Cultural Study of Nisitha Curni

SR No.: 001743
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Madhu Sen
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar
Publication Year: 1975
Total Pages: 432
Language: English, Prakrit
Classification: Book_English, Agam, Canon, & Literature
File Size: 23 MB

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A CULTURAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
king for being pleased with his services.1 This was a common practice followed in India from the 4th to the 10th century A. D.2 On the basis of the above references, it can be easily stated that in those days of political uncertainty, the kings were always desirous of enhancing the strength of their army, which was a well organized department of the State.
Police and Police Officers
Corelated to the armed forces was the Police Department. The coroddharanikas (the exterminators of thieves) as well as the damḍapasikas (the carriers of nooses to catch the thieves) were the two senior officers of the police. The coroddharan ka was entrusted with the duty of protecting a deśa or visaya (a unit), and was designated as desarakṣika.3 The dam ḍapasika was given the charge of detecting the thieves, especially during night, and his status was that of an arakṣika. These two officers frequently figure in the contemporary Maitraka records, on the basis of which Virji has concluded: "The dan lapāśika was apparently a head police-officer under whom the cauroddharanikas, the vartmapalas, the pratisarakas and other sub-ordinate police-officials exercised their functions". From the NC. the status of the coroddharanika seems to have been much higher than that of dan lapasika. In a list showing the consecutive status ( parampara ) of the State officials, the dan lapātika is mentioned before the setthi and the sena pati," showing his inferior status to these two officials, while at another place the
1. NC. 3, p. 283.
2. Jayaswal, op. cit., p. 357.
3. देसो विसतो, तं जो रक्खति सो देसार क्खिओ, चोरोद्ध रणिकः - NC. 2, p. 234.
4. "आरक्खि " दंडवासिओ भण्णति - NC. 3, p. 113; आरक्षिकः दण्डपाशिकः — Bh.
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Vr. 5, p. 1441; als Prabandha Cintamani, p. 77.
5. Maliya Copper-plate Inscription of Mahārāja Dharasena II ( 571-72 A. D.)--CII. III, No. 38, p. 170, note 2, text p. 166; also Deo-Baranark (undated) Inscription of Jivitagupta II-CII. III, No. 46, p. 218, note 3, text p. 216.
6. Virii, K. J., Ancient History of Saurashtra, p. 288.
7. NC. 3, p. 203.