Jain Inscriptions of Rajasthan

SR No.: 001596
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ramvallabh Somani
Publisher: Rajasthan Prakrit Bharti Sansthan Jaipur
Publication Year: 1982
Total Pages: 350
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Art, & History
File Size: 17 MB

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tained by the Rajasthan kings is not exactly known. The Jain inscriptions are silent on this point. However, Somadeva in the Niti-Vakyamrita, a Jain treatise, speaks, of cabinets consisting of three, five or seven ministers. Such cabinets must have exercised immense influence over Kings. It can, therefore, be surmised that though endowed with sovereign powers, the kings of medieval times were yet swayed in their judgement by their cabinet of ministers. The Senapati, Sandhi-Vigrahaka and Purchit were some of the members of cabinet. Some details concerning these are as under.
Mabamatya :
The Mahamatya was given change of the royal seal. He virtually exercised overall supervision of all administrative departments. The inscriptions in speaking of him use the descriptive phrase "Shrikarana-Mudra-Vyapara Paripanthayati” The Kharataragachchha-Pattavali mentions Prithviraj Chauhan's minister Kaimash as Sarvadhikari and Mandaleshvar with one thousand equistrian Rajputras always following him. But such supreme power and status was rarely held by other ministers. The Rata-Mahavir inscription 26 of V. E. 1345 (1288 A. D.) records the name of Samant singh and his minister Lalan, who was the incharge of the royal seal and department named “Shri karna". The Abu inscription of V. E. 1350 mentions the name of Mahamatya27 Badhayu. The Pali inscription28 of V. E. 1201, the Abu inscriptions of V. E. 1201, V. E. 1245 and a few others record the details concerning29 the family of Vimal Shah, a renowned minister of Gujarat. Likewise, several inscriptions ranging between V. E. 1288 to V. E. 1298 of the family30 of Vastupal and Tejpal and the family
26. Nahar I No. 897/Iin Vijay No 320. 27. Abu II No. 2. 28. Jin Vijay No. 381. 29. Abu 11 No. 1, 47, 50, 51, 53, 72, 95, 98, 100, 103, 104, 108, 109, 124, 153,
169 and 233. 30. ibid No. 250-251, 256, 260-62, 265, 269.