________________
182
PROLEGOMENA TO PRAKRITICA et JAINICA
Administrative Organisations
After the rise and fall of the Imperial Pratihāras of Kanauj (750-850 A.D.), there arose new powers in different parts of North and South India. In the North, Chaulukyas of Gujarāt, the Chandellas of Jejākabhukti, the Pāramāras of Mālvā, and the Kalachuris of Chedi became very powerful rulers. In the South, in a similar way, the Chaulukyas of Kalyaņa, the Cholas, the Yādavas, the Hoysalas, and the Pāņdyas became the powerful rulers.
In course of time, many kings have some titles which show the status of the kings. For example, the famous kings of the Kalachuris of Chedi had the epithets like gajapati (king of elephants), aśvapati (king of horses), narapati (king of men), and rājatrayādhipati (lord of the three grades of kings). All these epithets indicate the status of the kings.
Next in the royal line was mahārāja-putra (crown prince) — the sons of the kings.
Next in rank were the officers bearing the titles of the Chief ministers popularly known by the terms amātyamukhya, mantripradhāna, or pradhānāmātya. A minister who was in charge of religious endowments was known by the term dharma-karmādhikārī. The Kalachuris recorded the names of other dignitaries, such as, mahāmātya, dharmapradhāna, daśamulika, sandhivigrahika, pratihāras, duştasādhya and so on. These titles were used in order to administer a particular locality of a village or of an area.
Incidentally, it can be mentioned that in the 13th century, the Chandellas of Jejākabhukti used the titles for the office bearers of state for a mantri (minister) as mahamattaraka and mandalika. The minister of foreign affairs was known as sandhi-vigrahika, and a śreşthi was a banker. For adjudicating upon the disputes of merchants a body was formed in the name of pancakula and dharmadhikarana (court of justice). In an inscription dated
