Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c41.163

c41.163

§ 283. The Rāmāyaṇa gives some details of separate bodies which made up the Naigama, probably about 500 B. C. As the Paura-Jānapada (with the Naigama) appear, taking leading part in the nomination of Rāma as Yuvarāja, so the Paura, Naigama, or Jānapada or probably all of them figure on subsequent occasions when the question of succession to the throne presents itself. In VI (Yuddha) 127. 4, when Rāma is returning to Ayodhyā, the śreṇimukhyas and the 'Gaṇas' or 'Members of the Parliament' (probably the Jānapada) go out to receive him. In verse 16 they are around Bharata along with the Ministers and are mentioned as the Śreṇimukhyas and the Naigamas. The Naigamas consecrate Rāma as representatives of Vaiśya and Śūdra elements of the population (C. 128. 62). When Bharata is called from his maternal home on the death of Daśaratha, the Śreṇis sanction Bharata's proposed succession which is intimated to him (Ayodhyā, C. 79. 4). The "Rāma-Commentary" here explains "Śreṇayaḥ" as "Paurāḥ" and Govinda-rāja as "naigamāḥ." Probably 'Śreṇayaḥ' (Śreṇis) has been used in the primary sense, like the gaṇas of VI. 127, denoting 'the assemblies', *i.e.*, both the Paura and Jānapada. Again when Bharata goes to bring back Rāma from exile or hermitage, the "favourites of the gaṇa" go with him along with the same associates, the ministers etc. (81. 12). These favourites or elected rulers of the gaṇas (83. 10) are referred to, a little further, in connexion with the people of the City,¹ as the Naigamas and 'those who think together' (sam-matā ye) in the company of 'all the ministers.' Immediately following (verse 12 *et. seq.*) are detailed the different bodies or classes of trades and arts who evidently made up the *Naigama*, *e.g.*, jewellers, ivory-workers, stucco-workers, goldsmiths, wood-carvers, spice merchants and so forth.¹ They are rounded up with (verse 15) 'Presidents of townships and villages' (*grāma-ghosha-mahattarāḥ*), which the 'Rāma commentary'² explains as "the Presidents for the time being." As the *naigama* is detailed by its various trades and arts, the Jānapada ('those who think together') is detailed by its component elements—the village and township Presidents. Both these main bodies issue forth from the Capital. The representative assembly of the villages and townships of the realm, as observed above, had their head-quarters at the Capital. But the Naigama which was similarly at the Capital was the general representative body of different trade-guilds and guilds-merchant of the Capital only, as the commentators imply and the equivalent Paura proves.