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A petition made by Kṛṣṇacandra Jhā to Candra Śamśera to maintain his priestly post at Viṣṇu, Umāmaheśvara and Cyāsiliṃ Kṛṣṇa temples in Patan (VS 1964)

ID: K_0355_0063


Edited and translated by Ramhari Timalsina
Created: 2019-05-10; Last modified: 2020-05-06
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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

This is a petition made by Kṛṣṇacandra Jhā to Candra Śamśera for the continuation of his priestly duties at Viṣṇu, Umāmaheśvara and Cyāsiliṃ Kṛṣṇa temples in Patan. Sahadatta Miśra of the Mahāpāla quarter and Kamalākānta Upādhyāya of the Svatha quarter were also claiming the priestly post of the Umāmaheśvara temple.



Diplomatic edition

[1r-part1]

1एकरुपैञाकागज­नम्बर­१।४३८९­

[Logo printed with vegetal motifs]

[Seal of Candra Śamśera]

1249 ⟫

[Seal of Śrī Kumārī Aḍḍā]

1तोक ­नम्वर­⟪२४०७­⟫

1श्री­५­सरकार­
2१­⟫

1श्री­३­माहाराज­
2२­⟫

1श्री­कर्णैल­हेमवीक्रं­राणा­
2३­⟫

1वींती­पत्र­श्रीकुमारी­अडाबाट­
2---१­तर्फ­गुठी­वंदोवस्तके­यस्मा­ऐं­सवाल­वमोजीं­गर्नु­भनी­---१­तर्फ­गुठी­वंदोवस्तमा­पठाईदीनु­भंन्या­[...]
3वाट­हुकुं­मु.­वु.­---३­वाट­मर्जी­भयाको­छ­भनी­प्रमांगीले­ऐं­वमोजीं­प्रमाण­मुद्दा­हेरी­लालहरूले­सही­तथा­जो­
4छ­ऐं­सवालको­रीत­पुर्‍याई­प्रमांगी­वमोजीं­गर्नु­सं­६४­साल­भाद्र­३१­गते­२­रोज­२­⟫

1[ येस्देखि ­माथि ­विन्तिपत्र ­लेखनेले ­केहि ­नलेखनु ­देव़तामालिकहरुका ­नाम् ­इत्यादि ­विन्तिपत्रम्‌को ­दाहिना ­बाञा ­लेखनु ­]

1श्री­विष्णु­
2१­

1स्वर्गेवासी­श्री­३­माहाराज­
2२­

1श्री­उमामहेश्वर­
2३­

1च्यासिलीं­देव़ल्­कृष्ण­
2४­

[वि न्ति प त्र म्­]

[Flower motif]

1उप्रान्त­गरीपरव़र­करुणानीधान्­इन्साफका­धनि­दयासागर­पाटं­दर्वार­सुनढोका­अगाडी­¯ ¯ ¯१­को­देव़ल­पुजा­गर्नु­भं[...]­
2मेरा­भिनाज्यू­लक्ष्मीलाल­झाका­पुर्षाका­नाउमा­सनद­भयाको­रहेछ­निज­लक्ष्मीलालको २­दाज्यू­थीयो­सो­पनी­नीस
3न्तान्­भै­लक्ष्मीलालको­स्वास्नी­र­जीवलालको­स्वास्नीहरू­मात्रै­भयाको­र­पुजा­गर्ने­लोग्ने­मानीस­कोही­पनी नहु[...]­
4पोल्हा­सहदत्त­मिश्रले­नीज­लक्ष्मीलाल­मर्नेसाथ­म्याद­टासी­५/७­मैन्हा­भोग­चलन्­गरेकोमा­सहन­नसकी­
5मैले­पनि­¯ ¯ ¯२­का­हजुरमा­ठाडो­वीन्ती­चढाउदा­नीज­सहदत्त­मिश्रलाइ­मोरु ५­जरीवाना­गरीवक्सी­पुजा­
6गर्नु­भन्ये­हुकुम्­वमोजीम् ५५­सालदेषी­पुजा­चलाइआयाको­थिञाँ­सो­सनदवालाको­पनातीनी
7हरु­देव़रानी­जेठानी २­को­अंस­मुद्दा­देव़ानीवाट­फैसला­गरीदीयाको­अपील­परी­सर्कारका­हजुरमा­[...]
8न­नपाउने­मागी­मागी­षाने­भंने­भान्­पारी­वादी­प्रतिवादीको­सवुत्­कौनै­कुरा­पनी­नदेषाइ­प्रमाण
9ले­ठहराई­फैसला­गरेकोमा­अंस­दीनै­पर्ने­भयो­भनी­तादात्­ल्याउ­भनी­मेरा­दीदीलाई­थुनी­श्रीसंपति­
10लेषिदीदा­साहु­नतिर्ने­संपति­अंस­लीने­भयो­तादातमा­देव़ल्‌को­चढेको­छैन­साहुहरु­पनी­चढेको­[...]­
11प्रभू­देव़लका­हक्मा­¯ ¯ ¯१­को­पुजा­गर्ने­काम­मैले­चलाको­र­स्वास्नीमानीसले­पुजाहारी­काम­गरी­[...]
12को­र­गर्न­स्मेत्­नहुने­हुनाले­हुकुम्­वमोजिम् ५५­सालदेषि­आजसम्म­पुजा­र­देव़ालये­भत्के[...]­
13स्मेत्­मैले­नै­वनाइ­९/११­वर्ष­जति­भयो­भोग­गरी­¯ ¯ ¯१­को­पुजा­तहल­गरीआयाकोमा­सो­देव़ल­[...]­
14अंस­लाग्छ­भनी­अंसवन्दामा­सो­देव़ल्­जानुपर्ने­होइन­पुजाहारी­काम्­हुकुम्वमोजिम­यस्ले­[...]­

[1r-part2]


15को­हो­भने­भत्केविग्रेको­अव­पनी­वनाइ­यसै­भोगवालाका­नाउमा­जो­चाहीने­वेहोराको­सनद­गरी­[...]­
16सर्कारको­जय­मनाइ­¯ ¯ ¯१­को­पुजा­गरी­वस्दा­हुँ­ ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
17पुजाहारी­षान्गी­र­पुजा­षर्च­गुठ्­स्मेत्­केही­नभयाको­अपुज्ये­पाटन्­दर्वार­वरपरको­६­देव़ालयेमा­५­[...][...]
18का­वालीदेषी­पुजाहारी­षडा­गरी­पुजाहारीके­मोरु­१०­पुजा­षर्चके­मोरु­७­ज्मा­मोरु­१७­का­दर्ले­देव़ल
19मा­पसल­राषी­वस्ने­पसलेहरुसँग­वाल­असुल्­गरी­जुन्­जुन्­देव़ल्‌को­पेटीको­पसल­वाल्­[...]­
20सोही­देव़ल्‌को­पुजा­गर्ने­पुजाहारी­लाइ­दीनु­भंन्या­स्मेत्­वेहोराको­गुठी­वन्दोवस्त­अडाका­नाउँमा­सनद­[...]
21को­रहेछ­सो­सनद­वमोजिम्­मलाइ­वक्सेको­¯ ¯ ¯३­र­¯ ¯ ¯४­को­२­देव़लको­पसल्‌को­वाल­म­पाउन्या­[...]
22अडामा­भंन­जादा­अघि­नै­तिमिले­सो­देव़ल्­षापी­लगेको­हुनाले­पाउदैनौ­भनी­गुठीवाट­जवाफ­[...][...]
23वलको­वाल­दोहरो­तेहरो­पुजा­गरी­पहीलनी­नै­पोल्हा­सहदत्त­मिश्रले­नै­पुजा­गरी­षाइ­[?]
24सो­पसलको­वाल­नउठने­भयाको­हुनाले­१­दफामा­लेषीयाको­देव़लका­आम्दानीवाट­सो­२­देव़लको­
25६२­सालसम्म­पुजा­चलाइआयाको­र­अव­पसलको­वाल­उठने­भयापछी­अरुले­पुजा­गर्न­लागीरहेछ­[?]
26सालसम्मको­वाल­मलाइ­वक्सनुपर्ने­हो­मर्जि­वमोजिम्­मैले­पुजा­गरेको­हुनाले­अव­पनि­यसैलाई­नै­[...]
27भंन्या­हुकुम्‌को­प्रमान्गी­वक्से­सो­लीयाको­देव़लको­देव़ता­पुजा­गरी­सर्कारको­जैजैकार­मनाउदा­हुं­प्रभू­जो­हुकुम्­
28इत­सदा­सेवक्­भिछुक्­चीकंमुगल­टोल­वस्न्या­कृष्णचन्द्र­झा
29का­चतुर्वेदोक्त­आसीर्वाद­ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ३­
30इति­सम्वत्­१९६४­साल­मिति­श्रावण­९­गते­४­रोज­शुभम्­ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯ ¯

1स्ही­कृष्णचन्द्रझा­

Translation

[1r]

One rupee paper no. 1|4389

[Logo printed with vegetal motifs]

[Seal of Candra Śamśera]

249

[Seal of Śrī Kumārī Aḍḍā]

Written order no. 2407

The fivefold venerable Sarkāra

The threefold venerable great king

Venerable colonel Hemavīkraṃ Rāṇā

A petition [forwarded] from the Śrī Kumārī Aḍā

To the Guṭhī Bandovasta Aḍā under -1- (i.e., Śrī 5 Sarkāra). Regarding the [matter below], the pramāṅgī citing the marjī of -3- (i.e., Śrī Karṇaila Hemavīkraṃ Rāṇā), [issued] pursuant to the order of -2- (i. e., Śrī 3 Mahārāja) to send [this matter] to the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍā under -1- (i.e., Śrī 5 Sarkāra) to act in accordance with the law and the savālas, … [?]; act in accordance with the pramāṅgī.

Monday, the 2nd day of Bhādra in the [Vikrama] era year 1964 (1907 CE).

[Above this point, a petitioner should not write anything; the names of gods and masters should be written in the left- or right-hand margins.]

Glorious Viṣṇu 1

The late threefold glorious Māhārāja 2

Glorious Umāmaheśvara 3

Cyāsilīṃ Deval Kṛṣṇa 4

[A petition]

[Flower motif]

Uprānta. O caretaker of the poor, treasure of compassion, rich in justice and ocean of mercy! It has been learned that a sanada was issued to one of the ancestors of Lakṣmīlāla Jhā, who was my elder sister's husband, sanctioning him to perform worship [at] the temple of -1- (i.e., glorious Viṣṇu) located in front of the Sunaḍhokā (i.e., Golden Gate) of Patan Palace. The said Lakṣmīlāla had two elder brothers, but they too were childless, leaving only Lakṣmīlāla’s wife and Jīvalāla’s wives but no male heir to perform the worship. Recently after the death of Lakṣmīlāla, an accuser, Sahadatta Miśra, attached a summons notice and for 5/7 months consumed [the temple's income]. I could not bear it and made a direct petition to -2- (i.e., the late threefold glorious Māhārāja 1 ), and he fined Sahadatta 5 morus (i.e., mohararupaiyā̃s) and ordered me to perform the worship. In compliance with the order, I have been worshipping ever since [Vikrama era] year [19]55. The younger of two granddaughters of the sanada-holder, themselves sisters-in-law, without presenting any plaintiff- or defendant [-related] evidence, appealed a concluded inheritance case to the sarkāra, declaring herself [very poor] and as one who, having not enough food to eat, had to beg. Based upon the evidence [available], the court passed judgement, and told my elder sister to hand over a tādāta (i.e. a descriptive list) of her property. They detained her, and therefore [she] signed over her property, keeping back the share of property that she had not yet [re]paid to creditors. Among the items not [handed over] were the temple and [what] creditors [were owed]. Master! With regard to the temple, while the tasks of a priest are not performed by women, and indeed must not be performed by women, therefore, in compliance with the order, since the Vikrama era year [19]55, for some 9 to 11 years, I have enjoyed—have been doing service and performing—the tasks of a priest of -1- (i.e., glorious Viṣṇu), repairing the temple by myself when it falls into disrepair. It is not proper to count the temple as a portion of one’s property. Were you to kindly provide [me] a sanada with the necessary particulars in the name of the operator—of him who is to perform the tasks of a priest in accordance with the mandate and repair the temple when it falls into disrepair—I would continue the worship of -1- (i. e., glorious Viṣṇu) and hail sarkāra.

I came to know that a sanada has been issued to the Guṭhī Bandobasta Aḍḍā regarding six temples located in the vicinity of Patan Palace, in which temples there was no emolument for the priest, no expenses for the worship, and no guṭhī management, and [in which, therefore,] no [proper] worship was being done. [Accordingly,] for these temples, from the harvest of […], priests are to be assigned, and 10 morus for priests and 7 morus for worship expenses—altogether 17 morus—are to be provided from rent collected from individual shopkeepers who have set up shop on the plinths of the temples. Regarding the temples -3- (i.e., glorious Umāmaheśvara) and -4- (i.e., Cyāsilīṃ Deval Kṛṣṇa) given to me in accordance with the sanada, I approached the government office to claim the rent of the shops [placed on the plinths] of the temples. However, I was told: “You earlier added [those temples] to that temple [you first operated], so you are not eligible [for additional emoluments].” The accuser Sahadatta Miśra had been enjoying [the rent of the shops on the plinths of these temples]. Until the [Vikrama era] year 62, during which time the rent on the two mentioned temples could not be collected from the shops, I continued worship from the income of the temple mentioned in paragraph 1. However, now that rent on these shops is being collected, someone else has been performing the worship. I ought to be given the rent [on the temples] until [Vikrama era] year 62. I was performing the worship in compliance with the order; therefore, were you to kindly issue a pramāṅgī [containing] the order to give it to me, I would perform worship in the mentioned temples and hail sarkāra. Whatever [you] order [I shall obey].

Blessings [to you] as spoken in the Four Vedas from your servant-monk ever, Kṛṣṇacandra Jhā, resident of Cīkaṃmugala.

Wednesday, the 9th day of Śrāvaṇa in the [Vikrama] era year 1964 (1907 CE)

Signature of Kṛṣṇacandra Jhā.


Commentary

There are a number of similarly named temples in Patan, which creates difficulties in identifying the temple referred in the document. However, a related document, K_0355_0060, specifies the Umāmaheśvara temple as a ḍhuṅgā devala (i.e., a temple made of stone) located near the Patan Palace. Still another document, K_0355_0063, specifies that the temple is one of six temples in the area, while the present document, too, notes that the temples are from the Patan Palace area. Therefore, it is obvious that the Kṛṣṇa temple mentioned in this document must be the one identified as LAL1240 in DANAM (see, https://nhdp-test.kjc.uni-heidelberg.de/resource/74ae042c-e6a8-11e9-b125-0242ac130002). Similarly, the Umāmaheśvara temple must be LAL1190 (see, https://nhdp-test.kjc.uni-heidelberg.de/report/34d6f310-e5e3-11e9-8bc4-0242ac130002) and the Hariśaṅkara temple must be LAL1280 (see, https://nhdp-test.kjc.uni-heidelberg.de/report/256339d6-e9d3-11e9-8bc4-0242ac130002).


Notes

1. Possibly, Bīra Śamśera is referred in this context who died in 1901 CE. []