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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAM
(1.185). He is described as the Soverign of all the seven continents of the world. It seems to be a developed form of the status of a Cakravartin when all the seven continents were included into his territory.
Ardhacakravartin - According to the definition of an Ardhacakravartin given in the TP (1.48), Lakşmaņa and Rávaņa of the PCV (91.28, 29; 44.9 & 7.170) who reigned the three divisions of Bhāratavarşa and were suzerain over 16000 rulers, would be called as Ardhacarkavartin.
Mandalika :-The PCV merely refers to him (14.22). The TP (1.46) defines him as the Lord of 4,000 rulers. He is higher in status to that of a Mahārājā. But the Suhranīti (1.183) asigns him a lower status than that of a Mahārāja. It further mentions that his revenue amounted between 4 to 10 lakh of silver Kārşāpaņas.
Mahārājā :-King Ativīrya of Nandyāvartapura (373) and Bhāmandala of Rathanūpura (99.63) are mentioned as Mahārājās to whom tributes were paid by many other rulers. The TP (1.45) defines a Mahārājā as the Lord of 1000 rulers and the Sukraniti (1.184) fixes his revenue between 21 to 50 lac.
Samanta :-Samantas are seen in the PCV in different lights. Śrenika, sovereign king of Magadha (Magahasāmanto 2.49) and an independent Vidyadhara king of Meghapura (Vijjaharasāmanto 6.2) are called Samantas.
Then it is said that various Sāmantas bowed down to the feet of king Śreņika (3.1). Similarly Bharata, Rāma's brother (38.14) and Kişkindharāja (6.213) are said to be receiving tributes from many other kings. Here Sämantas seem to be feudatories.
Further Samantas are told to be accompanying their overlord wherever he went (38.10; 38.51). They helped him with their forces (37.5). They fought for him (59.11). They were consulted on the occasion of the consecration ceremony of his son (31.50). They were entrusted with the mission of envoys (dūta 64. 11) and were given responsible posts in military (26.29). These duties of the Samantas denote that they were dependents and served their ovorlords.
The Sukranī ti defines Samanta as follows. A Samanta was a ruler whose revenue ranged from 1 to 3 lac of silver coins (1.182) or he was the chief who had 100 villages under him (1.190). Those who were the servants of king and were granted some land and were like the above Samantas were called Anusāmantas (1.188). One who was made the headman or chief officer of 100 villages was called an Anusāmanta (1.190). Those who were Samantas but were deprived of their status were called Hinasämantas (1.189). Thus the term Sämanta means a
