The Colas c26.9

c26.9

Of the village assemblies proper, we notice two types distinguished by the names *Ūr* and *Sabha*. A third kind of local assembly was the *Nagaram* confined to mercantile towns. All of them were primary assemblies of the residents of the localities concerned, and, generally speaking, regulated all their common concerns. They were subject to general supervision, in particular a periodical audit of their financial transactions, by the officials of the king's government. Otherwise, they were left to themselves. When important business was transacted by these assemblies, such as a change in their constitutional procedure or an alteration of land-rights affecting the revenues of government, their meetings were attended by the officers of the central government.³³ How much their presence influenced the proceedings it is not easy to determine. In some places, large temples were regularly managed by officials who also attended the meetings of the assembly, where the affairs of the temple came up for consideration.³⁴ Important matters were sometimes taken up to the king for his decision; two inscriptions of the reign of Kulōttunga I from Tribhuvani show him regulating the enjoyment of a *Kāṇi* and laying down a scheme for the promotion of areca plantations at Tribhuvani.³⁵