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STATE AND ADMINISTRATION
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Somalladevī was the name of the queen of Ajayarāja Cāhamāna.1 Udayamati rājñi was the queen of Bhima I.2 From this it appears that the queens of our period did not assume any high-sounding honorific titles. In the Jain literary works the chief queen of the king is called Rajamahişi or Pattarajñi, but we have no confirmation of this from the epigraphical records.
The sphere of influence of the queens, however, was limited to the pa lace only. The Position of the King:
As regards the position of the king Somadeva says that the king is a great god; he bows only to his ancestors and teachers : all else have to salute him. It is difficult to disobey his resolutions. But a king should always be willing to receive advice and ministers should be prepared to offer sound advice.5 These statements of Somadeva along with the honorific title assumed by the kings of our period show that these were regarded by the public as divinities. It should be understood in this connection that such high veneration was due to the place he occupied and not to his person. Coronation:
Before a new king was installed on the throne certain rituals and celebrations took place. Abhişeka or anointing was the first among them. The Jains, though they have no faith in the Vedic rituals, prescribe the simple process of anointing. The water from the Ganges, Sindhu and other rivers (sacred only in the belief of the Brāhmanas) mixed with camphor and sandal and with the essence of many kinds of flowers was poured on the head of a king by other kings, feudatories, ministers, merchants, princes and other respectable citizens. The members of the eighteen guilds performed the anointing of the king's feet only. Thus, the Murdhabhişiktas only were regarded as the real kings of our period. On this auspicious occasion, the capital was astir with songs, music and dance. This ceremony sometimes was arranged by the retiring king and sometimes by the court party. The king had certain royal insignia like catra (royal umbrella ) and camara (a bushy tail of Chamar) and Simhāsana (throne).?
1 EI, XXVI, pp. 84-112, V. 14. 2 SJGM., I, p. 54. 3 Nitivā., p. 63: TAP TH Tad Tid #AFIOTATT JATTE: 1 4 Ibid., p. 181:
He: TETT:1 5 Ibid., p. 124:
1 TFT ausfawry aaral 6 Ādi-purāna, Canto XVI, Vs. 223-230. ? SJGM., I, p. 20: HTTFERTAEIG RHEIT
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