History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c13.s2: Note—I. System of Valabhi Administration A. D. 500-700.

History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c13.s2

Language: English

Note—I. System of Valabhi Administration A. D. 500-700.

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(We give below an extract from Bombay Gazatteer, History of Gujarat p. 81-83 detailing Valabhi administration between 500-700 A.D. with our observations)

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The Valabhi grants supply information regarding the leading office, bearers in revenue, police and village administrators whose names generally occur in the following order:—

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1 *Ayuktaka*: } meaning appointed, appearently any supperior 2 *Viniyuktaka*: } officer.

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3 *Drānghika*: apparently an officer in charge of a town as Drangha means a town.

4 *Mahattara* or *Senior*: has the derivative meaning high in rank. Mhātārā, the Marathi for an old man is the same word. In the Valabhi plates Mahattara seems to be generally used to mean accredited head-man of a village, head man recognised both by the people of the village and by the government.

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5 *Chātabhata*: i. e. Bhatas or sepoys for Chātas or rouges,* police mounted or on foot, represent the modern police Jamadars Havaldars and constables. Kumārapāla Charita mentions that Chātabhatas were sent by Siddhārāja to apprehend the fugitive Kumārapāla. One plate records the grant of a village ‘unenterable by Chātabhatas.’

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6 *Dhruva*: fixed or permanent, is the hereditary officer in charge of the records and accounts of a village, Talathi or Kulkarni of the modern times. One of the chief duties of the Dhruva was to see that revenue farmers did not take more than the royal share. The name is still in use in Cutch where village accountants are called Dhru or Dhruva. Dhru is also a common surname among Nagar Brahmins and Modh and other Vanias in Cutch, Gujarat and Kathiawad.

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7 *Adhikaranika*: means the chief judicial magistrate or judge of a place.

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8 *Dandapāśika*: literally holding the fetters or noose of punishment, is used both of the head of the police officer or of the hangman or executioner.

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9 *Chauroddharanika*: the catcher of thieves. Of the two Indian ways of catching thieves, one of setting a thief to catch a thief, the other of pagi or tracking system; the second answers well in sandy Gujarat and Kathiawad where the tracker or pagi is one of the Bārābalute or regular village servants.

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∗ Our view is that chāta is a policeman and bhata is a soldier see above.

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10 *Rājasthānīya*: the foreign secretary, the officer who had to do with other states and kingdoms or Rajasthanas. Some authorities take *Rājasthānīya* to mean viceroy. (We look upon him as Govt. District officer).

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11 *Amātya*: Minister and sometimes counciller, is generally coupled with *Kumāra* or prince. (*Kumārāmātya* is *Amātya* for princes and differs from *Rājāmātya*)

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12 *Anutpannadānasamudgrāhaka*: the arrears gatherer.

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13 *S'aulkika*: the superintendent of tolls or customs.

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14 *Bhogika*: or *Bhogoddharaṇika*: the collector of the Bhoga i. e. the state share of the land produce taken in kind, as a rule, one sixth. The term Bhoga is still in use in Kathiawad for the share usually 1/6th which land-holders receive from land cultivating tenants.

Linked texts (1)

Kumārapālacarita (Prākṛtadvyāśraya) — Hemacandra, Prakrit