________________
168 POLITICAL HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA
overking of kings'; the great, of the great people, the supreme ruler of the people (or the peasantry)."1 "Řājñām tvam Adhirāja bhaveha ; Mahāntañ tvā mahināin Samrājam charshaṇīnām."? The king was next required to get down from the throne and make obeisance to the holy power (Brahman); "Brahmana eva tat Kshatram vašam eti tad yatra vai Brahmanah Kshatram vasam eti tad rāshtram samriddham tad vīravadāhāsmin vīro jāyate, 3 “verily thus the lordly power (Kshatra) falls under the influence of the holy power (Brahman). When the lordly power falls under the influence of the holy power, that kingdom is prosperous, rich in heroes ; in it a hero or heir (vīra) is born."4 Here there is provision for the prevention of royal absolutism.
Janamejaya, the son of Parikshit, was evidently consecrated with the Punar-abhisheka.5
The Aindra Mahābhisheka or Indra's great unction consisted of five important ceremonies. In the first place, an Oath is administered by the priest to the king-elect: "From the night of thy birth to that of thy death for the space between these two, thy sacrifice and thy gifts, thy place, thy good deeds, thy life and thine
ng let me take, if thou play me false."7 Next follows the Arohana or enthronement. When the king is seated on the throne we have the Utkrošana 8 or proclamation. The king-nakers should say "The Kshatriya, if not proclaimed, cannot show his strength, let us
1 Keith, HOS, 25 (slightly emended). 2 Ait. Br., VIII. 7. 3 Ait. Br., VIII. 9.
4 Keith. • 5 Ait. Br., VIII. 11, A second coronation of the Ceylonese king Devānampiya Tissa is referred to by the chronicles (Geiger's trans, of the Mahāvansa, p. xxxii).
6 Ait. Br. viii. 12-23. 7 Keith ; Ait. Br. VIII. 15. 8 Ait. Br. VIII. 17.
