History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c20.s1.t1.1

c20.s1.t1.1

For purposes of administration the kingdom was divided into numerous provinces. These provinces were usually called *bhukti*, as the Kānyakubjabhukti in the Barah copper plate;⁴ or *bhūmi*, as the Gurjaratrā-bhūmi in the Daulatpura charter;⁵ or *maṇḍala*, as the Saurāṣṭra maṇḍala in the Unā grant.⁶ According to the Barah copper plate, however, *maṇḍala* was the next lower unit after *bhukti*, and was not a synonymous term. The provinces were further subdivided into *Viṣayas* or districts. Among examples of them we find mention of Udumbara¹ and Dindavanaka.² The term *bhoga* also seems to have been used sometimes in the same sense, as we read of the Vamśapoṭakabhoga.³ The headquarters of a district were called *Adhiṣṭhāna* or *Pattana*.