History of the Pallavas of Kanchi c15.24

c15.24

The Assemblies.—Though we know the existence of the village assemblies in the various parts of the Pallava empire we do not know the nature of the rules that regulated their constitution and working, their exact sphere of action and the relation of this to the central government. Inscriptions copied in the Chingleput District alone indicate that during the ninth century different types of village assemblies carried on their work. One of the most important of these was called the *Sabhā*. These were usually to be found in Brahmadēya villages granted to the Brahmaṇas and therefore were almost entirely run by the Brahmans. The rules laid down in the Uttaramallūr inscription¹ for the membership of the village assemblies applies in all probability to such *Sabhās*. A recently discovered inscription² dated in the thirty-first year of Māran-Saḍaiyan throws some light on some of the rules of membership of the village *Sabhās* which differ from all those known till now. (i) It is stated in this record that of the children of the share-holders in the villages, only one who is well versed in the *Mantra-Brāhmaṇa* and one *Dharma*, and well-behaved, may be on the village assembly and only one of similar qualifications may be in the assembly for a share purchased, received as present, or acquired by him as *Stridhana*; (ii) that shares purchased, presented, or acquired as *Stridhana* could entitle one if at all, only to a full membership in the assembly, and in no case will quarter or half or three-quarter of the membership be recognized; (iii) that those who purchase shares should elect only such men to represent their share in the assembly as have critically studied a whole *Vēda* with their *pariśiṣṭas*; (iv) that those who do not possess full membership as laid down by Rule II cannot stand on any committee for the management of the village affairs; (v) that those who satisfy the prescribed conditions should in no case persistently oppose the proceedings of the assembly, by saying nay, nay, to every proposal brought up before the assembly; (vi) those who do this together with their supporters will pay a fine¹ of five kāśu on each item in which they have so behaved and still continue to submit to the same rules.²