Indian Epigraphy c16.s3.1

c16.s3.1

In the inscriptions of Aśoka, the highest class of officers in the Maurya administration is called the *Mahāmātra*.³ The *Mahāmātras* were employed in various capacities such as the administrators or judicial officers of a city (*Nagara-vyavahārika*), the superintendent in charge of the matters concerning the ladies of the royal household (*Strīyadhyakṣa*), officers in charge of the bordering districts of the empire (*Anta-Mahāmātra*), etc.¹ Aśoka created a big department of religious affairs, which was conducted by certain officers of this class called *Dharma-Mahāmātra*.² The *Dūtas*³ or envoys possibly belonged to the class of *Mahāmātras*. Other high officers mentioned in Aśoka's records are the *Prādeśika*, *Rajjuka* and *Rāṣṭrika*⁴ who were all styled *yukta*⁵ or officer and were probably the governor of a group of districts, of a single district, and of the sub-division of a district respectively. It is difficult to say whether some of these officers belonged to the *Mahāmātra* rank.