Dhaut Pariksha

Dhaut Pariksha or Dhout Pariksha (Sanskrit: धौत परीक्षा) was the highest examination system established in Mithila during the Darbhanga Raj Kingdom.

Background
Mithila was the learning centre from the ancient period to the mediaeval period till the 20th century in the Indian subcontinent. To examine the students knowledge different types of examination system were evolved in the region. During the King Janaka period Shastrarthas were organised at the court of the kingdom to examine the knowledge of the scholars. Shastrartha was basically the debate among the participating scholars at the court of King Janaka. The winning scholars were awarded with the title Brahmgyani and thousands of cows with gold. In the later period Salaka Pariksha and Shadayantra Pariksha were evolved to examine the knowledge of the students in the region. Similarly during the periods of 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 as Dhaut Pariksha.

Description
Mahesha Thakura, the founder of the Darbhanga Raj, was himself a jurist, astronomer and philosopher. He introduced a regular examination of Shastrartha, called as "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 "Dhaut Samman" or "Dhautparikshottirna". It was much coveted among the scholars. The Maharaja would give a pair of dhotis to the scholar who passed the examination. 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 was given a shawl by the Maharaja of Darbhanga Raj. The examination was held every year. In the examination, teachers and their disciples were presented. But only the disciples could answer the questions. 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 Yajnopavita ceremony at the court of the kingdom. He has mentioned in his research works the evidences of five occasions of the Dhaut Pariksha that was organised at the court of Darbhanga Raj, they were the first by Maharaja Mahesha Thakura, second by Maharaja Maheshwar Thakura, third by Maharaja Lakshmishwar Singh, fourth by Maharajadhiraja Rameshwar Singh and the last by Maharajadhiraja Kameshwar Singh.

Dhoti’s Colour and Village Naming
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 Shastra, white in grammar, yellow in 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 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.

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 than any other achievement he received.

Pandit Las 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 Maharaja Rameshwar Singh of Darbhanga Raj.

Badari Nath Jha (1893-1979) also known as Kavishekhar was the scholar of Sanskrit grammar and literature. He got first position in the examination of Dhaut Pariksha organised at the court of Darbhanga Raj. He also passed some more examinations organised at another places in India.

Relation to Panji System in Mithila
According to the Panjikars Vishwamohan Chandra Mishra and Pramod Mishra, to become a Panjikar (registrar), there was a 10-year course of study at Rajashraya of 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 Panji System in Mithila survived due to this examination system of the Darbhanga Raj. After the end of Darbhanga Raj, the Dhaut Pariksha also ended and consequently the Panji System in Mithila is also ending gradually.