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ADMINISTRATION AND STATECRAFT
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Hence the semblance of a sovereign imposed on Samaraketu seated on an ivory couch provided with counterpane of Netra cloth and upholstered by the pillow stuffed with swan's fur like cotton indicates the Simhasana of the Samrat formed out of ivory. The association of three to four attendants conversing with him on diverse talks, the presence of betel roll bearers, the shampooers, the chowrie bearers, his placing of the left arm on a huge golden platform all go to indicate the royal insignia playing adjunct to the ivory seat.
In the description of Harivahana seen by Samaraketu inside the Rambhāgṛha accompanied by Tilakamañjarī, Harivahana has been described as sitting on the surface of a huge bejewelled stone slab made of ruby' clad in a pair of garments of China silk cloth embroidered with a new flank and made up of extremely thick texture,2 with person occupied on all sides by the images of the chowrie bearing maids, reflected in the gems of the ornaments inlaid over his whole body,' wearing on his broad chest the new necklace of pearls, hanging down to his navel; wearing in both of his ears the penduncles made of moon gems, wearing carried on his pate endowed with the halo of lustre like the solar orb the fine bejewelled diadem wrapped round by the forehead wrap made of gold brand and shining clinging to the surface of his pate," surrounded by attendants in the form of bees, being fanned by the chowrie bearing maids in the form of plantain trees, even placed on her lap by the earth as if carrying a parasol, even honoured by the day with golden wand wielded in the form of the solar orb. Hence Harivahana has been shown sitting on a Simhasana made of ruby with a bejewelled diadem placed on head bordered by a gold wrap wound round the pate, provided with chowrie bearing maids and a parasol along with golden wand borne by an attendant forming his rod of dignity.
As evidence by Dr. B. S. Upadhyaya on the basis of the study of Kālidāsa the normal insignia used to be the two chowries and one parasol
1. पृथुनि कुरुविन्दमणिशिलातलेनिषण्णम् TM Vol. III p. 120.
2. अतिविमलघनसूत्रेण..... नवदशालंकूतेन श्वेतचीनवस्त्रद्वयेन संवीतम् TM Vol. III p. 120.
3. अखिलदेहाभरणमणिकंक्रान्ताभिरासत्रचामरग्राहिणीप्रतिमाभिः सर्वतोऽधिष्ठितशरीरम् । TM Vol. III p. 120.
4. आनभिलम्बमभिनवं मौक्तिकप्रालम्बम् विशालेन वक्षसा धारयन्तम् TM Vol. III p. 120.
5. इन्दुमणिकुण्डलाभ्यामाश्रितोमश्रवणम् । TM Vol. III p. 120.
6. अलिकतटसंगिना विततभास्वरेण कनकपट्टवन्धेन वलयितमुत्तममणिमुकुट... तपनमण्डलमिव सपरिवेषमुत्त TM Vol. III p. 120.
7. अंधिपेश्पि... अनुजीविभिरिव परिवृतम् कदलीभिरपि
चामरग्राहिणीभिरिव वीज्यमानम् धरण्याप्यु
परिधृतसरलकाण्ड सुरपादपया गृहहीतातपत्रयेरोत्सगितम्, अहपि तरुशाखान्तरप्रवेशित प्रांशुरविकरेणेव प्रतिपन्नकनकबेत्रेणव प्रकटितानिभावं हरिवाहनमद्राक्षीत | TM Vol. III p. 121.
