Administrative Divisions in Gupta Empire

The inscriptions indicate a hierarchy of administrative divisions from top to bottom.

The territory of the empire is called & #39; rajya& #39;, & #39;rashtra& #39;, & #39;desa& #39; or & #39;mandala& #39;. The word & #39; prithvi& #39; is also used.
The Empire was divided into provinces.

A Province is called a & #39;Bhukti& #39; like & #39;Pundravardhana-Bhukti& #39; ( province of Bengal).

A province is also called a & #39;pradesa& #39; such as & #39;Airikina - pradesa& #39; ( District Sagar, MP).
Provincial Administration :-

The Head of the Province is called & #39;Uarika - Maharaja& #39; in the Damodarpur Copper Plate inscription.

He is also called & #39;Gopta& #39;, & #39;Bhogika& #39; or a & #39;Bhogapati& #39;.
Sometimes, the Governor may be King& #39;s son ( Rajputra Devabhattaraka) mentioned in the Damodarpur copper plate inscription of the year 533 AD.

The minister in attendance on the Royal Governor is called & #39;Kumaramatya& #39;.

Image of Damodarpur copper plate inscription of 533 AD.
The Head of the province was attended by a staff of private secretaries to act as intermediaries between him & the administration, & communicate his orders to them.

These were called & #39;Dutas& #39;, & #39;Dutakas& #39;, or & #39;Ajna - dapakas& #39;.
The provincial administration included the staff such as :-

1) & #39;Baladhikranika& #39; - the head of army,

2) & #39;Dandapasadhikarnika& #39; - chief of the police,

3) & #39;Ranabhandarika& #39; , the chancellor of military exchequer,

4) & #39;Mahadandanyaya& #39; - Chief Justice,
5) & #39;Vinaya - sthithi- sthapaka& #39; - Minister of Law and order,

6) & #39;Bhatasvapati& #39; - Commander of Infantry and Cavalry.
The commander of the Elephant force is also called & #39;Mahapilupati& #39; in the Gunaigarh Copper Plate inscription of Vainya Gupta, 188 Gupta Year, or 507 AD.

Image of Gunaigarh Copper Plate inscription
The Fardipur inscription of Dharmaditya mentions an officer called & #39;Sudhanika& #39; who had to deal with debt and finances, and hence was a judicial officer. 

Image of Fardipur copper plate inscription
District Administration:-

The Head of the District is called & #39;Vishyapati& #39;. The headquarters of the district was named & #39;Adhisthana& #39;. The City Magistrate is also called & #39;Drangika& #39;.
The District record office is called & #39;Akshapatala& #39; under the departmental head called the & #39;Mahakshaptalika& #39;.

The Dept of Records comprised clerks who had to copy & write out records & documents. These writers are called & #39;Diviras& #39;, while the documents are called & #39;karanas& #39;.
City Administration:-

There was a Mayor of the city who was called & #39; Purupalla& #39; ( Gunaigarh inscription), or & #39; Nagara- rakshka& #39;( Junagarh inscription).

There was also an officer who controlled the mayor of the different cities - & #39; Purapala - Uparika- - Pala& #39;.
A city was governed by a municipality called & #39; parishad& #39;. A city had a special officer or Superintendent of & #39;Dharmsalas& #39; called & #39; Avasathika& #39;. 

The Paharpur Copper Plate inscription of Gupta year 159= 478 AD ( image), of Emperor Budha Gupta gives new details about local admin.
It refers to the Executive Officers of the district as & #39; Ayuktas& #39; & to the city municipality as & #39; adhikarava& #39;, headed by a & #39; Puroga& #39; ( mayor).
Lastly, there were officers employed to stop mixing of castes, or inter-caste marriages.
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