Documents on Pandits

Documenta Nepalica | Documents on the History of Religion and Law of Pre-modern Nepal | Main Editors: Simon Cubelic / Rajan Khatiwoda / Axel Michaels

This collection of documents focuses on the social history of traditional Brahmanical scholars during the Śāha and Rāṇā periods. In these sources, we encounter pandits in various social roles: as scholars, royal priests, astrologers, librarians, religious judges, and even high-ranking government officials. Furthermore, the documents show that the Gorkhali government maintained its cultural ties with traditional centers of learning in India during the colonial era.

Documents on Pandits in Benares

DNA_0001_0001: A letter from Aravindanātha Gajuryāla to General Bhīmasena Thāpā requesting a study allowance (VS 1878)

DNA_0002_0069: A letter from Aravindanātha Gajuryāla to General Bhīmasena Thāpā acknowledging a study allowance of 90 rupees (VS 1878)

DNA_0004_0038: A letter from Aravindanātha Gajuryāla to the Queen Dowager Lalitatripurasundarī requesting the continuation of a study allowance (VS 1878)

DNA_0004_0018: A letter from Jīvanātha Śarmā to Prime Minister Jaṅga Bahādura Rāṇā regarding the erection of a śivaliṅga by women (VS 1920)

Documents on Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla

K_0096_0012: A copy of a lālamohara granting Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla a house in Kathmandu’s Indracoka and additional real property [VS 1861]

K_0096_0007A: A copy of a lālamohara granting Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla land in Hetauda [VS 1863]

K_0096_0011: A copy of a lālamohara to Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla renewing a grant of land (VS 1863)

K_0096_0013: A copy of a lālamohara to Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla renewing a grant of land (undated)

DNA_0013_0077: A lālamohara from King Rājendra updating a VS 1863 land grant to Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla (VS 1890)

DNA_0016_0005: A lālamohara from King Rājendra granting land to Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla on the occasion of the first death anniversary of the king's step-grandmother (VS 1890)

DNA_0011_0106: A rukkā from King Rājendra ordering landowners and officials throughout the kingdom to submit gifts, payments, and tributes through Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla (VS 1894)

E_1949_0028: A letter from Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla to the amālī of Patan regarding the term of service for boys performing at the Kārttika dance (VS 1894)

K_0515_0071: A copy of a letter from Raṅganātha Pauḍyāla to the subedāra of Mahottari district regarding the rights of the vairāgīs of Barahi to collect grain and timber on their birtā land [VS 1895]

Documents on other Pandits

DNA_0016_0093: A lālamohara from King Girvāṇayuddha appointing Kedāranātha Jhā Paṇḍita to oversee manuscripts and books in the royal palace (VS 1869)

DNA_0001_0112: An arjī by Paṇḍita Kṛṣṇānanda Lohanī regarding a royal horoscope (undated)