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A CULTRAL STUDY OF THE NISITHA CURNI
known as the nigamas.1 Sthalia is another unit mentioned in the text. This unit seems to have existed only in Kathiawar under the Maitrakas of Valabhī. It is not clear as to which administrative area did this unit correspond. Perhaps, it was also another designation of a town based upon its natural geographical area. In the text we find that Vārattapura, which is once called pura or nagara, has also been called sthali ( Văratthali ) at another place. These towns consisted of a number of villages (ga ma) which were the smallest administrative units. Palli' is yet another term mentioned in the text. It seems to have been a small village, especially a settlement of the wild tribes, as can be judged from the words like temapalli or corapallzo etc. According to śukra, however, the word palli denoted “the half of the village”. Administration in Sub-divisional Units
The scheme of general administration in the sub-divisional units was quite similar to that of the centre, although naturally on a quite lower grade. These units were presided over by a representative of the king or were ruled by the feudatory kings. The visayarakkhiya and the desärakkhiya. or desakutta were the corresponding heads of the vişaya and deśa. 11 As the designation itself suggests, their main duty was to protect the people of the vişaya or deśa. They did perform judicial functions also, as the citizens and monks
1. aporti fra qat qeifa forta-NC. 2, p. 328; also NC. 3, p. 341; Bịh.
Vr. 2, pp. 342-43. 2. NC. 3, p. 117. 3. Sankalia, op. cit., p. 194, note 6; also Virji, op. cit., p. 239. 4. Ibid. 5. NC. 4, p. 158. 6. NC. 3, p. 442. 7. NC. 3, p. 123. 8. SED., p. 610; also Abhidhänarājendrakoša, p. 729. 9. NC. 3, p. 217. 10. Sukraniti, I. 193. 11. NC. 2, p. 183; also Tht dhe af, higaan–NC.-3, p. 57.
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