Studies in Cola History and Administration c8.25

c8.25

In the present state of our knowledge it is very difficult to say what the constitution of these different assemblies was like, what (specially with reference to the assemblies of the *nāḍu* and of the *maṇḍalam*) the exact sphere of their duties was, or what procedure was adopted at their meetings. One thing, however, is clear, that the assemblies other than *Sabhās* do not seem to have amounted to anything other than general meetings of the people concerned. This does not apply, of course, to non-territorial bodies of the nature of guilds and military clubs of which we say nothing here and to which admission was regulated by considerations of a different character. The general assemblies which played a more or less prominent part in the administration of the country appear to have included all the classes of the people without distinction of caste, except in *Brahmadēya* villages. Mr. Altekar is obviously wrong in assuming that all village assemblies in South India were governed by rules similar to those laid down by the *Sabhā* of Uttaramerūr. It may also be noted in passing that sometimes the assemblies of different places and of different types appear to have come together for the transaction of business. Thus the *Sabhā* of Tiraimūr and the *Nagaram* of Tiruviḍaimarudūr met together with some other authorities of the temple of Tiruviḍaimarudūr to make arrangements for the preservation of ancient endowments to the temple engraved on its old walls which were to be pulled down to renovate the central shrine. †