MEANT a subordinate ruler.Samanta was a name given to big landlords or warrior chiefs in various regions of the Indian subcontinent by that time EXISTED kings of the seventh century.They were told to bring gifts for their kings or overlords, be present in their courts and also provide them with military support.In North India, the betimes use of the term in a similar sense was in Bengal in the BARABAR Hill CAVE Inscription of the Maukhari Chief, ANANTAVARMAN in which his father is described as the Samanta-Chudamanih of the imperial Guptas.