Buddhist Monasteries as Landed Magnates in Early Medieval India

Author Name : Dr. Amit Jha

An Attempt to Examine Vihara as an Administrative Unit and Its Wealth Management

Religious institutions in India that were primarily centers of spiritual activities gradually developed as strong economic units controlling various resources of production.  Although this development was discernible in western India as early as the beginning of the Christian era, it became more pronounced throughout the sub-continent from the sixth century onwards. Hence, the study of the economic function of the religious institutions, which were among the major institutions through which the general economy had been organized, is essential for a proper understanding of the economic history of early medieval period i.e. from the end of the Guptas to the twelfth century A.D.

Moreover, from the very beginning many religious foundations had functioned as corporate bodies, and this feature, though undergoing modification from time to time remained the basis of their organization[1]. Therefore, the study of the economic functions of the religious institutions may also reveal how a corporate body, which was not primarily designed for secular affairs, evolved into one of the major economic institutions, while preserving its fundamental character and serving its original ideals. Many scholars who wrote on the economic history of early medieval India have, from time to time, called attention to the role of religious institutions in the economy of the period. Yet, most of the studies done so far on the subject are limited to the south Indian and north Indian temples.