History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c14.s2.3

v1.c14.s2.3

The king was assisted in the administration by ministers appointed at will who were usually both able as well as unscrupulous. The names of ministers are somewhat different from those in other countries. There does not appear to be any chief minister (indeed as in the polity of other countries in India.). But the minister called Dvārādhipa or master of the royal door in Kashmir seems to be the most important person. He was so to speak the High Chamberlain and had the control of the access to the king (VIII 576). Then there was the Kampanādhīśa which office cannot be well understood. He was probably the head of the army (579 ditto), and there was the Nagarādhīśa or head of the capital city (580), There was also the head of the treasury and the foreign minister Sāndhivigrahika is also mentioned (these two are general names and not special to Kashmir like the first three). There was again an officer of Ganjas which may be taken to be markets. Now markets are often said to be opened by kings, queens and ministers in their names. These places are places of barter and commerce and the head officer of them had the revenue collection of Sāyar or custom duties and also the regulation of trade under him and was thus a great power. The king had over these officials absolute power of appointment and dismissal. There was also an Akshapatalādhyaksha or chief of land revenue records. None of these officers was hereditary but sons of ministers usually became ministers in one or another department.