Administration of the Mauryas

The first well-organized and efficient administration in India was seen during the Mauryan period. Information about their administrative system is available from Kautilya’s Arthashastra, Megasthenes’ Indica, and Ashoka’s inscriptions.

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Centralised Administration

The Mauryas established a highly centralised system of administration. All powers were vested in the Emperor. He was the supreme legislator, executive, and judicial authority. The state maintained strict control over several fields such as mining, salt production, shipbuilding, arms manufacture, liquor production, etc.

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Bureaucracy

To assist the Emperor in administration, there was a Council of Ministers. The Arthashastra explicitly states that just as a single wheel cannot move a cart, a king cannot run the administration alone.

The Council of Ministers included the Purohita (priest), Senapati (commander-in-chief), and the Yuvaraja (crown prince). According to the Arthashastra, there were 34 departments, each headed by a superintendent. Some important officials are listed below:

Other important officers included:

• Samaharta – Head of Revenue Department

• Sannidhata – Treasurer

• Itihajaka Mahamatra – Officer for women’s welfare

• Nagara Vyavaharika Mahamatra – City judge

• Rupadarshaka – Officer to regulate coinage value

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Provincial Administration

The Mauryan Empire was divided into four provinces:

1. Uttarapatha – Capital: Taxila (Present-day Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Pakistan)

2. Avantipatha – Capital: Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh)

3. Dakshinapatha – Capital: Suvarnagiri (possibly Erragudi, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh)

4. Pragyapatha (Eastern Province) – Capital: Tosali (Dhauli, Odisha)

• Governors were called Kumara (prince) or Aryaputra.

• Provinces were divided into districts (Aharas). Each district had two main officers:

  • Pradesika – Maintained law and order

  • Rajuka – Revenue officer

• Village head was called Gramani or Gramik, assisted by village elders. Indica refers to him as Agronomoi.

City Administration

According to Indica, municipal administration was run by a council of 30 members called Astynomoi, divided into 6 boards. Their duties included tax collection, industry regulation, weights & measures, census, etc.

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Military Administration

Information about the army comes from Indica. A War Council of 30 members, divided into 6 committees, supervised the six branches of the army:

1. Cavalry (Ashva-bala)

2. Infantry (Pada-bala)

3. Elephantry (Gaja-bala)

4. Chariotry (Ratha-bala)

5. Navy (Nauka-bala)

6. Transport Department

The Mauryas had a strong espionage system. Kautilya called spies Gudhapurushas, Ashoka’s inscriptions mention them as Pativedakas / Pulisanis, and Megasthenes called them Overseers.

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Revenue Administration

The Arthashastra provides a detailed account of revenue administration. The king’s income came from land revenue, mines, forests, roads, and cattle wealth. In addition to land tax (Bhaga), several other taxes were levied:

1. Senabhaktam – Tax for maintenance of soldiers

2. Pranaya – Emergency tax

3. Vartani – Road tax

4. Nishkramya – Export duty

5. Vishti – Forced labour tax

6. Gulma / Senabhaktam – Military tax

Expenditure included salaries of officials, welfare programs, military expenses, royal household, donations, and public works.

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Judicial Administration

The Emperor was the supreme judicial authority. There were Dharmasthiya (civil courts) and Kantaka-shodhana (criminal courts). According to Indica, crimes like theft were rare, and people even left their houses unlocked. Harsh punishments discouraged crime.

Trial by ordeal (divya-pariksha) was common:

• Fire ordeal

• Water ordeal

• Poison ordeal

• Heated iron ordeal

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Mauryan Architecture & Art

The Mauryan period marks the beginning of Indian monumental architecture.

Ashoka’s Pillars

• Most significant contribution of Mauryan art.

• Inspired by Achaemenid (Persian) pillars of Darius I.

• About 50 feet tall and weighing nearly 50 tons.

• Capitals had beautifully carved animal figures:

  • Bull (Rampurva)

  • Lion (Lauriya Nandangarh)

  • Horse (Rummindei)

  • The Sarnath Lion Capital became India’s National Emblem.

• Materials: red sandstone (Mathura), buff-colored sandstone (Chunar, near Varanasi).

Stupas

According to Tibetan Buddhist text Divyavadana, Ashoka built 84,000 stupas (an exaggeration, but he built many). Famous stupas: Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati, Dharmarajika at Taxila.

Rock-Cut Caves

Cave architecture began in Ashoka’s time.

• Ashoka built 4 caves at Barabar Hills (for Ajivikas).

• His grandson Dasaratha built 3 caves at Nagarjuni Hills.

• Rock-cut cave tradition continued in India for 1200 years (3rd century BCE – 10th century CE).

Palaces & Buildings

• Mostly wooden, hence not preserved.

• Descriptions in ancient texts suggest grandeur.

• Megasthenes noted Mauryan palaces were greater than Greek ones.

• Patanjali mentioned the Suganga Palace with golden spires.

• Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien (5th century CE) praised their beauty.

• Remains of a Mauryan palace were excavated at Kumrahar (near Patna).

Sculptures

• Elephant sculpture at Dhauli (Odisha)

• Yaksha statue at Mathura

• Didarganj Yakshini (Patna, Bihar) – masterpiece of Mauryan art

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Decline of the Mauryas

According to the Puranas, the Mauryan dynasty lasted for 137 years (321 BCE – 184 BCE). After Ashoka, the empire weakened and collapsed within half a century. Historians differ on the reasons:

• H. P. Shastri: Brahmin revolt led to the fall. Pushyamitra Sunga, a Brahmin general, assassinated the last Mauryan king Brihadratha.

• H. C. Raychaudhuri: Ashoka’s Dhamma weakened the military.

• D. D. Kosambi: Economic crisis led to decline.

• Romila Thapar: Multiple causes – weak successors, administrative overcentralization, and Ashoka’s late decision to divide the empire.