Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s4.24

c8.s4.24

These village *sabhās* or smaller councils of the village administration often call for notice in South Indian Inscriptions. These *sabhās* generally met in the temple halls (*sabhāmaṇḍapa*), and particularly under a large and shady banyan tree in special platforms constructed for the purpose. The sabhā had for its members the village elders, the bhaṭṭas (learned men), the visiṣṭhas (straight and moral men), and prominent priests of the temple. Representatives of the merchant class (nagarattār), of the common folk (ūrār), and of the district (nāṭṭār) often sat in the sabhā. The qualification for the Brahman members of the sabhā was to be well versed at least in one of the Dharmaśāstras and to have studied at least one whole Veda with its pariśiṣṭas.¹ From the Ukkal and other inscriptions² it is clear that the institution of the sabhā had reached a high degree of efficiency and was in good working order about the tenth and eleventh centuries A.D. The sabhā had the following duties among others. It exercised supreme right over the village lands. It was the arbitrator in the disputes arising from the purchase or sale of lands. It confiscated and sold lands of defaulters. It was responsible for the state levy of the village. It raised public subscriptions in the cause of common interests.³ It obtained loans to meet emergencies such as famine. It had a treasury of its own. It held a supervising control over the various committees of its own in the village, and also over temple accounts. It had the right to punish the internal enemies of the village (grāmadrohins)⁴. In a word it did everything to insure the moral and the material welfare of the viliage.