Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s4.145

c9.s4.145

If we are to believe, as seems reasonable, that the constitution of the Buddhist *saṅgha* was modelled on that of the Licchavis,⁴ it would appear that the latter had at least three officers—the *āsana-paññāpaka*, the *salākā-gāhāpaka*, and the *gaṇa-pūraka*. On the same analogy, the first announced that elections had to take place for the chief *rājā*, or the president. Names were put forward and the *salākās* distributed. The *gaṇa-pūraka* counted those attending and determined whether or not the quorum was filled.