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A lālamohara from King Gīrvāṇayuddha granting land to Badhuvā Nagārci for conducting rituals (VS 1864)

ID: DNA_0013_0031


Edited by Astrid Zotter in collaboration with Ramhari Timalsina
Created: 2016-06-23; Last modified: 2018-11-28
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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, 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

This lālamohara of King Gīrvāṇayuddha allocates land in different parts of the country to Badhuvā Nagārci to operate an endowment (guṭhi) for the upkeep of two banners (nisānā) and three long trumpets (karnāla) previously offered to Degutalejyū. The particulars (tapasila) specify material to be provided by Badhuvā Nagārci and his descendants to carry out regular rituals, including on Caitedasaĩ and Baḍādasaĩ.



Diplomatic edition

[1r]

1श्रीदुर्गासहाय\­

1श्रीदेगुतलेज्यू­•१­श्रीकालिका­२­

[royal seal]

1स्वस्ति­श्रीगिरिराजचक्रचूडामणिनरनारायणेत्यादिविविधविरुदावलीविराजमानमानोन्नतश्रीमन्महाराजाधिराजश्रीश्रीश्रीमहाराजेगिरवाणयुद्धविक्रमसाहवहादूरसम्सेरजङ्गदेवानाम­सदा­स
2मरविजयिनाम­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
3आगे­वधुवा­नगार्चिके­¯¯१¯¯¯लाईवडा­निसाना­२­कर्नाल­३­चर्‍हाञ्युं­•तस्को­गुठि­निमित्त­वक्स्याको­डुम्कोट्‌को­अम्वल­सेरो­षेत­१।१०­तस्को­साँध­•पूर्व­सेराको­षोल्सो­लुहुकिल­•दषिन­पहरो­लुहुकिल­प
4श्चिम­•चिरो­षोल्सि­लुहुकिल­•उत्तर­•तेर्छो­वाटो­•लुहुकिल­•दफे­कुशावति­•षेत­१­तस्को­लगापात्समेत•को­साँध­•पूर्व­रैकर­लुहुकिल­•दषिन­•सुक्या­षोल्सो­र­तेर्छो­वाटो­लुहुकिल­•पश्चिम­•रैकर­वारिका­सिर्‍हा
5नको­पहरो­•ढुंगो­लुहुकिल­•उत्तर­•पँध्यारो­षोल्सो­ढुंगो­तेर्छो­वाटो­लुहुकिल­•दफे­साँषलवु­अर्चल्या­षेत­२।६­तस्को­साँध­•पूर्व­•घिमिर्‍या­षोलाको­छिक्‌­लुहुकिल­•दषिन­•रैकर­पहरो­लुहुकिल­•पश्चिम­•
6षोल्साका­ढिक्‌को­लुहुकिल­•उत्तर­रैकर­पाषो­लुहुकिल­•दफे­काँटाकुटिका­अम्वल­मध्ये­•रुप्स्या­षेतमुरि­४२­तस्को­साँध­•पूर्व­कैदल्या­षोल्सि­रैकर­लुहुकिल­•दषिन­•वाँध्या­•ढुंगो­रैकर­लुहुकिल­•प
7श्चिम­•पहरो­लुहुकिल­•उत्तर­•रैकर­लुहुकिल­•दफे­पैर्‍या­षेतमुरि­२२­तस्को­साँध­•पूर्व­•दषिन­•पषेरो­लुहुकिल­•पश्चिम­•उत्तर­•रैकर­•लुहुकिल­•दफे­थालि­षेतमुरि­११­तस्को­साँध­•पूर्व­थालि­षोल्सि­लुहुकि
8ल­•दषिन­•पश्चिम­•उत्तर­•रैकर­लुहुकिल­•दफे­अर्चल्या­षेतमुरि­२४­साँध­•पूर्व­•दषिन­षोल्सिको­लुहुकिल­•पश्चिम­•रैकर­•लुहुकिल­•उत्तर­पाषो­लुहुकिल­दफे­•काभर्‍याको­पूछार­•षेतमुरि­५­तस्को­साँ
9ध­•पूर्व­•दषिन­•पश्चिम­•उत्तर­•रैकर­लुहुकिल­•औ­पुराना­गाउ­•१­तस्को­साँध­•पूर्व­•पहरा­मनिको­ठुलो­ढुंगो­•पानि­ढलो­•लुहुकिल­•दषिन­•काभर्‍या­षेतका­•वाँझा­गर्‍हाको­लुहुकिल­•पश्चिम­•छहर्‍या­
10षोल्सो­लुहुकिल­•उत्तर­•पहराका­चाँपाको­रुषमाथिको­लुहुकिल­•दफे­छोकल्वु­घड्यारि­तस्को­साँध­•पूर्व­घिमिर्‍या­षोलो­लुहुकिल­•दषिन­•सहेल्या­डाँडो­साँउन्या­पानिको­ठुलो­ढुंगो­लुहुकिल­•प
11श्चिम­•चिउरिको­रुष­•चौतारामाथिको­डाँडो­•धरणि­शिवाकोटिको­साँध­लुहकिल­•उत्तर­•पहरो­लुहुकिल­दफे­डुम्कोट्‌­लगासमेत्‌को­साँध­•पूर्व­•पाणे­षोलो­लुहुकिल­•दषिन­•गाईघाट्‌को­साँध­लु
12हुकिल­•पश्चिम­•थाङ्गन्या­छहरो­•उत्तर­•देउरालिको­पानि­ढलो­•लुहुकिल­•येति­चार­किला­भि[?]­कंपनिको­षानगी­•मुलकोट्‌को­जग्गा­¯¯२¯को­गुठि­षेत­र­•घर­घड्यारि­फूलवारिके­पाषो­रोपनि­३०­
13विर्त्ता­जफति­माटा­व़ाहिक्‌­•औ­विसंषुको­अम्वल­नरकट्यानि­षेतमुरि­८०­तस्को­साँध­•पूर्व­•दषिन­•पश्चिम­•रैकर­लुहुकिल­•उत्तर­•वाटो­•लुहुकिल­•येति­चार­किला­भित्रको­षेत­६­डुम्कोट्‌­लगापात्‌­•
14समेत्‌­•गादिमुमारष­•चुमाउन­•गोड्‌धुवा­•धर्माधिकार­•येति­चार­कलमवाहिक्‌­•सर्वरकम­•हारा­समेत्‌­मारिमेटि­गुठि­राषि­•हांम्रा­सन्तान­भर­•तेरा­सन्तानलाई­•षोस्पोस­नगर्नु­भनि­वन्देज­
15वाधि­•गुठिको­मोहरताँवापत्र­गरि­वक्स्यौँ­•यस­जग्गाका­आम्दानिले­तपसिल­वमोजिमका­रुपैया­५९।­ले­वर्षवन्धन­•पूजा•मसालामा­लगाउनु­•निसाना­मोर्न्हालाई­हांम्रा­हजूरमा­विंति­ग
16र्नु­र­मोर्‍हाई­वक्सौँला­•आफ्ना­षातिरजामासंग­•टहलमा­रुजू­रहि­•सेष­रह्याको­•भोग्य­गर­यो­गुठि­वक्सँदाका­सँधियार­•श्रीनाथ­अर्ज्याल­भानु­पाध्या­षनाल­श्रीनिधि­पंथ­कासिराम­पाँडे­
17हरिवंस­वोहोरा­वंसविर्­राना­भास्कर­पाध्या­•डगोल­•छोट्या­धनवन्त­कालो­धनवन्त­मद्याङ्‌­थरि­•काटाकुटिका­द्वार्‍या­•दुर्जोधन­षडका­वषतानन्द­पाध्या­केहेर­सिं­कार्कि­चामु­•
18थापा­
सर्वजित­थापा­कुशावतिको­देवनारान­मिझार­गोलैच्या­मिझार­किसन्नारान­मिझार­पूराना­गाउको­छत्र­सिं­षड्का­चामु­वस्न्यात­महिन्द्र­वस्न्यात­जस्यागोर्‍या­मिझार­
19धर्मानन्द­शिवाकोटि­दोलषाको­सिंद्याल­प्रधान­•विसंषुको­द्वार्‍या­गज्या­राना­कालु­षड्का­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
20तपसिल­
21¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

[table1]

1निसाना­२के­मसाला­मैन्हा­१के­दर­रूपैया­२का­हिसावले­वर्ष­१को­रू­२४­
2वडादसैके­रूपैया­११।///­
3रागो­१के­रू­५­
4वोक्या­१के­रू­१।।­
5भेटि­के­रू­१­
6पगरि­१के­रू­१­
7नरिवल­१के­रू­///­•
8वस्त्र­कपरा­हात­१०के­रू­१­
9फलफूल­के­रू­।।­•
10सिंदुर­सुपारि­गैरह­के­रू­।।­•
11तेल­दिन­१०के­रू­।।।­•

[table2]

1चैत्यादसैके­३।।/­
2वोक्या­१के­१।।­
3भेटि­के­।।­
4पगरि­१के­।।।­•
5नरिवल­१के­///­•
6फलफूलनैवेद­के­।­•
7सिदूर­सुपारि­धुप­गैर्‍ह­के­।­•
8तेल­के­//­

[table3]

1जना­२के­जडाउरि­रू­२०­
2जना­१के­१२­जना­१के­८­

22जश्ले­यो­गुठि­वंधुवाका­संन्तानलाई­षोस्पोस­गर्ला­•तश्लाई­पंचमहापातक्‌­लागला­•॥स्वदत्ताम्­परदत्ताम्­वा­यो­हरेत­वसुन्धराम्‌­•षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि­विष्टायां­जायेते­क्रिमिः­इति­
23सम्वत्‌­१८६४­साल­मिति­•श्रावण­सुदि­९­रोज­४­शुभ्म­¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

[1v]

1⟪६३­⟫

1⟪(३४)­३४०­⟫

1मार्फत­वहादुर­भँडारी­

Synopsis

This lālamohara of King Gīrvāṇayuddha addresses Badhuvā Nagārci.

On the occasion of establishing an endowment (guṭhi) in connection with the king's offering of two large banners (nisānā) and three long trumpets (karnāla) to Degutalejyū [of Hanumānḍhokā palace], the guṭhi is allocated specified plots of land, and the addressee himself a village and two plots as an emolument (khānagī) for military (?) service (kampanīko):

In the district (ambala) of Ḍumkoṭ:

- 1 kheta, 10 muris at Sero;

- 1 kheta at Kuśāvati;

- 2 khetas, 6 muris at Sā̃khalabu Arcalyā.

In the ambala of Kā̃ṭakuṭi:

- 42 khetamuris at Rupsyā;

- 22 khetamuris at Pairyā;

- 11 khetamuris at Thāli;

- 24 khetamuris at Arcalyā;

- 5 khetamuris at Kābharyāko Pūchāra.

For his emolument, [Badhuvā Nagārci] is allotted a village called Purānā Gāu, a plot for building a house (ghaḍyāri) at Chokalbu and a second plot in the Ḍumkoṭ area.

In [the ambala of] Mulakoṭa is allocated to the guṭhi:

- wet-rice fields (kheta), houses, plots for building houses and pākho land for a flower garden, (altogether?) 30 ropanīs previously assigned to a [former?] guṭhi of Śrī Kālikā, excluding [land already given as] birtā [to others and] land which had been confiscated by the state (japhati mātā);

In the ambala of Bisaṅkhu:

- 80 khetamuris at Narakaṭyāni.

The landholdings, totalling 6 kheta1 that are endowed to the guṭhi are exempt from all taxes (sarvarakama hārā) except for four levies (kalama), namely ones due on the coronation of a new king (gādimumārakha), the initiation of a prince (cumāvana), the wedding of (the eldest?) princess (goḍadhuvā) and the fees payed to the dharmādhikāra.

A moharatāmrapatra was engraved to this effect. It bears the following further stipulations: The king's descendants shall not confiscate anything (khospos nagarnu) from Badhuvā's descendants. From the produce of the properties endowed, a sum of 59 [mohara]rūpaiyā̃ shall be spent for worship material (pūjamasālā) needed for the annual festival (varṣabandhana), according to the particulars (tapasila). For re-dressing (mornhālāī)2 the nisānās, a separate petition is to be made to the king, who promises to provide for this upon request. The addressee is advised to remain zealous in his service (ṭahalamā ruju rahi) and mindful of his duties (āphnā khātirajāmāsaṃga). The surplus is to be enjoyed by him.

The people marking the borders (sā̃dhiyāra) when the guṭhi was established include [as representatives of the tharaghara]: Śrīnātha Arjyāla, Bhānu Pādhyā Khanāla, Śrīnidhi Paṃtha, Kāsirāma Pā̃ḍe, Harivaṃsa Bohorā, Vaṃsavir Rānā, Bhāskara Pādhyā; as land measurers (ḍaṅgola) Choṭyā Dhanavanta, Kālo Dhanavanta; as madyāṅ tharis3 from Kā̃ṭakuṭi: the DvāreDurjodhana Khaḍakā, Bakhatānanda Pādhya, Kehera Siṃ Kārki, Cāmu Thāpā, Sarvajita Thāpā; from Kuśāvati: Devanārāna Mijhāra, Golaicyā Mijhāra, Kisannārāna Mijhāra; from Purānā Gāu: Chatra Siṃ Khaḍkā, Cāmu Basnyāta, Mahindra Basnyāta, Jasyāgoryā Mijhāra, Dharmānanda Śivakoṭi; from Dolakhā: Siṃdyāla Pradhāna; from Bisaṅkhu: Dvāre Gajyā Rānā and Kālu Khaḍkā.

Particulars (tapasila):

For the [worship] material for the 2 banners, at the rate of 2 Rs per month, yearly cost: 24 Rs;

for Baḍādasaĩ in total: 11 Rs, 1 sukās, 3 ānās, including:

- 5 Rs for 1 male buffalo;

- 1 Rs, 2 sukās for 1 he-goat;

- 1 Rs for bheṭī;

- 1 Rs for 1 turban;

- 3 ānās for 1 coconut;

- 1 Rs for 10 hātas of cloth;

- 2 sukās for fruits and flowers;

- 2 sukās for sindura, betel etc.;

- 3 ānās for offering oil;

for Caitedasaĩ in total: 3 Rs, 2 sukās, 1 ānā], including:

- 1 Rs, 2 sukās for 1 he-goat;

- 2 sukās for bheṭi;

- 3 sukās for 1 turban;

- 3 ānās for 1 coconut;

- 1 sukā for fruits and flowers;

- 1 sukā for sindura, betel, incense etc.;

- 2 ānās for offering oil;

for cast-off clothes (jaḍāuri) [to be given to?] 2 persons, in total: 20 Rs, including:

to one person [on Baḍādasaĩ?]: 12 Rs;

to one person [on Caitedasaĩ?]: 8 Rs 4

The document closes with the usual formulas for all to abide by the stipulations. It is dated Wednesday, the 9th of the bright fortnight of Śrāvaṇa of the [Vikrama] era year 1864 (1807 CE).

As the signature on the back side betrays it was channelled through (mārphata) Bahādura Bhãḍārī.


Commentary

In the part of the document listing the details (tapasila) use is made of lines of differing length to fill the space between the particulars of single entries in order to furnish proper columns. This typical format feature has been reproduced here in the form of tables. In the original text, the second and third tables, pertaining to provisions for Caitedasaĩ and to the cast-off clothes respectively, are found in the second column, but have been reproduced here after the first table, pertaining to Baḍādasaĩ.

Two different copies of this lālamohara are extant: K_0004_0021 and K_0240_0010. A predecessor of it, issued in VS 1863 and extant as a copy (K_0030_0042C), refers to 5 khetas in Ḍumkoṭ and (probably the above-mentioned) 80 khetamuris at Narakaṭyāni of Bisaṅkhu endowed as a khānagī to Badhuvā Nagārcī for the upkeep of 2 large nisānās and only one karnāla. From the produce of these lands thus endowed exactly the same expenses as stipulated in the later document had to be met, though.

G. Vajrācārya (1976: 267–269) has transcribed a copperplate in the possession of the Nagārci who plays the big drum (nagarā) installed at Hanumānḍhokā, the old royal palace at Kathmandu. The inscription apparently contained exactly the same text and must be the original copperplate spoken of in the text. This case illustrates that royal deeds for which copperplates were issued came along with a copy of the text in the form of a lālamohara.

The endowment concerns the temple of Degutalejyū (also called Digu-/Degul-/Degulatalejyū or -tale/-taleju/-talejyu) whose temple is located at Hanumānḍhokā palace, behind the Kālabhairava statue, with the column of Pratāpa Malla facing it. On the reestablishment of this deity's guṭhī under King Pratāpa Siṃhā, see DNA_0012_0047, DNA_0012_0051.


Notes

1. The sum of 6 khetas seems to combine both the wet-rice fields enumerated above what is offered as a khānagī (altogether 5 khetas, 20 muris) with the 80 khetamuris endowed to the guṭhi in Mulakoṭa and Visaṅkhu. []

2. Though the verb in its modern spelling mohornu / moharnu can mean wrapping something in cloth, paper or leather (Parājuli et al. VS 2072: s.v.), it seems that in the present context the word more probably denotes the redressing of the banners, which is a usual part of their ritual treatment during the Dasaĩ festival. The provisions for Badādasaĩ given in the particulars do, however, include 10 hātas of cloth. If this was indeed meant for the annual redressing, it could be that the act denoted by mornhā here following a separate request for funds was the non-regular (?) renewal of wrappings for the banners. []

3. This term seems to denote a category of people belonging to the "intermediate clans" from among the 36 clans, namely those consisting of the nobility of Gorkha (Riccardi 1977: 47 n. 5), ranking below the upper six clans of Pā̃ḍe, Pantha, Aryjāla, Khanāla, Rānā and Bohorā, who according to the traditional accounts assisted Dravya Śāha in the conquest of Gorkha and whose representatives are always mentioned first. []

4. This last budgetary item is not completely clear. It seems to refer to the practice of donating one's worn-out clothes to servants on the occasion of Dasaĩ. Usually, however, it is a member of some upper caste who hands over old clothes to his service castes, such as untouchable Damāīs working as tailors and musicians. As in this case Badhuvā Nagārci himself belongs to the Damāī community (as is apparent from his office in charge of musical instruments and from a document of his adoption of a son, issued in VS 1852, K_0240_0014), to whom would he have provided clothes? The table seems to suggest that it was cash given to replace worn-out clothes. Note that the sums given, of 12 and 8 Rs respectively (probably on each of the Dasaĩs), are extraordinarily high, surpassing the total sums for the worship materials of under 12 and 4 Rs respectively. []