Nagaram

Nagaram was the local assembly of merchantguilds.^[1] It functioned in every major trading centre of any importance. Located in market towns,^[2] the nagaram, appears to have functioned effectively in co-ordination with the ur, the sabha and the nadu. Another important administrative division was the nagaram. Membership to this assembly was open to people of different castes. For many people of diverse castes including the Brahmins engaged themselves in commerce. Therefore, it is said that caste was not a barrier to the admission of members in the nagaram.^[3]

From the above study, it is evident that the many lands and other gifts donated to the temples were naturally left under the charge of these village assemblies. Besides, this, the village assemblies co-operated in looking after the needs and necessities of the temples the day to day affairs of the different region and localities were entrusted to various local self-governing bodies. As the whole social order was centered around a spiritual axis, which was represented by the temple. The king was very much interested in their maintenance. An orderly maintenance of temple was a reflection of an orderliness of the society.