Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.500

c7.500

Altekar derived the word from the root *vid*, to know, and suggested that it indicated a religious or sacrificial gathering, the rituals which required the highest knowledge. In his opinion, “it was a big assembly, probably representing the entire tribe, because there are references to people being arranged there by groups, and singing and dancing.”¹ His view, like that of Jayaswal’s and others, that it was a big assembly of the entire tribe is unwarranted by the sources. A local settlement can well provide enough people to be arranged in groups of singers and dancers.