Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c10.s4.30

c10.s4.30

As we have no details regarding the Videhan *saṅgha*, we shall have to depend upon a comparison with the Licchavian institutions. No definite number is given of the members of the Videhan Assembly as we have for the Licchavis. It is likely that their assembly was smaller and that it had also non-Kṣatriya heads of families in it.¹ The monarchs had given special honour to the Brāhmaṇas, and Brāhmaṇas like the learned Brahmāyu might have influenced the assembly as participants or have been influential as "Brāhmaṇa heads of families".² As Mithilā had been a great centre of trade,³ wealthy merchants should have at least exercised considerable influence on the affairs of the republic if they were not members of the assembly. The *Jātakas*⁴ refer to a "crowed of ministers," "Brāhmaṇas," and "wealthy merchants" of Mithilā, which strengthens our suggestion, though these passages ostensibly refer to the days of the earlier monarchy. There must also have been a meeting place such as the *santhāgāra* of the Licchavis, the Mallas and other republics.⁵