Gupta Administration
Gupta Administration
» Centralized control was not as fully realized under Guptas as it had been under the Mauryas.
» Guptan administration was, thus, highly decentralized, and as patrimonial bureaucracy reached its logical conclusion. In hereditary grants it reflected the quasi-feudal character of the economy.
» It comprised a network of self governing tribes and tributary kingdoms and their chiefs often served as representatives of imperial powers.
» The Gupta king took exalted titles like the Mahadhiraja, Samrat, Ekadhiraja, Chakravartin, befitting their large empire and imperial status.
» The practice of appointing the crown prince (Kumara) came in vogue.
» The Gupta kings were assisted by a council of ministers (Mantripari-shad or Mantrimandalam). The existence of such a council is implied in the Prayaga / Allahabad Pillar Inscription, which speaks of the delight of the ‘Sabyas’ (members) at the selection for Samudragupta for the throne.
» Among the high officers we may take special notice of the Kumaramatya and the Sandhivigrahika who are not known to inscriptions of earlier period.
» The Kumaramatyas formed the chief cadre for recruiting high officials under the Guptas. It was from them the Mantris, Senapati, Mahadanda-nayaka (Minister of Jsutice) and Sandhivigrahika (Minister of peace and war) we generally chosen.
» The office of Sandhivigrahika first appears under Samudragupta, whose amatya Harisena held this title.
» Other Important officials: Mahapratihari (the Chelf usher of the Royal Palace), Dandapashika (Chief officer of Polcie Department), VinayaHlnitisthapak (Chief Officer of Religious affairs), Mahapilupati (chief of Elephant corps), Mahashvapati (Chief of Cavalry) etc.
» The important Bhuktis (i.e provinces) of Gupta period were : Magadha, Barddhaman, Pundra Vardhana, Teerbhukti (Northen Bihar) Eastern Malwa, Western Malwa and Saurashtra.
» The administration of city was in the hand of a council (Paura), which consisted of the president of the city corporation, the chief representative of the guild of merchants, a representative of the artisans and the Chief Accountant.
» Whereas under the Mauryas, the city committee was appointed by the Maurya government, under the Guptas, it was comprised of the local representatives.
» Decentralization of the administrative authority began during the Gupta period.
» It was during the Gupta rule that the village headmen became more important than before.
» The Gupta military organsiation was feudal by character (though the emperor had a large standing army).
» In the Gupta period for the first time civil and criminal law were clearly defined and demarcated.
» Gupta kings depended primarily on land revenue, varying from 1 /4 to 1 /6 of the produce.
» In Gupta period the army was to be fed by the people whenever it passed through the countryside. This tax was called Senabhakta.
» The villagers were also subjected to forced labour called vishti for serving royal army and officials.
» The Gupta period also experienced an excess of land grants. (Agarhara grants, Devagrahara grants). Land grants included the transfer of royal rights over salt and mines, which were under the royal monopoly during the Maurya period.