Panditrao
Topic: The Marathas · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Panditrao was the minister for religious affairs in Shivaji's Ashta pradhana mandala, his council of eight ministers. He fixed dates for religious ceremonies and handed out the state's gifts to learned Brahmins and scholars. He also dealt with offences against religion. His post shows Shivaji's support for temples, Sanskrit learning and old traditions, while he respected other religions.
Example
In 1674 Shivaji was crowned at Raigad with full Vedic rites. Religious ceremonies like these were the kind of work the Panditrao arranged.
Don't confuse with
- Nyayadhish: the chief judge, who decided civil and criminal cases.
Related concepts
- Maratha administration
- Ashtapradhan
- Peshwa
- Amatya
- Sachiv
- Sumant
- Nyayadhish
- Deshmukh
- Chauth and sardeshmukhi
- Saranjam