The Political Institutions and Theories of the Hindus: A Study in Comparative Politics c10.s2.2

c10.s2.2

We have seen that in addition to what may for general purposes be described as mass-meetings of the villagers and often as "representative" assemblies of the rural folk, ordinarily known as the *panchâyats* (or councils of the five), Hindu India was used to several other *sabhâs* or councils as organs of public administration. These were the conferences of the ecclesiastical associations (*samghas*), the agricultural, industrial and commercial *samûhas*, i. e. gilds or *śreṇîs*, and the municipal corporations of cities like Govardhana, Pâtali-putra, Ujjayinî, Taxila and so forth. The conciliar element in Hindu polity was further embodied in another important institution. This was the Supreme Council of the king or emperor.