Summary

Ancient India Class 05

Doubts related to past class (5:07 PM)

Saptanga Rajya (continued) (5:17 PM)

Amatyas:
It includes all high officials such as Mantrin (ministers), Purohit (Priest), Senapati(commander-in-chief), and Yuvraj (Prince).
some other important officials were called Mahamattas and Adhyaksha is known for important administrative and judicial functions.
The chief collector of revenue was called Samharti.
the chief treasurer was called Samnidhatri.
Arthashastra also mentions officers at the district level known as Pradeshika, Rajuka, and Yukta.
Janpads:
Apart from Magadha, the empire was divided into at least 4 provinces.
The southern province with its capital Suvarngiri.
A western province with its capital Ujjayini.
A northern province with its capital Taxila.
An eastern province with its capital Tosali.
The village administration was very efficient with many headquarters, for example:
At the level of 800 villages, HQ was called Sthaniya
At the level of 400 villages, HQ was called Donamukha.
at the level of 200 villages, HQ was called Karvatika.
At the level of 10 villages, HQ was called Samgrahana.
The village headmen were called Gramika and village elders known as Gramvridhas also played a role in the administration.
At Patliputra the municipal administration was quite efficient, the entire administration was conducted by 6 committees having 5 members in each of these committees.
These committees were for industry, foreigners, birth and death registration, trade commerce and market regulation, manufactured articles, and tax collection.
Durga (fortified capital):
There were 4 divisions of the army as per Arthashastra:
Infantry (headed by Patydhaksha).
Cavalry (headed by Ashvadhyaksha).
Chariots (headed by Rathadhyaksha).
Elephants (headed by Hastadhyaksha).
Megasthenes mentions 6 branches of the army and including the navy and a separate department for transportation and supervision of equipment.
In addition, there is mention of periodic levies of troops such as Maula(hereditary warriors), Bhartiakas(mercenaries) forest, and tribe soldiers.
Kosha(treasury):
Land revenue was the major source of income.
Peasants had to pay 1/6th of their Produce known as Bhaga as well as an extra tax known as Bali as tribute.
Arthashastra recognizes both state and privately-owned land.
The state-owned land was taken care officers known as Sitadhyaksha.
The owner of the land was called Ksehtrika and the tenant was called Upavasa.
Many other taxes such as Pindkara (a cess on a group of villages), Hiranya (only paid in cash), Kara (levied on fruits and vegetables), and Pranaya (emergency tax) are mentioned.
Apart from agriculture textile manufacturing, mining and metallurgy, and trading were other important activities.
The reproduction of Iron was monopolized by Mauryans under Lohadhyaksha.
Arthashastra mentions the concept of Sunyanivesh which is establishing settlements in unoccupied lands.
Mauryans used silver coins and copper coins, and the officer in charge of coinage was Rupadarshaka.
Danda (Justice):
Kautilya refers to 2 types of courts- Dharmasthiya (which may have dealt with civil matters) and Kantakshodhanas (which may have dealt with civil matters).
Judges were called Dharmastha, however, the Ashokan inscription mentions that even Mahamattas were given judicial function.
Pradeshtris was responsible for the separation of criminals.
The nature of punishment depended on the severity of the crime as well as the varna of the offender.
Severe punishments such as amputation and decapitation were also practised.
Mitra (Ally):
Arthashastra discusses interstate policies and lists 6 policies knowns as shad Gunya:
The policy of Sandhi (If one is weaker than the enemy)
The policy of Vigraha (if one is stronger than the enemy).
The policy of Asana (If one is equal to the enemy).
The policy of Yana (if one is much stronger than the enemy).
The Policy of Samshraya (if one is very weak).
The policy of Dvaidbhava (a dual policy which includes sandhi with one and Vigraha with another).
Arthashastra is written from the perspective of Vijigishu (to be conqueror).
It mentions 3 types of conquer:
Asurvijayana- demonic victory where the conqueror seizes land, and riches and kills the family of the enemy.
Lobhavijayana- conquest is motivated by greed for land and riches.
Dharmavijayana- Righteous conqueror who is satisfied with the submission of the enemy.
Many diplomatic positions are also mentioned such as Nisrihartha Dutt, Parimitartha Dutt, and Sasnhara Dutt.

Ashokan inscription (6:37 PM)

Ashoka was an ardent follower of buddha's teaching.
He organized the 3rd Buddist council at Patliputra.
He is credited with the redistribution of the relics of Buddha and enshrining them in every important town in stupas.
Ashoka's dhamma was very much inspired by Buddhist teaching.
Ideas of Dhamma were inscribed on rocks and pillars and we find them in a different part of the Indian subcontinent.
There are 14 major rock edicts:
Rock edict 1:
It prohibits the animal slaughter
2 peacocks and 1 deer were killed in the Mauryan kitchen, and Ashoka wished to discontinue this practice.
Rock edict 2:
It talks about care for man and animals.
It also mentions Chola, Chera, Pandya, and Satya Putras from the southernmost region.
Rock edict 3:
Generosity to brahmins.
It also mentions that Yuktas, Pradeshikas, and Rajukas shall go to all areas of the kingdom every 5 years and spread the Dhamma policy of Ashoka.
Rock edict 4:
It mentions Dhammagosha over Bherighosa.
Rock edict 5:
Concerns about slaves.
It also mentions Ashoka saying every human is my child.
This is an example of paternal disposition.
A special cadre of Mahamattas was appointed to spread Dhamma.
Rock edict 6:
It mentioned the king's desire to be informed about the condition of people and talks about welfare measures
Rock edict 7:
It requests tolerance for all religions.
Rock edict 8:
It describes Ashoka's dhamma yatra Bodhagaya and Bodhitree.
Rock edict 9:
It condemns popular ceremonies and stresses ceremonies of Dhamma.
Rock edict 10:
It condemns the desire for fame and glory.
Rock edict 11:
It further elaborates on dharma.
It talks about respect for elders and concern for slaves and servants.
Rock edict 12:
It directs and determined requests for tolerance among different religious sects.
It mentions a special cadre of Mahamattas knowns as Ithjika Mahamatta(in charge of women's welfare)
Rock edict 13:
It is the largest inscription.
It talks about Ashoka's victory over Kalinga and mentions the high number of casualties in the war.
It further emphasizes Dhamma to be for most victory.
It mentions Dhammaghosha over many kingdoms such as greek rulers, Ptolemy-III of Egypt, Magas of Cyrene, King of Macedonia as well as southern kingdoms of Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas.
Rock edict 14:
It describes the engraving of inscriptions in different parts of the country.
Ashoka uses his name at only 4 places in minor rock edicts- Muski(Karnataka), Udegolam(Karnataka), Gujjara(MP), and Nittur(Karnataka).

The decline of the Mauryan empire (7:28 PM)

In the absence of sources, we have to save the general reasons for the decline, that is:
Military might decline.
Administrative infrastructure weakened.
Many may have not liked the ideological orientation of rulers.
In 187 BC Brihadratha was killed by brahmin commander Pushyamitra shunga.

Shunga Dynasty (7:37 PM)

Pushyamitra shunga (187-75 BC):
He founded the Shunga dynasty.
Magadha empire was now limited to northern territories.
Patliputa was attacked by 2 greek kings- Menander and Demetrius and, Pushyamitra successfully defended himself.
He also defended Patliputra from Kalinga king Kharavela from the Chedi dynasty.
During his reign, the Sanchi stupa was renovated.
However, a Buddhist text mentions the hostility of Pushyamitra towards Buddhism.
Pushyamitra patronaged Sanskrit grammarian Patanjali who is known for his work Mahabhashya.
His son Agnimitra became the next ruler.
Agnimitra is the hero of a play written by Kalidas Malvikagnimitra.
the last ruler of the Shunga Dynasty was Devabhuti who was killed by Vasudeva Kanva and established the Kanva dynasty.
But this dynasty did not last long and the last Kanva ruler was defeated by the Satvanaha king.

The topic of the next class: Satvahanas.