Political Concepts in Ancient India /150

130
 
(2) =Pkt. Mahāmata.
 

(3) Often referred to in plural as in Aśoka's

second separate Jaugada Rock Edict, line 1

(....mahāmata), meaning top ranking Exe-

cutive Officers. The Mahamatras mentioned
āmātras mentioned
in the separate Rock Edicts of Dhauli and

Jaugada are supposed to have formed a Council

of Governors to carry on the administration of

Kalinga.
 
K. Political Concepts in Ancient India
 
(. Jayaswal, Hindu Polity, p. 284.
(4) The term often forms the latter part of a

larger technical term meaning top ranking offi-

cials looking after special branches of adminis-

tration, e.g., Dharma Mahāmātra (=Dhamma-

Mahāmata) in the seventh Pillar Edict (Delhi-

Topra) of Asśoka and Sramana-Mahāmātra

(=Samana Mahamata) in the Nasik Cave Ins-

cription of the time of Krishna.
 
(5) A mem D. C. Sircar, Select Inscriptions, Vol. I, p. 63. D. C. Sircar, Iber of the group ofid., pp. 18 Tirthas or9 f.
(5) A member of the group of 18
Mahāma Tīrthas or 18
Mahāmātras (See under TIĪRTHA).
 

(6) According to Amarakośa, Mahāmātra is the
Mahamantri
Mahāmantrī, i.e. Chief Minister.5
 
mahāmātraḥ pradhānāni (Amara. Kṣatriya varga).
(7) Manu Samhitaṁhitā, IX-259 mentions the term

Mahāmātra, where Medhatithi understands the
term to mean Mantriātithi understands the
term to mean Mantrī, Purohita, etc. (mantrī-

purohitādayaḥ).
 

(8) Apte quotes an old verse according to which
the Mahama
the Mahāmātra is called so because of having

political wisdom, deeds, ornaments, wealth,
 
2. K. P. Jayaswal, Hindu Polity, p. 284.
 
3, D. C. Siroar, Select Inscriptions, Vol. I, p. 63.
 
4. D. C. Sircar, Ibid., pp. 189 f.
 
5. mahāmātraḥ pradhānāni (Amara. Kṣatriya varga).
 
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