Key terms in ancient India -
put all terms and meanings below in this manner.
Key terms in ancient India -
put all terms and meanings below in this manner.
Advent of the Aryans/Early Rig Vedic Age
Terms |
Meanings |
Avesta |
oldest text in the Iranian Language |
Naditarna |
Another name for River Saraswati, called the best of the rivers in the Rig Veda. |
Dasa/Dasyus |
indigenous inhabitants of India during Aryan migration |
Gavisthi |
Term for war/search for cows in Rig Veda |
Panchjana |
Aryans were divided into 5 tribes called Panchjana |
Ayas |
terms used for metals- copper/bronze in Rig Veda |
Samudra |
collection of water |
Rajan |
a kind of chief during Rig Vedic age |
Samiti/Sabha/Vidatha/Gana |
tribal or clan based assemblies |
Purohita |
head priest |
Bali |
voluntary offerings by people to the tribal chief |
Prajapati |
the officer who enjoyed authority over a large land or pasture ground. |
Kula |
Family |
Kulapas |
head of a family |
Gramanis |
head of the fighting hordes |
Vrajapati |
when the units settled after wars, the Gramini became head of the village,with course of time he came to be identified as Vrajapati. |
Vrata/Gana/Grama/Sardha |
Different tribal groups |
Jana |
tribe |
Griha |
family |
Kula |
family |
Purandara/Indra |
breaker of forts/ warlord |
Agni |
Fire God |
Varuna |
Water God |
Soma |
God of plants |
Aditi,Usha |
deities,denoting dawn. |
Kula |
family |
Kulapa |
head of the family |
Grama |
village |
Gramini |
head of the village |
Vis |
the clan |
Vispati |
head of the clan |
Jana |
the people |
Gopa/Gopati |
head of the Jana |
Rashtra |
territory/country |
Rajan |
head of the rashtra |
Senani |
army chief |
Purcharishnu |
moving fort made for fighting a war |
Kshira |
pakamodanam– grain cooked with milk |
Aghanya |
used for cow,meaning ‘not to be killed’ |
Sura and Soma |
alcoholic drinks |
Later Vedic Phase
Terms |
Meanings |
Shyam/Krishna Ayas |
Iron |
Shatapatha Brahman |
text talks about ploughing ritual |
Vrihi |
rice in Vedic texts |
Vis |
common people |
Rajasuya yajna |
sacrifice ritual meant to confer supreme power to the King |
Ashwamedha yajna |
unquestioned control over an area in which the royal horse ran uninterrupted |
Sangrihitri |
officer for collection of taxes and tributes |
Vis/Vaishya |
refractory people/common people |
Rajanyas |
close kinsmen of the King |
Upanayana |
investiture with the scared thread of 3 varnas according to the Vedic Texts |
Rathakar |
chariot maker |
Gotra |
Cowpen/place where cattle belonging to the whole clan are ekpt.Later it meant descent from a common ancestor |
Goghna |
a guest or someone who was fed on cattle. |
Yajna |
sacrifice rituals |
Yajmana |
one who performed Yajna |
Official Positions in Later Vedic age
Terms |
Meanings |
Purohita |
the priest |
Mahishi |
the queen |
Yuvraja |
crown prince |
Suta/Sarathi |
charioteer |
Senani |
General |
Gramani |
head of village |
Kshata |
gateman/chamberlain |
Sangrahitri |
treasurer |
Bhagadudha |
collector of taxes |
Akshavapa |
courier |
Palagala |
friend of king – mnemonics- Kings Pal |
Govikarta |
head of forest department |
Ganas |
corporations of merchants |
Sreshtins |
aldermen |
Teritorial States and the First Magadha Empire
Terms |
Meanings |
Janapada |
territory to which one belonged |
Ekarat |
title of Mahapadma Nanda- the sole soveregin who destroyed all other ruling princes |
Jaladurga |
water fort- Pataliputra in this case. |
State and Varna Society in the Age of Buddha
Terms |
meaning |
Vessas |
monasterymonasterymonasterymonasterymonasterymonasterymonasterymonastery |
Nishka/Satmana |
coins/prestige objects made of metals |
Bhojaka |
village headmen |
Gahaptis |
merchant streets |
Mahamatras |
higher officials in the court |
Mantrin |
minister |
Senanayak |
commander |
Gramabhojaka/Gramani/Gramika |
a class of officers in the kingdom |
Balisadhakas |
different titles for village headmen |
Shaulkika/Shulkadhyaksha |
officers appointed to collect compulsory payments- earlier voluntary payments were called Bali. |
Parishad- small body similar to Samitis/sabhas |
toll officers who collected customs from traders |
Bhandagarika |
treasurer |
Gramabhojaka/Gramani/Gramika |
a class of officers in the kingdom |
The Age of The Mauryas
Terms |
Meaning |
Bherighosha |
policy of physical occupation |
Dhammaghosha |
policy of cultural conquest |
Rajukas |
officers vested with authority to reward or punish people as per policy of Dharma |
Sangiti |
Buddhist council |
Bhaga |
royal share of the produce |
Dhammamahamatra |
officer of Ashoka for propagating Dharma among social groups |
Significance of the Mauryan Rule
Terms |
Meaning |
Dharmapravartaka |
King/ promulgator of the social order |
Tirthas |
important functionaries in the administration |
Pana |
silver coin equal to 3/4 th of a tola |
Adhyakshas |
27 superintendents mostly to regulate the economic activities of the state |
Samaharta |
highest officer in charge of the assessment of the taxation |
Sannidhata |
chief custodian of the state treasury and store house |
Dushtamatyas |
wicked bureaucrats |
Central Asian Contacts and Their Results
Terms |
Meaning |
doab |
land between two rivers |
Strategos |
military governors- system introduced by Greeks |
Avadanas |
texts composed during progress of Mahayana Buddhism |
Yavanika |
curtains borrowed from Greeks |
Yavana |
branch of Greeks known to ancient India |
Horashastra |
term for astrology/horoscope in Sanskrit |
Drachma |
greek word for Drama |
Osadhi |
plants |
Ausadhi |
medicines |
The Age of the Satvahanas
Terms |
meaning |
Gandhikas |
term for perfumer artisans,later came to connote all kinds of shopkeepers- Gandhi word originated from here. |
Ahara |
districts |
Amatyas |
officials |
Mahamatras |
officials |
Gaulmika |
administrator of rural areas who was also the head of a military regiment |
Kataka and Skandhavaras |
military camps and settlements which served as administrative centres so long as the king was there. |
Raja |
a king,first grade of feudatories- could issue coins |
Mahabhoja |
2nd grade of feudatories |
Senapati |
3rd grade of beneficiaries |
Chaityas |
sacred shrines.Buddhist temples |
Vihara |
monastery |
Gathasattasai/Gathasaptasati |
a Prakrit text attributed to Satvahana King Hala. |
The Dawn of History in the Deep South
Terms |
meaning |
Enadi |
title given to captains of the army in the Sangam age |
Vellalas |
Rich peasants under Cholas and Pandyas who also held civil and military offices- formed the 4th caste |
Kadaisiyar |
lowest class which did agricultural operations |
Pariyars |
agricultural labourers who also worked in animal skins and used them as mats. |
Murugan/Subramaniya |
chief local God worshipped by people of the hilly region |
Virarkal |
practice of raising hero stones |
Tolkkappiyam |
test dealing with grammar and poetics. |