Meaning of the term Hastyadhyaksha used during Mauryan Empire
Hastyadhyaksha was a term used during the Mauryan Empire, which existed from around 321 BCE to 185 BCE in India. The term Hastyadhyaksha means “commander of the elephants” in Sanskrit.
The Hastyadhyaksha was a high-ranking military officer who held an important position in the Mauryan Empire’s army. As the name suggests, the Hastyadhyaksha was responsible for commanding the elephant units of the army, which were crucial in providing strength and power to the Mauryan military.
In addition to leading elephant units in battle, the Hastyadhyaksha was also responsible for training and equipping soldiers, maintaining discipline within the ranks, and ensuring that the elephants were ready to respond to any threat or emergency.
The Mauryan Empire was known for its powerful military, and the Hastyadhyaksha played a crucial role in ensuring the success of Mauryan military campaigns. Together with the Senapati, who was responsible for the overall command of the army, the Padadhyaksha, who was responsible for commanding the infantry units, and the Asvadhyaksha, who was responsible for commanding the cavalry units, the Hastyadhyaksha was an essential part of the Mauryan military establishment.