134 
ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY OF KAS'MIR. [Extra No. 2, 
circumstance explains the different accounts referred to by Prof. Biihler 
in his note on the term Kramarajya. 1 
Though the terms Madavarajya and Kramarajya are so often 
employed in the Chronicles, we have no distinct evidence of the two 
divisions having in Hindu times formed separate administrative units 
or provinces. It is possible that this was the case at one or the other 
period. But Abu-l-Fazl’s account as well as the usage traceable from 
his time to the present day show that the terms in their popular geo¬ 
graphical significance could maintain themselves quite independently 
of actual administrative divisions. 2 
86 . The whole of the Valley has from an early date been sub¬ 
divided for administrative purposes into a 
considerable number of small districts known 
in recent times as ‘ Parganas.’ Their ancient 
designation was visaya . 3 The number, names and limits of these sub¬ 
divisions have been subject to considerable variations during the period 
over which our documents extend. 
The great majority of the Parganas known in recent times can be 
safely assumed to have existed already during the Hindu rule. This is 
proved by the fact that the names of numerous Parganas are found in 
their ancient forms already in the Rajatarangini and the other Chroni¬ 
cles. But these texts do not furnish us anywhere with a complete list 
of the Parganas. It is hence impossible for us to restore in full detail 
the map of the administrative sub-divisions for any particular epoch 
Administrative 
Districts. 
of the Pargana divisions (see below) the extent of the ‘ Pargana Kamraj ’ has also 
varied from time to time. 
1 See Report, p. 11. 
2 The only trace I can find of a general division of Kasmlr other than that into 
Madavarajya and Kramarajya, is contained in an unfortunately corrupt and fragmen¬ 
tary passage of the Lokaprakasa, iv. It seems to divide the twenty-seven Visayas 
or Parganas of Kasmlr (see below) into three tracts, viz. (i) Kramarajya from 
Khdyasramika onwards (Khuy4hom, the old Khuyasrama is meant) ; (ii) Madhyama• 
rdjya from the Canula [river ?] to Lahara or Lar; (iii) Madavarajya from 
S'rivantaha ( ?). 
The text is in a deplorable condition and the explanation of Canula and S'rivan- 
taka quite uncertain. The former may be the river of doubtful name and identity 
referred to in Rajat. note v. 109. It appears as if at the time to which the Loka- 
prakasa’s notice goes back, an intermediate slice of territory had been formed 
between Kramarajya and Madavarajya and dubbed Madhyamarajya ‘ the middle 
province.’ Five thousand villages out of the 66,063 with which the text credits 
Kasmlr, are attributed to this intermediate division. 
& Compare for the term visaya Rajat. v. 51 ; viii. 1260, 1413, 2697. 
The expression Pargana may have been introduced by the Mughal administra¬ 
tion. Its Skr. original * puragana is not found in the Chronicles. 
