The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c10.7

v1.c10.7

The dimensions of a *rāṣṭra*, which was in charge of a rāṣṭrakūṭa, varied with the different centuries and dynasties. In the Mauryan period the rāṣṭriya was a provincial viceroy in charge of a big province like Gujarāt or Kathiāwār. During the early centuries of the Christian era, the raṭhikas and mahārathikas, corresponding to later rāṣṭrakūṭas, are seen ruling over much smaller territorial units in Mahārāṣṭra and Berar; their jurisdiction did not extend over more than two or three districts of our modern times. Sometimes they used even to be in charge of the subdivisions of a district. These officers were always subordinate to the central government; but when the latter became weak, they used to assume an independent or semi-independent status and to found small feudatory families.