Glossary of Indian history terms PDF

Agrahara - Land Or Village Gi ed By A King Alvars The Vaishnava Saint- Poets Of Early Medieval South India Apabhramsha - A Stage Of The Later Development Of The Prakrit Language Up To The End Of The 1st Millennium Ce Aranyakas - Literally 'forest Books'; Part Of The Vedic Corpus Abwab - extra...

Agrahara - Land Or Village Gi ed By A King Alvars The Vaishnava Saint- Poets Of Early Medieval South India Apabhramsha - A Stage Of The Later Development Of The Prakrit Language Up To The End Of The 1st Millennium Ce Aranyakas - Literally 'forest Books'; Part Of The Vedic Corpus Abwab - extra legal charges exacted by landlords Akhra - gymnasium Amil - revenue official Amla - zamindari official Ajlaf - Muslim commoners Atrap - Muslim commoners—same as ajlaf. Azad dastas - guerrilla bands Amils— Revenue Officers Arz-I-Mamalik— Minister In-Charge Of The Army Of The Whole Country. Ahl-I-Qalam — Reporter Akam - Sangam love poems Amphorae - A type of Roman pottery—jars with a large oval body, narrow cylindrical neck, and two handles Antarala - The vestibule or antechamber of a temple Anvikshiki - Literally, 'looking at'; logical reasoning Araghatta - Persian wheel Ardha-Magadhi - an eastern dialect of Prakrit; the earliest Jaina texts are written in this dialect Ardhamandapa - the hall preceding the sanctum in a temple Arhat - a person who has attained enlightenment Ariya-sachchani - the Four Noble Truths related to suffering; an important part of the Buddha's teaching Astika schools: philosophical schools that accepted the authority of the Vedas, comprising those that later came to be described as the six classical systems of Hindu philosophy Ayyavole: a powerful merchant guild of early medieval South India Bhikkhu Pali - (Sanskrit Bhikshu), Literally 'one Who Lives By Begging Alms'; A Buddhist Monk. Brahmacharya - The Stage Of Celibate Studenthood In The Ashrama Scheme Brahmadeya - Land Gi ed To Brahmanas, Generally By Kings Baqqal — Trader, Grain-Dealer  Batai — Division Of Crop Between The Cultivator And Landlord Or The Government, Payments May Be In Kind Or Cash Barid - An Intelligence Officer Appointed By The State To Collect Information Banjar - Waste And Fallow Land Banjara - Itinerant Tribe Bahas - Muslim religious meeting Bakasht - land where permanent tenancies has been converted into short-term tenancies Bodhisattva - a future Buddha Boustrephedon style - a style of writing in which consecutive lines start in opposite directions Brahmadeya: land gi ed to Brahmanas, generally by kings Burin: a small stone tool, made on a blade, with a 'screw-driver' edge Chakri - Office job Cairn stone circle: a type of megalithic burial, marked by a stone circle Chaitya: a Buddhist shrine Charana: school of Vedic study Charvaka: an atheistic materialist philosophical school, also known as Lokayata Cowries: marine shells, once used as currency in many parts of the world; in India cowries from the Maldive islands were used as currency from ancient times till the colonial period Chaouth Or Chauthaai — One-Fourth Of The Land Revenue, Originally A Zamindari Charge In Gujrat Demanded By Shivaji As A War Expense. Charai — A Tax On Cattle. Dadan - Advance Dadani - merchants who procured goods by paying advances to primary producers Dalam - revolutionary units Dalwai - Prime minister of the Mysore state Dastak - permits issued by the local councils of the East India Company certifying their goods for the purpose of tax exemption Deshpande - revenue collector Desbmukh - revenue officer Dikhu - foreigner - term used by the tribals (San-thals) to identify outsiders Dakshinapatha: the great southern trade route Dana: ritual giving Darshana: literally, 'view'; philosophy  Dhamma: a Pali word (Sanskrit, dharma), referring to the ideal conduct of an individual living in society Dhamma Chakka-pavattana: Pali, literally 'turning the wheel of dhamma'; the Buddha's first sermon in the deer park near Benaras Dhamma-mahamatas: a new cadre of officials created by Ashoka to propagate dhamma Dvija: literally 'twice born'; those entitled to the performance of the upanayana (sacred thread) ceremony, which is considered analogous to a second birth, viz., the upper three varnas, namely the Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas Dagh System — A System Of Branding Of Horses And Animal. Dame A Copper Coin Considered As I /40* The Silver Rupee For The Official Purposes. Dastur-At-Amal- Rule Book Dhimmi - A Non-Muslim Client Or Subject Darul Mulk - Capital Diwan - Function Of Finance Diwan-I-Arz - Ministry Of Military Affairs Diwan-I-Insha - Ministry Of Royal Correspondence Diwan-I-Kul Wazir - Or Chief Imperial Fiscal Minister Daroga - Minor Officer Or In Charge Of Local Office Diwan-I-Risalat - Religious Affairs Diwan-I-Wizarat - Department Of Finance Faujdar - In Charge Of Sarkar Fitna - sedition Fituris - a tradition of tribal rebellion Four Noble Truths(Ariya-sachchani): an important part of the Buddha's teaching, viz., there is suffering; it has a cause; it can be eliminated; and the way to eliminate it is to follow the Eight-fold Path Gumashta - An Agent Or Representative Garbha-Griha The Inner Sanctum Of A Temple, Where The Image Of The Main Deity Is Placed And Worshiped Grihastha The Householder Stage In The Ashrama Scheme Ghatwali - service tenure for village watchmen Giras - customary dues Gomustah - Indian agent of the East India Company Gahapati: Pali for Sanskrit grihapati, i.e., householder; a wealthy property-owner  Gana: a word which has many meanings, including an oligarchy Garbha-griha: the inner sanctum of a temple, where the image of the main deity is placed and worshipped Grantha script: a South Indian script used for writing Sanskrit Ganj - A Grain Market Hun - A Gold Coin Hamam — A Room For The Bath Of Hot And Cold Water Hundi - A Bill Of Exchange Hundikas: bills of exchange used by traders in early medieval India Ibadat Khana: House Of Worship Iqta: It Was The Land-Grant System Adopted By Ala-Ud-Din Khilji To Grant His Officers As Reward For Services Rendered. Khalisa: Land Revenue Directly For Imperial Treasury Khots: Village Head Khums: Tax On Plunder Khutba: A Sermon Made In Friday Mosque Janapada Literally, 'foothold Of A Tribe'; A Territorial State; A Region Consisting Of Urban And Rural Settlements, Along With Its Inhabitants Jatakas One Of The 15 Books Of The Khuddaka Nikaya, Containing Stories Of The Previous Births Of The Buddha Jati A Word With Several Meanings Including Caste, Birth, And Type. Jina Literally 'victor '; A Jaina Saint Jama - Estimated land revenue income Janmi - Holder of janmam tenure Jatha(s) - Sikh bands of warriors Jatra - Rural theatrical performance Jotedar(s) - Intermediary tenure holders Jamabandi — Settlement Of The Amount Of Revenue Assessed Upon An Estate Or District Jarib — A Measurement, Land Measurement Or Survey Jihat — Extra Cesses Jizya — (A) In The Literature Of Delhi Sultanate, Any Tax Which Is Not Kharai Or Land Tax (B) In The Shariati A Personal And Yearly Tax On Non-Muslims. Kankut — Estimation Of Land Revenue Karori — A Revenue Officer.  Khirai — Land Revenue Kula A Word With A Range Of Meanings, Including An Extended Patrilineal Family Kanamdar/Kanak - Holder of kanam tenure Khanazad - hereditary Muslim aristocrats in the Mughal court Khudkasht(s) - Peasants with occupancy rights Khutba - Friday prayers in the mosque Kulin - some castes among the Brahmans and Kayasthas of Bengal who are considered to be the purest Kani rights: rights over land in early medieval South India, sometimes also associated with certain duties and obligations Kara-shasanas: tax-paying agraharas Kottam: settlement clusters in the Pallava kingdom, similar to the nadus kraya-shasana: a secular land-sale deed Kshatra: secular power Kshatrapa: a viceroy or subordinate ruler of the Scytho-Parthians; a title assumed by kings of the Kshaharata and Kardamaka dynasties Linga A Phallic Emblem Of The God Shiva Lokayata: an atheistic materialist philosophical school, also known as Charvaka Madad-I-Massh: Tax Free Grants Of Land Malfuzat: Saying Of Sufi Saint Mamluk: White Slaves Mir Bhakshi: Military Department Mir Saman: Supply Department Muquaddam: Village Head Mahal - A Group Of Land Regarded As A Unit For Land Revenue Purposes. Mansab — A Military Rank Conferred By The Mughal Emperor. Mauza - Revenue Term For Village Mokasa - Grant Of Land For Military Service, Rent-Free Land. Madhayamaka - A Major Mahayana School Founded By Nagarjuna, In Which The Idea Of Shunyata (Emptiness) Is Of Great Importance Mahajanapadas The Great States Of The 6th Century Bce Mahakshatrapa Viceroy, Subordinate Ruler; A Title Assumed By Some Kings Of The Kshaharata And Kardamaka Dynasties Mahayana Literally 'the Greater Vehicle', A Set Of Buddhist Schools  Mandapika A Local Centre Of Exchange, In Between Small Periodic Markets And Larger Trade Centres Manigramam A Powerful Merchant Guild Of Early Medieval South India Matha - Monastery Moksha Liberation From The Cycle Of Birth And Death Masand - A deputy of the Sikh guru Mulgujar - Landholding primary zamindar Meli (s) - Anti-feudal demonstrations Mirasidar - Land Rights (Mirasi) in South India Misls - Combinations of Sikh sardars based on kinship ties Mofussil - Small town or subdivisional town Muktiyar Namah - Power of attorney Mushaira - Public recital Muttadars - Estate holders Menhir: a type of megalithic burial, marked by a single, large, standing stone Mithuna figures: amorous couples that occur o en in the sculptural decoration of shrines Mukhamandapa: the porch of a temple Nabud — Remission Of Land Revenue On Account Of Natural Disasters. Nagara Style The Northern Style Of Temple Architecture, Marked, Among Other Things, By A Curvilinear Shikara (Tower) Nagarams Market Or Commercial Centres In Early Medieval South India Nagarattar The Organization Of The Nagaram Northern Black Polished Ware (Nbp Or Nbpw) - A Distinctive Type Of Fine Pottery With A Glossy Surface, Made And Used Between C. 700 And 200 Bce Nakdi Mansabdar - Mansabdars who were paid in cash Nankar - Revenue free land Nadu: the locality, consisting of several settlements, in early medieval South India Nagara style: the northern style of temple architecture, marked, among other things, by a curvilinear shikara (tower) Nagarakkani: land owned and managed by the nagaram Nalayira Divya Prabandham: a work by Nathamuni, containing the hymns of the Alvar saints Nattar: the leading men of the nadu (locality) in early medieval South India Nibbana: a term used o en in the Buddhist tradition for liberation from the cycle of birth and death  Nitishastra: Sanskrit works on statecra Niyoga: levirate; the ancient custom of a widow cohabiting with her brother-in-law or another man in order to produce sons Nyaya: a philosophical school concerned primarily with logic and epistemology Ochre Coloured Pottery (Ocp) A Protohistoric Pottery Type Found At Several Sites In The Doab Paibaqi - Land Reserved For Allotment In Jagir Polai - Land Continuouily In Cultivation Painted Grey Ware (Pgw) A Distinctive Type Of Fine, Grey Pottery With Designs Painted On In Black, Made And Used In Parts Of North India Between C. 1000 And 500 Bce Paramitas Perfections Whose Attainrnent Led To The Bodhisattva Path; A Mahayana Idea Pariharas Exemptions And Privileges Granted To Donees In Royal Land Grants Parinibbana The Passing Away Of The Buddha Pahikasht(s) - Vagrant Peasants Patadar(s) - Landowners Patil - Village headmen Podu - A tribal term for shi ing cultivation prevalent in the Andhra region Pali: an ancient language belonging to the Indo-European family of languages; the language of the canon of the Theravada school Paribbajaka: Pali, literally, 'wanderer', renunciant Patichcha- samuppada: Pali, the law of dependent origination; a part of the Buddha's teaching Periyapuranam: A 12th century work containing hagiographies of the Nayanmar saints Prakrit: an ancient language belonging to the Indo-European family of languages, with various dialects such as Maharashtri, Shauraseni, and Magadhi Pramanas: grounds of knowledge Prashasti: panegyric Pravara: the names of one, two, three, or five supposed ancestral rishis, connected with the gotra system of the Brahmanas Puram: war poems of the Sangam corpus Pargana: Around Hundred Village Qanungos: Caretaker Of Revenue Records Risalas - Units of the army of Haidar Ali of Mysore Sabha: Assembly Of Brahmins In Chola Period Sadr Us Sadur: Ecclesiastical Affairs Sarkar: Administrative Unit Or Units Of Paragana  Shaikhzadas: Indian Muslims Nobility Sharia: Muslim Law Shiqdar: Head Of Administrative Unit Sandhar: Loans Subas: Provinces Sabha A Tribal Assembly Mentioned In Vedic Texts; The Assembly Of A Brahmana Village In Early Medieval South India Samana - A Pali Word (Sanskrit Shramana); Literally, 'one Who Strives', A Renunciant Samanta - Subordinate Ruler; Feudatory Samhita - A Collection Of Hymns, Associated With The Vedas Samskaras - Literally 'preparation', 'arrangement'; Rituals Marking Important Life Stages Sandhara - A Temple Style With An Enclosed Passage For Circumambulation Shruti - Literally 'that Which Has Been Heard', The Veda Shvetambara - Literally 'white clad', A Jaina Sect Smriti Literally - Texts'; A Category Of Sanskrit Texts That Includes The Vedangas, Puranas, Epics, Dharmashastras, And Nitishastra Stri-Dhana - 'women's Wealth'; Various Types Of Moveable Property Given To A Woman On Various Occasions During Her Life-Time, Passed On From Mother To Daughter Syadavada - Literally 'doctrine Of Maybe'; The Jaina Doctrine Of The Partial Nature Of All Statements About Reality Sahajdharis - Non-khalsa Sikhs Sahukar - Moneylender Sajjad Nisbins - Custodians of sufi shrines Sanad - Mughal imperial order Saranjam - Transferable land rights Sawar - A numerical rank for Mughal military commanders indicating the number of horsemen they were supposed to maintain Sharif - Respectable Muslim Sud - A tribal term for foreigners prevalent in the Choto Nagpur region Swaraj Ziladish - independent district magistrate Samkhya: a very ancient philosophical school which views the world as consisting of two fundamental categories of purusha (the spiritual principle) and prakriti (matter or nature) Sangam literature: texts in old Tamil, comprising the earliest parts of the Ettutokai, Pattuppattu, and Tolkappiyam  Sangha: a word with many different meanings including oligarchy, the Buddhist monastic order, and the Jaina monastic order Sannyasa: the stage of complete renunciation in the ashrama scheme Sapindas: people who are held to be related to each other, an important category in Dharmashastra discussions on rules of marriage, inheritance, and rules of purity and impurity to be observed among relatives when a person died Saptanga rajya: literally 'the seven-limbed state', the Arthashastra concept of the state as consisting of seven elements Setthi: Pali (Sanskrit sreshthin); a high-level businessman associated with trade and money-lending Shakha: a recension of a Veda Siddhamatrika: an ancient script, known from the 6th century CE; also known as Kutila Tevaram - A Collection Of Hymns, Part Of The Canon Of South Indian Shaiva Bhakti Tipitaka Pali, Literally 'the Three Baskets' Or 'three Collections', Buddhist Canonical Texts; The Pali Tipitaka Is The Canon Of The Theravada School Triratna - Literally, 'the Three Gems'; In Jainism, Refers To The Triple Path Of Right Faith, Knowledge, And Conduct Upanishads Philosophical Texts That Are Part Of The Vedic Corpus Tankha Jagir - Hereditary possessions of the Rajput chiefs under the Mughals Tufan dal (s) - Revolutionary village units Taniyur: a special status given to certain brahmadeyas in early medieval South India, making them independent of the nadu wherein they were located Terra sigilatta: moulded, decorated wares as well as undecorated, wheel- made ones made in Italy or imitations thereof; earlier referred to as Arretine ware Tipitaka: Pali, literally 'the three baskets' or 'three collections', Buddhist canonical texts; the Pali Tipitaka is the canon of the Theravada school Tirthankara: literally, 'ford builder'; a Jaina saint Tirumurai: the canon of South Indian Shaiva bhakti Tiruttondar-Tiruvantai: a work by Nambi Andar Nambi, which gives a short hagiography of the Nayanmar saints Tiruttondar-Tokai: a work by Sundarar, which lists 62 Nayanmar saints Torana: the gateway of a shrine Transepts: vertical stone slabs that divide a megalithic chamber tomb into sections Tankah: Silver Coin Ulama - Muslim priests  Ummah - Community based on allegiance to the common Islamic faith Utar - Forced labour Ur: a non-brahmadeya village of South India; the corporate assembly of such a village Upasaka A Male Lay Follower Of The Buddha's Teaching Vanaprastha The Stage Of Partial Renunciation In The Ashrama Scheme Varahathe Boar Incarnation Of The God Vishnu Varna Literally 'colour '; The Concept Of Four Hereditary Classes— Brahmana, Kshatriya,Vaishya, And Shudra Varna-Samkara The Mixture Of Varnas Due To Inter-Varna Unions Vassavasa The Monsoon Retreat Of Buddhist Monks Vesara A Style Of Temple Architecture Which Has A Blend Of Elements Associated With The Nagara And Dravida Styles; Also Referred To As Karnata-Dravida Vihara A Buddhist Monastery Vimana The Sanctum Of A Temple And Its Superstructure Viragal The Word For A 'hero Stone' In The Tamil Nadu Area Vishnuism (Vaishnavism) The Worship Of Vishnu As A Supreme God Vatan - Hereditary land rights Vaisheshika: a philosophical school of pluralistic realism Varaha: the boar incarnation of the god Vishnu Vatteluttu: An ancient South Indian script used for writing Tamil Velir: chie ains of South India Vellala/vellalar: cultivating groups of South India Vellanvagai: non-brahmadeya villages of early medieval South India; same as ur Vendar: the three 'crowned kings' of early historical South India, i.e., the Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas Vihara: a Buddhist monastery Waqf: Grants To Muslim Religious Establishments —-0 Watandar: Desais And Deskmukh Wilayat: Spiritual Territory Of A Sufi Yajamana: the person for whom the yajna (sacrifice) is performed and who bears its expenses Yakshas: deities associated with water, fertility, trees, forests, and the wilderness Yakshis: female deities associated with fertility, consorts of yakshas Yavana: Greeks, foreigners from the West  Yogachara: a major Mahayana school which attached great importance to meditation as a means of attaining the highest goal Yupa: sacrificial post Yajamana The Person For Whom The Yajna (Sacrifice) Is Performed And Who Bears Its Expenses Yajna Sacrifice Yakshas Delites Associated With Water, Fertility, Trees, Forests, And The Wilderness Yakshis Female Deities Associated With Fertility, Consorts Of Yakshas Zabt: Revenue Based On Land Measurement Zawabit: Non-Shariat State Laws Zimmis- Protected Non-Muslims Zenana - The women's quarter in the inner part of the house Zillah - Administrative District