This is the first (A-D) of a six-volume dictionary on social, economic, and administrative terms used in south Indian inscriptions, both published and unpublished. Apart from covering all four major south Indian languages-Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam-it also refers to Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions. The entries provide information on several aspects of south Indian history-agriculture, industry, manufacturing, mines, arts and crafts, trade and commerce, cattle, irrigation, land revenue, peasants, social castes and communities, servants and slaves, local govt, property, professions, religion and gods, rites and rituals, health and medicine, geography, and wildlife.

This book will be indispensible for scholars, students, and teachers of south Indian history and archaeology.