Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c17.18

c17.18

§ 87. Hindu literature calls such aristocratic element of Gaṇa, a *Kula*,¹ (literally, 'family'). The Mahā-Bhārata treats 'the Kulas of rājās' as belonging to the class of gaṇas. The Artha-Śāstra refers to the rāja-kulas 'ruling Kulas' or 'Kulas of rājās' as being of the nature of Saṅghas (Saṅgha-dharmins, p. 328.) The hereditary 'kings' of the Pātalas would come under this description of the Kula-Saṅgha. The Law-books always treat *Kulas* as distinct from *Gaṇas* and both come therein side by side.¹ *Gaṇa*, therefore, pure and simple, had no hereditary principle and technically was of the nature of democracy. Often, there was a mixture of the two, and pure *Kulas* were rare. The distinction was in later times ignored.² The Jainas who founded their religious *Gaṇas* also founded religious *Kulas*.³ This *Kula* however was a misnomer, as the founders were celebates and no hereditary principle could be followed. In pure *Kula* States 'supreme rulership' went by turns to the few families (*Kulesu pachchekādhipachcham*).⁴