Administrative System of the Marathas c8.s3.20

c8.s3.20

These men had already held these offices for some time past. Sabhasad, while describing the coronation, refers simply to their new Sanskrit designations, but does not say that these posts were newly created. It is quite possible that Chitnis also had in his mind the introduction of Sanskrit designations when he wrote of the Raja's decision of appointing a council of eight. Both Sabhasad and Chitnis make frequent mention of the past incumbents of these offices. Sabhasad, for example, says that one Sham Rao Nilkanth was Moro Trimbak Pingle's¹⁸ predecessor in the Peshwaship.¹⁹ Shivaji's first Sarnobat was one Tukoji Chor Maratha.²⁰ He was succeeded by Mankoji Dahatonde.²¹ We do not know why Tukoji lost his master's confidence, but after the conquest of Jawli, the chief command of the army was conferred on Netaji Palkar²² as Mankoji had in the interval died. Netaji was dismissed for his failure to succour Panhala,²³ and an enterprising cavalry officer, Kadtaji Gujar, obtained the Sarnobatship with the title of Pratap Rao. Finally after Pratap Rao's heroic death in a hard-fought battle, his lieutenant Hasaji Mohite was promoted to be Commander-in-Chief.²⁴ It was this Hasaji or Hambir Rao, the fifth or according to another account, the sixth Sarnobat,²⁵ who stood with a silver jar filled with milk at the time of the ceremonial bath, during Shivaji's coronation.²⁶ Similarly Nilo Sondev and Gangaji Mangaji had served as Surnis and Waknis respectively, before Annaji Datto and Dattaji Trimbak.²⁷ It is also certain that both before and after his coronation, Shivaji held a council of these and other officers. To cite only one instance, when Afzal Khan invaded his infant kingdom, Shivaji called a council of his principal ministers, among whom figured not only Moro Pant, Gangaji Mangaji, Netaji Palkar and Raghunath Ballal, (most of them afterwards members of the Ashta Pradhan Council), but also men like Gomaji Naik, Krishnaji Naik and Subhanji Naik.²⁸ It does not appear, therefore, that the council was first organised at the time of the coronation. Nor can it be maintained that the Ashta Pradhan Council owed its origin to the creative genius of Shivaji. The Persian designation of such officers as the Dabir, the Surnis, the Waknis, and the Mazumdar clearly shows that analogous offices did exist under the Muhammadan governments of the south. Mention has also been made of such councils in old Hindu works on polity. In the Shukraniti, for example, we find that the chief Priest and the Chief Justice should have seats in the cabinet, and this was a special feature of Shivaji's council.²⁹