The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c6.15

c6.15

The Dharma of Indian Emperors and Kings was to maintain this constitution. Those who did so were honoured as Aryans, whatever their race or religion might be. Those who trampled it underfoot, even those of the purest Aryan stock, were written down in Indian history as Mhlechchas—barbarians, and enemies of God and man. The Kshatriya warriors fought for this freedom—not merely for their cattle and pastures—as valiantly as their Western brothers fought at Marathon. No people were more willing to accept alien rule under these conditions. The Rajputs who defended Chitor heroically against Akbar, believing him an enemy of Aryan traditions, built him a throne as Vishnu's Vicegerent on Earth¹ when they knew him as their friend; and the Mogul dynasty had no more staunch and devoted adherents so long as it remained true to its Dharma.