Gaulmika: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Gaulmika means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Arthashastra (politics and welfare)
Gaulmika (गौल्मिक) refers to the “superintendents of police stations” and represents an official title used in the political management of townships in ancient India. Officers, ministers, and sovereigns bearing such titles [eg., Gaulmika] were often present in ancient inscriptions when, for example, the king wanted to address his subjects or make an important announcement.
Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.
India history and geography
Gaulmika refers to a “superintendent of woods and forests”.—Gulma ordinarily means a wood, fort and a police station. Fleet translated Gaulmika as superintendent of woods and forests (CII – III.52 fn.4). Dr U N Ghosal takes Gaulmika as Collector of Custom duties and refers to ‘Gulmadeva’ of the Arthasastra in support of his view (Cf. Hindu Revenue System, p.292). According to Chandeswara, Gulma meant a group of three or five villages. It seems that Gulma was a small administrative unit in a group of three or five villages and was the centre of a police station. Gulmapati is also mentioned in the Panchobh CP and there it means the officer commanding a Gulma squadron.
Gaulmika refers to “station house police officer” and was a title used in the administration during the rule of the Śilāhāra dynasty (r. 765-1215 A.D.).—An early record of the Northern Śilāhāras mentions some other officers such as the śaulkika (Customs Officer), the gaulmika (Station House Police Officer), the chauroddharaṇika (the Eradicator of thieves), but these terms do not occur in later records, through these offices must have continued in those times also. The headman of a village Paṭṭa-kila (modern Pāṭīl) is mentioned in some records.
Gaulmika.—(IE 8-3; EI 30; CII 3, 4; HD), same as Gulma- pati (q. v.); ‘chief of a troop’; officer in charge of a gulma or outpost or group of guards, soldiers or policemen; ‘superin- tendent of woods and forests’ according to Fleet (CII, Vol. III, p. 50). See Ghoshal, H. Rev. Syst., p. 246. Note: gaulmika is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Gaulmika (गौल्मिक).—
1) A single soldier of a troop.
2) A superintendent of woods and forests; G. L.5.
Derivable forms: gaulmikaḥ (गौल्मिकः).
Gaulmika (गौल्मिक).—m. (in Sanskrit member or commander of a troop of soldiers; AMg. gummi(y)a, defined as a guard of a fort; a watchman), according to Tibetan la gcan pa = a collector of duties on a mountain pass ([Tibetan-English Dictionary]): Mahāvyutpatti 3803. Follows śaulkika; Japanese customs officer; perhaps originally guard at an outpost, later one who collected duties there.
Gaulmika (गौल्मिक).—i. e. gulma + ika, adj. Belonging to a gulma (q. cf.), or a certain division of an army, Mahābhārata 10, 359.
1) Gaulmika (गौल्मिक):—mfn. ([Pāṇini 4-2, 104], [vArttika] 13, [Patañjali]) treating on the glandular swellings called gulma, [Caraka vi, 11]
2) m. a single soldier of a troop, [Mahābhārata x, 359 and 419]
3) the chief of a troop, [Inscriptions (10thcentury). ]
[Sanskrit to German]
Gaulmika (गौल्मिक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Gummia, Gommia.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Full-text: Gulmapati, Gulma, Gommia, Gummia, Kaunmikan, Gulmadeva, Sthanadhikrita, Shaulkika, Chauroddharanika.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Gaulmika; (plurals include: Gaulmikas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Nitiprakasika (Critical Analysis) (by S. Anusha)
Army Personnel < [Chapter 5]
Kailash: Journal of Himalayan Studies
Part 2 - The Kirati legacy and Kirata land system < [The Land System of the Licchavis in Nepal]
Part 3 - The Licchavi land system < [The Land System of the Licchavis in Nepal]
Shukra Niti by Shukracharya (by Benoy Kumar Sarkar)