Gurjara Pratiharas – Administration
Vassal chiefs reigned over some regions of the empires, while direct administration oversaw other regions. Vassal chiefs had to supply the Pratihara King with troops and pay a set tribute, but they had internal autonomy.
Every time the Pratiharas had a weak king, the chiefs of the vassals, such as the Paramaras of Malwa and the Chandellas of Bundelkhand, rebelled. The administrative divisions of Palas and Gurjara Pratiharas were comparable:
The Pattala was the Pala kingdom’s subordinate unit beneath the Visaya. The army assisted the governor of Bhukti, known as “Uparika,” in upholding law and order and collecting land income.
“Visyapati,” who oversaw a broader region than paprika, was the leader of the mandala or Visaya and performed similar duties.
The roles of the village headman and village accountant, who were appointed by inheritance, handled village administration. Grants of rent-free land were used to cover their costs.
The village elder, known as the grama-mahajana or grama-mahattara, frequently assisted the headman in his tasks.
The kingdom of Pratiharas witnessed the rise of petty chieftains, known as samantas or bhogapatis, who ruled over multiple villages. Later, minor chiefs and Visyapatis combined, and both groups were referred to as Samantas.
Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty
The most well-known ruler in this dynasty The Pratiharas, also known as the Gurjara-Pratiharas, ruled over western and northern India from the eighth to the eleventh centuries CE. Following their effective defence against Arab invasions in the late eighth century CE, the Pratiharas gained notoriety. The most well-known ruler in this dynasty was Bhoja, also known as Mihira Bhoja (c. 836-885 CE; title: Adivaraha).
In this article, we will learn about the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty, their important rulers, Administration and many more things about them and their tenure.