Study Guide · Chapter 14
13. GLOSSARY OF IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATIVE & CULTURAL TERMS
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13. GLOSSARY OF IMPORTANT ADMINISTRATIVE & CULTURAL TERMS
A consolidated list of frequently-tested technical terms across periods:
| Term | Meaning/Period |
|---|---|
| Sabha, Samiti | Tribal assemblies, Early Vedic period |
| Vidatha | Oldest Vedic assembly, possibly for distribution of resources |
| Rajan | Tribal chief/king, Vedic period |
| Bali, Bhaga, Shulka | Taxes/tributes, Later Vedic period |
| Gramani, Purohita, Senani | Officials, Vedic period (village head, priest, army chief) |
| Varna | Fourfold social division (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra) |
| Gotra | Lineage/clan system, Later Vedic period |
| Mahajanapada | "Great territory/kingdom," 6th century BCE |
| Gana-Sangha | Republican form of government (e.g., Vajji, Malla) |
| Ekarat | "Sole sovereign" — title used for Mahapadma Nanda |
| Arthashastra | Treatise on statecraft by Kautilya/Chanakya |
| Mantriparishad | Council of ministers, Mauryan administration |
| Samaharta | Chief revenue collector, Mauryan period |
| Sannidhata | Chief treasurer, Mauryan period |
| Rajuka | Rural/judicial administrator, especially under Ashoka |
| Dhamma Mahamatra | Officers to spread/oversee Ashoka's Dhamma |
| Yavana | Term used for Greeks (and later generally for foreigners/West Asians) in ancient Indian texts |
| Satrap/Kshatrapa | Governor/provincial ruler (Persian-origin term, used by Shakas) |
| Meluha | Mesopotamian name for the Indus Valley region (trade partner) |
| Uparika | Head of a Bhukti (province), Gupta administration |
| Vishayapati | Head of a Vishaya (district), Gupta administration |
| Bhukti, Vishaya | Province, district — Gupta administrative units |
| Agrahara | Tax-free land grant to Brahmanas, esp. Gupta and later periods |
| Shreni | Trade guild |
| Dinara | Gupta gold coin (term borrowed from Roman "denarius") |
| Sandhivigrahika | Minister of peace and war, Gupta period |
| Mahasamanta | Feudal subordinate/vassal chief, post-Gupta period |
| Tripartite Struggle | 8th–10th century contest for Kannauj among Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas, Palas |
| Matsyanyaya | "Law of the fish" — anarchy/lawlessness; used for pre-Pala Bengal condition |
| Akam, Puram | Sangam poetry themes — love/personal (Akam) and war/public (Puram) |
| Muvendar | The "three crowned kings" of the Sangam age — Chera, Chola, Pandya |
| Nagara, Dravida, Vesara | Three main styles of ancient/medieval Indian temple architecture (North Indian, South Indian, and mixed Deccan styles respectively) |
| Digvijaya | "Conquest of all directions" — policy attributed to Samudragupta |
| Sallekhana | Jain ritual of fasting unto death (voluntary) |
| Panchamahavrata | Five great vows of Jain monks (added Brahmacharya by Mahavira) |
| Triratna (Jainism) | Right Faith, Right Knowledge, Right Conduct |
| Triratna (Buddhism) | Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha |
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