[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928) › c19.117 # The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c19.117 The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c19.117 - **Language:** English ### [c19.117](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.117) Kalhaṇa's evidence on administration is corroborated and supplemented by the inscriptions from the neighbouring state of Chambâ² which recognised the suzerainty of Kashmir for long. The fundamental political conditions are the same here as prevailed in Kashmir and the rest of North India. It was about 700 A.D. that Meruvarman assumed the title Râjâdhirâja which here corresponded to the Mahârâjâdhirâja of the plains. Evidently the light yoke of Kashmir was shaken off and the dynasty of Meruvarman started on an independent career. These rulers stood forth as the ultimate suzerains of the petty chiefs who had so far been their sub-feudatories. Meruvarman further extended the area of his suzerainty and imposed his yoke on other chiefs. By the tenth century A.D. the line was firmly established with its capital at Chambâ.¹ Henceforward, Kalhaṇa never calls them sâmantas or vassals but addresses them as bhûpâla, nripati, etc.² The feudatories are called Râjas while the terms Râṇâs and Râjânakas seem to be applied to small feudatories or sub-feudatories who exercised various governmental prerogatives.³ A few centuries later their position was well understood by the Musalmân historians who call them zamîndârs, a designation which they applied to the feudatories of the central Muslim power in North India. In some respects the position of these petty feudatories and sub-feudatories resembled that of the feudal nobility in medieval France. - [Previous: c19.116](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.116) - [Next: c19.118](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.118) - [Up: c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.117](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.prasad-1928.c19.117) · Pramāṇa