Administration and Social Life under Vijayanagar c11.6

c11.6

In certain places the body of the *mahāsabhā* or *sabhā* was called the *mahājanas*. The assembly of Agaramputtūr alias Mādhavacaturvēdimaṅgalam was called the *mahājana*. Every caturvēdimaṅgalam (*brahmadēya* village) consisted of a central village to which was attached a large number of small ones. The village was divided into a number of wards. Each caturvēdimaṅgalam had an assembly of a certain number of members. A high standard of qualification was expected of them. They were expected to have studied the four Vedas; a few of them were required to have a good knowledge of the Ṣaḍaṅgas as well; otherwise they were expected to have acquired a good knowledge relating to the conduct of sacrifices and performed them. They were also expected to have besides these cultural attainments a good physique and a strong constitution to bear the fatigue of their work.²