Vishaya

Avishaya(IAST:Viṣaya) was a historical administrative unit of India, generally equivalent to a moderndistrict.

Several other terms for units equivalent to a modern district appear in historical inscriptions, includingāhāra,rashtra(rāṣṭra),maṇḍala,anddeśa.The exact meaning of these terms varies by the period, the ruling dynasty, and the region. For example:

• In the early medieval inscriptions ofBengalregion:
  • Paranayi-vishayais mentioned as a part of theSamatata-mandala
  • Gokalika-mandalais mentioned as a part of the Kotivarsha-vishaya
  • Khadi-vishayais another name for Khadi-mandala
• Some inscriptions mention units with multiple designations, such asGopa-rashtra-vishayaandKhetak-ahara-vishaya(presumably, the territory called "Gopa" was formerly designated as arashtraand then re-designated as avishaya).
• Sometimes, avishayareferred to a subdivision larger than a district.

The governor of avishayawas called avishaya-patior avishayadhyaksha.Avishayawas often included in a larger subdivisions such as abhukti(province). It was often divided into smaller units such as abhoga.

In the early medieval inscriptions ofMaharashtraregion, Punyaka-vishayais another name for Pune mentioned inRashtrakuta Kingdomcopper plate dated 937 CE, which refers to the town as Punya-Vishaya, meaning 'sacred news'.