Vishaya

 ( Types Of Administrative Division ) 

A vishaya (IAST: Viṣaya) was a historical administrative unit of India, generally equivalent to a modern district.

Several other terms for units equivalent to a modern district appear in historical inscriptions, including āhāra, rashtra ( rāṣṭra), maṇḍala, and deśa. The exact meaning of these terms varies by the period, the ruling dynasty, and the region. For example:

• In the early medieval inscriptions of Bengal region:
• Paranayi- vishaya is mentioned as a part of the Samatata- mandala
• Gokalika- mandala is mentioned as a part of the Kotivarsha- vishaya
• Khadi- vishaya is another name for Khadi- mandala
• Some inscriptions mention units with multiple designations, such as Gopa Rashtra-vishaya and Kheda-vishaya (presumably, the territory called "Gopa" was formerly designated as a rashtra and then re-designated as a vishaya).
• Sometimes, a vishaya referred to a subdivision larger than a district.

The governor of a vishaya was called a vishaya-pati or a vishayadhyaksha. A vishaya was often included in a larger subdivisions such as a bhukti (province). It was often divided into smaller units such as a bhoga.