Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c9.s4.91

c9.s4.91

If the Buddhist sources are significant leads as to the number of the General Assembly, the four chief officers, the adult population and the population of the *gaṇa* at large, the Jaina texts present strong evidence that there was also a smaller body which carried out the public business in the name of the Assembly. The four chief officers, (the *rājā*, the *uparājā*, the *senāpati* and the *bhaṇḍāgārika*), of the *Jātakas* and the oft-quoted formula of the *nava Lecchaī gaṇarāyas* of the Jainas,¹ combine to produce the conclusion that the Licchavian council actually consisted of nine *rājās*. Probably the *rājā* or the chief king was elected by the Assembly and the eight councillors elected by the eight Licchavian clans whose existence is indicated in the Pāli sources.²