Mantri
Encyclopedia
Mantri is a word of Sanskrit
origin (meaning sage, i.e. the "person who thinks and says" in that language, cf. Mantra
), used in Asian cultures with a Hindu
tradition (even those that later adopted Buddhism
or Islam
). It is used for a variety of public offices, from fairly humble to ministerial in rank. The term also forms part of a number of compounds. It is the root of the English word mandarin
, for a bureaucrat of the Chinese empire (though the word was never used by the Chinese themselves).
These are just a few examples of the use of this root in various political systems
, the Sanskrit title was often corrupted; e.g. Udarma Mantri to Udom Montrey
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
origin (meaning sage, i.e. the "person who thinks and says" in that language, cf. Mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
), used in Asian cultures with a Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
tradition (even those that later adopted Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
or Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
). It is used for a variety of public offices, from fairly humble to ministerial in rank. The term also forms part of a number of compounds. It is the root of the English word mandarin
Mandarin (bureaucrat)
A mandarin was a bureaucrat in imperial China, and also in the monarchist days of Vietnam where the system of Imperial examinations and scholar-bureaucrats was adopted under Chinese influence.-History and use of the term:...
, for a bureaucrat of the Chinese empire (though the word was never used by the Chinese themselves).
These are just a few examples of the use of this root in various political systems
India
- Mantri is also a surname used in maheshwariMaheshwariMaheshwari are a business community of Vaishnava, originating from Khandela, Rajasthan in western India. They are a sub-group within the Marwaris community. The community is found throughout North India.- History & Origin :...
caste. - in SataraSataraSatara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
, where the PeshwaPeshwaA Peshwa is the titular equivalent of a modern Prime Minister. Emporer Shivaji created the Peshwa designation in order to more effectively delegate administrative duties during the growth of the Maratha Empire. Prior to 1749, Peshwas held office for 8-9 years and controlled the Maratha army...
(formally First Minister) took over political power from the nominal Monarch : Mantri was used as synonymous Sanskrit version of Waqnis (Fourth Minister) - It is used synonymously with Minister in many Indian languages
- Mantri is a surname used in Niyogi Brahmins in Andhra Pradesh.
- Mantri is also the name of a real estate company based in Bangalore, India famous for constructing the Mantri Square Mall at Malleshwaram, Bangalore
Nepal
- Mantri: Minister of State
- Pradhan Mantri: Prime Minister (compare PradhanPradhanPradhan is a high, generally ministerial, title of Sanskrit origin in cultures of Hindu tradition, mainly in and around the Indian subcontinent. Pradhan literally means "Prime"...
)
Indonesia
- in Bululeng Mantri occurred (rank unclear)
- in DeliSultanate of DeliDeli is a 1,820 km² state in east Sumatra founded in 1630. A tributary kingdom from 1630 until 1814, the state became a sultanate in 1814 when acquiring independence from Sultanate of Siak....
the title of Tengku Perdana Mantri was created 1 February 1923 for Y.A.M. Tengku Harun al-Rashid ibni al-Marhum Sultan Ma'amun al-Rashid Perkasa 'Alam Shah, eldest brother of the Crown Prince (Sultan the next year) and Wakil of Bedagai 1932 - in KutaiKutaiKutai is the traditional name of a historic region in East Kalimantan in Indonesia on Borneo, a Dayak people of the region with a language of the same name and their historic states. Today the name is preserved in the names of three regencies in East Kalimantan, the Kutai Kartanegara Regency, the...
, Perdana-mantri was the first great Officer of state, or Chief Minister - in Sambas, Radin Mantri was a highl stles for princes of the blood, e.g. borne by H.H. Sri Paduka al-Sultan Tuanku 'Abu Bakar Taj ud-din I [al-Marhum Janggut] ibni al-Marhum Sultan 'Umar Akam ud-din, future Sultan of Sambas, before his accession on the death of his father, 1790
- in Yogyakarta and SurakartaSurakartaSurakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and...
palaces - the term is part of administrative titles for positions within the palaces and places that they control.
Cambodia
In CambodiaCambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, the Sanskrit title was often corrupted; e.g. Udarma Mantri to Udom Montrey