Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

Author(s): Ramvallabh Somani
Publisher: Rajasthan Prakrit Bharti Sansthan Jaipur

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Banjaras together with the Banjaras recently arrived from other place (Abhinava-puriya) and from a place named Badari conjointly agreed to pay as tax a certain amount of money for the benefit of the 'Yatris' (pilgrims) to the Pujari (priest) of the Mahavir temple. A tax was also levied on the export of animals. The Nadlaj inscription of V. E. 1195 and 1200 make specific references to it.
We have evidence extending over a long period of the realisation of a toll tax in Abu, from the persons coming into the town. There are also references of its remission in the inscriptions of the Vimal-Vasati dated V. E. 1371 and 1372, of Devara 65 Lumbha and V.E. 1506 of Maharana Kumbha. The inscription 66 of V.E. 1506 is also significant in other ways. It records the payment of a Fadiya coin to the Achaleshvar temple and four Dugani coins to the Vashishtashram temple of Abu. It proves that he remitted the tax to be levied in shape of toll tax only.
No reference to forced labour is to be found in the Jain inscriptions of Rajasthan; but the prevalence of this system is known from other sources. Mandapika :
The Mandapika also known as the “Sulka-Mandapika” was an institution for the collection of taxes. It was different from the custom house, which was known as the “Mapa". The Devakulpatak 67 inscription of V. E. 1491 records the levy of separate taxes through the “Maudapika” and “Mapa". The Nisith-Churni speaks of a "Sulka-Thana” where taxes were collected. The Sanchore inscription of V E 1345 of Samantsingh68 mentions a Mahasthan, a place for collecting taxes. The Mandapikas referred to the Jain and other inscriptions seem to be akin to these. It appears to have been a kind of check post where goods were carefully inspected and tax levied on them. The Nisith-Churni records that merchants, who
65. Abu II No. 241-243. 66. Maharana Kumbha by the Author pp. 392-393.
67. ibid p. 310 68. E, I. Vol. XI p. 59,