Lekhapaddhati: Documents of State and Everyday Life from Ancient and Medieval Gujarat

Description

A unique collection of Sanskrit documents by unknown compilers belonging to pre-Sultanate Gujarat, the Lekhapaddhatiis a sourcebook of immense historical importance. Presumably written as a guide for official scribes and professional letter writers, it is the sole non-epigraphic repository of grants and other public and private documents from early medieval India. Pushpa Prasad puts together for the first time a complete translation of the documents with annotations and a detailed critical introduction. Careful, literal, and yet comprehensible, this study sheds light on various aspects of administrative, economic, and social history. It contains numerous specimens of letters and documents of various kinds, treaties between kings, rules of administration, and model drafts of private letters. Cover Title Pages Dedication Preface Abbreviations Introduction The Text and its Time Administration Feudatories Rājaputras Rāṇakas Agriculture and Fiscal System Trade and Commerce Credit and Banking System Sureties and Repayment of Loan Rate of Interest Creditor-Debtor Relations Coinage Pārautha or Pāraupathaka Dramma Viśvamallapriya Dramma Social Life Social Customs Funeral Ceremony Women: Slavery and Marriage Notes Translation of Model Documents Abstract and Keywords Models of Documents 1. Order of the King (Rājādeśo Yathā) 2. Royal Charter (Śāsana Patra Yathā) 3. Copper-Plate Charter (Tāmra-Śāsana Yathā) 4. Charter on a Birch Bark (Śrī Bhūrjja Pattalā Yathā) [Śrī Rañjo Bhūrja pattalā (The King's charter on birch-bark)] MS-A. Śrī Mahāmātya's Charter (Śrī Mahāmāstya Pattalā) MS-A. Charter of rāṇāka (Śrī Rāṇāka Pattalā) 5. Permit or Passport (Deśottara Yathā) 6. Village Charter (Grāma Paṭṭaka) 7. Paṭṭaka for Regular and Additional (Lumpsum?) Tax from Village (Samakara Uddha Grāma Paṭṭaka Vidhi Yathā) 8. Decision Regarding the Payment of Fine (Vyavasthā Yathā) 9. A Royal Treasury Draft (Rāj Huṉḍikā Yathā) 10. ‘Secret’ Paṭṭaka (Gupta Paṭṭako Yathā) 11. Loan-Repayment [By Merchant in Lieu of Land Given] (Uttarāksharāṇī Yathā) 12. Order for the Transfer of Service (Nirūpaṇā Yathā) 13. Another Transfer or Appointment Charter (Aprā Api-Nirupaṇa Yathā) 14. A Paṭṭaka of Horse Sale Deed (Ašva Vikraya Paṭṭaka Yathā) 15. A Concession Letter (Guṇāksharāṇi Yathā) 16. Certificate (Ṭippanakaṁ Yathā) 17. Transit Clearance Certificate (Atha Mārgāksharāṇi Yathā) 18. Mahāmātya's Charter on a Birch Bark (Mahāmātya Bhūrjapatraṁ Yathā) 19. Maṉḍaleśvara Charter on Birch Bark (Maṉḍaleśvara Bhūrja Patraṁ Yathā) 20. Text of Judgement (Nyāyavādo Yathā) 21. Text of Reply (Pratipṛiccha Yathā) 22. The Village Revenue Administration (Grāma Saṁsthā Yathā) 23. Correct Public Announcement on a Piece of Cloth (Dharma-Cīrikā Yathā) 24. Settlement of Balāra Land in Pāñcāla Country (Pāñcāla Balāra Bhūmi Saṁsthā Vidhi Yathā) 25. A Document for Money Taken Against Mortgaged Objects (Ādhau-Kṛita-Vastūnāma-Upari Gṛīhita Dravya-Patra Vidhi) 26. Enhanced Repayment in Wheat (Vṛidhi Dhānyākshrāṇi) 27. Ordeals as Usual (Divyaṁ-Yathā) 28. Land of which the Ownership is Doubted and hence Taken by the Government (Ḍohalikā Mukti Yathā) 29. Deed of Seizure (Vyāshedho-Yathā) 30. Deed of Seizure (Athavā-Vyāshedho Yathā) 31. A Deed of Confiscation of Land given in Maintenance (Grāsslopanaṁ Yathā) (p.113) 32. Acknowledgement Deed (Viśudhāksharāṇi-Yathā)1 (p.114) 33. Receipt (Upgatā Yathā)1 (p.115) 34. Receipt of Department Dealing with Administration of District (Maṉḍalakaraṇasya-Upagatā-Yathā)1 (p.116) 35. Receipt for Undressed Provision (Kaṇa-Upagatā-Yathā)1 (p.117) 36. Special Restraint (Ṭheko Yathā)1 (p.118) 37. Deed on War and Peace [Saṉdhi-Vigrahau Yathā]1 (p.119) 38. Letter (Likhitaṁ Yathā)1 Translation of Model Documents (p.120) 39. Letter (Lekho Yathā)1 (p.121) 40. Royal Letter Addressed to Daughter in Law (Vadhū-Heto-Rāja-Lekha)1 (p.122) 41. Nature and Form [of Document] (Svarūpa Vidhi)1 (p.124) 42. Royal [Officer's] Order (Śrī Rāja-Vijñaptikā Yathā)1 Translation of Model Documents (p.129) 43. Request to the Teacher (Guru Vijñaptikā Yathā)1 (p.131) 44. Request to the Father (Pitra Vijñaptikā Yathā)1 (p.133) 45. Request to the Mother (Mātṛi Vijñaptikā Yathā)1 (p.135) 46. A Deed of Blessings—(Āśīravādo Yathā)1 (p.136) 47. Debt Deed (Vyavahāra Patra)1 (p.140) 48. A Particular Kind of Mortgage Deed (Valita-Patra-Vidhi)1 (p.142) 49. Form of Sale Deed of a House (Gṛiha Vikraya-Vidhi)1 (p.143) 50. Permanent Sale Deed (Candra-Kalikaṁ Vikrya-Patra Yathā)1 Translation of Model Documents (p.144) 51. A Deed of Mortgage for the Enjoyment of Usufruct (Vṛiddhi-Phalabhoga Patraṁ Yathā)1 (p.145) 52. A Deed of Mortgage of a House (Gṛihaḍḍāṇaka Patra Vidhi Yathā)1 (p.148) 53. A Deed for [Mortgaged] House Lost to Owner (Gṛihaḍūli Patra Yathā)1 (p.149) 54. Deed of A Mortgage of Field (Athakshetrāḍḍānaka Patraṁ)1 (p.151) 55. A Deed of Mortgage of Horse has been Written (Aśvāḍḍāṇaka Patra Abhilikhyate Yathā)1 (p.154) 56. Mortgage Deed (Ādhi Patraṁ Yathā)1 (p.156) 57. A Deed Related to Land Grant for Religious Purposes (Dharmeṇa Datta-Bhūmi Patra Vidhi)1 (p.158) 58. Deed of Female Slave (Dāsī Patra Vidhi)1 (p.161) 59. Deed of Voluntry Female Slave (Svayamāgata-Dāsī Patra Vidhi)1 (p.165) 60. A Deed of Mode of Division (Vibhaṉga Patra Vidhi)1 (p.169) 61. Model of an Ass Deed (Garadabha Patra Vidhi)1 (p.171) 62. A Certificate or Letter of Good Character (Śīla Patra Vidhi)1 (p.173) 63. An Agreement Letter (Samaya Patra)1 (p.174) 64. Text of Treaty (Yamala Patra Yathā)1 (p.175) 65. Presentation Letter [for Divorce and Remarriage] (Ḍhaukhaṇa Patra)1 (p.176) 66. Letter for Clearance of Accounts (Utthān Patrikā Vidhi)1 (p.178) 67. A Draft of Letter of Censure and Amnesty ‘Black and Bright Letters’ (Kṛishṇākshara—Ujjavalākshara Vidhi)1 (p.181) 68. Form of Deed Related to Duty by the Incharge, Customs House (Dāna Maṉḍapikā Patra Vidhi)1 (p.183) 69. Deed for Borrowing Money (Hastāksharāṇi Yathā)1 (p.184) 70. Unsecured Loan (Sanmukha Hastākshāraṇi)1 (p.185) 71. Deed for Borrowing One's Own Money—(Svahastāksharāṇi Yathā)1 (p.186) 72. Deed of Assurance (Abhayāksharāṇi Yathā)1 (p.187) 73. A Letter of Judgement (Vidhi Patraṁ)1 (p.188) 74. Question and Answer (Bhāshottara Yathā)1 (p.189) 75. Model Statement (Ālāpo Yathā)1 (p.190) 76. Auspicious Letter (Śrī Patrikā Yathā)1 (p.191) 77. Deed of Market Tax Contract (Vikraṇa Paṭṭako Yathā)1 (p.192) 78. The Letter (Cīṭhikā Yathā)1 Translation of Model Documents Abstract and Keywords (p.195) Models of Documents1 (p.197) 1. Request Sent by the Teacher to Śrāvaka (Śrāvaka Guru Vijñaptikā)1 (p.198) 2. Āchārya Sends the Letter to Śrāvaka (Ācārya śrāvakasya Prasthāpayati Lekhaṁ Yathā)1 (p.199) 3. Request to Maheśvara (Maheśvara Yogya Vijñaptikā1) (p.200) 4. Teacher Sends Blessing to Disciple (Guru Śishāśyāśīravādaṁ Prasthāpyati Yathā)1 (p.201) 5. A Saffron Letter (Kuṁkuṁ Patrikā)1 (p.202) 6. Letter to the Swāmī (Swāmī Lekho Yathā1) (p.203) 7. Letter to a Servant (Bhṛitya Lekho Yathā)1 (p.204) 8. Letter to a Friend (Mitra Lekho Yathā)1 (p.205) 9. A Letter of the Happy Wife to Her Husband (Prasanna Bhāryā Lekhani Prasthāpayati Yathā)1 (p.206) 10. A Letter of an Angry Wife to Her Husband (Saṁrushṭa Bhārayā Bhṛita Lekho Yathā)1 (p.207) 11. A Letter of a Secretly Beloved One to Her Lover (Gupta Priyasya Lekho Yathā)1 Translation of Model Documents (p.208) 12. A Letter to the Wife (Bhāryā Lekho Yathā)1 (p.209) 13. A Letter of the Displeased Husband to His Wife (Sarosha Bhṛita Bhāryā Lekho Yathā)1 (p.210) 14. A Letter of Husband with Affection to the Beloved (Sānurāga Prasthāpyati Priya Lekho Yathā)1 (p.212) 15. A Letter for the Younger Brother (Kanishṭha Bhrātṛi Lekho Yathā)1 (p.213) 16. Informative Letters which were Earlier Conveyed by the Respected Peoples in Detail (Pūravokta Pujai Vistrā Khāyapi Sāmānya Pratipatti Lekho Yathā)1 (p.214) 17. From a Certain Place a Letter is Sent to a Friend. (Amuka Pure Mitraṁ Prasthāpyati Lekho Yathā)1 (p.215) 18. A Letter to the Father (Pitṛi-Lekha)1 (p.216) 19. Letter to Son (Putra Lekha)1 (p.217) 20. Letter to the Mother (Mātṛi Lekha)1 (p.218) 21. Letter to the Father-in-law (Svasura Lekha)1 (p.219) 22. Letter to Mother-in-law (Svasru Lekha)1 (p.220) 23. A Letter to Son-in-law (Jāmātṛi Lekha1’) Bibliography Arabic And Persian Works Travellers' Accounts Inscriptions Modern Works Index