी
7होलापरापुर्वदेषीकोषानगीतिनैजनाकोज्माचामलमुरीबाह्र१२धान
8मुरी२५गहुमुरीबाह्र१२कचावीसेट्जना१२टहलमारूजुराषीपरापु
9र्वकोषानगीचामलमुरीचौवीस२४धानमुरीपचीस२५गहुमुरीबाह्र१२
10दीनुटहलमारूजुरहीन्यालाईराषनुवेरुजुवीराऊन्यालाईपरसार्नुदेवताको
11षेतमाभारादारअमालीदाररकमीलेतकरारटंटानगर्नुथिचोमीचोगरी
12षेतनकमाऊनुवालीनषानुषलगर्याहाम्राहजुर्माविंतीगर्नुदेवताकोवीधी
13पुजापरापुर्वदेषीभैआयाकोचलाऊनुअर्घ्यालोरह्याकोषजानादाषील
14गर्नुदेवताकोषजानामाहीनावीनागर्यालोभानीपापानीगर्याजिऊ
15धनसर्वस्वहोलासुलीहालौलासोबुझीधर्मराषीदेवताकोटहलचलाईहा
16म्रोजैमनाईआफ्नाआफ्नासन्तानस्यभोग्यगरय़ोथीतीजोनाघलापंच
17महापातकलागलाईतिसम्वत्१८६२सालमितीभाद्रसुदी७रोज७शुभम्१[Seal of Jaisīkoṭhā][Unknown seal]
Translation
[1r]
Āge: It turns out that new[ly appointed] biseṭs have failed to make customary arrangements for the glorious Matsyendranātha (text: Machīndranātha) and to take proper care of his property. For this reason, we have [re]appointed the earlier biseṭs—[namely] Ratana Buḍhā of Ikhālakhu (text: Īṣālaṣu), Śiva Narasiṃ of Iṣālaṣu1 [and] Bhāju Narasiṃ Ṭūsu of Taujhyāla—who inherited [the responsibility] from the past, as ḍiṭṭhās. We have decided to appoint (pajanī) these three persons to serve the glorious Matsyendranātha and to take care of the [deity's] treasury, houses, plots, forests, gardens, villages and guvādāma2 .
Do not be greedy for the grains, money (lahanā), ornaments and valuables [belonging to the deity]. If you become greedy or misappropriate [such property], the evil eye of glorious Matsyendra (text: Machīṃdra) will befall you.
Remuneration (khānagī) for the three [ḍiṭṭhās], as in the past, includes a total of 12 ([in words,] twelve) murīs of [husked] rice, 25 (twenty-five) murīs of unhusked rice and 12 (twelve) murīs of wheat. Have 12 kacā biseṭs3 be present in the service [of Matsyendranātha]. As in the past, provide them with 24 (twenty-four) murīs of rice, 25 (twenty-five) murīs of unhusked rice and 12 (twelve) murīs of wheat as their remuneration. Keep [only] those who are regularly present in the service. Dismiss those who remain absent or make mistakes. Bhāradāras, amālidāras [or] rakamīs must not engage in obstructive activities [or] in disputes over the land belonging to the deity. Neither encroach upon [such] land nor cultivate it and enjoy its harvests. Inform us in cases of misappropriation. Carry out [all] the customs and rituals of the deity, following what has been performed traditionally. Deposit unused valuables [in the treasury]. Misappropriation of the deity's treasury or greedy or sinful acts [towards the deity] may result in capital punishment or confiscation of property. We will hang [such a person]. Having understood this, keep to the dharma, serve the deity, celebrate our triumphs and enjoy [the fruits] together with your own families. Whoever disobeys this rule will come under the five grave sins (pañcamahāpātaka).
Saturday, the 7th of the bright fortnight of Bhādra in the [Vikrama] era year 1862 (1805 CE). Auspiciousness.
[Seal of Jaisīkoṭhā]4
[Unknown seal; only the letters "śrī medinī" are legible.]
Commentary
This copy of a lālamohara officializes the [re]appointment of three biseṭs in the service of Matsyendranātha. The usual eulogy (praśasti), and hence the name of the king, is missing. From the date, however, the issuing king can be confirmed as Gīrvāṇayuddha Vikrama Śāha (r. 1799-1816). The names of the addressees, usually followed by the beginning marker āge, are missing as well. The editors assume that the document is addressed to the three biseṭs.
During the Malla period, the biseṭs of Matsyendranātha were the court officials entrusted with the management of guṭhī lands belonging to the deity. Additionally, they were responsible for organizing the deity's festival and ensuring that all tasks were completed on time. The biseṭs also had the responsibility of supervising crowd control throughout the festival, and two of them would wave yak tail fans in front of the deity during the chariot procession (Locke 1980: 267). Their duties are outlined in an inscription installed by King Śrīnivāsa Malla in NS 793 (1673 CE) (for details, see NHDP_0001_0138). The biseṭs continued to serve in their roles until the Śāha kings relieved them of their duties and replaced them with state officials.
The document identifies the aforementioned three persons as belonging to the clans who traditionally held the post of biseṭs, and that they had to be reappointed after some newly hired biseṭs failed to fulfil their duties. Interestingly, the reappointed persons were given the post of diṭṭhā, one generally held by civil servants. It is not yet known when the functions assumed by traditional biseṭs were taken over by diṭṭhās. Other documents, RRC_0005_01595 issued in 1806 and DNA_0014_0106 issued in 1839, also appoint diṭṭhās to do the tasks traditionally carried out by biseṭs.
The current document also instructs that 12 subordinate biseṭs be appointed without specifying their tasks. Remunerations for the three diṭṭhās and their subordinates are specified in terms of rice and wheat.
Another copy of this document can be found in the Regmi Research Collection vol. 6, pp. 394-6. For Regmi's translation of it, see Regmi 1972: 80.