Mauryan Administration

Central Government
  • Mauryan administration was highly centralized.
  • The Emperor was the supreme power and source of all authority.
  • He was assisted by a Council of Ministers. It was called ‘Mantriparishad’. The ministers were called ‘Mantris.’
  • The council was headed by ‘mantriparishad-adhyakshya’ akin to the Prime Minister of today.
  • Tirthas: the Highest category of officials in the administration. There were 18 Tirthas.
  • Adhyakshya: Ranked next only to Tirthas. There were 20 Adhyakshyas. They had economic and military functions.
  • Mahamattas: Higher ranking officials.
  • Amatyas: High ranking officials almost like present-day secretaries. They had administrative and judicial roles.
  • The Adhyakshyas were formed into a secretariat, which was divided into many departments.
  • Arthashastra mentions many Adhyakshyas for commerce, storehouses, gold, ships, agriculture, cows, horses, city, chariots, mint, infantry, etc.
  • Yuktas: Subordinate officers responsible for the Empire’s revenue.
  • Rajjukas: Officers in charge of land measurement and boundary-fixing.
  • Sansthadhyasksha: Superintendent of mint
  • Samasthadhyasksha: Superintendent of markets
  • Sulkaadhyaksha: Superintendent of tolls
  • Sitaadhyaksha: Superintendent of agriculture
  • Navadhyaksha: Superintendent of ships
  • Lohadhyaksha: Superintendent of iron
  • Pauthavadhyakhsa: Superintendent of weights and measures
  • Akaradhyaksha: Superintendent of mines
  • Vyavharika Mahamatta: Judiciary officers
  • Pulisanj: Public relations officers
  • Registration of births and deaths, foreigners, industries, trade, manufacture and sale of goods, sales tax collection were under the administration’s control.
Local Administration
  • The smallest unit of administration was the village.
  • Head of a village: Gramika Villages had a lot of autonomy.
  • Pradeshika was the provincial governors or district magistrates.
  • Sthanika: Tax collectors working under Pradeshikas.
  • Durgapala: Governors of forts.
  • Antapala: Governors of frontiers.
  • Akshapatala: Accountant General
  • Lipikaras: Scribes
Military
  • The commander-in-chief of the entire military was called Senapati and his position was next to theEmperor. He was appointed by the Emperor.
  • The military was divided into five sectors namely, infantry, cavalry, chariots, elephant forces, navy and transport & provisions.
  • The army’s salary was paid in cash.
Revenue
  • The revenue department chief was called Samharta.
  • Another important official was Sannidhata (treasurer).
  • Revenue was collected on land, irrigation, shops, customs, forests, ferry, mines and pastures. License fees were collected from artisans and fines were charged in the law courts.
  • Most of the land revenue was one-sixth of the produce.
Police
  • All the main centres had police headquarters.
  • Jail was called Bandhangara and lock-up was known as Charaka.
Espionage
  • The espionage system of the Mauryas was well-developed.
  • There were spies who informed the Emperor about the bureaucracy and markets.
  • There were two types of spies: Sansthana (stationary) and Sanchari (wanderer).
  • Gudhapurushas were the detectives or secret agents.
  • They were controlled by the Mahamatyapasarpa. These agents were picked from different segments of society.
  • There were also agents called Vishakanyas (poisonous girls).
Transport
  • The transport department fixed the width of the chariots, cattle tracks and pedestrians.

Comments

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