DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS
Ancient India ● Gopas: responsible for accountants etc.
Administration during different periods
Adharmika - Those who do not follow the norms of
Dharma
Adhgajanyayah - Maxim of the blind man and
elephant;
Rig Vedic Age
Unit - Head
• Kula (family) – Kulapa
• Grama (village) – Gramani
• Vis (Jana) – Vispati
• Jana (Clan) - Gopa/Gopati
• Rashtra (Country) - Rajan
Maurya period
Central administration
According to Kautilya/Chanakya, there are 7
elements of states (Saptanga theory) :
• Raja (the king)
• Amatya (the secretaries)
• Janapada (territory)
• Durg (Fort)
• Kosha (the treasure)
• Sena (Army)
• Mitra (Friend)
The king was regarded as the soul among all the
seven elements of the state.
The king was assisted by Mantri Parishad, whose
members included:
● The Yuvaraja (the crown prince)
● The purohita (the chief priest)
● The Senapati (the commander-in-chief)
● few other ministers
Important Officials in Mauryan Administration:
● Sannidhata: Chief treasury officer
● Samaharta: collector general of revenue
● Pradeshika: modern district magistrates
● Sthanika: tax collecting officer under
Pradeshika
● Durgapala: governor of fort
● Akshapatala: Accountant general
● Nagaraka: incharge of city administration
● Sita-adhyaksha: Supervisor of agriculture
● Samastha-Adhyaksha: superintendent of
market
● Navadhyaksha: Superintendent of ships
● Sulkaadhyaksha: Collector of tolls
● Lohadhyaksha: Superintendent of Iron
● Pradeshtris - officer responsible for the
suppression of criminals
● Akaradhyaksha: Superintendent of mines
● Pauthavadhyaksha: Superintendent of
weight and measures etc.
Mauryan Provincial Administration
Province - Capital
● Uttarapatha i.e. Northern Province - Taxila
● Avantirashtra i.e. Western Province - Ujjain
● Prachi i.e. Eastern and Central Province -
Patlipurta
● Kalinga i.e. Eastern Province - Toshali
● Dakshinapatha i.e. Southern Province -
Suvaranagiri
Administrative Unit - Head
• Chakra (i.e. province) - Rashtrapala/Kumara
• Ahar/Vishaya (i.e. District)-
Pradeshika/Rajuka
• Sangrahana (a group of 10 villages) – Gopa
• Gram (i.e. village) - Gramika
Municipal administration
• Nagarak - City superintendent
• Gudhapurushas (detectives) - Sansthan
(stationary) and Sanchari (wandering)
Diplomats
• Nisriharthaduta - Full fledged Ambassador
• Parimitarthaduta - could not go beyond his
instruction in negotiation
• Sansaharaduta - Special Messenger
Army
Megasthenes reports that the administration of
different branches of the army was carried through
a War Office comprising 30 members, obviously
experts in different branches of military art and
science. It was divided into six Boards of five
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS

members each:

(i) The Board of Admiralty: In charge of the

navy, though interestingly Kautilya does not
mention the navy.
(ii) The Board of Infantry: Headed by
Padadhyaksha
(iii) The Board of Cavalry: Headed by Additional Terms (Starting from Alphabet A):
Asvadhyaksha
(iv) The Board of War Chariots: Headed by • Aghnya Not to be killed; cow
Rathadhyaksha • Agranomoi Officials who collected land
(v) The Board of War Elephants: Headed by taxes
Hastyadhyaksha • A-kratu Those who do not perform
(vi) The Board of Transport and Supervision of sacrifices
Equipment • Ananku Magic forces or sacred
• Anguttara Nikaya Land between
Gupta administration Himalayas and Narmada; Buddhist text
Administrative Unit - Head • Anirvasita Patanjali in his Mahabhasya
refers to the Shakas as Anirvasita (pure)
• Bhukti/Bhoga (i.e. Province) - Shudras
Uparika/Bhogapati
• Antavasayin Untouchables; literally
• Vishaya (i.e. District) - Vishyapati/Ayukta meaning living at the end
• Vithika/Nagar (i.e. City) - • Anuvratas Partial or small vows
Nagarpati/Purapala • Annatakula Of unknown lineage
• Gram (i.e. village) - Gramika • Anta-Mahamattas Responsible for the
security of frontier forts
Important Officials
• Agrahatta Persian wheel
• Aswamedha Unquestioned control over an
• Mahabaladhikrita - Commander-in-Chief
area in which the royal horse ran interrupted
• Mahadandanayak - Chief Justice
• Arikamedu Tamil Nadu Coast
• Mahapratihar - Maintenance of Royal
• Arya A cultural/ethnic term etymologically
Palace
derived from 'ar' meaning to cultivate,
• Mahasandhivigrahak - Post-war conciliation
literally meaning kinsmen or companion, in
• Dandapashika - Police department head Sanskrit it means favourably disposed new
• Bhandagaradhikreta - Head of Royal comers and later it implied men of good
treasury family 'noble'
• Mahapaksha-patalik - Head of account
department • A-vrata - Who do not obey the ordinances of
• Vinayasthitisansathapak - Head of God
education department • Ardhasitikas Share-croppers working on
• Sarvadhyaksha - Inspector for all central the state owned land; kept half of the
department produce
• Mahashwapati - Controller of cavalry • Arihant - Worthy
• Mahamahipilapati - Controller & executor of • Aryankas - They are called the forest books'
elephantry as they were written mainly by hermits living
• Vinayapura - Official to present different in the jungles for their pupils. They deal with
guests at the King’s court mysticism and philosophy and oppose
• Yuktapurusha - Office to keep account of sacrifice. They emphasise meditation and
war booty are considered to be the concluding portion
• Khadyatpakika - Inspector of Royal Kitchen of the Brahmanas, and interpret rituals in a
• Ranabhandagarika - Officer in charge of philosophical way.
Army Stores • Asura - Class of beings defined by their
• Mahanarpati - Head of infantry opposition to the devas or suras (gods)
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS
• Askini - Chenab river
• Avadanas - It is the name given to a type of
Buddhist literature correlating past lives'
virtuous deeds to subsequent lives' events
• Avadhijnana - Superhuman insight and
combination
• Avesta - Primary collection of religious texts
of Zoroastrianism
• Axis mundi - Axis of the world
• Ayagapatas - Stone slabs to place objects
of worship (Jainism)
• Ayyavole (The Five Hundred) Largest Supra
regional merchants Association
• Bali - Voluntary tribute
• Bananju-dharma - Code of Conduct
• Bhandagarika - Officials who maintained
record of transactions
• Bandhanagara - Proper jail
• Baudhyan theorem - Length of sides of right
angle triangle
• Bhartiakas - Mercenaries
• Bheri Ghosha - War drum; later replaced by
dhammaghosa by Ashoka
• Brahmanas - They describe the rules for the
performance of sacrificial ceremonies. Most
important is the Satapatha Brahmana which
is attached to the Yajurveda.
• Bhrigukachcha (Broach) - Sea port
• Canonical and non- canonic texts of
Buddhism Canonical texts are those
texts that are directly linked to Gautama
Buddha in one way or another.
• Caste groupings
Idangi (left hand caste groupings) - artisanal and
trading groups
Valangi (right hand caste groupings) - agricultural
groups
• Charka - Police lock up
• Chandalas - Untouchables
• Dana - Gifts to priests
• Dhanya - Cereals
• Dakshina - Sacrificial offerings
• Durga - Fortified capital
• Dushtamatyas - Wicked bureaucrats
• Dharmapravakta - Promulgator of social
orders
• Dharamshastra They are the Sanskrit
texts dealing specifically with Dharma (code
of conduct that conceptually signifies 'a
righteous moral law which is in consonance
with the universal natural law).
• Dharma also refers to the fulfillment of
Purusharthas (life goals) such as Dharma
(righteous conduct), Artha (material well-
being), Kama (sensual pleasure), and
Moksha (liberation from the cycle of life and
death).
• Dharmashastras are further subdivided into
Dharmasutras (composed during c.600 300
BCE) and Smritis (composed during c.200
BCE 900 cz).
• Dharmasutra - Concerned with the rituals'
Dharma
• Dulhitri - Daughter who milk cows
• Dvarpalas - Gatekeepers of the gods
Four forms of existence Jainism recognises
four forms of existence - that of
• gods (deva)
• humans (manushya)
• hell beings (naraki)
• animals and plants (tiryancha who are
further divided on the basis of the faculty of
sense into smaller sub-categories:
o ekendriyas (single-sense bodies);
o nigodas (lowest of ekendriya having
sense of only touch, who are born in
clusters and whose lives last only a
fraction of a second).
• Garvares - Trading castes
• Gavishthi, Gaveshana, Goshu or Gavyat -
Fight for cows
• Gavyuti - Measure of distance
• Ghaggar - Saraswati river
• Ghrita - Butter
• Godhuli Samgava - Measure of time (Dusk)
Morning
• Godhuma – Wheat
Gods in Rig Vedic Age
• Indra or Purandara - destroyer of forts |
rain god
• Agni - fire god | intermediary between the
Gods and people
• Varuna - god of water
• Savitri - god of light
• Rudra - god of animals
• Brahma/ Prajapati - creator of the
universe
• Vishnu - Patron god of Aryans
• Yama - god of death
• Ashwin - god of health
• Aditi - mother of gods
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS
• Sindhu - river goddess
• Pushana - protected cattle in early Vedic
period | God of shudras in later Vedic
period
• Goghna Guest; one who is fed on
cattle
• Gomat One who owned many cattle
• Gotra Cow pen; descent from a common
ancestor
• Gram-vridddhas Village elders
• Grihyasutra Concerned with
comparatively simpler domestic sacrifices,
which require only one fire. It includes
rituals pertaining to crucial life stages
(Samskaras) such as Upanayana
(initiation), Vivaha (marriage), and Antyeshti
(funerary practices).
• Hari-hara Half Vishnu Half Shiva
• Heggades Revenue officials
• Hiranya Tax on pesants; paid only in
cash
• Ithijika Mahamatta Mahamattas (officials)
in charge lf women's welfare
Jaina doctrines
• Anekantavada (doctrine of manifold
nature of reality)
• Syadavada (the theory of conditioned
predication),
• Nayavada (theory of partial standpoints),
• Triratna (three gems),
• Pancha Mahavrata (five great vows)
• Ahimsa (doctrine of non-violence).
• Kammikas - Custom officials
• Kani rights Right of possession over land
Two types:
1. Karanmai - right to cultivate
2. Mitachi - superior position right
• Kara Levied on fruits and flower gardens
• Kayasthas Scribes; specialised in writing
• Kevalajnana Omniscience or infinite
college
Key terms related to Buddhism
• Chaityas - Prayer halls of monks
• Viharas – Monasteries
• Pravrajya - Ceremony to mark a person's
going forth from home into homelessness
and his/her becoming a novice under a
preceptor. Involved shaving the head and
donning ochre robes.
• Upasampada - Ordination ceremony
when the novice becomes a full-fledged
member of the monastic community.
• Uposatha - Ceremony held on full moon
and new moon.
• Parajika - Literally meaning defeat, it
included four most serious offences
involving expulsion from the Sangha
(sexual intercourse, taking what is not
given, killing someone, and making false
claim of spiritual attainment).
Pavarana is a Buddhist holy day celebrated on
Aashvin full moon of the lunar month. It marks
the end of the rainy season, sometimes called
'Buddhist Lent'. On this day, each monk must
come before the community of monks (Sangha)
and atone for an offense he may have committed
during the Vassa (rainy season).
Upasakas - Male followers who have taken
refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha, but
who have not taken monastic vows.
Upasikas - Enlightened beings who have
renounced their own salvation and put off
entering paradise in order to help others attain
enlightenment.
Bhikkhu Sangha - Sangha of monks
Bhikkhuni Sangha - Sangha of nuns
Theragatha - Verses of Elder Monks Therigatha -
Verses of Elder Nuns
Shramana/Samana - One who strives to realise
the truth.
Paribbajaka/Parivrajaka - Wanderer
Shakra - God Indra
Key terms related to Jainism
• Basadis - Jaina monastic establishment
• Gandharas - Chief disciplines of Mahavira
• Siddha - Fully liberated
• Dravya - Substance
• Guna - Quality
• Paryaya - Mode
• Jiva - Soul
• Eva - In fact
• Pudgala - Aggregates of atoms which
have form, colour, taste and smell, and
can be touched and felt
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS
• Chaitanya - Consciousness
• Virya - Energy
• Mohaniya - Delusion causing karmas
• Asarva - Flow
• Nirjara - Wearing out
• Gunasthanas - Stages of purification
• Arhat - Who has entered the stage of
kevalajnana.
• Trithankara - Arhat who has already
acquired the capability of teaching the
doctrine
Key terms related to Sangam Age
• Kalatika - Superintendent of pearl
fisheries
• Kanatikan - Chief of scribes
• Nalakars - Reed workers
• Lonakaras - Salt makers
• Koluvanikam - Trader in ploughshares
• Kolu - Hard iron tip fixed to a wooden
ploughshare
• Ur - Assembly of village elders
• Emporium - Coastal town associated with
foreign trade
• Pattinam - Port
• Sattavahakula - Family of caravan traders
Kumbhakarakula - Family of potters
Setthikula - Family of merchants cum
bankers Kammarakula - Family of metal
smiths Atavirakkhikakula - Family of
forest guards Dhannavanijakula - Family
of grain merchants Pannikakula - Family
of greengrocers Pasankottakakula -
Family of stone grinders Sattavahaputta -
Son of caravan trader Nisadputta - Son of
hunter
• Vaddhakiputta - Son of carpenter
• Shailalakas/Selavadhaki - Stone masons
• Kamara - Blacksmith
• Gandhika - Perfumer Karshapana -
Copper coin
• Niyamakjettha - Head of the sailor's guild
• Katikai - Assembly of learned persons
Key terms associated with the Guptas and Vatakas
• Shaulkika - Collector of shulka
• Khila - Untilled land
• Aprahata - Cultivable wasteland
• Aprada - Unsettled land
• Vastu - Habitat land
• Pataka - Land measure equivalent to 60-80
acres
• Modakas - Modern laddus, which was a
prized sweet of the Guptas
• Panchayatam - A style of temple
construction
• Batas - regular troops
• Chhatras - irregular troops
• Uparika - Tax on tenants
• Udranga - Water tax or police tax
• Vata-bhuta tax - for the maintenance of
rituals for the winds and spirits
• Halirakara - plough tax
• Kipta - purchase tax or sales tax
• Upaklipta - additional minor tax
• Vanjika - merchant
• Pulaiya - untouchable
• Stridhana - presents received by the bride at
the time of marriage
• Ganikas - courtesans (admired for their
beauty but could never attain social
respectability)
Key terms related to Chola kings
• Eccoru - Obligation of villagers to provide
food for state officials.
• Vetti - Obligation of villagers to provide
labour services to state officials.
• Kadamai - Land revenue collected in kind.
• Antarayam - Rural tax realised in cash.
• Dharmasana - Royal court of justice.
• Ur-nattam - Residential quarter of the
landowning farmers.
• Paraiyar - Socially and spatially segregated
group of people who were considered
ritually impure.
• Vellalar - Cultivating groups. Kaniyudaiyar -
Land owning farmers. Ulukudi - Tenant
farmers.
• Perudan - Highest officials. Sirutaram -
Lower officials. Kasu - Gold coins
• Gaudas - Cultivators
• Nettal - Compulsory labour
• Nagaramas - Market centres
• Samanta - Defeated king but still ruling
under the lordship of conquering king
• Kosha Treasury
• Krishna Ayas/Shyama Ayas Iron; a type of
metal
• Kshetra Cultivated field
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS
• Kshetrapati Guardian deity of agriculture
fields
• Kuti For this we need to understand
social structure of Sangam Age :
The basis of stratification was kuti (clan-based
descent groups) where there was no real restriction
on inter-dining and social interaction among the kuti
groups.
The ruling class was called arasar, and its
members had marriage relation with the vellalas
(rich peasants), which formed the fourth caste of
peasants. The vellalas held the bulk of land, and
employed kadaisiyan (agricultural labour) to do the
manual farm work.
• Pariyars - agricultural labourers who worked
in animal skins.
• Lauhitya - Brahmputra river
• Mahashilakanataka War engine
• Mandals Chapters of Vedas
• Manigraman Prominent guild of the 13
century located in Tamilnadu
• Meridarch Officer in charge of a
designated area (Shakas)
• Maula Hereditary warriors
• Murugan Deity; God
• Kartikeya (war god in Northern India and
was later called Subramanya in mediaeval
Times)
• Nadukal or virukkal Memorial stones
raised in honour of those who died in
fighting (Sangam Age)
• Nad-gavundas Hereditary revenue officers
• Nandopakramani A particular
measuring standard
• Nibbana It is the ultimate goal of
Buddhist teachings. It is the super natural
state and attainment which is within the
reach of all.
• Nigama Market town which was an
intermediate level between grama and
nagara
• Nikayas Trained officials (Mauryas)
• Nishka - Unit of currency made up of gold
• Nri-Varaha - Body of a man and head of a
boar; God Vishnu at Udaygiri caves
• Pativedakas and Pulisani Reporters
• Pindakara Taxes on groups of villages
• Porana Pakiti Ancient rules and customs
• Pranaya Emergency taxes (Maurya)
• Puga Guilds of traders and artisans;
headed by Jesthaka
• Purushni Ravi river
• Purusashukta Hymn 10. 90 of the Rigveda;
explains the four varnas
• Rajabhatas Special royal officials to
safeguard the life and property of travellers
• Rajasana Royal rescripts
• Rajsuya Royal consecration which
conferred supreme Power on the king
• Rathmusala Chariot with mace for mass
killing
• Sakya-simha Lion among the Sakyas
• Salakas and Salaka- gahapaka
Collector of votes in Santhagara
• Sapta Sindhu Region of the seven rivers.
This was the region in which the Aryans first
settled when they arrived in India.
• Sarva-palli-patti - Chief of all villages
• Satamana - Unit of money
• Satraps/strategos - Military governors
• Sattra Free food canteen
• Setthi High level businessman
• Samata Fairness in judicial
procedures
• Shad-gunya Kautilya lists Shad-gunya (six
policies) that the king should follow in these
circumstances:
• Policy of Sandhi (peace treaty): If one is
weaker than the enemy
• Policy of Vigraha (hostility): If one is
stronger than the enemy
• Policy of Asana (keeping quiet): If ones
power is equal to that of the enemy
• Policy of Yana (marching on a military
expedition): If one is much stronger than the
enemy
• Policy of Samshraya (seeking shelter with
another king or in a fort): If one is very weak
• Double policy of Dvaidhibhava (sandhi with
one king and vigraha with another): If one
can fight the enemy with the help of an ally.
• Santhagara Assembly halls of Gana-
Sanghas where discussions took place
• Shataka Special type of cloth of
Mathura
• Shaulkika/Shulkadhya ksha Toll officials
• Shulvasutras Manuals for the preparation
of the site where Vedic sacrifices and rituals
were to be performed; laid the foundations
of geometry
• Shrautasutra Concerned with the vedic
sacrifices that require three or more fires
• Shresthins Guilds; organisation of
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS

merchants 3. mullai (pastoral tracts);

• Shulka Duties on imported and exported 4. marudam (wet lands);
goods (Mauryas) 5. neital (seacoast).
• Shunyanivesha The Maurya state
founded new agriculture settlements to • Tippayadal Cruel practice of Sati
bring virgin land under cultivation (Sangam Age)
• Soma/Sura Intoxicating drink • Triratnas Jainism provides threefold
• Srini Sickle path known as Triratna (three jewels) for the
• Shruti Which has been heard attainment of Moksha (salvation):
• Sindhu Indus river
• Suparaka (Sopara) Sea port Right faith (Samyag Darsana),
Right knowledge (Samyag Jnana),
Sutras Sutras are very short condensed statements Right conduct (Samyag Caritra).
that are used to express varied ideas. There are six
Sutras. They are: • Types of villages The Pali texts
1. Shiksha (Phonetics) (especially the Vinay Pitaka) suggests three
2. Kalpa (Ritualistic science) types of villages (grama):
3. Jyotisha (Astronomy)
4. Vyakaran (Grammar) (a) Typical villages, inhabited by various
5. Nirukta (Etymology) castes, communities and headed by a headman
6. Chhanda (Metrics) called gramabhojaka, gramini gramakas. The
majority of the villages belonged to this category.
• Sutudri Sutlej river The village headman enjoyed considerable
• Shvapakas Untouchables; Dog breeders importance and had direct links with the kings. They
not only collected taxes from the villagers, but also
• Svaviryopajivins Share-croppers
maintained law and order in their locality.
working on the state owned land; kept one
fourth or one fifth of the produce (mentioned
(b) Suburban villages, which were in the nature
by Kautilya)
of craft villages. For example, carpenters' village
• Tamilakam Land between the Tirupati (vaddhaki-grama), reedmakers' village (nalakara-
hills and southernmost tip of peninsula grama), saltmakers' village (lonakara-grama), and
chariotmakers' villages are mentioned in the texts
Ten virtues of Bodhisattva of the period. These villages served as markets for
1. dana (generosity) other villages and linked the towns with the
2. shila (good conduct), countryside.
3. kshanti (patient forbearance),
4. virya (mental strength), (c) Border villages (aramika-grama), which
5. dhyana (meditation), were situated on the periphery of the countryside
6. prajna (wisdom), and merged into forests. People living in these
7. upayakaushalya (skilfulness in means), villages were mainly hunters and fowlers, who
8. pranidhana (determination), mostly lived on primitive subsistence methods like
9. bala (power), food gathering.
10. jnana (knowledge)
Upanishads - The literal meaning of 'Upanishad' is
Thinais/Tinais The Economy in Sangam Age 'to sit near someone'. There are 108 Upanishads, of
which 13 are the most prominent. The Upanishads
The whole Tamilakam in this period was divided dwell on the 'Atman' and 'Brahman', and focus a lot
into five tinais, or eco zones based on their on the philosophy about life, universe, self, body,
economic resources. sacrifice, etc.
These were: The Mandukyopanishad "Satyamev jayate" is the
largest of all Upanishads.
1. kurinji (hilly region); The Chhandogya Upanishad - Clearly refers to the
2. palai (arid zone);
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS

first three ashrams and discusses the types of • Diwan-i-Risalat (Department of Appeals) -
marriages. dabir-i-mulq
• Diwan-i-Mustakharaj (Department of
• Upasava Tenant Arrears) - founded by Alauddin khilji
• Urvara Fertile fields • Diwan-i-Riyasat (Department of Commerce)
• Urvarajit Winner of fertile lands; Indra - Rais-i-mumalik
• Usury Lending of money at high interest • Diwan-i-Kohi (Department of Agriculture) -
rates founded by MBT
• Vap To sow • Diwan-i-Bandgan (Department of Slaves) -
• Vajpeya Drink of strength; chariot race founded by Firoz Tughlaq
in which the royal chariot was made to win • Diwan-i-Khairat (Department of Charity) -
against all kinsmen founded by Firoz Tughlaq
• Vatista Jhelum river • Diwan-i-Isthiaq (Department of Pensions) -
• Vattakirutal Ritual starvation founded by Firoz Tughlaq
• Vedanta Literally signifies the end of
the Vedas', as they reveal the final aim of
the Vedas. They condemn sacrifices and Administrative Unit - Head
ceremonies and denote the last phase of
the Vedic period. Iqta (Province) - muqti or wali
• Vedanga The word 'Vedanga' means Shiq (district) - siqdar
the limbs of the Vedas'. They are the Paragana (taluka) - chaudhary and Amil
supplementary texts that aid in the proper Gram (Village) - muqaddam,
recitation and understanding of the Vedas.
However, these do not qualify as Shruti as Lands were classified into three categories:
they are considered of human origin (not
revealed by the gods) and are written in the 1. Iqta land - Lands assigned to officials as
form of Sutras. iqtas instead of payment for their services.
• Velir Chieftains
• Vendar Crowned kings 2. Khalisa land - Land under the direct control
• Vessas Merchant streets of the Sultan and the revenues collected were
spent for the maintenance of royal court and royal
• Vihara-yatras Royal please tours; later
household.
replaced by dhamma-yatras by Ashoka
• Vipasa Beas river 3. Inam land - Land assigned or granted to
• Vratya-kshtriyas Second class religious leaders or religious institutions.
kshatriyas; Shakas and Parthians are
described by Manu as Vratya-kshtriyas Mughals
• Vrihi Rice Jagirs
• Yava Barley
• Yavanika Curtain There were various types of jagirs:
• Yavanpriya Pepper
a. Tankha Jagirs: Which were given in lieu of
Mediaeval History salaries and they were transferable every three to
four years.
Delhi Sultanate
Central Administration b. Mashrut Jagirs: Which were given on certain
Department - Head (Founded by) conditions

• Diwan-i-Wizarat (Department of Finance) - C. Watan Jagirs: Which were assigned to zamindar

wazir
• Diwan-i-Ariz (Military Department) - ariz-i-
mumalik
• Diwan-i-Insha (Department of
Correspondence) - dabir-i- mumalik
or rajas in their local dominions. Watan Jagirs were
hereditary and non transferable. When a zamindar
was made a Mansabdar, he was given Tankha
Jagir apart from his Watan Jagir at another place, if
the salary of his rank was more than the income
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS

from his Watan Jagir. Provincial administration

d. Altamgha Jagirs: Which were given to Muslim • Prants (province) - Subedar

nobles in their family towns or place of birth.
Administration
• Mir Bakshi - Head of judiciary department
• Khan-i-Saman - Head of imperial household
• Mir Maal - Lord privy seal
• Mustaufi - Auditor general
• Mushriff - Revenue secretary
• Waqa-i-Navis - News reporter
• Mir Arz - In-charge of petitions
• Mir Tozak - Master of ceremonies
• Amul Guzar - Head of revenue
administration in parganas
• Bitakchi - Writer/record keeper
• Shiqdar - In-charge of law and order
• Nasq/kankut - Wherein estimate was made
of the produce by government officials
• Muqtai - Fixed revenue demand leased in
cash
• Dahsala/Zabti system - Average produce
per bigha of each category of land was
ascertained based on past 10 years'
produce.
• Tarfs (District) - Havaldar
• Parganas (sub-district) - Deshpande
(accounts) and Deshmukh (Law and order)
• Mauzas (Village) - Kulkarni (accounts) and
Patil (Law and order)
• Diwan – secretary
• Mujumdar – auditor and accountant
• Fadnis – deputy auditor
• Sabnis or Daftardar – office incharge
• Karkhanis – commissary Chitins –
correspondence clerk Jamdar – treasurer
• Potnis – cashier
Military Personnel
• Sar-i-Naubat (Senapati)- Incharge of army
• Qiladars- Officers of Forts
• Nayak- Head of the member unit of infantry
• Havaldar- Head of five Nayaks
• Jumladar- Head of five Nayaks
• Ghuraw- Boats laden with guns
• Gallivat- Rowing boats 40-50 rowers
• Paik- Foot Soldiers
• Naik - Head of the cavalry

Other key terms

Marathas • Abwab Extra legal charges exacted by
landlords
The Asthapradhan
• Adalats Courts
• Ahimsa Non violence
• Peshwa or the Chief Minister- He looked
after general administration. • Akhra Gymnasium
• Amatya or Majumdar- Accountant general, • Anjuman Local muslim association
he later became revenue and finance • Amir-i-Haqib Master of ceremonies
mnister. • Amirs/Chahalgani Nobels/ Group of
• Sachiv or Surunavis- Also called Chitnis; he Forty
looked after the Royal correspondence. • Bagh naka Weapon; tiger claw
• Sumant or Dabir- Foreign affairs and the • Bar-i-Aam Ordinary guest room of
master of Royal ceremonies. Sultan
• Senapati or Sari-i-Naubat- Military • Bar-i-Khas Special Guest room of sultan
commander. He looked after the • Bhadralok Bengali gentlemen
recruitment, training and discipline of army. • Bhaadramahila Bengali gentlewomen
• Mantri or Waqia Navis- Personal safety of • Chakra - Office Job
the king, he looked after the intelligence, • Chauth - One fourth of the revenue
post and household affairs. claimed by the Marathas
• Nyayadhish- Administration of Justice • Dadan Advance;
• Punditrao- Looking after charitable and • Dalam Revolutionary units
religious affairs of the state. He worked for • Dalwai Prime Minister of the Mysore state
the moral upliftment of the people. • Daroga Local Police officer
• Dastaks Permits issued by the East
 DICTIONARY OF HISTORY BY VYASA IAS

India Company for tax exemption • Masjlis-i-Khalwat Council of friends

• Diku Foreigner • Malik Highest grade officers
• Diwan-i-Wizarat Finance department • Mameluks Slave officers
headed by wazir • Mistri Jobbers
• Diwan-i-Ishtihlqaq Department of charity • Mofussil Small town
and mint • Mufti Muslim learned person
• Fawazil Excess amount paid to the • Mustafi-i-mammalik Auditor general
exchequer by the iqtadars. • Muttadars Estate holders
• Farmans Mughal imperial order • Muhtasib Officer who kept strict watch
• Fatwa Islamic religious declaration over conduct of people
• Fitna Sedition • Nankar Revenue free land
• Fituris A tradition of Tribal revolts • Pattadars Landowners
• Faujdar Police officer in rural area • Patil Village headman
• Faujdari adalat Criminal court • Patni Subinfeudatory tenures
• Ghatwali Service tenure for village • Patta Written agreement between peasant
watchman and landowner
• Giras Customary dues • Peshkash Fixed amount paid by an
• Gomustah Indian agent of east India autonomous ruler to the Mughal emperor
company • Podu Shifting cultivation
• Jahandari Laws made by sultan • Prati sarakar Parallel government
• Jaziya Tax on non-muslims • Risalas Units of army of Haidar Ali
• Hundi Bill of exchange • Ras batai After separating grains from
• Ijaradari Revenue farming system chaff.
• Jama Estimated land revenue income • Sahajdharis Non Khalsa sikhs
• Janmi Holder of janman tenure • Sahukar moneylender
• Jat Rank of mughal mansabdars • Sajjad nisbins Custodians of sufi shrines
• Jotedar Immediately tenure holders • Sanad Mughal imperial order
• Kanamdar Holder of kanam tenure • Saranjam Transferable land rights
• Kazi Muslim Judge • Subah Mughal province
• Khalisa Royal lands • Taluqdaars Landlords in Awadh
• Khanazad Herediatary muslim • Tinkathia Peasants to produce indigo
asristocracy in three twentieth part of the land
• Khudakasht Peasants With occupancy • Ulgulan Rebellion of Mundas
rights • Umara Plural of amirs
• Khutba Friday prayers at Mosque • Ulema Muslims of religious learning
• Khet batai Land revenue on standing • Utar Forced labour
crop • Wakil-i-Dar Managed royal households
• Kulin Pure castes among Brahamans • Zawabit State laws
• Khuts Smaller landlords
• Khazin Treasurer
• Kotwal Police officer in urban area
• Lank Batai Without separating grain
from chaff.
• Lathiyal Musclemen who fought with
bamboo clubs
• Mahal Fiscal unit in northern India
• Masand A deputy of Sikh guru
• Mulgujar Landholding primary
zamindar
• Misls Combination of Sikh sardars
• Masahat On the basis of measurement
of land
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