Tribes in Ancient India c61.s5.36

c61.s5.36

The *Aṭṭhakathā* on the *Mahāparinibbāna Suttanta*³ gives an account of the judicial procedure among the Licchavis. When a person who had committed an offence appeared before the Vajjian *rājās*, they surrendered him to the *Viniccaya-Mahāmattas*, i.e. officers whose business it was to make enquiries and examine the accused with a view to ascertaining whether he was innocent or guilty. If they found the man innocent, they released him; but if they considered him guilty, they made him over to the *Vohārikas*, i.e. persons learned in law and custom. These could discharge him if they found him innocent; if they held him guilty, they transferred him to certain officers called *Suttadhāras*, that is, officials who kept up the *sūtra* (sutta) or thread of (ancient) law and custom. They in their turn made further investigation, and if satisfied that the accused was innocent, they discharged him. If, however, they considered him guilty, he was made over to the *Aṭṭhakūlakā*¹ (lit. ‘the eight castes or tribes’) which was evidently a judicial institution composed of judges representing the eight *kūlas* or tribes of the confederacy.