Hindu Administrative Institutions c12.s5.29

c12.s5.29

In addition to the literary evidence the inscriptions furnish us with the various kinds of land tenure in vogue in ancient India. (1) The *brahmadeya* lands were chiefly grants conferred on learned Brahmans (the *śrotriyas* of the village for their remarkable learning and character). Such grants of lands were indeed a common feature of practically every sovereign who reigned in ancient India. His grantees are those who cultivate themselves or get them cultivated by others, or even assign them to others.² These lands were free from taxes and forced labour. (2) There were *paribhoga* villages which had cultivated lands, wells, houses, slaves, etc. These were perpetual settlements. (3) There were besides *bhaṭṭa* villages which had private quadrupeds, fields, houses and slaves.³ There were again *sarvamānya* and *ekabhog* grants.⁴ Some of them were *paribhoga*, *aṣṭa-bhoga*, *aṅgabhoga*, and *ranga bhoga*.⁵