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80
BHĀNUCANDRA CARITRA
"God is great.' Nishan of Abul Muzaffar Sultan [ Shāh Salim Ghāzi ).
At present the exalted Nishăn has the honour by royal favour to be issued that the present and future Häkems (Governors ), Jagirdārgios, Karoris (tax.gatherers) and mutasaddis (administrators) of the Subah of Gujarat and the Sarkar of Sorath have been given the farmān with the execllent and happy mark, prohibiting killing of cows, bullocks, she-buffaloes and he-buffaloes at any time and flaying them in the presence of Sevdas (Jaina monks) and on the reverse of the said excellent farmån it is written that in every month during several specified days (described below), the noneating of the flesh of these should be enjoined. This should be considered as dutiful and proper. Also the hunting or encaging of those creatures who kept their nests in houses or on trees, should be carefully avoided. Moreover, it is written in the said farmān, worth to be obeyed that Vijayasen Süri Sevdā, disciple of Hirvijaya Sūri, the best of those practising yoga, and the adherents to his faith, had the honour of being present at our court and were special well-wishers of our court, and that in view of the genuineness of their growing yoga practices and search for God, it was ordered that no one should put up in their temples or upăsrayas (resting-places) nor insult them, and if these (religious places) became too old and in consequece any of their followers, admirers or those doing charity repaired or rebuilt them, no one with superficial knowledge or fanaticism should prevent them (from doing so). And as those, who do not know God, level on those humble God-knowing men accusations of rain-stopping and such other acts, which are the acts of the Almighty, under the belief due to foolishness and stupidity that these are the result of some magic, and put them to hardships of many kinds, and stop them from performing their religious ceremonies, we ordain that imputations for such acts should not be levelled against those humble men and they should be freely allowed to devote themselves to God at their quarters and resting places and to perform ceremonies in accordance with their religion.
Hence the said excellent farmān should be carried out and strict warning be given that the same be executed in the best manner and none should pass any order contrary to the same. (Everybody) should consider it as his duty and should not excuse it and should not act against it. Dated the 1st of the month Shaharyur Ilāhi Year 46, corresponding with the 25th of the month Safar Hijri Year 1010 (Hindi S. Y. 1658 Bhadrapad Vadi 12th-14th August 1601 A. D.)
Details on the reverse The month of Farvardin, days during which the sun passes from one zodiac to another, Mehr day, Sundays in every month, the day which intervenes between two days or Safia, Mondays in the month Rajab, the month Abān which is the birth-month of the
102 Jagirdárs-"The higher mansabdārs were mostly governors of Subāhs. The governors were
at first called Sipahsälārs: towards the end of Akbar's reign we find them called Hakims, and afterwards, Sabib Sabah or Sūbahdars, and still later morely Būbahs. The other mansabdárs held jāgirs, which after the time of Akbar were frequently changed." Ain-Ak. I, p. 241-42.
