Administrative System of the Marathas c27.s7.2

c27.s7.2

1. Lagnapatti or marriage cess was certainly one of these old dues, levied by Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar and abolished by them in the sixteenth century. We find Lagnapatti and Patdam frequently mentioned in Marathi documents, and the cess survived till the British conquest. The Marathas did not rise to power immediately after the abolition of the marriage cess by the Vijayanagar rulers in the 16th century, but in the meantime the great Akbar continued to levy it in his empire. Abul Fazl informs us, "His Majesty also takes a tax from both parties, to enable them to shew their gratitude. The payment of this tax is looked upon as auspicious. Mancabdars commanding from five to one thousand, pay 10 Muhars, Mancabdars commanding from one thousand to five hundred 4 Muhars, Mancabdars to commanders of forty 1 Muhur, do to commanders of ten 4 R. The latter fee is also paid by rich people. The middle classes pay 1 R. and common people one dam. In demanding this tax, the officers have to pay regard to the circumstances of the father of the bride."¹⁵ During the Peshwa regime the marriage cess was levied at the rate of 8 annas in case of a marriage and 1 Re. when it was a re-marriage.