[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [State and Government in Ancient India](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949) › c19.s1.44 # State and Government in Ancient India c19.s1.44 State and Government in Ancient India c19.s1.44 - **Language:** English ### [c19.s1.44](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s1.44) If all other evidence failed, ordeals were permitted. The ordeal sounds strange to the modern ear, but it continues even in the present courts under the form of a special oath, if the parties agree to it. In the ancient and medieval times, the ordeals were fairly common both in Europe¹ and India owing to the prevailing belief in divine intervention on behalf of the - [Previous: c19.s1.43](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s1.43) - [Next: c19.s1.45](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s1.45) - [Up: c19.s1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s1.44](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.altekar-1949.c19.s1.44) · Pramāṇa