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Question 61 of 69 · Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire
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In the Mauryan administration, the officer in charge of the welfare of women was the:

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Answer: Option B — Ithijhaka Mahamatta

Detailed Solution

In Ashoka's administration, the "Ithijhaka Mahamatta" (Stryadhyaksha Mahamatra) was the officer in charge of the welfare of women.

About the Ithijhaka Mahamatta:

  • "Ithi" (Prakrit for "stri") means woman, and "jhaka" (adhyaksha) means superintendent; "mahamatta" means a high officer.
  • This officer is mentioned in Ashoka's Major Rock Edict XII, along with other officers who were to promote Dhamma and tolerance among different sects.
  • They looked after the welfare of women, especially women of the royal household and perhaps other women, and helped them follow Dhamma.

Types of Mahamattas in Ashoka's inscriptions:

  • "Anta Mahamatta": officer in charge of frontier (border) areas.
  • "Nagalaviyohalaka" (Nagara Vyavaharika): officer in charge of city administration and justice in cities.
  • "Ithijhaka Mahamatta": officer in charge of women's welfare.
  • Other mahamattas: provincial and district officers, and those in charge of specific duties.

Other officials in Ashoka's edicts:

  • "Rajuka": a rural official in charge of land survey, revenue and justice; Ashoka gave them powers to reward and punish.
  • "Pradeshika": a district officer.
  • "Yukta": a subordinate official in charge of accounts.
  • "Pulisani": agents who reported on public opinion.

Women in the Mauryan period:

  • The Arthashastra mentions women working in state workshops, especially in spinning and weaving.
  • Women served as royal bodyguards, spies and entertainers.
  • Megasthenes mentions women bodyguards of the king.
  • The Queen's Edict records the gifts of Ashoka's queen Karuvaki.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The Anta Mahamatta looked after frontier areas.
  • ✗The Nagalaviyohalaka was in charge of city administration.
  • ✗The Rajuka was a rural official.

Quick tip

Remember: Ithijhaka Mahamatta = women's welfare (Major Rock Edict XII); Anta Mahamatta = frontier; Nagalaviyohalaka = city; Rajuka = rural administration.

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Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the sixteen Mahajanapadas, the rise of Magadha under the Haryanka, Shishunaga and Nanda dynasties, Alexander's invasion, and the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara and Ashoka, including Mauryan administration, Ashoka's dhamma and his edicts. Questions often ask about the capital of a Mahajanapada, the founder of a dynasty, or details of Ashoka's rule, such as the Kalinga war and his rock and pillar edicts. Key sources include Kautilya's Arthashastra and Megasthenes' Indica. James Prinsep first deciphered Ashoka's Brahmi inscriptions in 1837. Practise the Mahajanapadas and Mauryan Empire questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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