Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c12.9

c12.9

§ 20. It is necessary to ascertain what was exactly meant by gaṇa. It means 'numbers': *gaṇa-rājya* will therefore mean the rule of 'numbers,' 'the rule by many' Here the Buddhist Canon comes to our assistance. The Buddha was asked as to how the number of the monks was to be made out:— "At that time the people asked the Bhikkhus who went about for alms: 'How many Bhikkhus are there, Reverend Sirs?' "The Bhikkhus replied, 'We do not know, friends!' "The people were annoyed... They told this thing to the 'Blessed One.'" The Buddha prescribed that the brethren should be counted on the Uposatha day by the system employed in a gaṇa or by collecting voting tickets: "I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that you count (the Bhikkhus) on 'the day of Uposatha by the method of gaṇa (gaṇa-maggena gaṇetum) or that you take the voting tickets (salākā)."