State and Government in Ancient India c22.s4.t6.8

c22.s4.t6.8

It appears that in Aśoka’s time the senior Amātyas were called Mahāmātras, which term seems to be but a variation of Mahāmātyas. In the Aśokan administration Mahāmātras were members of the central⁶ as well as provincial cabinets⁷ heads of the district administration¹ and judges of the city court.² When appointed to promote religious harmony, piety and charities they were called Dharmamahāmātras, when charged with the work of frontier administration, they were called Antamahāmātras,³ and when entrusted with the work of promoting the welfare of women, granting them relief when destitute or in child bed, they were called Strīadhyaksha-mahāmātras.⁴ This last term would indicate that Adhyaksha and Mahāmātras were officers of the same cadre.