Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c8.148

c8.148

Epigraphical data about donations and gifts. The inscriptions afford us the richest documents of gifts and presents of every kind. Already king Aśoka boasts of the construction of mango parks and other plantations, wells, serais and water stations on the roads ². The foundation of a monastery for ascetics (tāpasamaṭha) is for instance mentioned in an inscription of 1114 ³ ; erection of temples and establishment of images of gods are often accompanied by special endowments for the maintenance of the same and for the observation of the cult—all of which are managed by special committees (goṣṭhijana) ; particularly however villages, fields and pieces of land of every sort are given to Brahmans. Also houses, gardens, shops tanks and canals etc. appear in the documents of gifts.