Indian Epigraphy c11.t7.31

c11.t7.31

The purpose of a grant, which was generally the accretion of merit to the donor and his parents, is specifically mentioned in many cases. A number of early charters are stated to have been issued for ensuring the longevity, strength, glory and prosperity of the donor. In some cases, a grant is known to have been made in order to enable the donee to perform his daily rites if he was a Brāhmaṇa, for the maintenance of the worship of a deity, for conducting repairs to a temple, or for feeding monks, etc., as the case may be, the expenses involved being met from the income derived from the gift land. Sometimes, however, no such specification was made and the donee was to enjoy the gift as he pleased. The donee’s and his descendants’ rights and privileges, including exemptions and immunities in respect of the gift land, are often clearly stated. In some cases, as already indicated above, the donee had to pay certain taxes while he was rarely allowed to enjoy the fines from thieves and some other transgressors of law.²