State and Government in Ancient India c22.s1.8

c22.s1.8

The *Ṛigveda* mentions very few government officers; only three of them are referred to, *senānī* *i.e.* general, *grāmaṇī* *i.e.* the village headman or military captain and *purohita* *i. e.* the royal priest. *Senānī* was the deputy commander of the military forces and went to the battle along with the king, leading the state troops which fought with arrows, spears and lances. It appears that the king and the nobles wore armours and rode in chariots, while the ordinary soldiers fought as foot soldiers. *Grāma* means both a village and a group; *grāmāṇī* might have been the headman of the village or a captain in the army. *Purohita* was no doubt mainly concerned with the sacrifices to be offered to gods. But his knowledge and skill were believed to be very valuable to gain victory; he would acccompany the king in the battlefield to help the army by the spiritual force of his prayers and the mystic powers of his charms. The role of Viśvāmitra and Vasishṭha will give us an idea of the great influence that the priest exercised over the king.