dbo:abstract
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- Raj Prashasti (IAST: Rāja Praśasti; Sanskrit: राज प्रशस्ति) is a Sanskrit text and inscription commemorating the construction of the Rajsamand Lake in 1676 by Maharana Raj Singh. The text of the prashasti was authored by Ranchhod Bhatt Tailang at the orders of his patron Raj Singh. It was inscribed on the stone slabs by order of Maharana Jai Singh in 1687. It is the largest and longest stone inscription in India and is engraved on 25 black stones pillars of the nine outposts at Rajsamand Lake. It states that the Rajsamand Lake was constructed as a part of famine relief works. The Prashasti provides historical achievements of Mewar rulers from Bappa Rawal to Raj Singh, details of the construction work, measurements, and costs associated with the Rajsamand lake and dam as well as reports on the rituals performed and gifts and charities donated to the Charanas and Brahmins on the consecration ceremony. The prashasti text was first published in the history of Mewar written by Kaviraja Shyamaldas, in Vir Vinod. The text Raj Prashasti was composed by Ranchhod Bhatt on the orders of Raj Singh, however, it was Maharana Jai Singh who got the prashasti inscribed on the stone pillars installed at the lake outposts. The text contains 1106 Sanskrit shlokas divided in 24 chapters, which are inscribed on the marble slabs attached to the 25 stone pillars. The first chapter is inscribed on the first 2 pillars, while the rest of the chapters take space of one pillar each. The largest recipients of gifts and charities were the Brahmins (around 46 thousand in number), second were the Charanas, and third were the various Sardars (thakurs), paswans, and mutsaddis (state officials). (en)
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