Administrative System of the Marathas c20.s2: Jurisdiction over Non-Hindus
Administrative System of the Marathas c20.s2
- Language
- English
Jurisdiction over Non-Hindus
c20.s2.1
As the non-Hindu ruler of the country was required to enquire about the social customs of the Hindus and decide disputed social and religious questions, so the Peshwas were also called upon to decide about the religious rights and customs of their non-Hindu subjects. Thus in the year 1754-55, a dispute (Bhikaji and Rustumji Andharu *vs.* others) about the priesthood of the Parsis was decided by an officer of the Peshwa.⁴
c20.s2.2
⁴ P. D., Vol. II, pp. 24-25.
c20.s2.3
In the year 1769-70 a Portuguese clergyman asked for a government patent for his claim to officiate as Priest in the church of Ramedi in Salsette.⁵ "Padre Farelpadra Majardesh, a resident of Revdanda came to the Huzur at the Mukkam of Kasba Poona and informed that the Padreship of the church of Ramedi in Salsette belonged to him. Accordingly Ramaji Mahadev had granted the Padreship to him and the Sarsubhedar also had given him a letter (of confirmation). A patent from the Huzur should be given him. The Padreship was therefore granted to him and he was ordered to enjoy its customary dues. A letter to Ramaji Mahadev :-As the abovementioned clergyman is in government service and cannot attend his duties at the church, he should be allowed to send an agent to perform the duties of the church."
c20.s2.4
⁵ P. D., Vol. VII, p. 342.
c20.s2.5
3. *Spirit of Toleration :*
c20.s2.6
It appears that this extensive jurisdiction effectively exercised by the Peshwas over the social and religious affairs of their non-Hindu subjects did not cause any discontent, for these Brahman rulers were uncommonly tolerant and generous to people who professed a faith other than their own. The grants and farmans issued by the Muhammadan rulers were not only continued but from time to time new Inams were given for the maintenance of mosques and shrines. They liberally contributed to the construction of mosques and churches, and timber from the preserved forests was frequently supplied for such purposes. Cannons were fired thrice at the request of a Portuguese clergyman to celebrate a Roman Catholic festival at Revdanda. Baji Rao II permitted the Portuguese clergymen at Bassein to excercise all their old rights with the single exception of cow slaughter, an act so repugnant to Hindu sentiments. And the other Maratha rulers did not lag behind in this respect. Daulat Rao Sindhia and his officers always joined the Muharam procession dressed in green as Muhammadans should do, and even to-day Muharam remains the most popular festival at Sindhia's capital.
c20.s2.7
4. Superstition :
c20.s2.8
Their solicitude for the suppression of witchcraft shows that the Peshwas were by no means free from superstition. Further instances of their superstitious beliefs are met with in their religious and social regulations. In 1721-22, one Rupee was given as a present to an Agnihotri to counteract the evil effects of the fall of a lizard in the hall of audience.⁶ When on the Dasraday 1740, the flagstaff of the fort at Mahuli was struck by lightning, one hundred Brahmans were feasted and *Shantijap* was repeated a hundred-thousand times.⁷ In the year 1751-52, there was an earthquake in the province of Kalyan Bhivandi and good Brahmans were ordered to assemble for a *Shanti* ceremony (to appease the supposed wrath of the gods).⁸ In 1753-54 performance of a similar ceremony was ordered at fort Visapur,⁹ because of unusual prevalence of sickness in the fort. We come across a set of similar orders during the administration of the second Madhava Rao. In 1773-74 the idol in the famous Pandharpur temple was touched by a lizard, and *Shanti* and *Maharudra* ceremonies were performed; over and above this one thousand Brahmans were fed.¹⁰ In 1775-76 the Brahmans of Kasba Trimbak represented that they were seriously troubled since the discontinuation of the customary sacrifice of a buffalo to the local goddess on the Dasra-day, and the practice was ordered to be reintroduced.¹¹
c20.s2.9
⁴ Biker, Vol. X, p. 276; Sen, Historical Records at Goa.
c20.s2.10
⁶ P. D., Vol. II, p. 195.
c20.s2.11
⁷ P. D., Vol. II, p. 195.
c20.s2.12
⁸ P. D., Vol. II, p. 204.
c20.s2.13
⁹ P. D., Vol. II, p. 205.
c20.s2.14
¹⁰ P. D., Vol. VIII, p. 255.
c20.s2.15
¹¹ P. D., Vol. VIII, p. 257.