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POLITICAL HISTORY OF N. INDIA FROM JAIN SOURCES
Abhayapāla were known as rajaputras. In the Tilakamaniari Harivāhana is called nrpakumara.2 A Jain colophon refers to Sārangadeva as māhārajakumāra.3 The crown prince, after finishing his study, was made in-charge of an office to get experience in administration. We have certain instances from the Jain inscriptions and colophons where the princes shared in the administration of their father. The eldest son of a king who was generally regarded as heir-apparent was called yuvarajà, while others were known by other terms. The younger sons were sometimes granted certain portions of the state for their maintenance.5 Queens and princesses are seldom known to have taken part in the government. But sometimes we find that the Dowager queens assumed the reins of administration or led the army in the battle. Nāikidevī, the mother of Mūlarāja II, may be cited here as an instance.6 King's Personal Officers :
The Tilakamañ jari presents a picture of the management of the Royal household. The palace and its surroundings (rajakula) were in charge of a trusted and experienced officer known as saudhapāla. The entrance in and exit from the palace and royal camp were controlled by the dvārapāla. The officers and interview seekers were taken before royal presence by an officer known as prati hāra or maha pratihara. The king had a body-guard of his own called anrgaraksaka. The officer in-charge of the royal treasury and jewels was ratnakosadhyaksa. The officer of the bed-chamber was known as śayyāpāla. The officer in-charge of the gardens was called Udyāna pāla. The king had a special officer who was called rajavallabha in the Upamitibhāvaprapanca-kathā (p. 344), perhaps, he was equivalent to our modern private secretary. Some minor attendants were vetrudhari, catra-camara-grāhaka, tambūla-vāhaka, and kañcuki, in charge of harems.? Functions of the King:
(1) Executive: The king of our period was considered to be the supreme head of the State. None of the constituents could work properly without him.8 Under him all the prakrtis worked well and produced all the
1 Jain Lekha-sangraha, I, pp. 210, 231. 2 P. 88. 3 SJGM., XVIII, p. 128. 4 Ibid. 5 Jain Lekha-sangraha, 1, p. 128. 6 SJGM., I, p. 97. 7 Tilakamañjarī, pp. 14, 15, 63, 73. 8 Nitivā., p. 180: 3767TH ET 791477: GT Stía Faretto 7 Traffa
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