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F5edaconcept of State and Government in Ancient India
F5edaconcept of State and Government in Ancient India
GOVERNMENT IN
ANCIENT INDIA
BY:TARUN PRATAP
MAURAYAN STATE
BY:TARUN PRATAP
THE FORMATION OF STATE WAS COMPLETED AROUND 500 B.C.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FULL-FLEDGED STATE SYSTEM WITH ALL FOUR
ESSENTIAL FACTORS OF THE STATE NAMELY A TERRITORY,A POPULATION
,UNITY AND ORGANISATION IN A COMPLETELY EVOLVED FORM WAS A
DISTINGUISHING FEATURE OF THE MAURAYAN AGE.
ACOORDING TO THE ARTHSHASTRA OF KAUTILYA THE STATE CONSISTED
OF THE SEVEN LIMBS (SAPTANGA)---------
THE KING(SWAMIN)
THE MINISTER(AMATYA)THE TERRITORY OR THE COUNTRY(JANAPADA OR
RASHTRA)
THE FORT(DURGA)
THE TREASURY(KOSHA)
THE ARMY(BALA)
THE ALLY(MITRA)
THE IDEA BEHIND THE SAPTANGA THEORY WAS THAT WITHOUT A PROPER
ORGANISATION ,ASTATE OF LAWLESSNESS(MATSYANYAYA)WOULD SET IN
AND THAT HINDERS THE THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE’S PERSONALITY.
IN THE MAURAYAN POLITY THE KING WAS
CONSIDERED ALL-POWERFUL THOUGH THE
ARTHSHASTRA LAY EMPHASIS ON THE
CONCEPTION OF THE KING AS THE SERVANT OF
THE STATE WHICH WAS ONE OF THE BASIC
PRINCIPLES OF ANCIENT INDIAN POLITICAL
THOUGHT.
THE EXALTATION OF THE ROYAL AUTHORITYIS A
STRIKING FEATURE OF THE NATURE OF THE
MAURYAN STATE THE ARTHSHASTRA GRANTS THE
POWER OF LEGISLATION BY EDICTS AND
DECREES ,A POWER WHICH WAS NEVER ENJOYED
BY THE KING BEFORE IN INDIA
THE MAURAYAN STATE HAD DEVELOPED A HIGHLY ORGANIZED
BUREAUCRATIC ADMINISTRATION CAPABLE OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY
OF THE EMPIRE SPANNING THE LENGTH AND BREATH OF THE LAND AND
CONTROLLING ALL SPHERES OF LIFE.
IN ONE PASSAGE THE ARTHASHASTRA SPEAKS OF 18
TIRTHS(DEPARTMENTS) AND IN ADDITION MAKES PROVISION FOR 27
SUPERINTENDENTS(ADHYAKAS).
THEY WERE CONCERNED WITH THE ECONOMIC,MILITARY AND SOCIAL
FUNCTIONS.
OF THE CHIEF DEPARTMENTS CHARGED WITH THE ECONOMIC FUNCTIONS
ARE THOSE OF COMMERCE,FOREST PRODUCE,WEAVING
AGRICULTURE,PASTURELANDS,MINES,OCEANIC MINES,METALS,MINTS
,SALTS,WASTELANDS,TOLLS AND EXERCISE
THE CHIEF MILITARY DEPARTMENTS ARE THOSE OF
ARMOURY,HORSES,ELEPHANTS,CHARIOTS AND INFANTRY.
THE ADMINISTRATION SHOWED EQUAL CONCERN FOR THE HEALTH OF THE
SOCIETY BECOMES EVIDENT FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF
SUPERINTENDENTS TO CONTROL THE PROSTITUTES,GAMBLING
DENS,LIQUOR SHOPS ETC.
THE POLICE WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIC
ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT.IT PREVENTED THE
COMMISSION OF CRIMES AND BRINGING THE
TRANSGRESSORS OF LAW TO JUSTICE.IF THEY FAIL TO
TRACE THE THIEF,THEY HAD TO MAKE GOOG THE LOSS.
IN ORDER TO SUPRESS CRIME THE ARTHASHASTRA
ADVISES THE IMPOSITION OF STRINGENT CURFEWFROM
ABOUT TWO AND A HALF HOURS AFTER THE SUNSET TO THE
SAME TIME BEFORE THE DAWN.
THERE WAS AN EFFICIENTLY ORGANISED ESPIONAGE
SYSTEM AND THE SPIES IN DISGUISE HELPED THE POLICE IN
THE DETECTION OF CRIMES
KAUTILA ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE
SELECTION OF THE SUPERINTENDENTS .HE LAYS DOWN
QUALIFICATIONS AND PRESCRIBES RULES FOR THEIR
PROMOTION .
THIS HIGHLY ORGANISED BUREAUCRACY APPEARS TO HAVE
TIED WITH THE RED-TAPE THAT IS WHY KAUTILYA
SUGGESTS THAT EACH DEPARTMENT WAS WAS TO BE
OFFICERED BY SEVERAL TEMPORARY HEADS.
HE ALSO TALKS ABOUT THE TRANSFER OF THE
GOVERNMENT SERVANTS.
THE INSCRIPTION SAID THAT THE RUDRAMAN WAS THE ELECTED KING .THIS
PERHAPS SUGGESTED THAT RUDRAMAN ESTABLISHED A CONSTITUTIONAL
TYPE OF MONARCHY.
THERE WAS MINISTERIAL COUNCIL, WHICH CHECKED ROYAL
ABSOLUTISM.THE MENTIONING OF TWO TYPES OF MINISTERS,MATISACHIVS
AND KARMSACHIVS IN THE INSCRIPTIONS IS VERY SIGNIFICANT.
THE EMERGENCY TAX CALLED PRANAYA AND FORCED LABOUR(VISTI)ARE
SAID TO HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION IN THE DOMINION OF THE WESTERN
SATRAPS.
THUS THE ERA OF POST-MAURAYAN PERIOD SHOWS THAT
THE CENTRALISATION WHICH WAS A CHRACTERSTIC
FEATURE OF THE MAURAYAN POLITY YIELDED TO
DECENTRALISATION AND THE LARGE BUREAUCRACY WHICH
MANNED THE SHIP OF THE MAURAYAN STATE DONE AWAY
WITHAS THE KINGDOM WHICH WERE SMALL FOUND IT
DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN IT.
THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AND A GOOD PART OF
ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATE WERE NOW TAKEN BY THE
MERCHANT BODIES IN THE URBAN AREAS AND BY THE
RELIGIOUS BENEFECIARIES IN THE RURAL AREAS.THESE
DEVELOPMENTS PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FEUDAL TRAITS
OF THE GUPTA POLITY.
GUPTA POLTY
BY:TARUN PRATAP
A MEANINGFUL STUDY OF THE GUPTA POLITY HAS TO TAKE
NOTE OF CERTAIN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE
FIELD OF ECONOMIC,POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUG FIELDS.
THE CHIEF ELEMENT IN THE ECONOMIC BACKGROUND OF
THE GUPTA POLITY WAS THE EXCESSIVE PRE-OCCUPATION
OF THE PEOPLE WITH THE LAND.
THE GUPTA KINGS GRANTED THE LAND TO THE BRAHAMANS
IN THE BACKWARD AREAS.
THEY ALSO RECOGNIZED THE PRIVATE RIGHT IN LAND AND
PERMITTED THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF LAND FOR THE
RELIGIOUS PURPOSES.
HENCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE HAD TO BE SO
DESIGNED AS TO ACCOMMODATE THIS EMERGING NEW
PHENOMENA.
THOUGH THERE WAS DECREASE IN
THE VOLUME OF TRADE WITH THE
OUTSIDE WORLD,ARTS AND CRAFTS
MADE VALUABLE STRIDES UNDER
THE PROTECTIVE UBRELLA OF THE
GUILD SYSTEM.
A FACT OF CHIEF IMPORTANCE IN THE POLITICAL
SITUATION OF THE GUPTA PERIOD WAS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE POLITICAL UNITY IN THE
COUNTRY WITH THE DIGVIJAYA OF
SAMUDRAGUPTA AND THE EXPEDITIONS OF
CHANDRAGUPTA II IN THE WESTERN INDIA.
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE HIGH SOUNDING TITLES
LIKE
MAHARAJADHIRAJA,RAJADHIRAJA,PARAMMARAJA
DHIRAJA,RAJADHIRAJARSHI COUPLED WITH THE
PARAMDAIVATA,PARAMESHWARA,PARAMBHATTAR
AKA HAD LED SCHOLORS TO BELIEVE THAT THESE
TITLES EMPHASISE THE DIVINE NATURE OF THE
MONARCHY.
THE WORKING OF THE GOVERNMENT SUGGEST THAT THE
GUPTA KINGS WERE NO DESPOTS OR ABSOLUTE
MONARCHS.THEY RESPECTED THE ESTABLISHED LAWS AND
THE CUSTOMS OF THE LAND.THEY WERE CULTURED AND
OBSERVED VIRTUOUS CONDUCT AND SELF-RESTRAINT.
THEORETICALLY,HE OBSERVED RULES LAID DOWN BY THE
SMRITIS,THOUGH, IN ACTUAL PRACTISE THE
BRAHAMANS,THE INTERPRETERS OF LAW ,ACTED AS A
CHECK ON ROYAL POWER.
THE KING HAS TO CONTEND WITH THE MERCHANT AND
CRAFTS GUILDS WHICH HAD A LEGAL STATUS WHOSE LAWS
AND YSAGES WERE BINDING ON HIM,AN THE
BENEFECIARIES AND FEUDATORIES WHO WIELDED
CONSIDERABLE POWER.HIS AUTHORITY WAS THUS
CIRCUMSCIBED BY THESE CHECKS.
THERE WAS A MANTRIPARISHAD WHO
ALSO ACTED AS A CHECK ON THE
DESPOTIC ACTIVITIES OF THE KING.
THE POST OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS
WERE HEREDITARY AND THEY WERE
PRESIDED OVER BY THE MANTRIMUKHYA
OR THE PRIME MINISTER.
HIGHER FUNCTIONARIES WERE OFTEN
REFERRED TO AS THE MAHAMTRAS(UNDER
ASHOKA) AND KUMARAMATYAS(PRINCELY
MINISTERS) FROM THE GUPTAN TIMES.
THE GUPTAS MAINTAINED A WELL-EQUIPPED AND A STRONG
ARMY.THEY ALSO POSSED A FLEET.THE WAR OFFICE
LOOKED AFTER THE LIMBS OF THE ARMY IN ADDITION TO
THE COMMISSARIAT AND ADMIRALITY.THE GUPTA RECORDS
REFER TO A NUMBER OF ARMY OFFICIALS.
MAHABALADHIKARITA---------COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE
ARMY.
MAHABALADHYAKSHA---------SUPERINTENDENT OF THE
ARMY.
PILUPATI-------COMMANDANT OF THE ELEPHANT CORPS
ASVAPATI---------IN-CHARGE OF THE CAVALRY.
RANABHANDARAKA---------IN-CHARGE OF WAR FINANCES.
OTHER OFFICERS MENTIONED ARE
MAHASARVADANDANAYAKA,SARVADHYAKSHA AND
BALADHIKARNA.
THERE WAS NO ELABORATE SYSTEM OF
TAXATION DURING THE GUPTA PERIOD.THE
PRIMARY SOURCE OF REVENUE WAS THE LAND
TAX.
WE ONLY KNOW TWO KIND OF TAXES-----
BHAGA:A TAX PAID BY THE PRIVATE
LANDOWNERS.
BHAGABHOGA:A TAX PAID ON CROWN LANDS.
IT APPEARS THAT THE TAXATION SYSTEM WAS
VERY LIGHT AS THE GUPTAS DID NOT MAINTAIN A
LARGE ADMINISTRATIVE ESTABLISHMENT.
IT MUST GO TO THE CREDIT OF GUPTAS FOR EVOLVING THE FIRST
SYSTEMATIC PROVINCIAL AND LOCAL ADMINISTRATION WHICH WAS
PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH THE COLLECTION OF REVENUE AND THE
MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER.
THE EMPIRE WAS DIVIDED INTO THE BHUKTIS(PROVINCES) WHICH WERE
SUB-DIVIDED INTOVISAYAS(DISTRICTS).
THE BHUKTIS WERE PLACED UNDER THE CHARGE OF UPARIKA MAHARAJA
AND THE VISAYAS WERE HEADED BY VISAYAPATIS.
THE OTHER OFFICIALS ARE AS FOLLOWS-------
VISAYADHIKARANA:OFFICER IN CHARGE OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
SAULIKA:SUPERINTENDENT OF TOLLS AND CUSTOMS.
GAULMIKA:SUPERINTENDENTS OF FORESTS AND WOOD.
DHRUVADHIKARANA:SUPERINTENDENT FOR THE COLLECTION OF THE
ROYAL SHARE OF THE PRODUCE
BHANDAGARADHIKRITA:OFFICER IN-CHARGE OF DISTRICT TREASURY.
UTKHETAPITA:COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
VISAYAS WERE DIVIDED INTO THE VITHIS.THE LAST UNIT OF
ADMINISTRATION WAS THE VILLAGE ,HEADED BY THE GRAMINI.
THE CITIES HAD THEIR OWN ADVISORY COUNCILS OR
PARISHADS.THE ADVISORY COUNCILSCONSISTED OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIFFERENT INTERESTS OF THE
LOCALITY
THE IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF THE CITY COUNCILWAS THE
IMPROVEMENT OF CIVIC AMENITIES.
THE COUNCIL CONSIDERED THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF
FALLOW LAND AND HAD A SAY IN THE RURAL AFFAIRS.
THEY SUPERVISED LAW AND ORDER,ECONOMIC AND OTHER
CORPORATIONS,CIVIC LIFE AND CLERICAL BUSINESS.
THEY WERE CONTROLLED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
THROUGH ITS REPRESENTATIVE PURAPALA UPARIKA.
GUILDS
THE PROMINENT ROLE THAT THE GUILDS OF ARTISENS AND MERCHANTS PLAYED IN
THE URBAN ADMINISTRATIONAND THE OTHER EVIDENCE LIKE THE SEALS AND
INSCRIPTIONS POINT TO THEIR FLOURISHING AGE.
THE TITLES LIKE DASA,DATTA,NANDIN,PALA,SENA,SIMHA AND THE LIKE INDICATE THAT
THE MEMBERS OF THE DIFFERENT CASTES WERE ADMITTED INTO THE GUILD.
THE MERCHANT OR THE CRAFT GUILD HAS THE LEGAL STATUS.
IT COULD POSSESS CORPORATE PROPERTY AND EVEN MAKE ITS OWN RULES AND
REGULATIONS AS FAR AS THEY ARE NOT AGAINST THE LAW OF THE
DHARMASHASTRAS OR THE KING.
THE GUID COULD APPOINT HONEST MEN BY ELECTION AS ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
TO PUNISH TRANSGRESSORS.
THE GENERAL BODY OF THE GUILD COULD ELECT THE PRESIDENT AND THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND COULD REMOVE THEM IF THEY FOUND GUILTY IF THE
OFFICER IS TOO STRONG THE GUILD APPEAL TO THE KING WHICH FOLLOWS THE
INTERVENTION BY THE KING.
THE KING COULD ALSO INTERFERE TO PREVENT UNLAWFUL COMBINATIONS ,STRIKES
AND FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES OR WHEN THE GUILD UNDERTOOK WORKS
OPPOSSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC INTEREST.
AS A FULLY ORGANISED BODY IT GAVE BONUSES,LEAVE,PENSIONS,PROVIDENT
FUND,ETC FOR THE WORKERS.
FEUDATORY NATURE
THEY ACCEPTED THE SUZERAINITY OF THE EMPEROR AND
AGREED TO PAY ANNUAL TRIBUTE.THE SUZERAINITY WAS
MORE NOMINAL THAN REAL.
THE VASSALS WERE REQUIRED TO ATTEND IMPERIAL
COURT ONCE A YEAR AND PAY TRIBUTES.
THEY MAITAINED THEIR OWN OFFICER AT THE IMPERIAL
COURT.SOMETIMES THEY GAVE THEIR OWN DAUGHTERS IN
MARRIAGE TO THE IMPERIAL HOUSE.
THE EMPEROR RARELY INTERFERED IN THE INTERNAL
ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNLESS IT IS PREJUDICIAL TO THE
INTERESTS OF THE EMPIRE.
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
THRE WERE GRADATIONS OF THE COURTS,FROM THE CHIEF
COURT TO THE LOCAL COURT.
A CLEAR DEMARCATION WAS MADE BETWEEN THE CIVIL
AND CRIMINAL COURTS.
THE COURT WAS THE SABHA PRESIDED OVER BY THE
PRADVIVAKA(CHIEF JUSTICE).
BELOW THEM WERE WERE THE COURTS OF
AMATYAS,SAINIKA,KULA,SRENI,GANA AND OF MERCHANTS.
LOCAL COURTS DEAL WITH CIVIL CASES.
A FEATURE OF THE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE WAS
THE PREVELANCE OF ARBITRATION OF JUSTICE.IT
CONFERRED TWO IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES----------
1)THE EXPERTS IN LAW EXAMINED THE CASESAND SETTLED
DISPUTES THAT CAME UPBEFORE THE COURTS.
2)IT REDUCED LITIGATION.
CONCLUSION
THE TONE OF THE GUPTA
ADMINISTRATION WAS NOT AS
RIGOROUS AS THAT OF THE
MAURAYAS.THE GUPTAS GAVE UP
THE USE OF ORDEALS.