Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.t4.6

c4.t4.6

Looking at the general position of the purohita, we notice that he was an indispensable companion of the king. His post was often, though not always, hereditary and remained with the same family for generations together.⁵ Once the Brāhmaṇas protest against the installation of a young son of the late Purohita. "For seven generations," so complains the mother of the boy, "we have managed the elephant festivals from father to son. The old custom will pass from us, and our wealth will all melt away."⁶ Sometimes of course new men, who found favour in the eyes of the king, were appointed to the post, presumably removing the old ones.⁷