Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s1.8

c8.s1.8

By mere accident of birth as the eldest son of the reigning king the prince was not accepted a *yuvarāja* or heir-apparent. But the whole gamut of ceremonies was to be gone through before the prince was declared the crown prince. This was the *abhiṣechanam* of a prince to the status of a crown prince. A practical instance of this is seen in the preparations made for Rāma’s *abhiṣechanam* by King Daśaratha.³ This consecration alone secured for the prince the right to ascend the throne after the sitting monarch.