Local Government in Ancient India c11.12

c11.12

makes it clear that their gradation was determined by their numerical strength and the degree in which they represented the various interests, classes or castes in the community concerned. Thus the *pūga* was the highest court because it was numerically the largest assembly, on which were represented not merely the different castes, as in the *śreṇī*, but also the interests of different crafts, trades, or occupations in the village or township.