Vishaya
Avishaya(IAST:Viṣaya) was a historical administrative unit of India, generally equivalent to a moderndistrict.[1]
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:[2]
- 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.[1]Avishayawas often included in a larger subdivisions such as abhukti(province). It was often divided into smaller units such as abhoga.[2]
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'.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^abA. S. Altekar (2002) [1949].State and Government in Ancient India.Motilal Banarsidass. p. 215.ISBN9788120810099.
- ^abD.C. Sircar (2017) [1965].Indian Epigraphy.Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 378–382.ISBN9788120841031.