Book Title: Most Ancient Aryan Society
Author(s): Ram Chandra Jain
Publisher: Institute of Bharatalogical Research Sriganganagar Rajasthan
View full book text
________________
( 250 )
great magician and a great leader who led the Brahma Society to high material prosperity.
Aitariya Brāhmaṇa equates Bṛhaspati with Brahmanas. pati. He is to be pacified for obtaining leadership, children, cattle, beauty and fame. Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa identifies Bṛhaspati with Brahma which means Yajña".
Bṛhaspati was a mortal human being but he was the best among them, their supreme leader. He willingly offered himself and his feudatories, the Devas, sacrificed him in Puruşamedha for the preservation of Prajās1o, his subjects, the constituents of the Brahma over which he rules. As the Gana considered itself the whole universe; so the Brahma also considered itself the whole universe. Brahma, thus, came to be identified with Universal Tribalism. Brahmansapati was the sovereign dictator of this Universal Tribalism. He symbolised in himself all the powers and functions of all the Ganapatis together in a multiplied form, He was supreme of all the Ganapatis.
of a judge
The parallel Greekāryan office resembling this Brahmaryan office of Brahmanaspati appears to be the office of Basileus. The suffix 'us' indicates 'the master' in the sense of Pati. Zeus was the master of gods; Basileus was the master of Basileia. Basileus was the general military commander. Zeus gave him his sceptre. The functions of a priest and were attached to or inherent in his office". He was the chief priest, the chief judge and the supreme War-lord11 like Brahmanaspati. He had the seat of large and choice share of booty taken in offered in sacrifices; just like Brahmanaspati. aided by the council of chiefs and the armed Gana assembly known as Agora. The council of chiefs may be likened to the Brahmic assembly of the Devas. Agora was the armed
honour at feasts, a
war and of food Basileus was
Greek Basileus
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org