Magadhan Age: Terms and Description

Magadhan Age

• Mahashilakantaka: a war engine of Ajatashatru that catapulted big stones.
• Avanti: Ujjain.
• Ekrat: Sole Sovereign Title used for Mahananda.
• Gana: Tribal Republic/oligarchies.
• Ganika: Accomplished Courtesan.
• Kammika: Royal custom official.
• Rajbhatas: Royal officials to protect the property of traders-travelers.
• Nivartan and Kulyavapa: Units of land measurement.
• Rathamusala: Kind of chariot with a mace.
• Sartha: Caravans.
• Shreni, Nigam, puga: Guild.
• Santhagara: Assembly hall of Gana.
• Salaka Gahpaka: Collector of vote in Gana.
• Gana-Puraka: Person responsible for quorum in Gana.
• Setthi: A rich businessman.
• Sita: State's land.
• Sresthi: Bankers.
• Varihi and Sali: New Rice varieties.
• Kalinga: Odisha.
• Anga: Present-day Bhagalpur.
• Malla: Present-day area around Kusinagar.
• Chedi: Eastern Bundelkhand.
• Panchala: Rohilkhand.
• Matsya: Jaipur.

Jainism

• Ahimsa: Non-injury.
• Satya: Non-lying.
• Asteya: Non-stealing.
• Aparigraha: Non-Possession.
• Brahmacharya: Observing Celibacy.
• Anekantavada: Theory of relative pluralism.
• Anuvratas: Members who observed the 5 principles.
• Arihant: Blessed one.
• Avadhi jnana: Clairvoyant perception.
• Digambaras: A sect of Jainism under Badrabahu that prefers nudity as they consider the seven directions as their robe.
• Jaina: One who conquered his senses.
• Kaivalya: Omniscience in Jainism.
• Kevalin: Perfect learned.
• Mahavira: The brave.
• Mahavratas: Monks who observed the 5 principles.
• Mati jnana: Perception through activity of sense organs including the brain.
• Nigranthas: Free from all bonds.
• Shruta jnana: Knowledge revealed by scriptures.

Mauryan Age

• Adhyakshas: Officers who looked after various departments.
• Amatyas: Administrative personnel who filled the highest administrative and judicial posts during the Mauryas.
• Ayuktas: Title of an officer often used in the Mauryan period.
• Bhaga: A type of tax during Ashokan period, which was 1/8th of the produce.
• Dhammamahamatra: Officers of righteousness.
• Gopa: Chief priest.
• Gopa and Sthanika: Intermediate level administration was administered by them.
• Grambhojaka: Gramika was helped by Grambhojaka, who was the head of the village.
• Gramika: The President of the Shrenis (guilds) during the Mauryas.
• Pramukha: Head of the Shrenis (guilds) during the Mauryas.
• Rajukas: Officers of Ashokan period who were vested with the authority of punishing and rewarding people.
• Rathakara: Chariot maker.
• Samatata: South-East Bengal.
• Samhartha: Revenue collector during the Mauryas.
• Sannidhata: Treasurer and keeper of the stores during the Mauryas.
• Satamana: A silver coin which weighed about 180 grains.
• Senapati: Commander-in-chief.
• Skandhavaras: Military camps.
• Strategos: Governors in Central Asian kingdoms.
• Varnasankara: Intermixture of varnas or social orders.
• Yuktas: Subordinate officials whose duties were largely secretarial works and accounting.

Satavahana Age

• Khatiya-dapa-mana-mada: One who destroyed the pride of Kshatria – Gautamiputra Satkarni.
• Mahabhoja: Second-grade feudatories of Satavahanas.
• Parihar: Exemption from immunity.
• Stridhana: Immovable property that a woman holds.
• Uparakshitha: People who built caves for monks during Satavahanas.
• Valaikkarars: Troops in royal service during Satavahanas.
• Vrata kshatriya: The outsider ruling group were associated in the caste group as Vrata kshatriya.
• Vrishali: Shudra women meant for pleasure.

Mughal Empire

• Amil: Officer collecting revenue and patrolling of roads.
• Amin: Revenue officials.
• Dahsala: Revenue settlement based on ten years' average.
• Fauzdar: Administrative head of Sarkar.
• Ijara system: Revenue-Farming.
• Kankut: Revenue collection method based on estimate.
• Khalisa: Land held and managed directly by the state.
• Kharkhanas: Royal Factories.
• Kotwa: Officer to maintain law and order.
• Mansab: Military rank conferred by Mughal Government.
• Muhtasib: An officer appointed to maintain regulations in a municipality.
• Mujtahid Iman – I – Adil: Final interpreter of Islamic Law.
• Paibos: Kissing the feet.
• Patwari: Village Accountant.
• Qasba: A small town.
• Rahdari: Protection money paid by travelers.
• Rai: Revenue collection method based on yield per unit area.
• Siqdar: Administrative head of Paragana.
• Subedar: Head of province.
• Zabti: Revenue collection method based on yield of crops.
• Zabti system: Land revenue system based on measurement and assessment of land.
• Mansabdar: Mughal officer with civil as well as military responsibility.
• Sulh-i-Kul: A doctrine of peace between different religions.
• Chahar Bag: A huge garden.
• Hasht Bishti: A Central hall surrounded by eight rooms.
• Diwan-i-khas-i-oam: The ceremonial hall of Public and Private Audience.
• Pietraduara: A technique in which precious stones are used for decoration.
• Shahnahar: A canal constructed in Punjab during the reign of Shahjahan.
• Jins-i-kamil: Perfect crops.
• Mandal: Village headman.
• Kharbandi: Scrubland.
• Milkiyat: Personal property.
• Sanad: Imperial order.
• Manzil Abadi: Imperial household.
• Sipah Abadi: It covers the military and civil administration.
• Suyurghal: Grant of revenue in charity.
• Farr-i-izadi: A light emanating from God.
• Jashn –i-wajan: Tula Dan.
• Khawajasara: A slave eunuch.
• Tajwij: A petition to the king.
• Tainat-i-rakab: Noble stationed at the royal court.
• Mahzar: A statement by leading ulema declaring Akbar as the chief interpretation of the Quran.
• Tauhid-i-ilahi: Unity of divine being.
• Zawabtis: Secular royal decree.
• Naubat: Royal band.
• Sarkar: A unit like a modern district.
• Fauzdar: Incharge of Sarkar.
• Khanzada: Elite social class.
• Land Revenue Assessment Terms:
  • Kankut: Land revenue by estimate.
  • Bhaoli: The crops are reaped, stacked, and divided in the presence of a party.
  • Khet batai: Division of field.
  • Lang Batai: Division of heap.
  • Taqsimat: Revenue estimate.
  • Khalisa: Land under royal administration.
  • Karori: A royal official in charge of land yielding one crore tanka as revenue.
  • Jarib: Land measuring rod.
  • Dahsala: Mughal land revenue system.
  • Sair Hasil: Most paying Jagir.
  • Zor-talab: Areas where it is difficult to realize revenue.
  • Pai-baqi: Land meant for assignment.
  • Mulk-i-jadid: Newly conquered area.
  • Khud kasth: Land owning peasant.
  • Pahikast: Outsider peasant.
• Term for Mughal Officials:
  • Diwan: The head of the revenue department.
  • Dastur-ul-amal: Rule book.
  • Vakil: Guardian of the ruler.
  • Mirbakshi: Royal paymaster.
  • Waqia navis: Royal News reporter.
  • Mir Saman: Incharge of Royal karkhana.
  • Sadar-us sadar: Head of Ulema.