Most Ancient Aryan Society

Author(s): Ram Chandra Jain
Publisher: Institute of Bharatalogical Research Sriganganagar Rajasthan

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( 31 ) Rājā' Praksti Ranjanāt' meaning 'he whose duty or nature is to act for the happiness of the people'. This definition also suggests that Rājan renounced himself in the service of the people. Rājan was not a hereditary office. He was elected and re-elected by the people.50 Rājan is known to have been elected and re-elected in Atharvanic age ; hence it is safe to conclude that he must have also been elected and re-elected in Rgvedic times and before. The epithet Rājā has been given to the leaders of the Ten-Republics Confederacy in Ķgveda. The institution of Rājan was the ultimate extension of the institution of Jana. The best, the most illustrious, the greatest, the senior-most, highest among leader, supporter of the people, shining and radiant Jana was the Rājan of the realm.
The institution of Rājan has its equivalent in the Avestic institution of Rastar 'Leader', raz 'to lend straight', The Latin word rego means 'to direct,51 The word Rājan carried the meaning of a leader, a director. When the Irānāryans had to wage bitter wars against the Dāsa, Dušyus and Asuras in Iran; they came in contact with this Asura institution of Rājan who was the highest executive of the Asura-Jana-republics. The civilization and culture of Iran was almost similar to that of Bhārata in this age.58 Iran was the far Western Province of Bhārata. When the Brahmāryans advanced towards Bhārata from Iran in the later half of second millenium B. C., they had to face defeats at the hands of Asura troops an all the fronts. They pondered over the causes of their defeat and found that the inherent great power resting in the institution of Rājan was responsible for Asura victories. They then borrowed this non-Aryan institution of Rājan and were victorious in further battles.53 Divodāsa Atithigvā was the first Brahmāryan Rājan.* This Brahimāryan evidence