Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c19.48

c19.48

§ 109. If the Saṁgha adopted a resolution unanimously, the question of voting did not arise; but if a matter entailed a division in the opinion of the members, speeches were made and the Procedure-of-Majority was observed. The opinion of the greater number (*bahutara*) decided the matter. The procedure is called *Ye-bhuyyasikaṁ* in Pali. The Sanskrit restoration would be Ye-bhūyasiyakam, 'Those(who-were)most-Procedure.' The voting was carried on with the help of voting-tickets which were coloured. The tickets were called Śalākās or pins² and the voting was called the pin-taking (śalākā-grahaṇa). There was a Teller, Śalākā-grāhaka—'taker-of-the-pins,' appointed by the whole Saṁgha who explained the significance of the colours and took the vote either secretly or openly.