The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c6.s7.7

v1.c6.s7.7

Side by side with the raṭṭha or rāṣṭra we find another group of administrative units whose names end in -patha. An early Pallava inscription refers to the Andhrāpatha in charge of an official (vāpata or Vyāprita) at Dhaṃnakaḍa, usually identified with Amarāvatī or some neighbouring place. Epigraphs of about the same age also mention Paithāṇa-patha (apparently connected with Paithaṇ on the Godāvarī), Śveta-patha,¹ and Kāchu-patha. The Vākāṭakas of the fourth and fifth centuries A.D. showed a preference for the term rājya to denote an administrative division. Two of these divisions are known from contemporary records, e.g. the Bojakaṭa-rājya, corresponding to northern Berār between the rivers Tapti and Pūrṇā, and the Ārammi-rājya, possibly coinciding with the territory round Arvi in the Wardhā District. Another division apparently lay between the Ajanta range and the river Pengaṅgā, and had its centre at Vatsagulma or Bāsim. The rājya seems to have been subdivided into bhogas or bhāgas. Two of these, the Hiraṇyapura-bhoga and Bennākārpara-bhāga, are known from inscriptions. Hiraṇyapura reminds one of Kāñchanakapuri of the Purāṇas. It has been identified with Songāon near Chāndūr, or with Hirpur near Sāgar.