________________ 182 Homage to Vaisali of the Licchavi clan.1 Candragupta's position was elevated through his Licchavi connections from the rank of local chief.2 According to the Nepal inscriptions there were two distinct houses, one of which known as the Thakuri family, and the other the Licchavi or the Suryavamsi family, which issued its charters from the palace called Managpba apd uniformly used an era with the Gupta epoch. Thus we find that the Licchavis were not inferior to the imperial Guptas so far as rank and power were concerned. Their friendly relations with the Guptas were established by the marriage of Candragupta I with Kumaradevi, a daughter of the Liccbavis. It is interesting to note that according to the Basadha seals the province of Tirhut was governed by prince Govinda Gupta, a son of the Emperor by the Mabadevi Sri Dhruvasvamini, who had his capital at Vaisali. The seals refer to many officials like the Uparika (governor), the Kumaramatya (cadet minister), the Mahapratihara (the great Chamberlain), the Talavara (local chief), the Mahadandanayaka (the great commandant), Vinayasthiti sthapaka (Censor) and the Bhatasvapati (lord of the army and cavalry). Such offices as Yuvara ja-padiya Kumaramaty-adhikarna (office of the minister of the Crown Prince), Ranabhandagar-adhikarana (chief treasurer of the war department), Baladhikarana (war office), Dandapasadhikarana (Police chief), Tira-bhukty-uparikadhikarana (office of the governor of Tirhut), Tirabhuktau Vinayasthiti-sthapakadhikarana (office of the Censor of Tirhut), Vaisalyadhisthanadkikarana (office of the government of Vaisali) and Sri-paramabhattaraka-padiya kumaramatyadhikarana (office of the cadet minister waiting on His Majesty).4 IV. Social History The Licchavis of Vaigali were sympathetic towards each other. If a Licchavi fell ill the other Licchavis came to see him. The whole clan would attend any auspicious ceremony performed in the houses of a Licchavi. If a foreigner paid a visit to the Licchavi capital they would all go out in a body to receive him.5 1. 2. 3. Early History of India, 3rd. ed. p. 279. Ibid., p. 280. Fleet, C. 1. I., Vol. III, p. 135. Raychaudhuri, Political History of Ancient, India, 4th Edn., pp. 437-74. Sumangalavilasini (Burmese Ed.) pp. 103-5. 5.
