Local Government in Ancient India c13.119

c13.119

the series is village or town—Nāḍu—Koṭṭam. In no. 22 (ibid.) the series is village or Nagara or Parru (probably, Sanskrit *pura*)—Kurram—Nāḍu. From the uses of these various terms it is clear that the same term is sometimes used to indicate administrative divisions of different sizes, while for the same administrative unit different terms seem to have been used. The smallest unit, the base of the administrative organization, is the village (*uru*) or town (*nagara* or *parru*). The next higher unit is called Nāḍu or Kūrram. The next position in the hierarchy belongs to Nāḍu, Koṭṭam or Viṣaya. Above this comes the Maṇḍala or Rāṣṭra, the province of the empire. As may be understood from this gradation of administrative divisions, each particular grade of jurisdiction had its corresponding assembly to administer its affairs in defined relationship to the central authority.