Administrative System of Gupta Dynasty

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1. Administrative system under
the Guptas
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Center for Advanced Studies
Department of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology,
Banaras Hindu University

2. Administrative system under the Guptas

3. Introduction
•Biggest central empire after Mauryas
•Covered vast geographical territory
•Area divided into direct command and feudal states
•Nature of state: Kingship
•Period of innovation in various fields

4. Geographical territory of Gupta period

5. Sources
1.Inscription:
a)Stone
b)copper plates
c)clay seals
2.Contemporary literature
a)Religious
b)Dramas
3. Foreign travellers: Fahien

6. Nature of King
•The King remained the central figure of administration.
•Considerable change in the character of monarchy
•Divinity of kingship was prevailed
•Gupta monarchs adopted high sounding titles like:
a)Paramabhattaraka,
b)Paramadaivata,
c)Paramesvara,etc.
d)In PrayagrajPrasastiof Samudraguptadescribes him as
"equal to the gods: Dhanada(Kubera), Varuna(Sea-God), Indra and
Antaka(Vama).

7. Duties of the King
•KingwasasupremeleaderoftheState.
•KingwasthecustodianofalllandintheEmpire.
•Chiefofpolitical,administrative,military,andjudicialdepartments.
•Decidethepolicyofthestateduringwarandpeace.
•TheKingwastoleadthearmyinwar.
•SelectionofMinisters
•Kingappointscentralandprovincialofficers.
•Theappointmentofsuccessortothethrone.
•Tohandlesafetyandsecuritythecitizens.
•Handletheforeignaffairs
•PolicyofWarandPeace

8. Role of King
King
Supreme
executive
Legislative
MinistersOfficers
Judicial
powers Military

9. Mantrimandal
•KingsappointedMinistersanddistributedportfolios
•However,itseemthattheminister’swereperhapshereditary.
•HewasalsoselectGovernors
•Selectionofmilitaryandcivilofficialswasgenerallydonebyking
•TheGuptainscriptionsarenotveryclearaboutthehierarchyofministers.
•ThePrimeMinisterknown,asMukhyaMantri
•Differentministersknown,as
1.Mahasandhivigrahaka:ForeignMinister
2.Amatya,
3.Mahabaladhikrita,
4.Mahadandnayaka:Military
5.Baladhikruta
•Ministersofeachdepartmenthasnumberofofficials

10. Gupta Administration
King
Central Administration
Provincial AdministrationDistrict AdministrationsCity Administration
Village Administration

11. Central Administration
•Thereweremanyministerswhoownsvariousdepartments
•Eachdepartmenthashisownseal
•SealofKumaramatya,Dandnayaka,Baladhikruta,Yuvrajhasbeenfound.
•Frequentmeetingswerecalled
•TheKingissuedorder
•Hissecretarywrotekingsinstructionsandissued
•KingsPrivateSecretarycalledas“RahasiNiyukt”रह#सिनयु)
•ThoughtheKingissupremeJudge,heappointedtheMahanandanayaka(ChiefJustice).
•IntheprovincesthisworkwasentrustedtotheUparikasandindistrictstotheVishayapatis.
•Invillages,theheadmanandthevillageeldersusedtodecidethepettycases.
•TheChinesetravellerFa-Hienstatesthatcapitalpunishmentwasnotgivenatall.

12. Administrative divisionsCentral Govt
(Capital)
•King
Desh/
Madal(State)
Commissionerate
Districts
(Vishay)
•Vishaypati
Cities
(Non-official body)
•(Bhukti)
Villages (Gramadhaks
hya)

13. Provincial Administration
•The Guptas organized a system of provincial administration.
•Province was call as Deshor Mandal
•Gupta Province: Sourshatra, Malawaand Antarvedi(Ganga-Yamuna Doab)
•JunagadInscription: King himself appointed the Governors
•Duties of Governor
•Maintain Law and Order
•Collect tax and revenues
•Protect the people
•Construction of roads, ponds and irrigation works
•Governors had right to appoint sub ordinates
•Governors also had separate Mantrimandal
•Nature and duties of Mantrimandalwas similar to Central Government

14. Commissionerate
•The Province was divided into Commissionerate
•Commissionerate was known as Bhukti.
•Head of the Bhuktiwas Uparika
•Uparikawere also called as “ Maharja”
•Uparikawas appointed by King
•Bhuktiprobably contain three-four districts
•Bhuktiof Gupta period
1.Magadh,
2.Tirubhuktu
3.Pundravardhan
•MagadhBhuktiincludes: Gaya and Pataliputra
•PundravardhanBhuktiincludes: Dijanapur, Bogra& Rajshahi
•Seals of Bhuktiwere found.
•Duties:
a)To maintain law and order
b)Safety of the citizens
c)Judicial set up
d)Construction and repair work
e)Collect revenue and tax
f)Eye on district administartion

15. District Administration
•The Bhuktiswere divided into districts
•District were called as Vishaya
•Head of the Vishayawere known as Vishayapati
•He was also called Ayuktaka
•The Vishayapatiswere generally members of royal family.
•Hence were appointed by kings
•Uparikalso had power to select Vishayapati.
•Duties:
•To maintain law and order
•Safety of the citizens
•Judicial arraignments
•Construction and repair work
•Collect revenue and tax
•Seals of Vishayawere found.

16. City Administration
•City was well established center of administration
•City administration was govern by “Purpal”
•He often belonged to the cadre of “Kumaramatya”
•He was assisted by council
•Duties:
•To maintain law and order
•To maintain hygiene and sanitation syatem
•Safety of the citizens
•Judicial arraignments
•Construction and repair work
•Collect revenue and tax
•Look after traders

17. Village Administrations
•Thevillagewasthesmallestunitofadministration.
•VillageswerecalledasGramika.
•GramadhakshyaorGrameyakwastheheadofthevillages.
•HewasasubordinateemployeeknownasLekhadik
•Gramikawasassistedbyavillageassembly(पंचायत).
•VillageassemblycalledasJanapad
•TheseruralbodiescomprisedoftheheadmanandGrama-vriddhasorvillageeldersofthevillages.
•DutiesofVillageassembly:
1.Welfareofvillagers.
2.Collectedrevenue
3.Keeprecordsofagriculture
4.Sortoutthelocaldisputes
•Hence,onecanconstruethattheGuptaspromotedlocalparticipationatalllevelsoftheadministration.
•Otherofficialsknown,asDutasormessengers,headman,andKartriwerealsothere.

18. Non-official district Council
•Thisisnewadministrativeset-upinGuptaperiod.
•ThecitywasgovernedbyaParishadorCommittee
•Thememberofthecommitteewere
1.Pratham-Shreshthi:HeadsoftheTrader
2.Pratham-Sarthvaha:Caravan-leader
3.Pratham-Kulika:Headoftheartisancommunityand
4.Pratham-Kayastha:HeadoftheKayasthacommunity
•AccordingtoFaridfurcopperplate:Membersofcommitteewere20.
•ThesememberswerecallasVishay-Mahhatar
•SealsofVishay-MahhatarhasbeenfoundinNalanda
•ThesemembersseemtobeGuilds,artisans,merchants,andbankers
•Duties:
•To maintain law and order
•Safety of the citizens
•Judicial arraignments
•Construction and repair work
•Collect revenue and tax

19. OfficerFunction
Mahabaladhikritaमहाबला&धकृतCommander-in-Chief
Mahadandanayakमहदंडनायक Chief Justice
Mahapratiharaमहा0ितहार Maintenance of Royal Palace
Mahasandhivigrahakमहासं&धिव5हक Foreign/ Post-war conciliation
Dandapashikaदंडप&शक Head of Police department
Bhandagaradhikretaभांडागार&ध:े< Head of Royal treasury
Mahapaksha-patalikमहाप= पातालीक Head of account department
Vinayasthitisansathapakिवनय?@ितसं@ापक Head of education department
SarvadhyakshaसवAध= Inspector for all central department
MahashwapatiमहाBपित Controller of cavalry
Mahamahipilapatiमहािपलुपित Controller & executor of elephantry
Vinayapuraिवनयपुर Official to present different guests at the King’s court
YuktapurushaयुDपुEष Office to keep account of war booty
KhadyatpakikaखंHापिकक Inspector of Royal Kitchen
RanabhandagarikaरणभंडागJरकOfficer in charge of Army Stores
Mahanarpatiमहानारपित Head of infantry

20. Revenue Administration
•Landrevenuewasthemainsourceofthestate'sincome.
•18differenttypesoftaxeswereleviedduringtheGuptaperiod.
•Samahartawaschiefofficer
•AnofficerGopasraminworkingasAkshapataladhikrita.
•Hisdutywastoenternumerousmattersintheaccountsregisters,recover
royalduesfromthesuretiesofservants,tocheckembezzlementand
recoverfinesforlossduetoneglectorfraud.
•AnotherprominenthighofficialwasPustapala(record-keeper).
•Itwashisdutytomakeenquiriesbeforerecordinganytransaction.
•KamandakaintheNitisarasuggeststhataKingshouldtakespecialcareof
histreasury,forthelifeofthestatedependssolelyonit.

21. Judicial Administration
•Judicialsystemwasmoredevelopedthaninearliertimes.
•Severalbooksonlawwerecompiledduringthisperiod.
•Civilandcriminallawswereclearlydemarcated.
•Bothcivilandcriminalcourtswereregulated
•Courtwereknownas:
1.Nyayadhikaran
2.Dharmadhikaran
3.Dharmshasanadhikaran
•ChiefJudgewassituatedincapitalandknownas“Pradvivak”
•Theftandadulterycameundercriminallawanddisputesregardingvarioustypesofpropertycameundercivillaw.
•Kingwasthehighestcourtofappeal.
•Theguildsofartisans,merchants,andothersweregovernedbytheirownlaws.

22. Military
•TheGuptasmusthavehadabigarmy.
1.Infantry: Padati/ Narapati
2.Cavalry: Ashvapati
3.War Chariots: Mahaashvapati
4.War Elephants: Pilupati/ Mahapilupati
•Armywasassistedby:Medicalteam,Engineer,Architect,labors,
•AtthetimeofwartheKingledhisarmy.
•Aministercalled'Sandhi-Vigrahika'(Ministerinchargeofpeaceandwar)
•Sandhi-Vigrahikawashelpedbyagroupofofficials.
•TheofficialtitleMahabaladhikritaoccursinmanyinscriptions.
•Ranabhandagarika:Tolookafterthesupplyofweapons.

23. Military Administration
•Theymaintainedastandingarmy
•Themilitaryofficers,referredininscriptionswerethe
1.Senapati,
2.Mahasenapati,
3.Mahadandnayaka
4.Baladhikrita,
5.Mahabaladhikrita,
6.Dandanayaka,
7.Sandhivigrahika,and
8.Ran-Bhandagarik:
•SoldersworeArmor
•Themainweaponsofwarwerebowsandarrows,swords,axes,andspears.

24. Conclusion
•GoodadministrativesystemsprevalentintheGuptakingdoms.
•Guptacentraladministrationwasdividedinprovincial,District,citiesandvillageadministrationwas
•Importantdepartmentslikerevenue,financial,judicial,andmilitaryadministrativehavebeendealtwithutmostcare.
•Guildsandtradercommunitiesenjoysautonomousadministration.
•Guildswerestrongtoruncityadministrations.
•Stableandgoodadministrationhelpfortheeconomicprosperity.
•GuptasfollowsthetrailofMauryanadministrationsandwithsomeadditionslaidthefoundationforsubsequentperiodsadministrativesystem.