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{{Short description|Examination System in the University of Mithila during mediaeval period}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
[[File:DARBHANGA RAJ KILA(BIHAR) INDIA.jpg|thumb|Darbhanga Raj Fort]]
'''Dhauta Pariksha''' or '''Dhaut Pariksha''' ([[Sanskrit]]: '''धौत परीक्षा''') was the highest examination system established in [[Vedic learning in Mithila|Mithila]] during the [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga Raj]] Kingdom.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Jha |first=Pankaj Kumar |date=2010 |title=The Dhout-Pariksha of 1899: A Sociological Interpretation |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147547 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |volume=71 |pages=784–793 |jstor=44147547 |issn=2249-1937}}</ref>

{{Infobox examination|italic title=Dhaut Pariksha|name=Dhaut Pariksha|purpose=To examine knowledge of Scholars in Mithila|regions=[[Mithila region]]|language=[[Sanskrit]]|test_takers=The court of [[Darbhanga Raj]]|test_admin=Maharaja of [[Darbhanga Raj]]|type=Examination|alt=Dhoti Pariksha|skills_tested=Knowledge|offered=Pair of [[Dhoti]] and Dhaut Samman}}

== Background ==
[[Vedic learning in Mithila|Mithila]] was a centre of learning from the ancient period to the medieval period till the 20th century in the [[Indian subcontinent]]. To examine the student's knowledge different types of examination systems were evolved in the region. During [[Janaka|King Janaka]]'s reign, [[debates in ancient India]] (or Shastrarthas) were organised at the court of the kingdom to examine the knowledge of the scholars. Shastrartha was the debate among the participating scholars at the court of King Janaka. The winning scholars were awarded the title ''Brahmgyani'' and thousands of cows with gold.

In the later period, [[Shalaka Pariksha]] and [[Shadyantra Pariksha]] were evolved to examine the knowledge of the students in the [[Mithila (region)|region]]. Similarly, during the periods of [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga Raj]], a new system of examination was established by the King [[Mahesha Thakura]] at his court to examine the scholarship of the scholars in his kingdom. This new system of examination was called Dhaut Pariksha.<ref>{{Cite web |title=धौत-परीक्षा के हिंदी अर्थ {{!}} dhaut-pariksha - meaning in Hindi {{!}} हिन्दवी डिक्शनरी |url=https://www.hindwidictionary.com/meaning-of-dhaut-pariikshaa |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Hindwi Dictionary |language=hi}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhary |first=Radhakrishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JO4toCiJ2ecC&q=%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%A4+%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE |title=Mithilak Itihas |publisher=Ram Vilas Sahu |isbn=978-93-80538-28-0 |pages=226 |language=hi}}</ref>

== Description ==
[[Mahesha Thakura]], the founder of the Darbhanga Raj, was himself a jurist, astronomer and philosopher. He introduced a regular examination of Shastrartha, called the Dhaut Pariksha, to prepare the future generation of Pandits. Those who passed this examination were given the highest honor by the Maharaja of Darbhanga Raj, which was called the Dhaut Samman (or Dhautparikshottirna).<ref name=":0" /> It was much coveted among the scholars. The Maharaja would give a pair of [[dhoti]]s to the scholar who passed the examination.<ref name=":0" /> The recognition of this examination was such that, no one was considered a superior scholar unless he passed the dhoti. The one who was declared the best in the entire scriptural study, would be given a [[shawl]] by the Maharaja of [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2014-01-18 |title=पंडितों की परीक्षा में धोती का प्रमाणपत्र! |url=https://www.prabhatkhabar.com/opinion/81210 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Prabhat Khabar |language=hi}}</ref>

The examination was held every year. In the examination, teachers and their disciples were presented. But only the disciples could answer the questions.<ref name=":2" /> According to the historian Pankaj Kumar Jha, this examination was generally organised on some auspicious occasions either at the time of accession to the throne or [[Upanayana|Yajnopavita]] ceremony at the court of the kingdom.<ref name=":0" /> His research found evidence of five occasions the Dhaut Pariksha that was organised at the court of Darbhanga Raj, they were the first by [[Mahesha Thakura|Maharaja Mahesha Thakura]], second by ''Maharaja Maheshwar Thakura'', third by [[Lakshmeshwar Singh|Maharaja Lakshmishwar Singh]], fourth by [[Rameshwar Singh|Maharajadhiraja Rameshwar Singh]] and the last by [[Kameshwar Singh|Maharajadhiraja Kameshwar Singh]].<ref name=":0" />

== Qualification awards ==
In the Dhaut Pariksha, different colours of dhotis were given to the qualifying scholars according to the subjects they passed. For example red dhoti in [[Nyaya|Nyaya Shastra]], white in [[grammar]], yellow in [[Mīmāṃsā|Mimansa]], and so on. Similarly, the kings used to name a village based on scriptural debate. It is said that if three or four persons or families from a village or town passed this examination, then they were rewarded with some land and settled in a place and the new place was named after the subject of their scriptural debate and the color of their dhotis by the [[Maharaja]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=झा |first=शिवनाथ |date=2022-04-30 |title='लालगंज' (मधुबनी) महज एक गांव नहीं, एक सांस्कृतिक, आध्यात्मिक विरासतों का गढ़ था, आज 'वैभव' की गवेषणा करने की आवश्यकता है |url=http://www.aryavartaindiannation.com/archaeology/lalganj-is-not-just-a-village-a-strong-hold-of-culture |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=आर्यावर्तइण्डियननेशन - aryavartaindiannation |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Notable scholars ==
[[Ganganath Jha]] was the scholar of Mithila who became Vice-Chancellor of Allahabad University three times. He was also awarded the titles of Sir and Knight. It is said that the pride he felt when he received the pair of [[dhoti]] from the hands of the Maharaja of Darbhanga was the greatest honor of any achievement that he received.<ref name=":1" />

[[Pandit Lal Das|Pandit Lal Das]] was the author and composer of ''[[Janaki Ramayana]]'', ''Mithila Ramayana'' and ''[[Mithila Mahatmya]]'', etc in Maithili language. He was awarded with "''Dhaut Samman''" by the [[Rameshwar Singh|Maharaja Rameshwar Singh]] of [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga Raj]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-07 |title='जानकी रामायण', ऐसी रामायण जो राम पर नहीं सीता पर आधारित है |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/knowledge/stories-of-sita-which-you-only-find-in-mahakavi-pandit-lal-das-janaki-ramayana-1575637.html |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=News18 हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref>

Badari Nath Jha (1893-1979) also known as Kavishekhar was the scholar of [[Sanskrit]] [[grammar]] and [[literature]]. He got the first position in the examination of Dhaut Pariksha organised at the court of [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga Raj]]. He also passed some more examinations organised at other places in India.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BNpjAAAAMAAJ |title=Kamaladaha: Maithilī kavitā saṅkalana |date=1991 |publisher=Mithilā Pustaka Kendra |pages=94 |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-08 |title=मिथिला विभूति : बदरी नाथ झा (१८९३-१९७९ ) |url=https://www.maithilmanch.in/history/%e0%a4%ae%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%a5%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%b2%e0%a4%be-%e0%a4%b5%e0%a4%bf%e0%a4%ad%e0%a5%82%e0%a4%a4%e0%a4%bf-%e0%a4%ac%e0%a4%a6%e0%a4%b0%e0%a5%80-%e0%a4%a8%e0%a4%be%e0%a4%a5-%e0%a4%9d%e0%a4%be/ |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Maithil Manch |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Relation to Panji System in Mithila ==
[[File:Example of a panji genealogical record kept by Maithili Kayasthas and Brahmins of the Mithila region of northern India.jpg|thumb|Example of a panji genealogical record kept by [[Maithil Brahmin|Maithili Brahmins]] and Maithili [[Kayastha]]s of the [[Mithila (region)|Mithila region]]]]
According to the Panjikars Vishwamohan Chandra Mishra and Pramod Mishra', to become a Panjikar (or registrar), there was a 10-year course of study at the Rajashraya of [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga Maharaja]]. Then the candidate had to appear in the Dhaut Pariksha. After successfully passing the examination of Dhaut Pariksha, the candidate was given the status of a Panjikar (or registrar). It is said that the [[Panjis]] system in Mithila survived due to this examination system of the Darbhanga Raj. After the end of [[Raj Darbhanga|Darbhanga Raj]], the Dhaut Pariksha also ended and consequently the ''Panji'' System in Mithila is also ending gradually.<ref>{{Cite web |title=संरक्षण के अभाव में सड़ रहे सात पुश्तों वाले अभिलेख, पंजीकारों की संख्या लगातार हो रही कम - |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/muzaffarpur-the-records-of-seven-hundred-years-old-are-getting-worse-in-absence-of-protection-18909317.html |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=Jagran |language=hi}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Educational institutions in India]]
[[Category:Sanskrit and Vedic learning in Mithila]]
[[Category:Darbhanga]]

Dhauta Pariksha - Revision history

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