The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c17.193

c17.193

By the seventh century A.D., the connection of the North with the Deccan had become very close and many political institutions and designations had become common to both regions. The Mauryan, Āndhra, Kaliṅga and Gupta empires, in spite of their respect for autonomy, had served to intensify the centripetal forces. The village institutions of the North always differed from those of the Deccan and yet more markedly from those of the extreme south. There were also other points of difference but the fundamental political conditions, central, provincial and district institutions and fiscal arrangements were remarkably similar in the seventh century. Thus the Sarsavni Plates of Buddha-rāja of the year 609-10 A.D. (from modern Barodā territory) present the same type of feudatories—Rājas and Sāmantas—and the same type of administrative officers—Mahāsandhivigrahādhikaraṇādhikṛita, Mahābalādhikṛita, Bhogika, Viṣayapati, etc. Here Ādhikārika appears to denote government employees in general. The fiscal system is the same as in the north.¹ Two grants of Dadda IV of the year 641-42 A.D. from Gujarât introduce the title Bhogikapâlaka, literally, protector of Bhogikas. It may refer to the central officer who dealt with the provincial rulers but its exact significance is not clear.² The Bagumra Grant of Nikumbhallaśakti of the year 654-55 A.D. from southern Gujarât mentions Râjas or feudatories, Râjasthânîyas or viceroys, and other officers as in the north. It discloses an administrative division Râṣṭra under a Râṣṭrakûṭa. It is perhaps a revenue division. For the rest, the fiscal system is the same as in the north.³ The Sañjan Plates of the Western Câlukya Buddharasa from the modern district of Thânâ mention the title Râjâdhirâja Parameśvara which appears to be an alternative form of Mahârâjâdhirâja Parameśvara. A cousin of the paramount sovereign is called Râjan which shows that members of the royal family held fiefs. There is mention of a "twelve village," that is, a district which comprised or was supposed to comprise twelve villages, a form of territorial distribution which appears very frequently in the later history of the Deccan.⁴ It is curious that some inscriptions of Pulakeśin II do not apply the grand titles to him. In the Chiplun Copper Plate Grant, the king issues his command, *inter alia*, to all Sâmantas, Pṛithivîpâlas and Râjas who are obviously feudatories. But the suzerain styles himself neither Mahârâjâdhirâja nor Parameśvara.⁵ The Yekkeri Rock Inscription boasts that Pulakeśin imposed his prowess on the entire number of chieftains and acquired the sovereignty over the whole earth. But he is only designated Mahârâja.⁶