Nature and Extent of Dohli Land Grant and Donations in the Territory of Kota State (1670–1820 CE)

Abstract

The Hada rulers of Kota state were devout followers of Hindu religion, but at the same time, they demonstrated their spirit of religious toleration towards all the other religions and sects. The archival documents give sufficient data and information that the Hada rulers liberally made land grants as well as cash donations to priestly class people and temples. The grants were liberally distributed by the state for the upkeep and maintenance of temples, the priestly class, intellectuals and Brahmins. The state also constructed temples and maintained and repaired them as per requirement from time to time. Priests, monks, sages and pandits were attached to the temples with financial assistance from the state exchequer. The state also ensured that regularly ritual worship is performed in temples, the lamp is lighted, prasad is distributed, havan ( yajnas) and special poojas are performed on festive occasions, and bhog [food items, sweet meat, coconut, etc.] is offered to the presiding deities of the temple. The state also deployed katha vachaks [preachers] to different villages and urban centres to recite religious texts and stories on the virtues of heavenly gods. This was aimed at preserving and upholding the moral social order in the society and Varnashrama Dharma, which was followed by the Hara rulers of the Harawati region. The percentage of land granted to temples and also for charitable purposes ranged between 3% and 15% in different parganas of the state, which was higher than the land grants made by Mughal rulers.