[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Administrative Institutions](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929) › c8.s4.8 # Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s4.8 Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s4.8 - **Language:** English ### [c8.s4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s4.8) The Vedic \*Sabhā\* was originally composed of aristrocrats, Brahmans and Maghavans. Considering the then state of society which was tribal in character it is too much to expect anything of a democratic preponderance. The \*Rig Veda Samhita\* has yet another term² \*Sujāta\* or of good birth in support of our statement. There is a passage in the \*Maitrāyaṇi Samhita\*³ which throws interesting light on the question whether members of the fair sex were eligible for membership. The passage cited shows their ineligibility. Appropriate to this the Tamil classic \*Purapporul Veṇbāmālai\* has a reference.⁴ It is said here that when the enemy set the city to fire there was such a bewildering confusion that women rushed to the assembly hall inadvertantly. And this indicates that women even in ancient Tamil Nādu were not admitted to the assembly. - [Previous: c8.s4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s4.7) - [Next: c8.s4.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s4.9) - [Up: c8.s4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s4) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s4.8) · Pramāṇa