Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c18.s4.t2.3

v2.c18.s4.t2.3

¹ Fleet, *I. A. V*, p. 344, n. Cf. Dr. Oppert. "The word Banij denotes in both cases (i.e., of Manu and Yājñavalkya) a merchant, from it is derived the modern expression Banyan". *The Ancient Commerce of India*, p. 14. Dr. Barnett has the following to remark on the same term: "... But there was a vast organisation of associated traders which about the twelfth and thirteenth centuries had spead a network over the greater part of Southern India and Ceylon, and perhaps even further, and which, beginning with simple commerce and thence developing an elaborate social and semi-military system, strikingly recalls our East India Company. These were the Vira-banajus, as they were called in Kanarese, or Vira-Valañjigar, as they were styled in Tamil. The name signifies 'valiant merchants', and is therefore similar to our 'Gentlemen Adventurers'. Baṇaṅju is connected with the Sanskrit Vaṇij, and Valañju is a Tamil development, whence comes also the Sinhalese veṇanda or velanda. They claimed to have come originally from Ahicchatra, but their central body was at Ayyavōle, the modern Aihole, which was the seat of their Board of Directors, consisting of a council of 500 members". *The Ancient Tamil Township and Village*, p. 42 (Ms.).