The Administrative System

Of Guptas
The age of the Guptas has been regarded as the age of progress in India by all
historians. Of course, Dr. Romila Thapar seems to be near the mark when she
contends that when we accept the Gupta period as the classical age of ancient
India we have accepted its limitations also.
That the living standard which reach 3d their peak were limited to upper classes
alone and, further the classicism of the Gupta period was restricted to Northern
India alone. With these limitation she agrees with others regarding the progress
achieved during this period.
Majority of scholars agree with the view that it was die “Golden Age” of Ancient
India. Dr. V.A. Smith writes, “The age of great Gupta Kings presented a more
agreeable and satisfactory picture than any other period in the history of Hindu
India.
Literature, Art and Science flourished in a degree beyond ordinary and gradual
changes in the religion were effected without persecution.” The empire of the
Guptas was certainly less extensive than the empire of the Mauryas prior to them
The great Gupta ruler provided political unity to a large part of North
India for nearly two centuries. The political institutions of the Gupta
Age were not original but were rather “founded the historical
traditions of the past and improved and adapted to suit contemporary
conditions.”

They were both imposing and benevolent. The imperial perfection was
achieved in the hands of the Guptas and their administrations was
better than that of the Mauryas
I. The Central Administration
(I) King
Monarchy was the form of government which was in vogue during the Gupta Age. But
it was the benevolent monarchy .The king was the head of the state as well as that of
administration. The theory of the divinity of kings was popular during the Gupta period
by which the royal power and prestige had increased.
The guptas were fond of sounding titles and the whole administrative structure was
saturated with designations and titles.
The Gupta rulers assumed a number of titles such as ‘Raja-dhiraja’, ‘Maharaja-dhiraja
‘Paramaraja-dhiraja ‘Raja-dhirajashi’, ‘Eka-dhiraja’, ‘Pramdevata’, ‘Parambhattarka’,
‘Prithipala’, ‘Paramesvara’, ‘Samrat’, and ‘Chakravartin’.
Samudragupta is described as equal to the gods “Dhanda” or “Kubera”, “Varuna”,
Indra” and “Antaka” or “Yama”. Who was battle-axe of the god “Kritanta” or “Yama”,”
Certainly, the establishment of a Vast empire had helped in increasing the powers of
the rulers and divinity and assigned to the kings.
The Gupta Kings enjoyed a large number of powers. Those powers covered the
political, administrative, military and judicial fields. Samudragupta,
Chandragupta-II and Skandagupta personally led their armies.
The Gupta Kings appointed all the governors and important military and civil
officers. They were also responsible to the king. The governors and their officers
had to work under the control and guidance of the King. The King was the source
of all honours and titles.
All land in the empire was the property of the King who could give away the
same to anybody he pleased. He could construct dams, give shelter to any one,
impose, recover and remit taxes and impart the justice. Yet the Kings could not
afford to be selfish despots. They had to ruled according to “Rajya Dharma” and
with the help of their ministers.
In other words it is wrong to say that the Gupta Kings were autocrats. They
shared their powers with ministers and other high officers. A large number of
powers were delegated to the local bodies such as village Panchayats and town
councils.
The king was required to adopt all means to win popularity among the people by
respecting their wishes and promoting their welfare. The King toured the
country with a view to keep himself in touch with the people . The important
matters were decided in the joint meeting. The king respected the advice given
by his ministers.
The secret of the success of the Gupta rulers lies in the principle of succession to
kingship which was based on sound principles. The old law of the primogeniture
was not in vogue then.
The usual practice was selection by the dying King of the best fitted prince from
amongst his sons. Samudragupta represent this kind of selection.
The use of words “selected by the father in the Mathura inscriptions points to
this in the case of Chandragupta-13 as well. The personal life of the King was
very simple. He took great interest in redeeming the poor from misery in
protecting religion and in dispensing justice.
(ii) Council Of Ministers
It appears that the Gupta rulers had their councils. Perhaps, it consisted of
princes, high officials and feudatories. Kalidas refers to the “Mantri-Parishad” or
council of ministers.
Some officers the designation of “Kanchuki” or “Chamberlain” acted as an agent
between the King and the council. Whatever decisions were taken by the council
of Ministers were conveyed to the King through an “Amatya”.
It means that the matter was placed before the “Council of Ministers” and efforts
were made to arrive at some conclusion then the decisions were conveyed to the
King who was left to arrive at any conclusion he pleased. It was the duty of the
“Council of Ministers” to advise the king but ultimately it had to obey the verdict
of the King.
The emperor was assisted by a council of ministers of “Mantri-Parishad”. The
prominent “Mantris” among whom was the “Prime Minister” of the state known
as “Mantri Mukhya”.
The portfolios of war and peace, the chief Councillorship, military forces and law
and order were held by different persons respectively known as, ‘Maha sandhi
Vigraha’, ‘Amatya’, ‘Mahabaladhikrita’ and ‘Maha Dandanayaka’.
The provinces were called Desas or Bhuktis and were governed by Uparikas.
The Uparika may represent the pradesikas of the Ashokan epigraphs and in the
same as the Amatyas of the Satavahana provinces.
The provinces were divided into districts, called Vaishyas. Each vishaya was
administered by a royal official, known as the Adhisthana Adhikari.
Ranabhandahi-Karana was the military exchequer. Dandaparsadhikarna, office of
the chief of police.
Vinaya Sthiti-Sthapaka, office of minister in charge of law and order.
Bhatasvapati, head of the infantry and cavalry. Mahapratisara chief chamberlain.
Vinayagar, chief censor.
According to Kalidas, there were three ministers foreign-minister, finance
minister and the law-minister. In many cases their office was hereditary.
(iii) Civil Officers
The Guptas entire central government was under the direct control of the King.
The most important officers of the royal court were known as “Maha Pratiharya”
or “Receptionist”, “Rajamatya” or “Adviser to the king” and “Ajnasamchrikas” or
courtiers.
The Gupta civil administration was a “bureaucracy of high- sounding officials like
“Rajapurusha”, “Rajanayaka”, “Rajaputra”, “Rajamatya”, “Mahasamanta”,
“Mahapratihara” and “Mahakumaramatya” etc.

(iv) Revenue And Police Officers

The duties of revenue and police administration were not separate and were run
by officials like ‘Uparika’, ‘Dashparadhika’, ‘Chauroddharanika’, ‘Dandika’,
‘Dandapashika’, ‘Gaulmika’, ‘Kottapalli’ or ‘Kottumala’ ‘Angaraksha’ and
‘Ayuktaka- Viniyuktaka’, ‘Rajuka’ etc.
(v) Military Officers
The military officers referred to in the inscriptions are the
‘Senapati’, ‘Maha Senapati’, ‘Baladhikrita’ ‘Mahabaladhikrita’,
‘Dandanayaka’, ‘Sandhivigrahika’, Maha Sandhi Vigraha’, Gupta
etc. They were the key functionary in the Gupta army.The
Gupta army had four wings such as- informatory, cavalry,
elephant and the navy. The main weapons of war were bows
and arrows, swords, axes and spears.
vi) Judicial Officers
Inscriptions of Gupta’s refer to such judicial officers as ‘Maha Dandanayaka’,
‘Mahakshapatalika’ etc. Probably, ‘Maha Dandanayaka’ combined the duties of a
judge and a general. The “Maha Dandanayaka” was probably the “Great keeper
of Records”.
It appears that the “Kumaramatya” a “Bhondapashika” and the “Uparika” had
each his separate “Adhikarana” or “court or office” where the transactions
pertaining to land were decided. It is possible that judicial matters were also
decided there.
According to Fa-Hien, punishments were very lenient and capital punishment
was very rare. However, the testimony of Fa-Hien is not accepted and it is
pointed out by the Kalidas, Visakhadatta that punishments were pretty harsh in
the Gupta period-such as death, death by elephant etc.
Four kinds of ordeals seemed to have been employed to ascertain the guilt or
innocence of a person. These are by water, by fire, by weighing and by poison.
ii. Administrative Divisions
A study of the Gupta inscriptions shows that there was an hierarchy of administrative divisions
from top to bottom. The empire was called by various names such as “Rajya”, Rashtra”,
“Desha”, “Mandala”, “Prithvi” and “Avani”.It was divided into provinces which were called as,
“Bhukti”, Pradesha” and “Bhoga”. Provinces were divided into “Visayas” and put under the
control of “Vishaya Paris”. “Vishaya” were divided in “Nagaras” and “Nagares” were divided
into villages. A part of a “Vishaya” was called “Vithi .” A union of villages was called “Pethaka”
and “Santaka”. Smaller units or divisions of a village were “Agrahara” and “Patta”.
iii. Provincial Administration
The head of the provincial administration was known by various names and some of them
were- “Uparika”, “Gupta”, Bhogika”, “Bhogapathi” and “Rajasthani”. In certain cases, the son
of the King or “Rajaputra” was appointed the Governor. The minister in attendance on the
royal Governor was called “Kumar Amatya”. There are the references to various provincial
officials such as - “Baladhikaranika” or “Head of the army or military”; “Dandapasadhikaranika”
or ‘Chief of the Police’; ‘Ranabhandarika’ or ‘Chief Justice’; ‘Vinaya Sthiti Sthapaka’ or ‘Minister
of Law and order”; ‘Sadanika’ or ‘Officer to deal with debts and fines’; ‘Hiranya-Samudrika’ or
‘Currency Officer; ‘Tadayuktaka’ or ‘Treasury Officers’; ‘Audrangika’ or ‘Collector of the
Udranga tax’; ‘Aurna-Sthanika’ or ‘Superintendent of silk factories’; etc.
iv. District Or “Vishaya” Administration
The head of the “Vishaya” administration was the “Vishayapati” or District
Magistrate’. The District Magistrate or “Vishayapati” was assisted in his work by
the “Mahattaras” or “Village elders”.
“Gramikas” or “Village Headmen”, “Saulkikas” or Collectors of Customs and tolls’,
“Gaulmika” or “officers in charge of forests and forts”, “Agar harikas”,
“Dhruvadhikaranikas” or “Treasurer's” etc.
There were many clerks in the department whose duty was to write and copy out
the records and documents. The writers were called “Lekhakas” and “Diviras”.
The officer-in-charge of the documents was known as the “Karanika”.
v. City Administration
The head of the city administration was known as the “Nagara-Rakshaka” or”Purapala”.
“Purapalaka Uparika” was another officer who controlled the heads of the various
cities. A city was governed by a “Parishad”. In the city, there was a reference of”
Avasthika”, who was a special officer who acted as the “Superintendent of
Dharamshalas.”
vi.Village Administration
The village was the smallest unit of the administration. “Gramika” was the
head of the village but there were other officials known as “Dutas” or
“Messengers”, heads men, Kartri, etc. He was assisted by a village
assembly but due to the lack of references, it is not possible to describe
the exact duties and functions of the assembly.
The administrative and judicial business of villages were carried on by the
Gramikas.
He was assisted by a group of village elders, such as Kutumbakam,
Mahamatras etc.
The royal servant in the village was the Gram-Vridha.
Vii. Source Of Revenue
In order to meet the vast expenditure incurred on the maintenance of such a vast
administration of the empire, the king levied different types of tax. Land revenue has
always been an important source of income in an agricultural country.
Land revenue was one of the primary sources of the income of the Guptas and they
helped in increasing agricultural production and provided security to the cultivators.
Waste lands was brought under cultivation and pasture land was also protected and
increased. The government increased the man-made means of irrigation at both-capital
and provincial levels. All this helped in the growth of agricultural and animal husbandry.
During the Gupta days “Uparika” or “land- tax”, which was levied on cultivators who
had no property rights on soil, “Vata”, “Bhuta”, “Dhanya”, “Hiranya” or gold, “Adeya”
etc. Perhaps, it was one sixth of the total produce.
Though there were other means of source of income like surplus or income tax known
as “Bhaga”, customs, mint, inheritance and presents etc. In addition to these taxes,
fines known as “Dasa-Paradha” from offenders and free labour due to the king known
as “Vaishtika” formed the source of income.
On the whole, the Gupta administration was well organised. Peace and
prosperity of the subjects and the progress achieved by them in
practically all walks of their life was its proof. It is to be observed that
the designation of Gupta officials continued even after the passing
away of the Gupta empire.

The early Kala curiyas were the first to be influenced by the Gupta
administrative system. Likewise the Chalukyas of Badami, the
Rashtrakutas of Malkhed and the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani were
also accepted the Gupta administrative system.