History of Kanauj to the Moslem Conquest c20.s1.22

c20.s1.22

In connection with the village administration we learn of officials designated as *Gāmagāmika*, *Mahattara*, and *Mahattama*.¹ The first term probably stands for headmen of the villages who were responsible to the government for the maintenance of peace and order within their boundaries. The other two terms have evidently the same political significance, although they have comparative and superlative inflexions. *Mahattara* literally means "one higher in rank;" *Mahattama*, "one highest in rank." It seems they were the two classes of elders of villages, who co-operated with the government officials in the management of rural affairs.