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Kutch was an important administrative headquarter and Andhau must have been the same for Kutch. He also emphasizes that all of the inscriptions were placed in public places and the language used was Prakrut with little influence of Sanskrit. Thus that must have been the language of people of that era. The names of the rulers Jaydama Rudradama Rudrasingh indicate Indianisation of Kshatraps. The word Abhir in the inscription shows that the Abhirs inhabited Kutch and held key position in the administration.29
The Kshatrap rule came to an end in the yr 398-99 AD There is a small gap of the about 17 years between the take over of power by Gupta rulers. (415-55 AD) in Gujarat and Kutch. Sarva Bhattarak coins recovered from Gujarat are of this intermediary period. This find along with the typography of the coins make the historians believe that the king Sarva Bhattarak filled the gap. Very little is known about this ruler, and his antecedents. The sign of Trishul on his coins indicate that he was Shaivik (follower of Lord Shiva, Hindu Deity). This kind of coin was seen during Maitrak period too, raising a possibility of Sarva bhattarak to be of Maitrak origin.30 As these coins are so far not been recovered from Kutch it is difficult to say whether he ruled over this part.
The rise of Gupta dynasty in Magadh brought back the unified rule by Indian rulers over a large part of Aryavrat (north and central India Gujarat, Surastra and Kutch and parts of southern India.31) Coins of different rulers are found from many parts of Gujarat and Kutch. I have found them from Nani Rayan. These coins have a basic structure with regional alterations. Their regime came to an end after the death of Skanda gupta (467-468 AD).32 Many distant regions declared their independence or were taken over by other rulers. In Gujarat The Maitrak army chief established his dynasty at Vallabhi.
There is very little definite information about the political and administrative structure. The information is based on the rock inscription of Ashok in Girnar, and from a monumental book, The Arthashastra of Kautilya. The Power structure was very well planned and had a multi tier system that descended from the head of the state to provincial head down to the village head. The Indo Greek rulers including Minendra carried on that system. In Kshatrap Period the head of the state was known as Kshatrap, His son was second in command and was given training in administration and warfare. They had advisers on policy maters and administrative maters known as Maha Sachiv and Karma Sachiv.33. The vastness of area under their rule required planned and multi tier system.
Having seen the power structure, let us have a look at the people of this epoch. The People :
Once again very little information is available on people. Most of the derivations are either from the Anushruti, scriptures, or from the portraits of the rulers exhibited on the coins.
Angavijja Prakirnak, a jain scripture, created in Khshatrap period and Vasudev Hindi written in 4th century AD give very useful information on the people, their dressing patterns and ornamentations.
29 30 31 32 33
Andhau no itihas Abhilekho Na adhare Dr. Rasesh Jamindar H.G.Shastri, Maitrak kalin Gujarat page552-553 Fleet, corp.ins. India vol 3 R.C.Raychudhari. Political history of ancient India page581 Ejan pankti17
The Geographic And Historic Perspective of Kutch
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