In the Gupta age the chief of merchants was called as Sarthavaha. During the Gupta age there were city corporations in the towns, headed by a chairman, the nagarashreshthin, which consisted of many representatives of guild merchants including Sarthavaha who represented the trading communities, Prathamakulika who represented the crafting communities (artisans) and Prathamakayastha, who represented Government official community.
