Cultural Study of Nisitha Curni

Author(s): Madhu Sen
Publisher: Sohanlal Jain Dharm Pracharak Samiti Amrutsar

Page 36

CHAPTER 11
POLITY AND ADMINISTRATION
The NC. is not an administrative manual like the Nitivakyāmsta ( a famous Jaina treatise on Polity written in 10th century A. D. ) of Somadeva, yet it throws a welcome light on the various aspects of Administration and Polity. The 9th uddećaka of the NC. specifically lays down the rules of monks' behaviour with the King and the State. References can also be found in the 2nd, 4th, 8th, 11th, 15th and 16th uddeśakas of the NC. This information, when collated and corroborated with contemporary sources, enables us to visualize the system of administration prevailing at that time. The political concepts of our author are remarkably similar to those of Somadeva. However, certain outstanding differences can be noticed from the Brāhmaṇic theory of Administration. Types of States or Forms of Government
Monarchy has prevailed as a popular form of Government in ancient India, yet other types of States are also referred to in the ancient Sanskrit and Jaina Prakrit texts. In order to restrict the Jaina monks from travelling into anarchical regions the author has explained the following seven types of States in the NC. :
(i) Non-ruler-States (aņardya (anārajya) or arājaka) (ii) Yuvarāja-ruled-States (juvarojja) (iii) Kingless-States (verajja) (iv) States in hostility (virudd na-rajja) (v) Two-ruler States (dorajja).' (vi) Republics (gañarajja)
1. NC. 3, p. 198.