History Aspects of Dharmadhikari Position in the Cabinets of Garhwal Kings

Cabinet Structure in Pal-Shah Dynasty Garhwal Kingdom -2

Administration, Social and Cultural Characteristics History of Garhwal in Shah Dynasty -4

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -193      

   History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -441 

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Research Student)

      There were Dharmadhikari, Religious Preceptor or ministers for Religious Needs in the cabinets of Garhwal Kingdom.

           Most of records mention Bahugunas as Dharmadhikari of Shah Dynasty King cabinets. However, there is record of Ojha Guru (Maularam , Gadhrajvansh Kavya). There is no such cast in Garhwal. However, Uniyals of Garhwal were Ojha when they migrated from Bihar to Garhwal.

It was necessary that Dharmadhikari would be Sanskrit Scholars, having knowledge of Karmkand, astrology and Ayurved too.

         The job of Dharmadhikari was to offer judgment or advices on –

Caste system

Religious acts

Disputes on religious acts or discussions

Date formulation of auspicious days for the King and public

Arrangement for rituals and social works by the king and King Families

Managing construction of Kingdom temples and management of rituals in those temples or religious places

Management of lands for temples

Managing Sanskrit schools

            List of Bahuguna Dharmadhikari (Head Priest) of Badrinath Temple

 There were Dharmadhikaris in Badrinath temple the major court temple of Garhwal Kingdom. The Dharmadhikari post of Badrinath was given to Bahugunas and their clans only. The list of Dharmadhikari is as follows as per Bahuguna Vanshavali

Medhakar Bahuguna

Ram Datt Bahuguna

Narhari Datt Bahuguna

Pitambar Datt Bahuguna

Ram Prasad Bahuguna

 Devi Prasad Bahuguna was last Dharmadhikari from Bahuguna family as his son Dr Chandi Prasad Bahuguna did not opt for Dharmadhikari post.

Medhakar Shastri was son of Chandidas Bahguna. Medhkar Shahstri was cabinet minister in Pradip Sah court. Medhakar Shastri Bahguna was eleventh generation of Achyuta Nand Bahuguna the first Bahuguna settled in Garhwal.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com26/9/2014

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -442

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter ….

XX                     

Notes on South Asian Modern Period  History of Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Pauri Garhwal; South Asian  Modern Period  History of Chamoli Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rudraprayag Garhwal;  South Asian Modern  History of Tehri Garhwal; Modern  History of Uttarkashi Garhwal;  South Asian Modern Period  History of Dehradun, Garhwal;  Modern  History of Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Rurkee Haridwar ;  South Asian Modern Period   History of Bahadarpur Haridwar ; South Asian Modern Period  History of Haridwar district, History of Characteristics of Garhwal Kings Shah dynasty ,  to be continued