Military Funding

turuShka-daNDa

The very first inscription of Chandradeva, the founder of the Gahadavala dynasty mentions Turushka-Danda. In plain words, it was a special tax levied for the explicit purpose of maintaining additional troops for resisting Turushka inroads. In the annals of Hindu polity, Danda has a twofold meaning: tax and army (the other word for army or military in general, is Bala). Thus, in both senses, the meaning of Turushka-Danda is highly appropriate in this context.

… More than thirty Gahadavala inscriptions mention the Turushka-Danda.

Contrary to the above, others say that the daNDa was for ransoming off the turuShka-s or paying them tribute.