Home > History MCQ for Competitive Exams with Answers > Who were Tirthas in the Mauryan period?
Who were Tirthas in the Mauryan period?
A
Highest category of officials and they were 14 in number
B
Concerned with economic functions
C
Military head
D
Had administrative and judicial powers
Correct Answer:
A
Highest category of officials and they were 14 in number
- The Mauryan empire’s administrative structure is illustrated in the Arthashastra, which describes the empire’s Tirthas as the highest officials of State governance within the empire’s administrative organization.
- There were fourteen Tirthas, who were both primary counselors to the emperor, and state administrators under his authority.
- The members of the Tirtha council included:
- Mantri – Chief Minister (Tirtha) of the empire
- Purohita – Priest high office of the Mauryan empire
- Senapati – General or military chief of state representing the king
- Yuvaraja – Crown prince of the Mauryan Empire
- Samaharta – Chief revenue collector for the empire
- Sannidhata – Head treasurer for the Mauryan dynasty and its estate
- Each Tirtha held jurisdiction within the empire’s four functional areas of administration — Central Administration, Revenue Administration, Military Administration, and Justice Administration.
- They also oversaw the Provincial Administration Division of State Government.
- As executive officers beneath the emperor, the Tirthas were responsible for coordinating implementation of policies from the emperor to the respective agencies of government to reflect the centralized and bureaucratic nature of Mauryan rule.