Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c36.45

c36.45

Now the Ratnins tend to be high functionaries of the state. In the selection of the functionaries the principle of class and caste representation appears to have operated. The Purohita is studiously referred to as 'Brahmin' only, in the majority of Yajus Schools. He symbolises the Brahmin. The Rājanya or the king-elect himself symbolises the Rājanya or Kshatriya class. The Grāmaṇī, called the "Vaiśya-grāmaṇī" in the Maitrāyaṇī,⁵ a grāmaṇī, or Township-President of the Vaiśya caste represented the Vaiśya class or the remnant of the original 'people', now the 'commoners'. The Taksha and Rathakāra correspond to the Veda's 'skilful workers in metals and builders of chariots'. Their place is supplied by the Pālāgala in the Śukla ritual; the class is replaced by caste. The Senānī, Purohita, Kshattā, Saṅgrahītā, Bhāgadugha, Akshāvāpa and Gokartrā are the High ministers, the old Rājakrits, the king-makers. The High ministers were still called 'kingmakers' in the *Rāmāyaṇa* (समेत्य राजकर्त्तारो भरत' वाक्यमब्रुवन्, A. 79. 1., Com. राजकर्त्तारः मन्त्रिणः).