The Mauryan Polity c8.s3.t13: The Religious Establishment

c8.s3.t13.1

This leads us on to examine the vast expenditure on the religious establishment of the State. Reference has already been made to the salary of the purohita, ṛtvik, guru, the assistants of the purohita, and the astrologer according to the civil list. In those days people had strong belief that the performance of sacrifices, rites, and ceremonials could enable them to avert calamities or to achieve desired results. Besides, no fine distinction was made between secular and religious duties. Both were regarded as complementary to each other. The śrotriya was the recipient of all honours at the hands of the king. So also the siddhas and tāpasas. Sannyāsins as a class were looked upon with regard and esteem. Toleration was the keynote of the administration, whatever be the king's personal religion. Religious sects including those of the heterodox found favour with the State. Thus the activity of the State was many-sided and hence incurred great expenditure.