[citation needed] Monika Boehm-Tettelbach studied ethnology, Indology, Hittite and Avestan at the Free University of Berlin between 1960–66.
Her researches into Dadu Dayal and his sect, and her translations of his songs were published under Thiel-Horstmann, while her investigations of the Jaipur royals appeared under Horstmann.
She investigated archives in Rajasthan, establishing a typology for difficult-to-read documents, and combined these researches with fieldwork and sociological study.
Thiel-Horstmann prepared a collection of 443 pada hymns, and established how they were created via the common cultural background of the author and audience.
Dadu, she showed, shared his inspiration with earlier saints of the Panchvani as well as Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith.
The arrival of the Pushtimarg sect led to its preeminence in the royal court and clashes with the Jain community, possibly for economic reasons.
Despite the abolition of royal titles in India in 1970, the investiture demonstrated the reinforcement of ancient politico-religious rites to present a type of stability.