10 th Guru of Sikh Dharma - Guru Govind Singh je Maharaj.

350 th GURU GOVIND SINGH JE MAHARAJ JANAMUTSAV DIVAS - PATNA SAHIB.
Mera Mujh Me Kachu Nahi, Jo Kachu Hai So Tera; Tera Tujh Ko Saup Ke Kaya Lage Hai Mera. – Guru Govind Singh Je Maharaj.

(In me nothing is mine Everything is Yours (God), Putting everything at Your feet I am doing no service.)

Deh Shiva Bar Mohe Eha(ਦੇਹ ਸ਼ਿਵਾ ਬਰ ਮੋਹੇ ਈਹੇ) is a most celebrated and widely quoted hymn by Guru Gobind Singh, taken from Chandi Charitar Ukati Bilas composition of Dasam Granth.

The composition describes the glory of Shakti (power or Hukam). 

ਦੇਹ ਸਿਵਾ ਬਰੁ ਮੋਹਿ ਇਹੈ ਸੁਭ ਕਰਮਨ ਤੇ ਕਬਹੂੰ ਨ ਟਰੋਂ ॥
ਨ ਡਰੋਂ ਅਰਿ ਸੋ ਜਬ ਜਾਇ ਲਰੋਂ ਨਿਸਚੈ ਕਰਿ ਅਪੁਨੀ ਜੀਤ ਕਰੋਂ ॥
ਅਰੁ ਸਿਖ ਹੋਂ ਆਪਨੇ ਹੀ ਮਨ ਕੌ ਇਹ ਲਾਲਚ ਹਉ ਗੁਨ ਤਉ ਉਚਰੋਂ ॥
ਜਬ ਆਵ ਕੀ ਅਉਧ ਨਿਦਾਨ ਬਨੈ ਅਤਿ ਹੀ ਰਨ ਮੈ ਤਬ ਜੂਝ ਮਰੋਂ ॥

देह शिवा बर मोहे ईहे, शुभ कर्मन ते कभुं न टरूं
न डरौं अरि सौं जब जाय लड़ौं, निश्चय कर अपनी जीत करौं,
अरु सिख हों आपने ही मन कौ इह लालच हउ गुन तउ उचरों,
जब आव की अउध निदान बनै अति ही रन मै तब जूझ मरों ॥

O Power of Akaal, give me this boon
May I never ever shirk from doing good deeds
That I shall not fear when I go into combat. And with determination I will be victorious.

That I may teach myself this creed alone, to speak only of Thy (allmighty lord Waheguru) praises.
And when the last days of my life come, I may die in the might of the battlefield.|

Mauryan Administration - Last part.

                                                 Emperor Chandragupta mayura

Mantri (Minister) –

For day to day work of the empire king had appointed ministers. These ministers were different from the ‘council of ministers. They were getting 12,000 pann as salary.  

These ministers were helping the emperor in the day to day work of the empire. All the high level officers were appointed by the king after consulting the ministers. 

These ministers were more powerful than the ‘council of ministers’. The ministers were in close contact with the emperor and were his adviser. 

Prime Minister is the head of these ministers too.

‘Senapati’ (Army General) – 

A very important officer of the team of Emperor. He was responsible for the army, its strength, well being. He advised the king on “Pact of peace, declaration of war,” etc. 

He had to lead the army in war or peace. He had to be expert in war planning, different moves, use of different arms. Chanakaya has given stress on his personal expertise in ‘War education’ and practical knowledge of war. 

‘Sannidhata’ – 

For economic matter this officer was responsible. He was the head of the economic department of the state. New budget, Income – expenditure of the state, taxation; its implementation was the work of ‘Sannidhata’ for this he was responsible to the king.

‘Kosadhaksha’ (Treasurer), ‘Sulkadaksha’, ‘Panayadhaksha’ - controller of the market and its price, were under him.

Samaharta (Commissioner) –

The Janpada (District) was under the control of Amatya known as ‘Samaharta’. The main work of ‘Samaharta’ is to collect ‘Tax’. To help ‘Samaharta’ there were other officers under him in districts as –

‘Sitadhaksha’ –  President of Agriculture department.

‘Sulkadaksha’ – He was the ‘tax’ collector from trade and commerce.

‘Potwadaksha’ - Officer of ‘Measure-wait’ checker and management.

‘Suradhaksha’ – President of the business which is under direct control of the state.

‘Sutradhaksha’ - President of wine department. Its sales – purchase,  use, production etc.

‘Lakshanadhaksha’ – (controller of monetary policy), Devtadhaksha – President of the department which makes control upon temples and its works.

On the basis of ‘Chanakaya’s Arthsastra we find that there were 27 Adaksha (President) to regulate the economic activity, trade, business of the state and in the state. 

Adaksha (President) were regulating and controlling the Agriculture, trade, Business – Commerce, correct wait, Mines, Art and Craft etc.

Other departments were - Ganikadhaksha, Mudradhaksha, Navadhaksha, Godhaksha (cow department), Ashwadhaksha (horse department), Panayadhaksha - controller of the market and its price.

Arthsastra mentions some more officers too. They are -  

‘Karmantik’ (Factory President) – 

He was the head of the factories which were under the state (nation). Mining, sending raw material to the factory, preparation of goods, sale and purchase and laws related with these things were under him. He was responsible for all these works.

‘Prasasta’ (Head of record keeping office) –

The record of all the department of the state (nation) were put in an office which is known as ‘Akshpatal’.

The head of this office is ‘Prasasta’. State or king’s order, Term- condition of treaty or War; detailed statements of ‘Janpada’ (District), work details of state servants (lower grade staffs), details of Income – expenditure of the state were being kept in this office in a planned manner.

‘Antapal’ – 

He was the head of the border area forts. Security of the border area was his duty.

‘Durgpal’ – He was the head of the forts of the inner part of the state.

‘Dauwarik’ – 

He was the head of the king’s palace. He was responsible for all the works related to the management of the palace.

City management (Nagar Prabandhan) – The cities were self governed. There was a committee to maintain the works of the city like army had. There was a committee of 30 members; which was again divided into 6 groups of 5 members each.

These 6 city committees are -

1^st committee was responsible for the industries. Proper preparation of goods, sale and purchase, pricing was his duty.

2^nd committee was for the well being of the foreigners. House on rent, treatment if got ill, was under this committee. If some foreigner dies in the city it was the duty of the committee to complete his last ritual. His belongings were given to the concerned officer. This shows that in India there were more foreigners.

3^rd committee was to register the birth and death of the citizens.

4^th committee was looking after the trade and commerce. This committee was monitoring the sales and purchase of goods, its quality. Wait and Measurement was also under them.

5^th committee was to check the mixing of new and old goods, so that citizens will get proper and latest goods.

6^th committee was to collect sales Tax. Those who try to evade Tax were penalized with ‘death sentence’, so no one dare to evade Tax. Rules were hard but were for everyone.

Megasthenes writes that ‘Palibrotha’ (Patliputra) was on the bank of 2 big rivers – Ganga and Soan and was the biggest city of ancient India. 

This city was 9 and ½ miles (80 stadia) long and 1 and ¼ miles (15 stadia) wide.  There was a trench around the city for its defence it was 600 ft wide and 30 hand deep. 

A high wall was all around the city; due to these measures the city was safe.  There were 570 towers (burj) and 64 gates in the wall for the protection of the city.

Guptchar (Secret service people) - 

The secret service people could have been in any form – as a monk, student, servant, dancer, prostitute, singer, labourer, businessman, Beggar etc. Historian Arian calls them ‘Overseer’ (supervisor), Strabo call them ‘Inspector’. 

In this department there were officers from junior level to senior level. Strabo describes that women and prostitutes were also involved in this work which Arthsastra also mentions. Arthsastra describes 2 types of Guptchar (Secret service people).

 They are –

1.       Sanstha – One who works from a fixed place, settled.

2.       Sanchara – Always on move.

                                                  The End.

Mauryan Administration - Part 2.

Army – 

According to Greek writer-historian Pliny during the first ruler of Mauryan Empire Chandragupta the strength of the army was 600,000 foot soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 elephants, besides chariots. 

The army was under the supervision of a governing board of 30 people which was again divided into 6 boards of 5 members each. Each board was responsible for 1 department, this way there were 6 departments.

These 6 departments are - 1. Infantry,  2.  Cavalry, 3. Chariots,  4. Elephant ,  5. Navy,  6. Transport and Commissariat.

Top Officers of the Empire were known as ‘Tirtha’.

King or Emperor was the head of the administration. He was the Law or head of the law. 

He had direct control over ‘Madhyadesh’ and it is important too because Patliputra, the capital of the empire was in this area and loosing it is the meaning of losing the nation. 

This ‘Madhyadesh’ is densely populated and fertile so getting food and army is easy and is in abundance even today too. In this ‘Madhyadesh’ there are many iron ore mines and dense forests.

In those days these forests were more big and dense, elephants are found here; these elephants were trained and used in wars and were seen as a big winner in wars. Irons are the main metal which is used to make arms and armatures. That’s why Empire took shape in this region.

‘Mahamatra’ (head officer) were appointed in all the major cities of ‘Madhyadesh’ and in the major cities all over the nation. In ‘Patliputra’ and ‘Koshambi’ there were ‘Mahamatra’. 

These ‘Mahamatra’ were directly responsible to king or Emperor and they have to directly report to the Emperor. 

The protection of the king was upon a special group of women warriors from Amazonian origin.

These women were living 24 hours with the emperor like a shadow. These ladies were kings ‘body women’.

Amatya (Minister), Purohit (Family Priest), Senapati (Army General) and Yuvraja Prince) were considered as the ‘Highest level of Officers’. 

They were getting 48 thousand ‘Pann’ (money of Mauryan period). (1 Pann is equal to ¾ tola of a silver coin). (1 tola is 11.66 grams). 

Lowest grade Officers were given 60 Pann as salary. Some employs were getting 10 to 20 Pann as their salary.  This way we find that most of the employs were getting cash in salary.

The author of ‘Arthsastra’ Kautalya or Chanakaya has mentioned 7 parts of a state.

 These are –

(1) King,  (2) Amatya (Minister),  (3) Janpada (District),  (4) Durg (Fort),  (5) Kosh (Treasure),  (6) Sena (Army),  and  (7) Mitra (Friends).

 Any Nation is based on these parts. King is the head of these parts. That’s why Kautalya has given stress on the ability of the king. Arthsastra says ‘The character of the king is the character of the people’.

The work of a king is divided into 3 parts. –

1. Karyapalika (Executive) – 

Appointment of all Top posts of the state - Amatya (Minister), Purohit (Family Priest), Senapati (Army General), Yuvraja Prince), Guptchar (secret service agents), Rajdut (Ambassadors),  ‘Mahamatra’, Council of Ministers etc was the duty of the king.

 Meeting of the council of ministers, Policy decision and its workout was the one of the most important work of the king. 

Taking decisions on the report of the secret service people and its result was also the task of the king.

New budget, Income – expenditure of the state, taxation its implementation was the work of the king. 

All departments of the state were under control of the king. War and Treaty was not possible without king’s order or consent. Appointments to the most important offices were made by the ruler himself.

2. Vidhayaka (Legislative) -

 In his inscriptions Ashoka writes that ‘The order of the king is above all orders’. 

Kautalya or Chanakaya called king ‘Dharma Pravaratak’ (king is known as Promulgator of social order).

In Arthsastra ‘Chanakaya’ declares “ Whatever pleases himself the king shall not consider as good, but whatever pleases his subjects he shall consider as good”. 

The king is also advised to show fatherly kindness to his people. 

During making or implementation of law there was no difference between any religion and between foreigners and Local citizens. 

King often laid down the broad lines of policy and issued rescripts and codes of regulations (sasan, Dharma Niyama) for the guidance of his officers and people.

3. Nayaya (Judiciary) - 

The king is the chief Judge. He is the final authority in any case. Megasthenes writes ‘the king took part in wars and administration of Justice’. Chanakaya writes ‘Justice shouldn’t be delayed’. 

In ‘Arthsastra’ at another place Chanakaya says –

“धमॅश्च व्यवहारश्च चरितरमं राजशाशनम्, विवादार्थश्चतुष्पादां पश्चिमः पूवॅ-बाधकः । (king is the source of the law, and order of the king is more important than the ‘Dharma).

Mantriparisad (Council of ministers) –

There was a council of ministers under the Prime Minister to help the Emperor to look out the works of the nation. 

Chanakaya is the first prime minister of the Mauryan Empire.

 Due to his able guidance Emperor Chandragupta never felt burdened and was free to unite the nation under one rule.

In Bindusara’s (son of Chandragupta) council of ministers there were 500 ministers. 

Chanakaya says in Arthsastra that small council is neither good for the king or for the people.

 The salary of the council of the ministers was 12,000 pann. (1 Pann is equal to ¾ tola of a silver coin). (1 tola is 11.66 grams). 

The proceedings of the council were secret.  The decision was taken with majority, but if needed or king thinks it appropriate he was able to change the decision. This council was not for daily work, it was called when needed. 

Mauryan Administration - Part 1.

Everyone wants to know and has great curiosity that how Mauryan, the winner of Magadha (Nand dynesty) and  Seleucus (the general of Alexander and after his death Ruler of Iran Mesopotamia and Syria) and ruler of greater India Arunanchal to Afghanistan (Hindukush Mountain, the natural boundary of India) ‘which even Britisher’s couldn’t achieve’ ruled the country, India.

Mahavansatika says ‘सकले जम्बदीपस्मिं रञ्ज समिभिसिंचि सो ‘means Chandragupta was the ruler of the whole ‘Jambudeepa’ (Indian sub continent or Bharta).  Justin says – ‘......in possession of India’. 

Chanakaya says ‘तस्यां हिमवत् समुदरान्तरं उदीचीनं योजनसहस्त् परिमानं अतियॅक् चकवतिॅछतरम्’.

Rudradaman’s Junagarh inscription says that this area is under Chandragupta’s rule.

How was Mauryan Administration?

Really it’s not easy to rule a country which is near about equal to entire Europe.

A country of diverse culture, tradition, language, thought and races. So it’s really surprising, how the country was under one rule and the capital was in the Eastern side “the great Patliputra” from where India is ruled for near about 1,000 years.

In those ancient time in BC 322 how difficult it was to handle this big state. Communication was not like of modern age nor was the roads.

There was a grand network of roads, which were marked with pillars at every 10 stadia.

The roads were provided with shady groves and wells. There was hospital for both men and animal. The fastest source of communication was postman or soldier on the back of horses with Royal letter or letters.

Control was maintained over the most distant officials by an army of secret reporters, itinerant (traveller with a regular route) judges. Certainly the central rule was strong and no one dare to challenge it. Hospital were everywhere in the empire for men and animal.

During the Chandragupta period the nation was building, there were wars and administration was under the strict guidance of ‘great Chanakaya’ the Guru, Philosopher, Guide and Acharya of Emperor Chandragupta who was looking after the work of nation and was building it.

He was the ‘Mukhaya Amatya’ (Prime Minister) of Mauryan Empire.  We also know him as the author of ‘Arthsastra’ a great book on Administration, Politics, Diplomacy and Economics.

 Chanakaya is also known as Kautalya and Vishnugupta. 

The whole India from North to South, East to West (Arunanchal to Afghanistan, Hindukush Mountain; the natural boundary of India) was under the one Mauryan rule which saw the first true Empire and the first true Emperor.

Mauryan rule was totally centralised and was divided into many sub states. During the period of Ashoka the nation was divided into 5 states or administrative zones. Patliputra was the capital.

5 states or zones are –

(1).Uttrapath (Northern areas) – Kamboja, Gandhara, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Punjab etc.

Taxsila was the capital of this zone.

(2). Avanti – Rastra – Kathiawar, Gujarat, Malwa and Rajputana (today’s Rajasthan).

(3). Dakshinapath – In it were the total areas of southern side of mountain Vindhya.  Suvernagiri was its capital.

(4). Kalinga – Tosali was its capital.

(5). Madhyadesh – in it were Today’s Uttarpradesh and Prachya Pradesh (Bihar – Bengal). Patliputra was its capital.

Each state or zone was divided into many Janpada (district).

Under Janpada there were many small administrative blocks.

They are –

a. Sthanaya – In it there were 800 villages.

b. Dronmukh – In it 400 villages.

c. Kharotik – Under it were 200 villages.

d. Sangrah – Under it were 100 villages.

e. Village – This is the smallest unit of administration.

This way Emperor had control over the nation. He was getting news from all over and from each corner of the state and his orders was advertised or circulated to the last people of the nation. In his inscriptions Ashoka writes that ‘The order of the king is above all orders’. Kautalya or Chanakaya called king ‘Dharma Pravaratak’ (king is known as Promulgator of social order).

In Arthsastra ‘Chanakaya’ declares “ Whatever pleases himself the king shall not consider as good, but whatever pleases his subjects he shall consider as good”. The king is also advised to show fatherly kindness to his people.

Jageswar a place of 124 Temples in Himalaya. One of the 12th JYTORLINGA. NAGESH IN DARUKA VAN.

                                                    Shops outside Temple

Temple

                                                    Way to Jageswar, beauty of Himalaya

                                                             

                                                               
                                                      Jagaswar Mahadev Temple

Jageswar is in Almora district of Uttarakhand. 

It is 500 + km from Delhi through Moradabad via Kalidunga, kashipur Nainital, Almora. 

The whole route is full of a lovely, full of excitement, adventurous and panoramic view. 

Pictures speak. The road crosses through Chid and Devdaru Forest and Mountain Himalaya starts from Kalidunga. 

Jagaswar is a religious as well as a beautiful tourist place in Himalaya. 

There is the Jagaswar Mahadev Temple of Jagaswar Jyotirlinga; due to this temple, this place is known as Jagaswar. 

Here, one will find 124 Temples in a single campus. 

Temples are 900 to 2,500 years old. 

These temples are Under ASI. The place Jagaswar is at the height of 5 thousand + feet.   

This place has panoramic view.   

Jagaswar is a Hindu pilgrimage town in Almora District, Uttrakhand, believed to carry the Nagesh Jytirlinga  dedicated to Shiva, located 36 km northeast of Almora, in Kumaun region. 

The temple city comprises a cluster of 124 large and small stone temples, dating 9th to 13th century AD. 

They are preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India  (ASI), which include Dandeshwar Temple, Chandi-ka-Temple, Jagaswar Temple, Kuber Temple, Mritunjaya Temple, Nanda Devi or Nau Durga, Nava-grah temple, a Pyramidal shrine, and Surya Temple. 

Amongst which the oldest shrine is the Mritunjaya Temple and the biggest shrine is the Dandeshwar Temple. 

Once the centre of Lakulish Shaivism, Jagaswar is located at an altitude of 1870 mts, in the Jata-ganga river valley near a Deodar forest (Cedrus deodara) starting from Artola village on Almora - Pithoragarh highway, where two streams Nandini and Surabhi flow down the hills in the narrow valley and meet near the sacred spot.

The Jagaswar Monsoon Festival, held between 15 July to 15 August takes place at Jagaswar during the Hindu calandar month of Shavan or Sharavana and the annual Maha Shivratri Mela (Shivratri festival), which takes place during spring has an important place in the calendar of the entire Kumaun   region.

In his Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Stotra Adi Sankaracharya  has mentioned this temple -

सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथं च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् । उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोकांरममलेश्वरम् ।

परल्यां वैद्यनाथं च डाकिन्यां भीमशंकरम् । सेतुबंधे तु रामेशं नागेशं दारूकावने ।

वाराणस्यां तु विश्वेशं त्रयंम्बकं गौतमीतटे । हिमालये तु केदारं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ।

ऐतानि ज्योतिर्लिंगानि सायं प्रातः पठेन्नरः । सप्तजन्मकृतं पापं स्मरणेन विनश्यति ।

The twelve Jyotirlingas are: -

 Somnath at Prabhas Patan, Saurashtra, Gujarat.

Sri Mallikarjun in Srisailam, near Kurnool,Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of river Krishna.Adi Sankaracharya composed his Sivanandalahiri here.

Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain (Avanti), Madhya Pradesh.

Omkareshwar in Omkareshwar, Madhya Pradesh, this jyotirlinga is situated on an island in the course of the river Narmada.

Vaidyanath temple at Deoghar,Santal Parganas area of Jharkhand.

Bhimashankar in Dakini and located in the Sahyadri hills,near Pune, Maharashtra.

Ramalingeswar in Setubandanam, Tamil Nadu.This is situated on vast temple island of Rameshwar. 

It is the southernmost of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines of India.

Nagesh in Jageshwar.

Vishwanath in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

Tryambakeshwar Jyotirlinga shrine is intimately linked with the origin of the river Godavari near Nasik, Maharashtra.

Kedareswar in Kedarnath in Himalayas,Uttarakhand.

Ghrishneshwar in Devasrovar,near Ellora, Aurangabad, Maharashtra.