Sasan (land grant)

In the context of medieval South Asia, particularly during the rule of Hindu kingdoms, a Sasan was a land grant. These grants were typically made by the ruling monarch or other high-ranking officials to Brahmins (priests), temples, and sometimes to individuals for meritorious service.

Sasan grants were usually documented on copper plates (tamra-patra) or stone inscriptions, which detailed the boundaries of the land, the recipient's name, the donor's name and lineage, the purpose of the grant, and often included imprecatory verses warning against the revocation of the grant.

The significance of Sasan grants lies in their role in the socio-economic and religious landscape of the time. They facilitated the spread of Brahmanical culture, promoted agriculture, and created centers of learning. They also provide valuable historical information about the political and social structures of the kingdoms that issued them. The establishment of new settlements and the redistribution of land through the Sasan system influenced power dynamics and land ownership patterns. The grants often came with tax exemptions and administrative privileges, granting the recipient control over the land and its inhabitants. The study of Sasan grants is crucial for understanding the history of land tenure, social hierarchies, and religious institutions in medieval South Asia.