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Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c14.s1.t8: Village Administration

Political History of Ancient India, from the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty c14.s1.t8

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Village Administration

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The administrative and judicial business of villages was, in Ancient India, carried on by the *Grāmikas*,⁵ *Grāmabhojakas* or *Āyuktas* who were, no doubt, assisted by the village elders.⁶ The omission of the *Grāmika* from the list of salaried officials given in the *Arthaśāstra*⁷ is significant. It probably indicates that in the days of the author of the treatise the *Grāmika* was not a salaried servant of the crown, but possibly an elected¹ official of the villagers. The king's servant in the village was the *Grāma-bhṛitaka*² or *Grāma-bhojaka*.³ Above the *Grāmika* the *Arthaśāstra* places the *Gopa*,⁴ who looked after 5 or 10 villages, and the *Sthānika* who controlled one quarter of a *janapada* or district. The work of these officers was supervised, according to that treatise by the *Samāhartṛi* with the help of the *Pradeshṭris*.⁵ Rural administration must have been highly efficient. We are told by Greek observers that the tillers of the soil received adequate protection from all injury and would devote the whole of their time to cultivation.

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⁵ Fick, *Social Organisation*, 162; *Arthaśāstra*, pp. 157. 172. *Cf.* Lüders, Ins. Nos. 48, 69a. The Kaliṅga Edicts refer to *Āyuktas* who helped the princely viceroys and *Mahāmātras* in carrying out Imperial Policy. In the early Post-Mauryan and Scythian Age they are distinctly referred to as village officials (Lüders' List, No. 1347). In the Gupta Age the designation is applied to various functionaries including district officers.

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⁶ *Grāma-vṛiddhas*, *Artha*, pp. 48, 161, 169, 178. *Cf.* Lüders, Ins., No. 1327. Rock Edicts, V and VIII refer to *Mahālakas* and *Vṛiddhas*.

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⁷ Bk. V, Ch. III.

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¹ There is, however, evidence to show that in early times *adhikṛitas* were appointed for villages by the paramount ruler (*Praśna Upanishad*, III. 4).

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² *Artha*, pp. 175, 248.

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³ The *Grāmabhojaka* of the *Jātakas* was an *amātya* of the king (Fick, *Social Organization in N.-E. Ind.* p. 160).

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⁴ The Gopas proper do not find mention in early epigraphs but Lüders, Ins. No. 1266, mentions "*Senā-gopas*."

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⁵ *Artha*, pp. 142, 217. We do not know how far the system described in the treatise on polity applies to the early Maurya period. In the days of Aśoka the work of supervision was done largely by special classes of *Mahāmātras* (*cf.* R.E.V. and the Kaliṅga Edicts), *Pulisā* (agents) and *Rājukas* (Pillar Edict. IV).

Cites (3)