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150
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ May, 1921
When Shivaji made this division of his territories and placed them under three of his principal agents, we do not know, for Sabhasad does not give any date. But that the Pradhans had still some districts under their charge and had to leave their agents or Multaliks at court during their absence in their respective provinces or on a distant expedition, even after the coronation, when the council had a better status than before, can be proved by the following entry in the memorandum already quoted-“The Darakhdara for going on an expedition (and the management of) Districts and market cities under the eight Pradhans, should all work in the name of the Huzur and carry on their corresponderce in the same manner (as the Pradhans). When they would go on an expedition, the Mutaliks appointed for them should continue all their work. They should atay at the court. (Seal) (item 1).
It should be noted here, before we take leave of the eight Pradhans, that they could not Darakdars and
select their own subordinates. These were invariably appointed, Mutaliks appointed as in the Peshwa period, by the supreme head of the state. Even by the king.
the Mutaliks who were apparently expected to act on behalf and in the interests of an absent minister, were not appointed by him, but by the king. We do not know whether on such occasions, the approval of the officer affected was sought or not. This practice however was evidently borrowed from the Muhammadans. The Muhammadan rulers of Delhi required the provincial governors and generals on active service to leave their agents or Wakils at the imperial court during their absence on duty. These agents acted in the same manner, as the Mutaliks of Shivaji's Pradhans, but they generally considered it their first duty to safeguard the inerests of their immediate masters.
We may be permitted to state here that the number of cabinet ministers was by no means fixed. From Sabhasad's list, already quoted, it appears that there were nine of them at the time of the coronation; as the Amatya's office was jointly held by two brothers, Naro and Ramchandra. Sambhaji dismissed, decapitated and imprisoned many of his father's old servants. The vacancies caused by death and dismissal were not in all cases filled up. The number of cabinet ministers was therefore considerably reduced. To speak more accurately Sambhaji had no council at all. He ruled as he liked, and did not care to consult any one except his notorious favourite Kavi Kalush or Kavji, a Kanojis Brahman. He has been styled Chhandogyamatya in the papers of those times. The Pandit Rav in Shivaji's time was entitled to the additional designation of Chhandogyamatya. It has been however suggested that Kavikəlush was not Sambhaji's Pandit Rav.16 Kalush enjoyed so much influence and had so much power that he was for all practical purposes the prime minister of Sambhaji. When however the Rajmandal was revived under Rajaram, a new member was added, who superseded all others, both in status and pay. Pralhad
ठेवावे. कामाचा माणूस पाहून तैनात जाजती धमास करणे ते सरकारकुनांनी करावी ये जातीने तह केला सरकारकुनाचे मुतालीक राजिवाजवळ असावे वपोस हिसेब मुलकाचा व रसद घेऊन सरकारकनांनी T a ar. Wo find similar accounts in Chitnis and Chitragupta. 46 Sane, P.Y.B., p. 369.
अष्ट प्रधान यांजकर पेठेव तालुके व स्वारीस जाणे स्वास रखार सर्व तरच्या नांवें स्वांचr दाखल्यांनी पत्रव्यवहार करावा. स्वारीस जावें स्वांस मुसालीक करून दिले त्यांनी सर्व व्यवहार चालवावा.
ert.
Bharat Itihas Sanahodhak Mandal-Varshik Inoritta (1837), p 111. Mr. G. 8. Sardesai however does not sooopt this view.
