A Note on The Paura-Jānapada

V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar

A Note on The Paura-Jānapada

Vol. 6 · No. 1March - 1930pp. 181–183English

Summary

The note discusses the Paura-Janapada, a corporate administrative body in ancient India, highlighted through the Divyavadana's account of Tisyaraksita's plot against Prince Kunila in Taksashila. The Paura-Janapada, distinct from the broader citizenry, executed royal orders, as seen in their role in blinding Kunila per Tisyaraksita's forged decree. This illustrates the Paura-Janapada's organized local governance, acting as the king's agent, with imperial representatives overseeing but not interfering in their administration. The text also addresses Matsyendra's origins, with conflicting evidence pointing to either Candradvipa (Eastern Bengal) or Kamaripa, and suggests he predates the 11th century. The analysis emphasizes the Paura-Janapada's historical significance in provincial administration, supported by inscriptions and literary references spanning from the Mauryan period.

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Conclusion

This analysis of the Paura-Janapada through the Divyavadana episode offers critical insights into its institutional dynamics and historical significance. The text highlights the Paura-Janapada as a distinct corporate body, separate from broader citizenry, emphasizing its role in governance through collective decision-making, as seen in the Taksashila assembly’s resistance to unjust orders. The narrative underscores the tension between centralized imperial authority and local autonomy, positioning the Paura-Janapada as a mediator of power and social order. While the legendary nature of the account invites caution, it provides valuable cultural and administrative context, reinforcing the continuity of such institutions from Mauryan times. The focus on Matsyendra’s potential origins further bridges textual and geographical scholarship, though uncertainties persist. Ultimately, the study enriches understanding of ancient Indian polities by illustrating the Paura-Janapada’s functional role and its enduring legacy in governance traditions.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

“Canpdradvipa in Eastern Bengal was believed to have been the place from which the Mahi-faula-jiana-vinirneya and hence probably its author Mat-syendra originated.”
“These have been sufficiently and critically examined and discussed, Among the host of evidences [ wish to examine the interesting episode in the Divyavadina where there 15 ય clear reference 10 the Paura-Jana-pada, meaning from the contents, a representative institution તે not the whole body of the citizens at large”
“That the Paura-Jinapada carried out roya! orders was certainly the practice of the time. Here is an incontrovertible instance to show that the Paura-Jinapada was an organised body which attended to the local adwinistration of the province છ the city”

Works cited in this article

Hindu Addministrative Institutions
Essays and Lectures chiefly on the religion of the Flindus {edited by R. Rost, London, 1862), vol. I, p. 214
Rock Ediet VIIIL
Divya,, p. 4114
Ibid., p. 407

Discussed in this article

People

Asoka 110
Matsyendra
Jayaratha 6
Kunila
Tisyaraksita 3
Padmaivatr
Adinitha

Places

Canpdradvipa
Taksadila
Eastern Bengal 4
Kamaripa 15

Texts & works

Divyavadana 8
Kunidlavadana

Dynasties, sects & groups

Paura-Janapada
Nathas

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In this issue

Vol. 6 · No. 1

1–30Old Buddhist Shrines at Bodh-GayaB. M. Barua 31–38The Machinery of Administration in the KautiliyaNarendra Nath Law 39–45The Two Nirvanadhatus According to the VibhasaLouis de La Vallée Poussin 45–60A newly discovered Copperplate from TipperaDinesh Chandra Bhattacharya 60–71Grant of Bhaskara Varman of Kamarupa and the Nagara BrahmanasJogendra Chandra Ghosh 72–80Problems of the NatyasastraMano Mohan Ghosh 81–86Birbhum and Western Bengal in the Eighteenth CenturyGottlieb L. Schanzlin 87–96Literary Patronage Under the Zamorins of CalicutA. Govinda Warrier 97–107On Some Tantrik Texts Studied in Ancient KambujaP. C. Bagchi 108–113Sankara on the Relation between the Vedas and ReasonSatindra Kumar Mukherjee 114–126Antiquity of TantricismChintaharan Chakravarti 127–144A short sketch of the Second Dynasty of the Zamorins of Malabar (1742-1774)K. V. Krishna Ayyar 145–149Pre-Dravidian or Proto-DravidianJean Przyluski 149–152A Note on the chronological Relation of Kanishka and Rudradaman IHem Chandra Raychaudhuri 153–168Pala Chronology — A Reply to Prof. BanerjiDinesh Chandra Bhattacharya 168Dharmapada and AbhidhanvasasamhitaVidhushekhara Bhattacharya 169The Date of ShankaracharyaVidhushekhara Bhattacharya 169–171Is it Caryacaryaviniscaya or Ascaryacaryacaya?Vidhushekhara Bhattacharya 171Shankara's Reference to a Buddhist PassageVidhushekhara Bhattacharya 172–175The Twin-gods Asvins of the Rg-VedaEkendra Nath Ghosh 175–178BharatavakyaVibhutinatha Jha 178–180Some new Facts about MatsyendranathaChintaharan Chakravarti 181–183A Note on The Paura-JānapadaV. R. Ramachandra DikshitarCurrent article 183–184Reply to Mr. Dikshitar's NoteNarendra Nath Law 184–185Historical Research: Princes' Duty to promote Scholarship 185–187A Few Notes on Pusyamitra and the Sunga EmpirePuran Chand Samsookha 188–195ReviewsH. D. Bhattacharya 196–200Select Contents of Oriental Journals 201–203Obituary Notice: Henry BeveridgeSurendra Nath Sen

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