Which of the following statements is not correct about the 'Ayagar System of Vijaynagar'?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:

**Detailed explanation of why it is correct:**
The 'Ayagar System' was the core administrative arrangement at the village level in the Vijayanagar Empire. The system did involve a specified number of hereditary village officials, known as *Ayagars*, who were essential for managing local affairs, collecting revenue, maintaining order, and settling disputes. However, the exact number of officials appointed in each village was typically twelve (*Bara Ayagars* or *Ayagarulu*), not ten. These twelve officials usually included key functionaries like the *Karanika* (accountant), *Talari* (watchman), and *Grama Mukhya* (headman). Since the system mandated twelve officials, the statement that "10 officials were appointed in each village to govern" is factually incorrect, and thus, it is the correct answer to the question asking for the statement that is *not* correct.

**The incorrect option is 1:**
The statement "In this system each village was an independent unit" is largely correct regarding the Vijayanagar period's village administration. The villages under the Ayagar system were designed to be semi-autonomous, self-governing units, which was a hallmark of South Indian polity. The *Ayagars* managed almost all internal administrative functions, including judicial and police duties, making the village structure highly self-sufficient and independent in its day-to-day workings. This independence ensured stability in administration, even when the central authority of the empire weakened.

**The incorrect option is 3:**
The statement "These officials were called 'Ayagar'" is a direct and correct definition of the system's functionaries. The term *Ayagar* was used to collectively refer to the body of hereditary officials responsible for the village administration in the Vijayanagar Empire. These positions were often granted along with tax-free land (*manyams*), serving as remuneration for their services to the state and the village community.

**The incorrect option is 4:**
The statement "Ayagar could be sold or mortgaged their posts" is correct and highlights the hereditary and proprietary nature of these offices. The Ayagar position was not only hereditary but also treated as a piece of private property that the officeholder could sell, transfer, or mortgage. This practice indicates the immense importance and value of these administrative positions and the depth of private rights associated with them within the empire’s revenue structure.