State and Government in Ancient India c12.s3.17

c12.s3.17

When the heir-apparent was a minor at his succession, the administration was carried on by a council of regency. The evidence of the Jātakas,¹ dramas² and inscriptions shows that usually the dowager queen presided over this council. India can proudly point to several dowager queens like Nayanikā (*c*, 150 B. C.) and Prabhāvatīguptā (*c*. 380 A. D.), who successfully carried on the administration of extensive kingdoms during the long minority of their sons.