A History of Agriculture in India v1.c33.s3: Brahmins as Pioneers of Progressive Agriculture
A History of Agriculture in India v1.c33.s3
- Language
- English
Brahmins as Pioneers of Progressive Agriculture
v1.c33.s3.1
The Śātavāhanās were the first rulers to make land grants to the Brahmins. Owing to their knowledge of astrology and ability to forecast rain, the Brahmins enjoyed respect among the rural people. Besides, they were the educated class of that age, and also pioneers of culture and progressive agriculture in the South. Kosambi states, ‘The brahmins acted as pioneers in undeveloped localities; they first brought plough agriculture to replace slash-and-burn cultivation, or food-gathering. New crops, knowledge of distant markets, organisation of village settlements and trade also came with them. As a result, kings or kings-to-be invited brahmins, generally from the distant Gangetic basin, to settle in un-opened localities. Almost all extant copper plates (which have been discovered all over the country by the ton) are charters which—from the fourth century onwards—record land-grants to brahmins unconnected with any temple. In addition, every village would set apart a lot or two of land plus a fixed though small share of village harvests for the cults and priests, brahmin or not. Brahmins, however, claimed and generally received exemption from all taxes; they even claimed a specially low rate of interest on loans, and other privileges.’³
v1.c33.s3.2
³ Kosambi, D.D. *The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India in Historical Outline*, p. 172
v1.c33.s3.3
Here a reference to the Saka sataraps of western India is necessary. The greatest of them was Nahapana. He ruled over Gujarat, Kathiawar, and northern Maharashtra. His capital was Minnagara, which has been identified as Dohad, half-way between Ujjain and Broach. About A.D. 100 Nahapana was defeated by Gautamiputra Satkarni.