The Rashtrakutas and their Times c20.79

c20.79

The Nargund inscription, dated 939 A.D.⁵⁵, records some voluntary contributions from the various classes of inhabitants for the purpose of a local tank. The contribution of the Brahmanas is stated to be one golden Paṇa on the occasion of each Prāyaśchitta performed in the village. The Kalas inscription of Govinda IV⁵⁶ also records an assignment by the local Brahmanas of the fees they used to receive at penitential rites (prāyaśchittas) for the maintenance of a local college. These records will therefore show that at least some of the various Prāyaśchittas that have been prescribed in the Smritis were performed by some sections of Hindu society. Some of the later Smritis, that were written not far from our period, e. g. Laghu-Sātātapa, Brihadyama, and Āpastamba, are almost entirely devoted to the discussion of penitential rites. These can be better described as Prāyaśchitta manuals necessitated by the general tendency of the age to perform them.