Note on the governance system in ‘Ganas’ and ‘Sanghas’:

• In a gana or a sangha there were not one, but many rulers. Sometimes, even when thousands of men ruled together, each one was known as a raja.
• These rajas performed rituals together. They also met in assemblies, and decided what had to be done and how, through discussion and debate.
• For example, if they were attacked by an enemy, they met to discuss what should be done to meet the threat.
• However, women, dasas and kammakaras could not participate in these assemblies.