Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s2.11

c8.s2.11

The origin of this institution is shrouded in entire mystery. Zimmer¹ inclines to the view that this office should have come into existence after the establishment of the caste system which is generally regarded as belonging to the last period of the composition of the *Rig-Veda* texts. Mr. Law seems to give countenance to this opinion. Quite an opposite view is taken by equally eminent scholars. There is however strong reason to believe that the institution existed as well established even in the early epoch of the *Rig-Veda Samhita* where we find innumerable references to it.² Fick traces the institution even to pre-Vedic times.³