GLOSSARY

Agrahara Donation of land or taxes from a village by the king to the

learned brahman(s).
Agnikula Certain Rajput clans who claim to have emerged from
Yajna Havana-Kunda.
Ajivika A heterodox sect closer to J ainism which flourished at
the time of the Buddha.
Amatya Official designation for a high official used right from the
Mauryan Period. '
Aranyakas The Vedic texts, traditionally composed by hermits.
Artha Prosperity and well-being, one of the four aims of life of a
Hindu.
Arthashastra The theory of polity; also the title of a treatise on the subject
by Kautilya, belonging to the Mauryan period.
Ashramasj The four stages of life; also a place where hermits
Ashrama live.
Ayukta Designation of an officer frequently used in the Mauryan
period.
Bhagavata A sect devoted to Vishnu.
Bhukti An administrative unit of a kingdom, frequently referred
to in the Gupta period.
Bodhisattva A person who attains nirvana by working for the welfare
of the world and voluntarily postpones release from
rebirth; also regarded as an incarnation of the Buddha,
prior to his own birth in the world.
Brahmachann Celibate studentship, the first of the four stages
(Ashramas) of life.
Brahmanas The Vedic texts dealing with rituals and sacrifice.
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Chaitya A sacred enclosure. The term is also used for a Buddhist

place of worship.
Charvaka A religious sect following a materialist philosophy.
Devadana Donated revenue assigned to a temple.
Digambara A Jaina sect whose followers do not believe in keeping
even a small piece of cJoth on themselves.
Dharma Piety, Morality - a way of life.
Dharmasastras Texts on laws relating to society and religious observances
of the Hindus.
Doab The area between two rivers.
Dvija The twice-born; referring to the first birth which is the
physical birth and the second the initiation into
educational status .
Garbhagriha The sanctum sanctorum of the Hindu temple.
Gayatrimantra The verses of the RigVeda wherein the request has been
made to illuminate one's mind with knowledge.
Grama A village.
Hinayana One of the two major Buddhist sects.
Jati Family or a group of people defined by their profession.
Kalpa A day- of Brahma equivalent to 4,320 million earth years.
Kaliyuga The fourth and final age of the aeon.
Karma Action or deed, and also the theory of conditioning one's
future births by the deeds of the present or the previous
lives.
Kayastha A jati associated with revenue records, first found in the
. Mauryan period and frequently mentioned in the medieval
period.
Kharoshthi A script in which Ashokan inscription of Shahbazgari and
Manashera are written.
Kottom An administrative unit.
Kula The clan or extended family.
Kumaramatya An official designation of a high official.
Mahakshatrapa 'Great governor', a title taken by rulers, mainly by Saka
kings.

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Maharajadhiraja 'Great king of kings', an imperial title.

Mandalam An administrative unit, frequently used in south India.
Matha A centre of education attached to a temple or religious
establishment.
Matsyanyaya A political theory where, in a state of anarchy, the strong
devour the weak.
Maya Illusion.
Moksha Release from the cycle of rebirth.
Nadu An administrative unit, frequently used in south India.
Nagara Style of temple architecture developed in central and
northern India.
Nirvana Release from the cycle of rebirth.
Nishaka The term used for a coin.
Pali A Sanskrit-based language in which the Buddhist
scriptures were recorded in Ceylon.
Pana A term used for coin
Pasupata A Saivite sect.
Puranas The Hindu text containing the history of various dynasties.
Purohita Chief priest.
Rajuka An official designation used in the Mauryan period.
Rashtra Country.
Sabha An assembly of a few select ones/elders first found in the
RigVeda.
Samiti A larger assembly.
Samkhya One of the six major schools of philosophy in ancient India.
Sati A virtuous woman; one who has immolated herself on
the funeral pyre of her husband.
Senapati Commander of the army.
Sangam The earliest phase of Tamil literature.
Satamana A silver coin which weighed about 180 grains.
Shikhara Tower surmounting a temple.
Shreni Guild, organisation of craftsmen and merchants.

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Svetambara One of the two major Jaina sects, which follows the code
of wearing white clothes.
Stupa Domical structure containing relics of the Buddha.
Tantne A religious cult.
Theravada A Buddhist sect.
Upanishads The philosophical texts included in Vedic literature.
Varna Four-fold division of Hindu society.
Vedanta One of the six major philosophical schools in ancient India.
Vihara Buddhist monastery.
Yavana Term used in Indian sources for the people of western
Asia, Greeks and Romans.
Yoga One of the six major schools of philosophy in ancient India.
Yuga Any of the four ages of the life of the world.

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