Indian Epigraphy c16.s2.104

c16.s2.104

A common feudatory title is *Sāmanta*, of which *Mahāsāmanta* and *Mahāsāmantādhipati* of latter records appear to indicate superior grades.⁶ *Rāṇaka* (later *Rāṇā* in Rajasthan) is another popular feudatory title of the medieval period. It seems to have been derived from *Rājanaka*, *Rājānaka* or *Rājanyaka* found in the list of addressees in the early medieval copper-plate grants of Northern India. In these lists, the *Rājanaka* is mentioned after the *Rājan* who was also a feudatory but of a higher rank. Rarely *Rājanaka* and *Rāṇaka* are distinguished, the distinction being no doubt based on their being stereotyped without regard to the original meaning of the designation.