Polity
Large Kingdoms and stately cities made their
appearance in the later Vedic Period. In Taittariya Brahmana we notice the theory
of the divine origin of kingship.
The government machinery became more elaborate than before ,
as a sequel to the growth of the power of the king . New civil functionaries , besides the only civil functionary of the
Rigvedic Period the purohita came into existence. These were : the Bhagadudha (
Collector of taxes), the Suta/ Sarathi (the Royalherald or Charioteer ), the Khasttri (Chamberlain),
The Akshavapa (Courier).
The military officials of the Rigvedic
times, the Senani (the head of the
village ) continued to function.
The period also saw the beginning of a
regular system of provincial government
. Thus ,we find Sthapati being entrusted
with the duty of administering outlying areas occupied by the aboriginals and
Satapati being put over a group of one hundred villages. Adhikrita was the village official. Ugras, mentioned in the Upanishada, was
probably a police official.