In Hinduism

Arthashastra (politics and welfare)

Source: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his times (artha)

Mahāprādhana (महाप्राधन, “chief minister”) is an official title designating one of the seventy-two officers (niyoga) of the Bāhattaraniyogādhipati circle, according to the Inscriptional glossary of Andhra Pradesh (Śāsana-śabdakośāmu). The bāhattaraniyoga-adhipati is the highest executive officer of this circle (including a Mahāpradhāna). For example: During the reign of Gaṇapatideva, the area extending between Pānagal to Mārjavāḍi was entrusted to Gaṇḍapeṇḍāru Gangayasāhiṇi as Bāhattaraniyogādhipati. Later on, this office was entrusted to Kāyastha Jannigadeva.

The Mahāprādhana was generally incharge of a province or a district. In addition to duties as mahāprādhana they were also holding other offices of sarvādhikāris and mahāmātvas and so on. Generally mahāprādhanas are associated with the sāmanta families more or less enjoying the same status. It seems that merit was taken into consideration rather than caste or community.

context information

Arthashastra (अर्थशास्त्र, arthaśāstra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.

India history and geography

Source: What is India: Inscriptions of the Śilāhāras

Mahāpradhāna (chief minister) was a title used in the administration during the rule of the Śilāhāra dynasty (r. 765-1215 A.D.).—The mahāpradhāna was called sarvādhikārī in one record. The king appointed Counsellors (mantrins) and Ministers (mahāmātyas), for example, the mahāpradhāna, for the various departments. Their names together with their official designations occur in several records of the Northern Śilāhāras and prove useful in chronological discussions. In North Koṅkaṇ the ministers were generally five in number.

The mahā-pradhāna and the mahā-sāndhivigrahika were more important than the others; for they are invariably mentioned in almost all records of the Northern Śilāhāras.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Mahāpradhāna.—(IE 8-3; EI 30; CII 4; BL; HD), ‘the great minister’; ‘the chief minister or administrator’; sometimes also called Mahāsāmanta-adhipati, Antaḥpura-vĕrgaḍĕ (ºādhyakṣa), Mahāpasāyita, Senāpati, Hĕri (Mahā) sandhivigrahika, Manĕ- vĕrgaḍĕ, Kaḍitavĕrgaḍĕ, Senādhipati, Antaḥpura-adhyakṣa, Hĕri-Lāḻa- Kannaḍa-sandhivigrahin, Bhānasa-vĕrgaḍĕ, Accupanāyadadhiṣṭhāyaka, Sarvādhikārin, Hĕri (Mahā) bhāṇḍāgārin, Bāhattaraniyogādhipati, Paṭṭasāhaṇa-adhiṣṭhāyaka, Senāpati, Daṇḍanāyaka, Mahāsāmanta, Senādibhāhattaraniyoga-adhiṣṭhāyaka, Mahāmātya, Paramaviśvāsin, Mahāparamaviśvāsin, etc., additionally. Cf. Ep. Ind., Vol. V, p. 28. (SITI), senior councillor of the king, usually a military officer; same as Mahāpradhāni. See Pradhāna. Note: mahāpradhāna is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Mahāpradhāna (ಮಹಾಪ್ರಧಾನ):—[noun] the principal minister and advisor of a king.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Maha, Pradhana.

Starts with: Mahapradhana-nayaka.

Full-text (+35): Mahamatya, Mahapradhani, Mahamantri, Senadhipati, Mahapradhana-nayaka, Mahamatra, Mahapĕriyapradhana, Sarvadhikari, Lakshmanaprabhu, Mahabhandagarin, Padalu, Ahavamalladeva, Durga-shreshthin, Dhanama-shreshthin, Bhabhana-shreshthin, Accupannayadadhishthayaka, Preggada, Parama-vishvasin, Mahaparamavishvasin, Kadita-vĕrgadĕ.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Mahapradhana, Mahāpradhāna, Maha-pradhana, Mahā-pradhāna; (plurals include: Mahapradhanas, Mahāpradhānas, pradhanas, pradhānas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

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