"…Shivaji, the great founder of the Maratha Empire, established a council of eight ministers, viz. Mukhya Pradhana, Amatya, Saciva, Mantri, Senapati, Panditarao, Nyayadhisha and Sumanta. The jurisdiction of the Panditarao extended over all religious matters…There are letters which show that the Panditarao convened meetings of learned brahmanas and with their approval declared prayascitta in the case of a [Hindu] who had been forcibly converted by Mahomedans and who was thereafter restored to [his] caste."