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CORONATION
167 10. The Go-vikartana (lit. Cutter-up of Cattle, i. e., the King's Companion in the Chase).
11. The Pālāgala (Courier)—forerunner of the Dūta (Śāsanahara, etc.).
The most essential part of the Rājasūya was the Abhisheka or besprinkling. It began with offerings to the deities Savitā Satyaprasava, Agni Grihapati, Soma Vanaspati, Brihaspati Vāk, Indra Jyeshţha, Rudra Pasupati, Mitra Satya and Varuņa Dharmapati. The consecration water (Abhishechanīyā Āpal) was made up of seventeen kinds of liquid including the water from the river Sarasvati, sea-water, and water from a whirlpool, a pond, a well and dew. The sprinkling was performed by a Brāhmaṇa priest, kinsman or brother of the king-elect, a friendly Rājanaya and a Vaiśya.
The two most important kinds of Abhisheka were the Punar-abhishekea and the Aindra Mahābhisheka.
The Punar-abhisheka or Renewed Anointment is described in the Aitareya Brāhmana.” It was intended for Kshatriya conquering. monarchs. The first interesting part of the ceremony was the king's ascent to the throne or Āsandi which was made of udumbara wood with the exception of the interwoven part (vivayana) which consist- - ed of muñja grass. Then came the besprinkling. Among other things the priest said : "Do thou become here the
1 Curiously enough, this list of the ratnins does not include the Sthapati, probably a local ruler, vassal chief, or governor who is, however, mentioned in Śat. Br. V. 4. 4. 17, in connection with the concluding ceremonies of the rājasūya. The sacrificial sword (sphya) given by the priest to the king is passed on successively to the king's brother, the sūta or the sthapati, the grāmani and finally to a tribesman (sajāta). The post of sthapati was held by Uparikas or governors of Bhuktis (provinces) in the Gupta period (Fleet, CII, p. 120). Slightly different lists of ratnins are found in the. Taittiriya texts. A group of eight vīras finds mention in the Panchavimśa Brāhmana (Camb. Hist. Ind. I. 131). In sat. Br. XIII. 5. 4. 6. we have reference to the Pariveshtri, the Kshattri and the Sabhā. sads in connection with a performance of the horse-sacrifice.
2 VII. 5-11.
