The Indian Analyst
 

South Indian Inscriptions

 

 

Contents

Introduction

Preface

Contents

List of Plates

Abbreviations

Corrigenda

Images

Introduction

The Discovery of the Vakatakas

Vakataka Chronology

The Home of The Vakatakas

Early Rulers

The Main Branch

The Vatsagulma Branch

Administration

Religion

Society

Literature

Architecture, Sculpture and Painting

Texts And Translations  

Inscriptions of The Main Branch

Inscriptions of The Feudatories of The Main Branch

Inscriptions of The Vatsagulma Branch

Inscriptions of The Ministers And Feudatories of The Vatsagulma Branch

Index

Other South-Indian Inscriptions 

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Vol. 4 - 8

Volume 9

Volume 10

Volume 11

Volume 12

Volume 13

Volume 14

Volume 15

Volume 16

Volume 17

Volume 18

Volume 19

Volume 20

Volume 22
Part 1

Volume 22
Part 2

Volume 23

Volume 24

Volume 26

Volume 27

Tiruvarur

Darasuram

Konerirajapuram

Tanjavur

Annual Reports 1935-1944

Annual Reports 1945- 1947

Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume 2, Part 2

Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Volume 7, Part 3

Kalachuri-Chedi Era Part 1

Kalachuri-Chedi Era Part 2

Epigraphica Indica

Epigraphia Indica Volume 3

Epigraphia
Indica Volume 4

Epigraphia Indica Volume 6

Epigraphia Indica Volume 7

Epigraphia Indica Volume 8

Epigraphia Indica Volume 27

Epigraphia Indica Volume 29

Epigraphia Indica Volume 30

Epigraphia Indica Volume 31

Epigraphia Indica Volume 32

Paramaras Volume 7, Part 2

Śilāhāras Volume 6, Part 2

Vākāṭakas Volume 5

Early Gupta Inscriptions

Archaeological Links

Archaeological-Survey of India

Pudukkottai

ADMINISTRATION

 

submitted on being attacked; and (iii) those who were vanquished by valour.1 The imperial yoke on these feudatories must have been lighter than in North India ; for, they do not usually mention their overlords. 2 They must, of course, have been required to pay tribute and to join the imperial army in all wars of offence and defence.3

...We do not get much information about the administrative organization of the Vākāṭakas. Unlike the grants and seals of copper-plate charters of the Guptas, the Vākāṭaka inscriptions do not generally mention the names of the consorts of the ruling kings. The only exceptions known are Prabhāvatīguptā4, the agra-mahishī (crowned queen) of Rudrasena II, and Ajjhitabhaṭṭārikā5, the queen of Narēndrasēna. The former acted as Regent for her minor son Yuvarāja Divākarasēna for at least thirteen years. Other queens do not appears to have taken any part in the administration of the kingdom. The Yuvarāja may have assisted his father in governing the kingdom, but of this there is no specific mention in the grants.6

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... The administration of the kingdom must have been carried on with the help of a large number of officers, civil and military, but few of them find a mention in our records. The Daśakumāracharita, which in its eighth uchchhvāsa gives us a picture of the political and social conditions in the age of the Vākāṭakas, mentions the mantrin (Counsellor) and the adhyakshas (Heads of Departments), but they are not noticed in our records. The inscription in Ajaṇṭā Cave XVI mentions the Sachiva7 or Minister. The officers who were appointed to govern the rājyas or provinces of the kingdom were known as rājyādhikṛitas or Governors. Chamidāsa, mentioned in the Tirōḍī plates, was an officer of this rank.8 The Sarvādhyaksha, who is usually mentioned in Vākāṭaka grants,9 was probably the head of the Secretariat. He was invested with authority to appoint subordinate officers called Kulaputras and direct them for the execution of royal orders. The Kulaputras had various duties. Their primary function was of course the maintenance of law and order. For this purpose they had a number of bhaṭas and chhātras under them.10 The bhaṭas were soldiers, while the chhātras, who correspond to the chāṭas mentioned in some inscription,11 were policemen. The Kulaputras, Chhātras and bhaṭas, like the tahasildars and police officers of modern times, toured in the districts for the collection of land-revenue and various taxes due to the State.12 They could seize the treasure trove, work salt and other mines, and make village people work free of charge for the State. They were entitled to free boarding and lodging while touring in the districts for the work of the State.13 They must, no doubt, have been exacting and
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1 No. 8, lines 26-27.
2 The Vākāṭaka suzerain is expliciṭly mentioned in No. 27, line 21, while his name is covertly suggested in No. 13, lines 32-34. The Śarabhapurīya kings, who were probably feudatories of the Vākāṭakas, do not, however, name their overlords.
3 In the eighth Uchchhvāsa of the Daśakumāracharita, the feudatories of the king of Vidarbha come to his help when he was attacked by the ruler of Vanavāsī.
4 No. 2, line 9.
5 No. 18, line 31.
6 The Ṛiddhapur plates of the Nala king Bhavadattavarman were actually granted by his son Mahārāja Arthapati, who was probably Yuvarāja at the time.
7 No. 25. line 15.
8 No. 11, line 33.
9 See e.g. No. 3, line 20.
10 Loe. cit.
11 No. 19, line 37.
12 Cf. ājñā-sañchāri-kulaputr-ādhikṛitā bhaṭāś-chhātrāś-cha in No. 3, line 21.
13 No. 3, line 26.

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