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Sec. IV]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SÜTRA
91
On his entering the coronation hall, Bharata was welcomed by many kings, the general, the priest, the eighteen guilds (senippaseņi), the merchants and others with ovation of their auspicious sprinkling fragrant water and congratulated by them with the cry of 'victory'. He was crowned by the people who made his body dry with a very soft hairy red-brown coloured fragrant cloth (towel) and adorned him with a garland and many kinds of ornaments. This consecration ceremony was marked with the remission of taxes and provided with the celebration of a festival continuing for a long time.
The Nayādhammakahão' refers to the consecration ceremony of Mehakumāra who was made king for only one day by his parents on his request before his renouncing the world like Mahābala, the son of king Bala of Hastināpura'. It was performed exactly in the same manner with great pomp and grandeur amidst the beating of drum (dundubhi) as depicted in the BIS.
In the Mahāpurāņa3 it is stated that the coronation cere. mony of Rşabhadeva was performed by the gods, kings, and peoples in a divine style on the consent of Nābhi, the father of Rşabhadeva, who himself, having lifted his crown with his own hand, placed it on the head of Rşabhadeva.
Similar colourful pictures of coronation ceremony of king are depicted in the Buddhist Jātakas“, the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyana.
Thus it is described in the Ayoghara Jātaka? that "the subjects headed by the priest came to see the prince with many kinds of auspicious articles ; the whole city was decorated ;
1 Nāyidhammakahão, 1., p. 28 f.
Bhs, 11, 11, 431. Skt. Mahāpurana, parva, 16, LL. 193-234 See Apabh. Mahāpurāna, V 21. (11-12). "Puvvahum visa lakkha gaya jaiyahum baddhu pattu jagaņāhahu taiyahum Nāhiņarindāmarasamghāyahim Kacchamahākacchāhivarāya
him" . 4 The Jatakas. Pañcagarry Jätaka I No. 132, p. 470 ; Ayoghara
Jataka IV, No. 510, p. 492. 5 The Mahābhārata, Santi parva IXL, 6 The Rāmāyana II, 3; 6 ; 14, 15, IV, 26, 20 ff. ? Ayoghara Jataka IV, No. 510, p. 492.
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