APPENDIX
No. I
Grant of the Rathor Rani, the Queen-Mother of Udaipur, on the death of her Son, the Heir-Apparent, Prince Amra.
Siddh Sri Bari[[a4.20.1]] Rathorji to the Patels and inhabitants of Girwa.[[a4.20.2]] The four bighas of land, belonging to the Jat Roga, have been assigned to the Brahman Kishna on the Anta Samya (final epoch) of Lalji.[[a4.20.3]] Let him possess the rents thereof.[[a4.20.4]] The dues for wood and forage (khar lakar) contributions (barar) are renounced by the State in favour of the Brahmans.
Samvat 1875, Amavas 15th of Asoj, A.D. 1819.
No. II
Grant held by a Brahman of Birkhera.
“A Brahman’s orphan was compelled by hunger to seek sustenance in driving an oil-mill; instead of oil the receptacle was filled with blood. The frightened oilman demanded of the child who he was; ‘A Brahman’s orphan,’ was the reply. Alarmed at the enormity of his guilt in thus employing the son of a priest, he covered the palm of his hand with earth, in which he sowed the tulasi seed,[[5]] and went on a pilgrimage to Dwarka. He demanded the presence (darsana) of the god; the priests pointed to the ocean, when he plunged in, and had an interview with Dwarkanath, who presented him with a written order on the Rana for forty-five bighas of land. He returned and threw the writing before the Rana, on the steps of the temple of Jagannath. The Rana read the writing of the god, placed it on his head, and immediately made out the grant. This is three hundred and fifty years ago, as recorded by an inscription on stone, and his descendant, Kosala, yet enjoys it.”
(A true Translation.) J. Tod.
No. III
The Palod inscription is unfortunately mislaid; but in searching for it, another was discovered from Aner, four miles south-west of the ancient Morwan, where there is a temple to the four-armed divinity (Chaturbhuja), endowed in Samvat 1570, by Rana Jagat Singh [553]. On one of the pillars of the temple is inscribed a voluntary gift made in Samvat 1845, and signed by the village Panch, of the first-fruits of the harvest, namely, two sers and a half (five pounds weight) from each khal[[6]] of the spring, and the same of the autumnal harvests.
No. IV
Sri Amra Sing (II.) etc., etc.
Whereas the shrine of Sri Pratap-Iswara (the God of Fortune) has been erected in the meadows of Rasmi, all the groves and trees are sacred to him; whoever cuts down any of them is an offender to the State, and shall pay a fine of three hundred rupees, and the ass[[7]] shall be the portion of the officers of government who suffer it.
Pus. 14, Samvat 1712 (A.D. 1656).
No. V
Maharana Sri Raj Singh, commanding.
To the Nobles, Ministers, Patels,[[8]] Patwaris,[[8]] of the ten thousand [villages] of Mewar (das sahas Mewar-ra), according to your stations—read!
1. From remote times, the temples and dwellings of the Jains have been authorized; let none therefore within their boundaries carry animals to slaughter—this is their ancient privilege.
2. Whatever life, whether man or animal, passes their abode for the purpose of being killed, is saved (amara).[[9]]
3. Traitors to the State, robbers, felons escaped confinement, who may fly for sanctuary (saran) to the dwellings (upasra)[[10]] of the Yatis,[[11]] shall not there be seized by the servants of the court.
4. The kunchi[[12]] (handful) at harvest, the mutthi (handful) of kirana, the charity lands (dholi), grounds, and houses, established by them in the various towns, shall be maintained.
5. This ordinance is issued in consequence of the representation of the Rikh[[13]] Mana, to whom is granted fifteen bighas of adhan[[14]] land, and twenty-five of maleti.[[14]] The same quantity of each kind in each of the districts of Nimach and Nimbahera.—Total in three districts, forty-five bighas of adhan, and seventy-five of mal[[15]] [554].
On seeing this ordinance, let the land be measured and assigned, and let none molest the Yatis, but foster their privileges. Cursed be he who infringes them—the cow to the Hindu—the hog and corpse to the Musalman.
(By command.)
Samvat 1749, Magh sudi 5th, A.D. 1693. Sah Dyal (Minister).
No. VI
Maharaja Chhattar Singh (one of the Rana’s sons), commanding.
In the town of Rasmi, whoever slays sheep, buffaloes, goats, or other living thing, is a criminal to the State; his house, cattle, and effects shall be forfeited, and himself expelled the village.
(By command).
Pus Sudi 14, Samvat 1705, A.D. 1649. The Pancholi Damaka Das.
No. VII
Maharana Jai Singh to the inhabitants of Bakrol; printers, potters, oilmen, etc., etc., commanding.
From the 11th Asarh (June) to the full moon of Asoj (September), none shall drain the waters of the lake; no oil-mill shall work, or earthen vessel be made, during these the four rainy months.[[16]]
No. VIII
Maharana Sri Jagat Singh II., commanding.
The village of Siarh in the hills, of one thousand rupees yearly rent, having been chosen by Nathji (the god) for his residence, and given up by Rana Raghude,[[17]] I have confirmed it. The Gosain[[18]] and his heirs shall enjoy it for ever.
Samvat 1793, A.D. 1737.
No. IX
Siddh Sri Maharaja Dhiraj, Maharana Sri Bhim Singhji, commanding.
The undermentioned towns and villages were presented to Sriji[[19]] by copper-plate. The revenues (hasil), [[20]] contributions (barar), taxes, dues (lagat-be-lagat), trees, shrubs, foundations and boundaries (nim-sim), shall all belong to Sriji. If of my seed, none will ever dispute this [555].
The ancient copper-plate being lost, I have thus renewed it.
Here follows a list of thirty-four entire towns and villages, many from the fisc, or confirmations of the grants of the chiefs, besides various parcels of arable land, from twenty to one hundred and fifty bighas, in forty-six more villages, from chiefs of every class, and patches of meadowland (bira) in twenty more.
No. X
Sri Maharana Bhima Singhji, commanding.
To the towns of Sriji, or to the [personal] lands of the Gosainji,[[21]] no molestation shall be offered. No warrants or exactions shall be issued or levied upon them. All complaints, suits, or matters, in which justice is required, originating in Nathdwara, shall be settled there; none shall interfere therein, and the decisions of the Gosainji I shall invariably confirm. The town and transit duties[[22]] (of Nathdwara and villages pertaining thereto), the assay (parkhai)[[22]] fees from the public markets, duties on precious metals (kasoti),[4.a.22] all brokerage (dalali), and dues collected at the four gates; all contributions and taxes of whatever kind, are presented as an offering to Sriji; let the income thereof be placed in Sriji’s coffers.
All the products of foreign countries imported by the Vaishnavas,[[23]] whether domestic or foreign, and intended for consumption at Nathdwara,[[24]] shall be exempt from duties. The right of sanctuary (saran) of Sriji, both in the town and in all his other villages,[[25]] will be maintained: the Almighty will take cognisance of any innovation. Wherefore, let all chiefs, farmers of duties, beware of molesting the goods of Nathji (the god), and wherever such may halt, let guards be provided for their security, and let each chief convey them through his bounds in safety. If of my blood, or if my servants, this warrant will be obeyed for ever and for ever. Whoever resumes this grant will be a caterpillar in hell during 60,000 years.
By command—through the chief butler (Paneri) Eklingdas: written by Surat Singh, son of Nathji Pancholi, Magh sudi 1st, Samvat 1865; A.D. 1809.
No. XI
Personal grant to the high-priest, Damodarji Maharaj. 6000 Swasti Sri, from the abode at Udaipur, Maharana Sri Bhim Singhji, commanding [556].
To all the chieftains, landholders, managers of the crown and deorhi[[26]] lands, to all Patels, etc., etc., etc. As an offering to the Sri Gosainji two rupees have been granted in every village throughout Mewar, one in each harvest—let no opposition be made thereto. If of my kin or issue, none will revoke this—the an (oath of allegiance) be upon his head. By command, through Parihara Mayaram, Samvat 1860, Jeth sudi 5th Mangalwar; A.D. 1804.
At one side of the patent, in the Rana’s own hand, “An offering to Sri Girdhariji[[27]] Maharaj—If of my issue none will disobey—who dares, may the Almighty punish!”
No. XII
Maharana Bhim Singh, commanding.
To the Mandir (minster) of Sri Murali Manohar (flute delighting), situated on the dam of the lake at Mandalgarh, the following grant has been made, with all the dues, income, and privileges, viz.:
1. The hamlet called Kotwalkhera, with all thereto appertaining.
2. Three rupees’ worth of saffron monthly from the transit duty chabutra.[[28]]
3. From the police-office of Mandalgarh:
Three tunics (baga) for the idol on each festival, viz. Ashtami, Jaljatra, and Vasant Panchami.[[29]]
Five rupees’ worth of oil[[30]] on the Jaljatra, and two and a half in the full moon of Karttik [Oct.-Nov.].
4. Both gardens under the dam of the lake, with all the fruits and flowers thereof.
5. The Inch[[31]] on all the vegetables appertaining to the prince.
6. Kunchi and dalali, or the handful at harvest, and all brokerage.
7. The income arising from the sale of the estates is to be applied to the repairs of the temple and dam.
Margsir [Nov.-Dec.] Sudi 1, Samvat 1866; A.D. 1810 [557].
[a4.20.1]. The great Rathor queen. There were two of this tribe; she was the queen-mother.
[a4.20.2]. [The tract in the centre of the State, including Udaipur city.]
[a4.20.3]. An endearing epithet, applied to children, from larla, beloved.
[a4.20.4]. It is customary to call these grants to religious orders ‘grants of land,’ although they entitle only the rents thereof; for there is no seizin of the land itself, as numerous inscriptions testify, and which, as well as the present, prove the proprietary right to be in the cultivator only. The tamba-pattra,[[a4.20.4.A]] or copper-plate patent (by which such grants are probably designated) of Yasodharman,[[a4.20.4.B]] the Pramara prince of Ujjain, seven hundred years ago, is good evidence that the rents only are granted; he commands the crown tenants of the two villages assigned to the temple “to pay all dues as they arise—money-rent—first share of produce,” not a word of seizing of the soil. See Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society, vol. i. p. 223.
[a4.20.4.A]. To distinguish them from grants of land to feudal tenants, which patents (patta) are manuscript.
[a4.20.4.B]. [He defeated Mihiragula, leader of the White Huns, about A.D. 528 (Smith, EHI, 318).]
[5]. [The sacred basil plant, Ocymum sanctum.]
[6]. A khal is one of the heaps after the corn is thrashed out, about five maunds [400 lbs.].
[7]. The gadha-ghal is a punishment unknown in any but the Hindu code; the hieroglyphic import appears on the pillar, and must be seen to be understood.
[8]. Revenue officers.
[9]. Literally ‘immortal,’ from mara, ‘death,’ and the privative prefix.
[10]. Schools or colleges of the Yatis.
[11]. Priests of the Jains.
[12]. Kunchi and mutthi are both a ‘handful’; the first is applied to grain in the stalk at harvest time; the other to such edibles in merchandise as sugar, raisins, etc., collectively termed kirana.
[13]. Rikh[rishi] is an ancient title applied to the highest class of priests; Rikh-Rikhsha-Rikhiswara, applied to royalty in old times.
[14]. Adhan is the richest land, lying under the protection of the town walls; mal or maleti land is land not irrigated from wells.
[15]. In all a hundred and twenty bighas, or about forty acres.
[16]. [For the annual Jain retreat see p. [606], above.]
[17]. The chief of Delwara.
[18]. There are other grants later than this, which prove that all grants were renewed in every new reign. This grant also proves that no chief has the power to alienate without his sovereign’s sanction.
[19]. Epithet indicative of the greatness of the deity.
[20]. Here is another proof that the sovereign can only alienate the revenues (hasil); and though everything upon and about the grant, yet not the soil. The nim-sim is almost as powerful an expression as the old grant to the Rawdons—
“From earth to heaven,
From heaven to hell,
For thee and thine
Therein to dwell.”
[21]. The high-priest.
[22]. All these are royalties, and the Rana was much blamed, even by his Vaishnava ministers, for sacrificing them even to Kanhaiya.
[23]. Followers of Vishnu, Krishna, or Kanhaiya, chiefly mercantile.
[24]. Many merchants, by the connivance of the conductors of the caravans of Nathji’s goods, contrived to smuggle their goods to Nathdwara, and to the disgrace of the high-priest or his underlings, this traffic was sold for their personal advantage. It was a delicate thing to search these caravans, or to prevent the loss to the State from the evasion of the duties. The Rana durst not interfere lest he might incur the penalty of his own anathemas. The Author’s influence with the high-priest put a stop to this.
[25]. This extent of sanctuary is an innovation of the present Rana’s, with many others equally unwise.
[26]. Lands for the queens or others of the immediate household.
[27]. Father of the present high-priest, Damodarji.
[28]. [Office, properly ‘a platform.’]
[29]. [Festivals of Krishna’s birthday, the water festival, the spring festival.]
[30]. Amongst the items of the Chartulary of Dunfermline is the tithe of the oil of the Greenland whale fisheries.
[31]. A handful of every basket of vegetables sold in the public markets.