The Rashtrakutas and their Times c17.s3.38

c17.s3.38

Our records give absolutely no information as to how the executive committee of the Mahattaras was formed, what was its strength, whether it was elected by the Mahattaras, if so, how and at what intervals, or whether it was nominated by the central government or its deputies, or whether it consisted of natural leaders among the villagers, selected by a kind of informal approval. Since neither election by the general body of the Mahattaras nor nomination by government or its officers is ever referred to, the last mentioned alternative seems to be the most probable one. Mahattara-vāsāpakas are mentioned in two grants of the Gujarat branch.⁶⁵ This term has not yet been interpreted but it may possibly denote those families, which claimed descent from the traditional founders of the village, and may, therefore, have occupied an important position in the village community, entitling them perhaps to a seat on the village council.