State and Government in Ancient India c15.64

c15.64

*Purohita* must have wielded considerable influence during the period of the ascendancy of the Vedic sacrifices. When the popular faith in them declined with the rise of the Upanishadic, Jain and Buddhist movements, the influence of *purohita* must have declined. In the Jātakas, he is seen still occupying an important position; he is *sabbātthaka* minister or minister plenipotentiary. But later on, there is no doubt that his influence declined. Post-Gupta inscriptions usually distinguish him from ministers, showing that he was no longer a member of the ministry.¹ *Śukranīti* is probably following the old tradition, rather than reflecting the contemporary practice, when it places the *purohita* at the head of the ministry. It however admits that he had no place in that body according to the views of others (II. 72). Though *purohita*, generally speaking, ceased to be a member of the ministry from *c.* 200 A. D. he continued to exercise considerable moral influence upon the king; the frown of an ideal *purohita* was sufficient to keep the king on the path of virtue and rectitude.²