<P> Early Vedic Aryans were organised into tribes rather than kingdoms . The chief of a tribe was called a rajan . The autonomy of the rajan was restricted by the tribal councils called sabha and samiti . The two bodies were , in part , responsible for the governance of the tribe . The rajan could not accede to the throne without their approval . The distinction between the two bodies is not clear . Arthur Llewellyn Basham , a noted historian and indologist , theorises that sabha was a meeting of great men in the tribe , whereas , samiti was a meeting of all free tribesmen . Some tribes had no hereditary chiefs and were directly governed by the tribal councils . Rajan had a rudimentary court which was attended by courtiers ( sabhasad ) and chiefs of septs ( gramani ) . The main responsibility of the rajan was to protect the tribe . He was aided by several functionaries , including the purohita ( chaplain ) , the senani ( army chief ) , dutas ( envoys ) and spash ( spies ) . Purohita performed ceremonies and spells for success in war and prosperity in peace . </P>
what were the functions of sabha and samiti in the vedic age
responsible for the governance of the tribe