The Indian Analyst
 

South Indian Inscriptions

 

 

Contents

Introduction

Preface

Contents

List of Plates

Abbreviations

Additions And Corrections

Images

Miscellaneous

Inscriptions And Translations

Kalachuri Chedi Era

Abhiras

Traikutakas

Early Kalachuris of Mahishmati

Early Gurjaras

Kalachuri of Tripuri

Kalachuri of Sarayupara

Kalachuri of South Kosala

Sendrakas of Gujarat

Early Chalukyas of Gujarat

Dynasty of Harischandra

Administration

Religion

Society

Economic Condition

Literature

Coins

Genealogical Tables

Texts And Translations

Incriptions of The Abhiras

Inscriptions of The Maharajas of Valkha

Incriptions of The Mahishmati

Inscriptions of The Traikutakas

Incriptions of The Sangamasimha

Incriptions of The Early Kalcahuris

Incriptions of The Early Gurjaras

Incriptions of The Sendrakas

Incriptions of The Early Chalukyas of Gujarat

Incriptions of The Dynasty of The Harischandra

Incriptions of The Kalachuris of Tripuri

Other South-Indian Inscriptions 

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Vol. 4 - 8

Volume 9

Volume 10

Volume 11

Volume 12

Volume 13

Volume 14

Volume 15

Volume 16

Volume 17

Volume 18

Volume 19

Volume 20

Volume 22
Part 1

Volume 22
Part 2

Volume 23

Volume 24

Volume 26

Volume 27

Tiruvarur

Darasuram

Konerirajapuram

Tanjavur

Annual Reports 1935-1944

Annual Reports 1945- 1947

Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume 2, Part 2

Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume 7, Part 3

Kalachuri-Chedi Era Part 1

Kalachuri-Chedi Era Part 2

Epigraphica Indica

Epigraphia Indica Volume 3

Epigraphia
Indica Volume 4

Epigraphia Indica Volume 6

Epigraphia Indica Volume 7

Epigraphia Indica Volume 8

Epigraphia Indica Volume 27

Epigraphia Indica Volume 29

Epigraphia Indica Volume 30

Epigraphia Indica Volume 31

Epigraphia Indica Volume 32

Paramaras Volume 7, Part 2

Śilāhāras Volume 6, Part 2

Vākāṭakas Volume 5

Early Gupta Inscriptions

Archaeological Links

Archaeological-Survey of India

Pudukkottai

ECONOMIC CONDITION

ploughed by a single pair of bullocks. This is said to be equivalent to five acres. A third method of stating the intended extent of land was by mentioning the quantity of seed required for sowing it. The measures of capacity khāri,1 pitaka 2 and prastha 3 are mentioned in this connection. Other measures of the same kind were khandi or khandikā, gōnī and ghatī.4 Of the weights used in that age, only one, viz., bharaka5 is found mentioned. It was used for weighing ginger, arecanuts, pepper etc.

The records do not shed much light on the vexed question of the ownership of land. we can draw some inferences from the conditions and descriptions of the gifts in copper plate charters. In most cases the gifts were of entire villages in favour of temples, monasteries and indivduals. In such cases, what was transferred was evidently the royal prerogative of demanding land revenue and other dues in cash or kind. The donee plainly could not dispossess the individuals residing in the village of their homesteads and cultivated fields. The maxim of fallow land (bhūmi chchhidra-nyāya), 6 usually mentioned in land-grants to describe the gifts, signified full proprietary right, i.e., a complete freedom from the payment of revenue and other dues to the reigning prince. It also transferred some other privileges usually claimed by the king, but it did not carry with it the right to oust all tenants. When fields and small plots of land were, however, donated, the case was different. The cultivators who were formerly in possession of the pieces of land are generally mentioned in such cases. The words signifying their possession used in early grants are pratyaya, bhukta and satka.7 None of these signifies absolute ownership. Besides it is clearly stated in all these grants that the donee was free to cultivate the land himself or to get it cultivated by others as he pleased. The previous cultivartors of these lands were evidently temporary tenants who had no proprietary right to them. The fields were probably a part of the crown land in the particular villages. On the other land, those fields which the cultivators owned absoutely were known as kautumba-kshētra. Two such fields are mentioned in a grant for the demarcation of the boundaries of the donated piece of land.8 Such fields were evidently held by the particular families from generation to generation and could not, therefore, be taken away from them except for the non-payment of land-revenue etc.

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The bulk of the population then, as now, lived in villages. The chief village of a vishaya was called jyēshthikā-grāma. Some of the villages had banks which received endowments and paid interest on them in perpetuity. The boundaries of the villages were properly marked. There used to be a village common and a pasture-land surrounding it for the grazing of the cattle.9 Sometimes, pasture-lands were donated by private individuals. Their boundaries were clearly marked by erecting pillars with the image of the goddess Durga carved on them.11 Among other things which constituted the common property of the villagers were the tank which irrigated their fields, the jungle which supplied them
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1No. 42, 1.32.
2No. 19, 1. 10.
3No. 20, 1. 10.
4No. 42, 11. 31 and 33.
5No. 45, 1. 31. The exact meaning of bharaka is uncertain. If derived from bhri to fill, it may signify a measure of capacity Perhaps the meaning of 'a weight' would suit the context better. Cf. bhārd (Marathi), meaning 'a load'
6No. 7, 1. 9; No. 11, 1. 10, See also p. 21, n.8.
7 2, 1. 4; No. 3, 1. 4; 11. 4-5; No. 6, 1. 2; No. 22, 1. 20.
8 22, 11. 20 and 24.
images/clxxi
9 in No. 50, 1. 39.
10No. 31, 11. 56 ff.

 

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