The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c15.19.2

c15.19.2

Thus, the coins of the Sytho-Sassanian Varahan V have Śiva and a bull on the reverse.¹ The status of the feudatories shows great variations. In fact, there seem to have been several definite grades among them. In the Allâhâbâd Inscription Pratyantanṛipatis—frontier "kings" or chiefs—are higher than Sâmantas. Mahârâjas are obviously higher than Râjas. Mahârâjas and Mahâsâmantas seem to be of equal status. Both the titles are applied constantly to Samudrasena and his ancestors in an inscription² and to others elsewhere.³ A number of feudatories, in the grants issued by them on their own authority, refer to their feudatories who are therefore sub-feudatories of the emperor. The inscriptions of Mahârâja Hastin, for instance, expressly mention Gupta sovereignty and then proceed to address his own feudatories.⁴ It appears that only on acquiring a certain degree of importance could a feudatory be called a Mahârâja. One of the inscriptions makes it clear that after two generations in a family had extended the patrimony and consolidated their power, its third representative assumed the title of Mahârâja. The rise to such a position was duly signalised by a sort of consecration and blessed and acknowledged by the suzerain lord.