Write about: Janapada ,Territoriality and Autonomous Functioning

(a) Janapada:

• The term ‘Janapada’ occurs in the Brahmana texts for the first time.
• Thereafter, it is frequently used in the Vedic literature and the epics –Mahabharata and Ramayana, as also in the Jain and the Buddhist literature. 
• Considering the ancient Indian geographic perception with reference to the Janapadas, the said literature seems to divide the Indian  subcontinent into five sections:
• ‘Praachya’ – of the east
• ‘Praatichya’ – of the west 
• ‘Udichya’ – of the north 
• ‘Dakshina’ – of the south 
• ‘Madhyadesha’ – The central region

(b) Territoriality and Autonomous Functioning:

• It may be noted, that the sense of territoriality and the ensuing awareness of autonomy were the main factors responsible for the formation of ancient Janapadas in India.
• However, their administrative system was not much different from that of the Janas in Rigveda. 
• The chief of the Janapada was known as ‘Raj an’. 
• Two assemblies are known as ‘Sabha’ and ‘Samiti’ were at the apex of all administrative decision-making processes, since the very beginning of the Vedic period.