Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s3.70

c12.s3.70

*Gaṇa* seems at the best to refer to a tribe and its organization in early times, if judged in the light of the principle of kinship underlying the bond of the tribe. It generally represents the organized group of a tribe, or the sub-division of a tribe spread out over an area larger than that of a village. This tribal area enjoyed a republican form of constitution and administration. Bhīṣma speaks of these corporations with military powers both for defensive and offensive purposes.² Thus the *gaṇa* legitimately finds a place under kinship associations.¹ The institution of *kula* may perhaps refer to a sub-division of a tribe occupying a small region but still enjoying independence. This is in keeping with what *Viramitrodaya* says that a *kula* or a *kula* court was the deciding judicial authority in self-governing organizations of the *gaṇa* type.² The ruling of Kātyāyana that the *kula* was also the body of the unit is attested by Rhys Davids who speaks of *aṣṭakulaka* which Jayaswal interprets as ‘a judicial council of eight members’ as against the original interpretation, ‘representative of eight clans.’³ To us both seem to be right, for it must have been a judicial council of eight members each representing one *kula*. For, according to Kātyāyana himself elsewhere, a *gaṇa* is a group of several *kulas* and it is but natural to suppose that in deciding the case of a *gaṇa* the representatives of the several *kulas* composing that *gaṇa* must have been present. Further it is interesting to note that the principle of equality by birth and equality by family was recognized by the *gaṇa* group.⁴