Hindu Law and Custom (Recht und Sitte) c8.1

c8.1

§ 26. Possession, ownership and prescription. Ownership and possession are fully distinguished in Indian law. Possession is expressed by the derivatives of *bhuj* "to enjoy, use, possess" and the pronoun *svam* "self" and its derivatives such as Svāmin "owner," Svatva, Svāmya, Svāmitva "right of ownership" as well as substantives such as Dhana, Dravya, Riktha etc. in the sense of "possession, property, inheritance," serve to express ownership. The essence and origin of ownership have been the subject of philosophical disquisitions even in very ancient times¹.