Administrative System of the Marathas c8.s4.18

c8.s4.18

The number of councillors was by no means fixed. From Sabhasad's list already quoted, it appears that there were nine of them at the time of Shivaji's coronation as the Amatya's office was jointly held by two brothers, Naro and Ramchandra. Sambhaji dismissed, decapitated and imprisoned many of his father's old servants. Sambhaji had a council in name only, he ruled as he liked, and did not care to consult any one except his notorious favourite Kavi Kalush or Kavji, a Kanojia Brahman. He has been styled as Chhandogyamatya in contemporary papers The Pandit Rao in Shivaj's time was entitled to the additional designation of Chhandogyamatya. It has been suggested that Kavi Kalush was not Sambhaji's Pandit Rao.³⁹ Kalush enjoyed so much influence and so much power that he was for all practical purposes the prime minister of Sambhaji. When the Rajmandal was revived under Rajaram, a new member was added, who superseded all others both in status and in pay. Pralhad Niraji was appointed Pratinidhi or the king's vicegerent at Jinji during the struggle for national existence.⁴⁰ Henceforth the Pratinidhi always held the first seat in the council, until the rise of the Peshwas revolutionised the constitution of the Maratha empire.