Monday, 18 December 2017

Mauryan Administration - Last part.


                                                 Emperor Chandragupta mayura


Mantri (Minister)

For day to day work of the empire king had appointed ministers. These ministers were different from the ‘council of ministers. They were getting 12,000 pann as salary.  

These ministers were helping the emperor in the day to day work of the empire. All the high level officers were appointed by the king after consulting the ministers

These ministers were more powerful than the ‘council of ministers’. The ministers were in close contact with the emperor and were his adviser

Prime Minister is the head of these ministers too.

Senapati’ (Army General) – 

A very important officer of the team of Emperor. He was responsible for the army, its strength, well being. He advised the king on “Pact of peace, declaration of war,” etc. 

He had to lead the army in war or peace. He had to be expert in war planning, different moves, use of different arms. Chanakaya has given stress on his personal expertise in ‘War education’ and practical knowledge of war

Sannidhata’ – 

For economic matter this officer was responsible. He was the head of the economic department of the state. New budget, Income – expenditure of the state, taxation; its implementation was the work of ‘Sannidhata’ for this he was responsible to the king.

Kosadhaksha’ (Treasurer), ‘Sulkadaksha’, ‘Panayadhaksha’ - controller of the market and its price, were under him.

Samaharta (Commissioner) –

The Janpada (District) was under the control of Amatya known as ‘Samaharta’. The main work of ‘Samaharta’ is to collectTax’. To help ‘Samaharta’ there were other officers under him in districts as –
‘Sitadhaksha’ –  President of Agriculture department.

Sulkadaksha’ – He was the ‘tax’ collector from trade and commerce.

‘Potwadaksha’ - Officer of ‘Measure-wait’ checker and management.

Suradhaksha’ – President of the business which is under direct control of the state.

Sutradhaksha’ - President of wine department. Its sales – purchase,  use, production etc.

Lakshanadhaksha’ – (controller of monetary policy), Devtadhaksha – President of the department which makes control upon temples and its works.

On the basis of ‘Chanakaya’s Arthsastra we find that there were 27 Adaksha (President) to regulate the economic activity, trade, business of the state and in the state. 

Adaksha (President) were regulating and controlling the Agriculture, trade, Business – Commerce, correct wait, Mines, Art and Craft etc.

Other departments were - Ganikadhaksha, Mudradhaksha, Navadhaksha, Godhaksha (cow department), Ashwadhaksha (horse department), Panayadhaksha - controller of the market and its price.

Arthsastra mentions some more officers too. They are -  

Karmantik’ (Factory President) – 

He was the head of the factories which were under the state (nation). Mining, sending raw material to the factory, preparation of goods, sale and purchase and laws related with these things were under him. He was responsible for all these works.

‘Prasasta’ (Head of record keeping office)

The record of all the department of the state (nation) were put in an office which is known as ‘Akshpatal’.

The head of this office is ‘Prasasta’. State or king’s order, Term- condition of treaty or War; detailed statements of ‘Janpada(District), work details of state servants (lower grade staffs), details of Income – expenditure of the state were being kept in this office in a planned manner.

Antapal’ – 

He was the head of the border area forts. Security of the border area was his duty.

‘Durgpal’ – He was the head of the forts of the inner part of the state.

‘Dauwarik’ – 

He was the head of the king’s palace. He was responsible for all the works related to the management of the palace.

City management (Nagar Prabandhan) – The cities were self governed. There was a committee to maintain the works of the city like army had. There was a committee of 30 members; which was again divided into 6 groups of 5 members each.

These 6 city committees are -

1st committee was responsible for the industries. Proper preparation of goods, sale and purchase, pricing was his duty.

2nd committee was for the well being of the foreigners. House on rent, treatment if got ill, was under this committee. If some foreigner dies in the city it was the duty of the committee to complete his last ritual. His belongings were given to the concerned officer. This shows that in India there were more foreigners.

3rd committee was to register the birth and death of the citizens.

4th committee was looking after the trade and commerce. This committee was monitoring the sales and purchase of goods, its quality. Wait and Measurement was also under them.

5th committee was to check the mixing of new and old goods, so that citizens will get proper and latest goods.

6th committee was to collect sales Tax. Those who try to evade Tax were penalized with ‘death sentence’, so no one dare to evade Tax. Rules were hard but were for everyone.


Megasthenes writes that ‘Palibrotha’ (Patliputra) was on the bank of 2 big rivers – Ganga and Soan and was the biggest city of ancient India

This city was 9 and ½ miles (80 stadia) long and 1 and ¼ miles (15 stadia) wide.  There was a trench around the city for its defence it was 600 ft wide and 30 hand deep

A high wall was all around the city; due to these measures the city was safe.  There were 570 towers (burj) and 64 gates in the wall for the protection of the city.

Guptchar (Secret service people)

The secret service people could have been in any form – as a monk, student, servant, dancer, prostitute, singer, labourer, businessman, Beggar etc. Historian Arian calls them ‘Overseer’ (supervisor), Strabo call them ‘Inspector’. 

In this department there were officers from junior level to senior level. Strabo describes that women and prostitutes were also involved in this work which Arthsastra also mentions. Arthsastra describes 2 types of Guptchar (Secret service people).

 They are –
1.       Sanstha – One who works from a fixed place, settled.
2.       Sanchara – Always on move.

                                                  The End.


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