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ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY - TERMINOLOGIES
VEDIC AGE
1. Bali → a form of voluntary offering 24. Vidhatha → An assembly meant for secular,
2. Aghanya → Not to be killed (Cow) religious & military purpose
3. Gavyuti → measure of distance 25. Nishka, Krishna & Satmana → Gold coins
4. Godhuli → measure of time 26. Yupa → Sacrificial post used for vedic rituals
5. Gavishti → search for cows 27. Aditi/Usha → Deities denoting dawn
6. Duhitri → Daughter who milch cows 28. Kshira-pakamodanam → Grain cooked with
7. Goghna → Guest fed on cattle milk
8. Gotra → Kinship 29. Kshata → keeper of the King’s household
9. Gana → Lineage 30. Bhagadugha → Tax collector
10. Avesta → Oldest text in Iranian Language 31. Aranyaks → vedic texts composed by
11. Dharma → Behaviours considered to be in hermits → Forest books
accord with Rita. 32. Upanishads → Philosophical texts included
12. Rita → Physical order of the universe in vedic literature
13. Dvija → twice born 33. Brahmanas → Collection of texts with
14. Dasyus → Original inhabitants of Indian Sub- annotations on the humans of 4 Vedas
continent 34. Palagala → Messenger
15. Gopati → Raja with the main duty to protect 35. Vrajapati → officer in charge of pastoral
cows lands
16. Pushan → Guardian of hoard, herdsmen & 36. Khasttri → Chamberlain
stray cattle 37. Rajanyas → Close kinsmen of the king
17. Purandra → Breaker of fort (Indra) 38. Jivagribha → Police officers
18. Vrihi → Rice in vedic texts 39. Suta → Charioteer
19. Yava → Barley, the staple crop 40. Sangrahitri → Treasurer
20. Yavanapriya → Pepper in ancient sanskrit 41. Sthapathi → Commander-in-chief
texts 42. Sirni/datra → Hoe
21. Sabha → Council of elders (No entry for 43. Sapta Sindva → Land of seven rivers
women) 44. Hotri → Priest of Rigveda
22. Samiti → Assembly of people in vedic period 45. Adhvaryu → Priest of Yajurveda
23. Sabhavati → women who attended the 46. Udgatri → Priest of Samveda
assembly 47. Rajasuya → Sacrifice ‘
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48. Ashvamedh → Sacrifice associated with 51. Himavant → Himalaya
political paramountcy 52. Janapada → Territory to which one belonged
49. Kusidin → Practice of money lending 53. Savitri → God of light
50. Soma & Sura → Intoxicating drink 54. Yajmana → One who performed Yajna
NAMES OF RIVERS IN VEDIC AGE
Rivers Vedic Names
Indus Sindhu
Jhelum Vitasta
Ravi Parushini
Chenab Askini
Beas Vipas
Sutlej Shutudri
Gandak Sadanira
Saraswati Nanditara
Kurram Krumu
Ghaggar Drishadvati
JAINISM
1. Digambara → Believe in complete nudity 14. Gunnasthan → 14 stages of purification
2. Shvetambara → White clothes 15. Arihant → Blessed one
3. Sallekhana → Voluntarily fasting to death 16. Jina → One who has won spiritual liberation
4. Kaivalya → Supreme wisdom 17. Mantra → Sequence of spiritually potent
5. Nirjara → Removal of accumulated karmas sounds
from the Atma 18. Mendicant → one who renounces worldly life
6. Basadis → Jain monastic establishments 19. Paryushan → Holy season in shvetambara
7. Jinalaya → Jain temples jain calendar
8. Anekantavada → Theory of relative 20. Sthankavasis → Regards image worship as
pluralism contrary to Tirthankaras teachings
9. Mahavratas → Monks who observed the 5 21. Terapanthi → Subsect of Sthanakvasi →
principles Founded by Acharya Bhikshu
10. Nigranthas → Free from all bonds 22. Bisapanthis → Subsect within Digambaras
11. Siddha loka → Final abode of liberated soul → Recognize authority of Bhattarakas
12. Mohaniya Karma → Delusion creating 23. Shravakas → Male householders
karma 24. Totapantha → Arose from distinctions
13. Samvara → Stopping the flow of karma between Bisapantha & Terapanth sub-sects
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25. Gumanapantha → Lighting candles or lamps 27. Shruta Jnana → Knowledge revealed by
in Jaina temples is banned. scriptures
26. Shravak Pratima → Steps by whom a lay 28. Asra → Flow of karma particle towards jiva
flower may achieve renunciation 29. Purvas → Part of 12 angas
BUDDHISM
1. Hinayana → Small vehicle → Did Not believe 17. Dipankara → One of the ancient Buddhas
in divinity of the Buddha 18. Mahamudra → Great seal or great imprint
2. Mahayana → Great Vehicle → Believed in 19. Nekkhamma → Pleasure of renunciation
idol worship 20. Adhitthana → Denotes commitment, desire
3. Vajrayana → Tantricism →Esoteric practices & prayer
for rapid enlightenment 21. Amitabha → Immeasurable light
4. Zen → Sub-school of Mahayana sect → 22. Anicca → Nothing remains same, everything
Emphasises the practice of meditation is shifting
5. Navayana → Modern Buddhist movement → 23. Paramita → Perfection
Reformist 24. Prajna → Wisdom, intelligence or
6. Arhat → Living person who has reached understanding
enlightenment 25. Three Jewels → Buddha, Dhamma &
7. Bodhisattvas → Enlightened souls who Sangha
postpone their own salvation 26. Tiantai → Buddhist school of East Asia that
8. Avalokiteshvara → Bodhisattva of compassion originated in China - 6th century
9. Maitreya → Future Buddha 27. Upasaka → Lay follower of buddhism
10. Manjusri → Wisdom 28. Upeksha → Calmness, detachment or letting
11. Tara → Female Bodhisattva go
12. Vasudhara → Bodhisattva of abundance & 29. Vihara → Monastic dwellings for monks
fertility 30. Chaityas → Place of worship for monks
13. Mahasthamaprapta → Represents the 31. Mandala → Group of images in geometric
power of wisdom pattern
14. Ksitigarbha → Earth’s womb 32. Prajnaparamita → Perfection of wisdom or
15. Akasagarbha → Bodhisattva of infinite transcendental knowledge
happiness 33. Mudita → Denotes joy
16. Madhyamaka → Subsect of Mahayana 34. Nirvana → Highest state that someone can
Buddhism → Founder → Nagarjuna attain, a state of enlightenment
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35. Sangha → Monastic communities of 42. Vibhajjavada → Offshoot of Sthaviravada
bhikkhus & bhikkhunis school → Compiled the Pali canon
36. Tanha → Thirst, desire, longing & greed 43. Yogacara → aka Vijnanavada → Focus not
37. Sambhogakaya → Buddha as a deva or God only on idealism but also absolutism.
38. Saddha → Conviction, faith 44. Vairocana → Cosmic Buddha playing the
39. Metta → Loving-kindness, goodwill role of Dharmakaya of Gautam Buddha
40. Mara → The personification of evil & temptation 45. Lokavid → Understanding the world
41. Gassho → Gesture used in some schools of 46. Theris → Women nuns in Buddhism
Buddhism 47. Kutagarshala → Place where Buddhist
medicants debated and stayed
MAURYAS
1. Ekrat → Sole sovereign title used for 17. Pradesika → Police officers
mahananda 18. Prashasti → Prison head
2. Samharta → Collector of revenue 19. Pariharika → Tax free villages
3. Sannidhata → Chief Treasury officer 20. Dharmasthiyas → Courts for civil matters
4. Amatya → Civil servants 21. Kantakashodhanas → Courts for criminal
5. Yuktas → Subordinate revenue officer matters
6. Sannidhata → Treasurer and keeper of 22. Gana Puraka → Person responsible for
stores quorum in Gana
7. Adhyaksha → looked after various departments 23. Kulyavapa and Nivaran → Units of land
measurement
8. Sitadhyaksha → Superintendent of Agriculture
24. Rajbhatas → Royal officials to protect the
9. Akaradhyaksha → Superintendent of Mining
property of traders & travellers
10. Navadhyaksha → Superintendent of Ports
25. Gandhika → Traders of perfume
11. Panyadhyaksha → Supervisor of Commerce
26. Maula → Hereditary troops
12. Sulkadhyaksha → Superintendent of
27. Gopa → Head of 5-10 villages
Customs and tolls
28. Gaulmika → Administrator of rural areas.
13. Pautavadhyakshya → Superintendent of
29. Dhammaghosha → Policy of cultural
weights and measures
conquest
14. Lakshanadhyaksha → Superintendent of
30. Horashastra → Term for astrology/horoscope
the mint
31. Bhaga → Royal share of the produce
15. Lohadhyaksha → Superintendent of Iron
32. Bherighosha → Policy of physical occupation
16. Hastyadhyaksha → Commander of Elephants
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33. Dharmapravartaka → King/promulgator of 38. Rashtrapala/Kumara → Viceroys in charge
the social order of a province
34. Doab → Land between 2 rivers 39. Dhamma Mahamatra → Propagator of
35. Nagarak → City superintendent Dhamma as created by Ashoka
36. Setubandha → State providing irrigation 40. Pana → Silver coin equal to ¾ of a tola
facilities 41. Osadhi → Plants
37. Dushta Matyas → Wicked bureaucrats
POST MAURYAS & GUPTAS
1. Gandhikas → Perfumer artisans 21. Nigama → Assembly of traders from the
2. Mahabhoja → 2nd grade of feudatories same town
3. Pustapala → Record keeper 22. Gaulmikas → Administration in villages
4. Snadhivigrahika → Foreign minister, placed under them
minister of war and peace 23. Valaikkarars → Troops in the royal service
5. Mahabaldikarta → Commander-in-chief & bodyguard of the monarch
6. Samantas → Feudal chiefs 24. Dandpashika → Head of police department
7. Vishti → Forced labour 25. Kanchuki → Head of Queen’s Haram
8. Sarvarishti → Forced tax 26. Kakini, Ksharpan → Copper coins
9. Hiranya → King’s share of agricultural 27. Halidand → Tax on ploughing
produce paid in cash 28. Uparikar → Tax collected from all subjects
10. Shulka → Term used for urban tolls 29. Rajju → Tax for measurement of land
11. Mahapratihara → Chief of the palace guards 30. Uparnika → Tax taken from the border area
12. Uparika → Provincial governor 31. Taradaya → Tax on navigation
13. Fanam → Coin 32. Kalpita → Sales and purchase tax
14. Puga → Assembly of same jati traders in a 33. Kulika → Chief architect
town 34. Vinayapura → One who represented guests
15. Araghatta → Irrigation device to King’s court
16. Shreni → Assembly of traders from different 35. Mahadandnayak → Chief Justice
jatis 36. Sarvaraj-ochchetta → Uprooter of all kings
17. Brahmadeya → Tax free lands given to 37. Aprasyra → To denote the untouchables
Brahmans 38. Khila → Wasteland
18. Devadana → Tax free land given to temples 39. Stridhana → Women’s wealth
19. Dinar → Gold coins 40. Paura → Council
20. Kula → Assembly of family members 41. Aprahata Bhoomi → Forest land
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SANGAM PERIOD
1. Sangam → Assembly of Tamil poets 24. Kalbhu → Marriage without permission of
2. Amaichar → Minister parent or without any customary
3. Purohitar → Priest 25. Pinch Tinnal → Love marriage
4. Dutar → Envoys 26. Kardhsiyar → Title for low caste women
5. Senapatiyar → Commander 27. Devalayam → Temple
6. Padai → Army 28. Enadi → Title given to captains of the army in
7. Panchvaram → Ministerial council sangam age
8. Maharum → Supreme court 29. Malvar → Thieves
9. Avai → Imperial court 30. Bellalar → Agriculturists
10. Orar → Spies 31. Kanigaichar → Prostitutes
11. Sirur → Small Village 32. Aniars → Hunters
12. Ur → Town 33. Vatta kirutal → King starved himself to death
13. Pattinam → Coastal town → ritual suicide
14. Mandalam/Nadu → Province 34. Kurinji → Hilly or mountainous region
15. Puhar → Harbour areas 35. Mullai → Forests
16. Karai → Land tax 36. Marutham → Cropland
17. Irai → Booties collected in the war 37. Neithal → Seashore (Kadalon → Water God
18. Iravu → Extra demand or forced gift worshipped in Neithal)
19. Variyar → Tax collector 38. Palai → Drylands
20. Ulgu → Custom duties 39. Kadaiyars → Farmworkers
21. Virarkal → Practice of raising hero stones 40. Senon → The God of thunder storm
22. Duttar → Messenger 41. Tolkappiyam → Test dealing with grammar
23. Karpu → Marriage without permission of and poetics
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