Ancient & Early Medieval India — Religion, Law, Economy, Administration, Measures & Land Grants

🕉️ Religion–Politics Relation

Period	Relation
Ancient India	Politics within religion (Rajdharma, Varnashrama Dharma)
Medieval India	Religion and politics interlinked
Modern India	Religion and politics separate

🧭 Varnashrama Framework

Savarna: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya
Avarna: Shudra (Malichh, Chandala)
Dvija: Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya
Ekaj: Shudra

• Rigveda 10th Mandal — Purusha Sukta → Origin of Varnas
• Shruti → Vedic traditions
• Dharma Sutras → Laws

⚔️ Early Medieval Concepts

Dharmavijaya / Digvijaya → Conquer, do not administer, defeated king pays tax & gifts.

• Varna Sankara due to loss of Varnashrama
• Anuloma & Pratiloma (high-born woman + low-born man)
• Smritis, Dharma Shastras, Purtadharma (temple building)

Texts	Number
Puranas	18
Dharma Shastras	24
Chaturvimshati Mat	Collective opinion of 24 law givers

⚖️ Manusmriti & Yajnavalkya

Text	Commentator	Work
Manusmriti	Jimutwahan	Vyavaharamatrika (Judicial procedures)
Manusmriti	—	Dayabhaga (Inheritance)
Manusmriti	Medhatithi, Kallukaparak, Govindraj	Commentaries
Yajnavalkya Smriti	Vijaneswar	Mitakshara
Yajnavalkya Smriti	Lakshmidhara	Kritya Kalpataru
Yajnavalkya Smriti	Devanbhattak	Smriti Chandrika

🧾 Dayabhaga vs Mitakshara

Feature	Dayabhaga	Mitakshara
Nature	Less orthodox	More orthodox
Wife	Co-sharer	Caretaker
Son’s right	After father’s death	By birth
Daughter	Stridhana	Dhan
Division	Possible	Not possible

🏰 Politics & Economy

King’s duties: Dharmavijay, Dharmashastra, Purtadharma

Trend	Description
Ruralization	Decline of towns
Decentralization	Rise of feudal lords
Barter system	Monetary decline
Peasant exploitation	By feudal lords
Jatis	Social fragmentation
Bhakti Movement	Religious response

🌾 Bhog System

Given	Retained by King
Administer + Cultivate rights	Sub-earth & Mining rights

🧿 Epigraphic Evidence

Century	Evidence	Detail
2nd CE	Nasik Copper Plate – Gautami Putra Satakarni	Land to Buddhist monastery
5th CE	Sanchi Copper Plate – Kumaragupta, Chandragupta	Panch Bandali
6th CE	Damodarpur inscription	8-member council
6th CE	Vakataka – Pravarasena II	Death penalty right to feudal lords

🗺️ Administrative Division

Desh → Bhukti → Vishaya → Vetti/Patak → Gram

⚓ Trade & Towns (550 CE)

• Ports: Tamralipti, Dhyabarbambol
• Coins: Drahmya / Drachm
• Urban centres: Gopgiri (Gwalior), Siyadoni (Lalitpur), Taktanandpur (Bundelkhand), Pihova (Prithudaka)

📘 Book

Leelavati — Bhaskaracharya

⚖️ Weights & Distance Measures

Measure	Type	Order
Kulle	Weight	Greatest
Drodd	Weight	Middle
Adhak	Weight	Smallest

Vap = Act of throwing → Distance measure
Kulle Vap > Drodd Vap > Adhak Vap

Inscription	Measure Found
Dayanabad	Kulle Vap
Bygram	Drodd Vap
Pahadpur	Adhak Vap

🏞️ Types of Feudal Lands

Type	Sub-type	Features
Brahman Land	Brahmdeya, Agrahara	Hereditary, Rent-free
Religious	Devdan (for God), Pelikonda (for Buddhist)	Hereditary, Rent-free
Secular	Bhogika	Hereditary, Rent-free, Tribute to king
Secular	Officials	Non-hereditary, Transferable

Bhog eventually returns to the king.