History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c46.138

v3.c46.138

It will be shown immediately below that these rules of the smṛtis were observed to the letter by Hindu kings and learned brāhmaṇas in medieval times. When the successors of Śaṁkarācārya began to interest themselves in the work done by the pariṣads for centuries before the advent of the first ācārya cannot be ascertained. A large part of Northern India was under Moslem rule for about 500 years from about 1200 A. D. and a portion of the Deccan and a part of South India also were under Moslem rule for about three hundred years. Numerous documents have been published by the late Mr. Vishvanath K. Rajwade (a scholar who made unique contributions to the elucidation of Maratha History, Marathi Philology and Marathi Literature) and his friends. From these it appears that during the time of the Maratha domination learned brāhmaṇas of holy places like Paithan, Nasik and Karad were consulted in religious matters by the king or his minister, that the holders of the ‘*gādī*’ of Śaṁkarācārya at Saṅkeśvara and Karavīra and other seats were also rarely consulted in these matters and that it is only after the advent of the British rule that²²¹³ the Śaṁkarācāryas have begun to claim almost exclusive jurisdiction in ecclesiastic matters and in restoring men to their castes or excommunicating them for lapses. It will be seen from passages quoted below that both the learned brāhmaṇas at holy places like Karad and the Śaṁkarācāryas claim the exclusive right in these matters by reason of immemorial usage.