State and Government in Ancient India c15.69

c15.69

*Pradhāna* or the Premier was the most important member of the ministry. According to Śukra, he was to be *sarvadarśī*⁴ *i. e.* the superintendent of the whole administration.⁵ Jiyanta, in who is called *sarvasya anushṭhātā*, the performer of everything, a 6th century record of the Kadamba dynasty,¹ Krishṇambhaṭṭa, who was a *mahāmātya* under king Dantivarman (*c.* 880 A. D.) of the Gujarat Rāshṭrakuṭa branch,² Babhiyaka, who is styled as *mahāpradhāna* in an 11th century Yādava record,³ *mantrīndra* Vatsarāja of the Chandella king Krishṇavarman, (*c.* 1090 A. D.),⁴ Sallakshapāla, who figures as a *mahāmantrin* of the Chāhamāna ruler Viśāladeva (*c.* 1160 A. D..), the *mahāmātyas* who figure in several Paramāra and almost all the Chaulukya grants,—these were all discharging the duties of the prime-minister. This office existed under Shivaji and its holder was known as Mahāpradhāna. The status of the premier was naturally very high; our epigraphs often state how the nails of their toes were brightened by the rays in the crowns of the feudatories. As in modern times so in ancient India, premiers used to take a particular portfolio as well; the premier of the Śilāhāra king Anantadeva was also the Lord High Tresurer in 1085.⁵