Kingship Role, Duties and Concept of Divinity

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1. Kingship:
Role, Duties and
Concept of Divinity
Dr. Virag Sontakke
Assistant Professor
Center for Advanced Studies
Department of A.I.H.C. & Archaeology,
Banaras Hindu University

2. Kingship:
Role, Duties and concept of divinity

3. Kingship
Its Origin
Divine origin
Why Kingship is needed
Who will be the King
Kingship and Cast system
Qualities of the Kings
Role of the Kingship
Kingship Duties
King as a Law
holderKing as a
Servant
King as a
Trustee
Concept
of Divinity

4. Introduction
•Monarchywasmostpopulartypeofgovernmentin
AncientIndia.
•PoliticalhistoryofAncientIndiaitsrunalongwiththe
Kingship.
•Monarchyinthestrictsenseofthetermcanbefirst
locatedintheMahabharata.
•ItsbecamemorecrystallizedinKautilya’s
Arthashastra.
•Koutilyarepresentsthemostdevelopedformsof
monarchyandbureaucracyinancientIndia.

5. Reference of Kingship
•TheRajanfirsttimeappearinVedicperiod.
•TheVedicrajan,intheopinionofR.S.Sharma,
tendstobeatribalchiefratherthanan
institutionalizedmonarch.
•A.L.Bashamfindstheearliestlegendaboutthe
originofKingshipinthelaterVedictextAitareya
Brahamana,whichisofpre-Mahabharatavintage.

6. Story of Origin of Kingship
•Onceuponatime,wearetold,therewasawarbetweengodsanddemons.
•TheGodssufferedrout,andtheydeliberatedtoarriveattheconclusionthattheyneededakingtoleadthembacktovictory.
•TheyproceededtoappointSoma,probablyanothernameforIndra,anddefeateddemons.
•TheabovelegendreappearsinasomewhatalteredversioninanotherlaterVedictext,TaitiriyaUpnishad.

7. Divine origin
According to Mahabharata: Shantiparva: First
•Thepeoplefirstlivedinanidyllicsocietyinitspristinenaturalstateinpeaceandharmony.
•However,degenerationsetinsubsequentlyandastateofanarchyresultedwheremastya-nyayacametoprevail.
•Togetoutofthispredicament,thepeoplemadeacollectivecompactabjuringviolenttemper,speechandconduct,theftorrobbingofothers’wealthandwives,
•Sociallycastoffthosewhoviolatedthesenorms.
•Theylivedbyitforsometime,butfacedwithfrequentbreaches.
•Subsequently,theyapproachedBrahma,henominatedManutobethefirstKing.
•Healsostipulateddandaniti,theprinciplesofgovernance.
•ThusthefirstKingaswellaslawsofthegovernmentinthistheoryareofdivineorigin.

8. Contract Theory
•Therewasatimewhenpeoplewereperfect,andlivedinastateofhappinessandtranquillity.
•Thisperfectstatelastedforages,buttheresetinrottenness.
•Peoplegraduallyenteredintoaseriesofagreementsamongthemselvesandsetuptheinstitutionsofthefamilyandprivateproperty.
•Butthisgaverisetoanewsetofproblems,theftandotherformsofunsocialconduct.
•Therefore,peopleassembledandagreedtochooseaschiefapersonwhowasthebestfavoured,themostattractiveandthemostcapable.
•Inreturntheyagreedtocontributetohimaportionoftheirpaddy.

9. Necessity of Kingship
•Kingship arose out of
1.Military Necessity
2.Leadership
3.Success in War
4.Possesses Strength, Wisdom and energy

10. Why Kingship ?
1.To protect
2.Provide secure and healthy environment
3.Social conduct (dharma)
4.Wellbeing of the society
5.Religious freedom
6.Economic stability
7.Cultural progress

11. Condition in VedikPeriod
•Gruh(head of the the family): Gruhpati
•Kulas(head of the families): Kulpati
•Vis(head of the Local Community): Vishpati
•Jana(Tribe): Janapati

12. Kingship and Cast System
•Four fold cast system
1.Brahman
2.Kshatriya: Kings
3.Vaishy
4.Shudra
Non Aryans: Scythians, Parthians, Hunas, Kushanas
etc.

13. Qualities of a Perfect King: Kautilya
•Kingmustperformforthewelfareofhispeople.
1.Thekingshouldpreferablybelongtothenobility,
2.Beanativeofthelandandfollowtheteachingsof
theShashtras.
3.EmphasisislaidontheKing’strainingin
a)Philosophy,
b)Economicsciencesand
c)Politicalscience,
•TheKing’sforemostdutyisprotectionandnurtureof
thesociety.

14. Qualities of a Perfect King: Manusmruti
1.Thekingshouldregulatehislifestyleinaproperway.
2.Kingshouldbeintelligent,cultured,upright,shouldhave
self-control,shouldrespecttheeldersandtheBrahmins,
3.ProperlyeducatedintheVedas,politics,history,
agriculture,spiritualscienceetc.
4.Heshouldbeintelligent,freefromaddictiontosensuous
objects,cultured,truetohispromise,backedbyfriends
andshouldadheretothesacredtexts.
5.Manualsostressestheimportanceofselfcontrolforthe
king,heshouldalsobecarefulaboutcontrollingthevices
generatingfromgreed,desireandanger.
6.Theking,forhisproperguidanceandtraining,should
selectanappropriateBrahmin,andthepriestofhis
family.

15. Ceremonies associated with Kingship
•Rajasuya:theRajasuyawasperformedkingsafterhecompleteda
digvijaya.Thewholeprocesstooktwoyearsandthreemonthsand
onlyaconsecratedKshatriyawaseligibletocelebrateit.
•Vajapeya:TaittriyatextssaysthatVajapeyaconfersimperial
positionswhileRajasuyaonlyaroyaldignity.HenceVajapeyawas
performedafterRajasuyaceremony.Afterwinningtheraceheis
enthroned.
•Ashwamedha:Themainobjectofthissacrificewastoassertone’spoliticalsupremacy.Inthisceremonyahorsewasletlooseand
followedby400armedmenwhoincludedprincesandchiefs.
Normallythehorseislettoroamwithintheterritoryofthepatronas
theentryofthehorseuponaforeignterritorywasconsideredasa
challengetoitsruler,resultinginwar.Whenthehorsereturned
unmolested,agrandassemblywasheldbytheking,

16. Role of King/Kingship
•AccordingtoKautilyamainroleoftheKingistoattainmentof
yogkema(welfare).
•Yoga=acquisitionofthenecessitiesoflife
•Ksema=maintananceofthesameforcontinuedenjoyment.
•AccordingtopoliticalThinkers…..
1.Happinessofthepeople
2.Bruhaspati:facilitatethepeopletoenjoytheirlifethrough
wealthrighteouslyacquired
3.Kamandaka:AttainmentofTrivarga(Dharma,Arth&Kama)

17. Kingship Duties
1.Upholding Social law and Order (Varnashram)
2.Security and Protection (Paalanand Raksana)
3.Material Welfare (Yogaksema)
•King may be divine, but low is above all
•Manu: King should take better precautions to act
•He should be careful to:
a)Kama (passion)
b)Krodh(Anger)
c)Lobha(Greed)
•PoliticalThinkers:Kingisexposedtoerrorand
temptationsthanordinarypublic

18. King as a supporter and upholder of the Law
•FollowerofDharma
•Br.Up:Kingshouldrealizethattherenothinghigher
thanDharma
•Kingasafirstcitizenhisconductshouldalwaysbe
exemplary.
•Jataka:WhenKingsareunjust,evensugarandsalt
losetheirflavor.
•PeoplehappinessdependsupontheKings.
•Rv.:Underagoodkingprosperitywithprevail.

19. King as a Servant
•Dharmasutra:Kingisaservantofthepeoplebecause
hetake1/6%taxofhiswage.
•Koutilyaalsocalledthesame.
•Narad:TaxationsastheKingspaysforprotectionof
thefolks.
•Yajurved:Taxesarepaidonlyasareturnforthe
protection.
•Mahabharat:Since,thepeoplepaytaxtothekinghe
mustservethemasaservant.

20. King as a Trustee
•Kingasaservant,thoughhecollecttaxesbutheisnot
aownerasawhole.
•Politicalthinkers:Treasurynotaprivateorpersonal
propertiesoftheking.
•Treasuryshouldbeutilizedforpublicwelfare.
•Ifkingusetreasuryfundforpersonaluse,hewouldbe
guiltyofsinandbecondemnedtoHell.
•Hecareforthepeopleasatrustee.
•AgniPu:Theidealkingmakeself-sacrificeforthe
welfareofpublic.
•Thebodyofthekingisnotforenjoymentofpleasures
butfulfillingtheDharma.

21. Kingship: Concept
of Divinity

22. Divinity of the King
•VedikPeriod:
•Doctrineofdivinitywasabsentinvedikperiod.
•Doctrineofdivinityofkingbecamepopularinlater
period.
•DuringVedikperiodKingshipwasasecular
institution
•Purukusta:Ardh-deva(Semi-divine)(specialfavor
fromGodIndraandVaruna)
•Parikshit:Godamongmen(Panegyriseinhyms)

23. •Post-VedikPeriod:
•VictoriesofthekingattributedtothefavorsofIndra.
•OftenKingcomparehimselfwithIndra
•AtthetimeofRoyalCoronationPriestaverredthatitwasbythecommandofGods
•Also,ablutionwasgivenbythehandsofGods
•GodlikeAgni,BrihaspatientersintothepersonoftheKing,whenhewasanointedatthecoronation.
•AshvamedhaandVajapeyasacrificesenablethekingtopartywithGods.
•HewassupposetobevirtualsymbolofGodPrajapati.
•AccordingtoMahabharata:VisnhuhimselfenteredintothebodyoffirstKing.
•Manustatedthatevenaninfantkingmustneverbetreatedwithdisrespect,becauseheisinrealityagodonearth.
•SuggestdoctrineofthedivinityoftheKings.

24. Smritis & Puranas
•Manu:Kingisagreatdivinityinhumanform
•VishnuPuran:Numberofdivinitiesresidesinsidethe
bodyofKing
•BhagwatPuran:Vena,thefirstkinghadsomeofthe
marksofVishnuonhisbody.
•InSanskritdrama:kingcalledasDeva
•InlaterBuddhisttextKingcalledas“Sammutideva”
(Godbyconventionorpublicopinion)
•Inthisperiodkingasadivinebecamepopular.

25. Kushanas
•Kushan: ruled 1stCentury CE
•Rulers of Kushanacalled themselves as Devputras
(son of gods)
•On their coins Kings shown descending from clouds
and surrounded by flames.
•Their temples were also constructed where they were
worshipped as a god.

27. Functional Resembles
•Mahabharata
•Naradsmruti
•Shukraniti
•MatsyaPuran
•Markendeya
Puran
•Agni Puran
•Padma Puran
•Resembles
1.Indra: w
2.Warrior
3.Fire God : king
burns wicked
4.Sun God : king
see everything
5.Yama:
Punishments
6.Kubera: give wealth to needy
King is not a God but
Kings Functions are
Similar to Gods

28. If King is Tyrant
•KinghadtogovernaccordingtoDharma.
•Thekingcouldnotgoagainstthesacredcustoms.
•Forexamplemostcommonlegendarytalewasthatof
Vena.
•Thiskingtookhisdivinitytooseriouslyandforbadeall
thesacrificesexcepttohimselfandconfusedsocietyby
enforcinginter-classmarriages.
•Therishis(divinesages)remonstratedwithhim,but
Venacontinuedwithhisevilacts.
•Atlasttheexasperatedsagesbesethiminbodyand
slewhimwithbladesofsacredgrass(kusa).
•Thisstorymusthaveservedasacontinuouswarningto
thekingswhoweretemptedtoflouttheSacredLaw.

29. King as a Decoit
•Whenakingbeginstooppressbeceasestobedivine.
•Sukracallshimadecoit,notaking.
•Noonewastosupportsucharulernoteventhe
army.
•ThatishowthelastMauryaKingandthelastSunga
Kingweredeposedwiththeinterventionofthearmy.
•Thepurposeofkingshipwasgoodgovernment.

30. Kings Time
Table,
According to the
Kautilya.

31. Conclusion
•Rigved:Kingwasconsideredasashepherdofthepeople.
•Thecharacterofthegovernmentdependeduponthe
characterofthekingship(kings).
•Greatemphasiswaslaidonthepropereducationand
trainingoftheprincesduringchildhoodandadolescence.
•Thekingwasexpectedtoregardhissubjectsashischildren
andstrivefortheirwelfarelikeafather.
•Thepoliticalwritersprescribedveryexactingtimetablefor
theking,whichhardlylefthimwithanyleisure.
•Kingsheldtheirkingdomnotaspersonalpropertybutas
sacredtrust.
•HencetheMahabharathasaysthatofalldharmas(duties),
rulershipisthehighestinsocietyforalltimes.