[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924) › c56 # Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c56: Appendix to Part II: Appendix D. Additional Notes on Part II (1924) Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c56 - **Language:** English ### Appendix to Part II: Appendix D. Additional Notes on Part II (1924) ### [c56.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.2) APPENDIX D. ### [c56.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.4) \*\*P. 71.—\*\*\*Sreshṭhin\* or President of the Town. ### [c56.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.5) Divisional capitals or seats of Governments (adhishṭhanas) had their \*Sreshṭhins\* under the Guptas. EI. XV, 130 gives the \*Nagara-reshṭhin\* of \*Koṭi\* in the Province of Bengal under Kumara Gupta. He is given the honorific \*Ārya\* before his name (p. 142), and is associated with the District Officer in the administration of the district. ### [c56.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.6) Cf. also Rhys Davids, \*Buddhist India\*, pp 96-97, for \*Jeṭṭhakā\*, \*pamukhā\* taken as Aldermen or Presidents, and \*Mahā-Seṭṭhi\* as the Chief Alderman over the Aldermen of the guilds. ### [c56.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.7) \*\*P. 124.—\*\*\*Pratinidhi\*: whether a Representative of the People?— ### [c56.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.8) \*\*Pp. 130—131.—\*\*Council of State and Representative of the People— ### [c56.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.9) District administration in Gupta times and Local Representatives— ### [c56.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.10) A sidelight is thrown by the Gupta system of District administration. The Damodarpur copper plates, discovered in the district of Dinajpur, Bengal (EI, XV, pp. 113—145), prove that the District Officer \[ \*Vishaya-pati\* or \*Vishaya āyuktaka\*, appointed by the Governor (\*uparika\*) of the Province of Bengal (Pundravardhana \*bhukti\*), the latter holding his appointment from the Emperor direct\] made settlements of land in conjunction with (\*samvya-vahārati\*) the President of the town (\*Nagara-śreshṭhin\*), the President of the merchants, the senior (\*Prathama\*) \*Kulika\* (town judge), the Senior city Registrar (Prathama Kayastha). We thus find the local representatives associating with the Government District Officer in an administerial act of the District. ### [c56.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.11) 'The governmental authority of the district' (\*adhishṭhānādhikaraṇa\*) is expressly mentioned as vested in the government official along with the popular officials of the city corporation—\*e.g.\*, \*Niyuktaka-kumārāmātya. Vetravarmmaṇi adhishṭhānādhikaraṇam cha Nagara-śreshṭhī\* (\*etc\*).—\*puroge samvyavaharati\* (p. 133). ### [c56.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.12) Similarly in the Government of the State it is very probable that the process was repeated. ### [c56.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.13) Pp. 101—105.—\*Mahattarāḥ\*. ### [c56.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.14) See IA., X, 215 and EI., XV, p. 136 on \*Mahattaras\*. In the Damodarpur plate (EI., XV, 36) the \*Mahattara and other Ashta-kula-adhikaraṇas\* deal with settlement of land and report to the Governor. Cp. this with \*ibid.\*, p. 133, where the same function is performed by the President (\*Sreshṭhin\*), Kulika, Registrar, \*etc.\*, along with the Government District Officer. The Mahattara is there reporting from some interior town. ### [c56.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56.15) INDEX ## Cites (5) - [Epigraphia Indica](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.corpora.ei) - [Indian Antiquary](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.corpora.ia) - [Mutgi Inscription of Bhillama: year 3](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.deccan.yadava.mutgi-inscription-of-bhillama-year-3) — Kannada - [Damodarpur copper-plate inscription of the time of Kumāragupta I (Plate No. 1), year 124](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.north.gupta.damodarpur-copper-plate-inscription-of-the-time-of) — Sanskrit - [Damodarpur copper-plate inscription of the time of Budhagupta (Plate No. 3)](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.epigraphy.north.gupta.damodarpur-copper-plate-inscription-of-the-time-of-3) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.jayaswal-1924.c56) · Pramāṇa