History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c44.73.4

v3.c44.73.4

Among matters called prakīrṇaka (miscellaneous) of which the king was to take cognisance *suo motu* without anybody’s complaint, Nārada includes (in verse 3) ‘abstraction of gifts’ and ‘gifts of villages and towns to brāhmaṇas’ (verse 2). According to the Sm. C. among the topics called *chalas*²¹⁰⁷ were two viz. the destruction of a reservoir of drinking water and of a temple. Kātyāyana states that mere wrongful possession for any length of time of women, of state property and of temple property would not confer ownership on anybody. These texts indicated that the Government of the day protected temple properties, tanks, wells and the like that were dedicated to the public and exercised powers of superintendence and correction in matters affecting them. Yāj. II. 191 says that those who look after the business of guilds etc. in which many are interested should be students of the Veda, men of rectitude and free from greed. They are styled *kāryacintaka* by him. Bṛhaspati²¹⁰⁸ quoted by Aparārka says (p. 796) that these kāryacintakas (committee) should consist of two, three or five persons and that if there be disagreement between the larger bodies and the committee the king should decide that dispute and should bring round to the proper path whoever might be in the wrong. It appears that from very ancient times (3rd or 2nd century B. C.) the committee in charge of religious foundations was called goṣṭhī and the members goṣṭhika²¹⁰⁹.