[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Hindu Administrative Institutions](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929) › c8.s2.115 # Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s2.115 Hindu Administrative Institutions c8.s2.115 - **Language:** English ### [c8.s2.115](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.115) Let us now turn our attention to what place the purohita is assigned in the estates of the realm in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, another important work of this category. In the section called Ratnahavis of the rājasūya, the purohita figures as one of the recipients of the sacrificial honours. The king goes to his house and prepares a sap for Bṛhaspati,—the purohita of the Gods. He is one of the Ratnani (v. 3. 1. 2). Again it is the purohita who anoints the king by sprinkling waters on him in front, and prays for the latter’s energy and vigour to withstand his enemies (Ibid., v. 4. 2. 1-3). He again hands the sphya or wooden sword to him, symbolical of a thunderbolt to overcome his foes (v. 4. 4. 15). So far the functions signify those of a modern Bishop or Archbishop. But his station in the administration was indeed a more exalted one. It is said that the Kṣatriya and the purohita make one complete whole. The one without the other is feeble. One is the compliment of the other (Ibid., vi. 6. 3. 12). If both of them are united, that is, if spiritual power is associated with the temporal power, then that state could be all powerful. Thus the inconsistency of the texts is only apparent but not a fact. We must not confuse the Hindu conception of spiritual power and its relation to temporal power with that of the mediæval Holy Roman Empire. - [Previous: c8.s2.114](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.114) - [Next: c8.s3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s3.1) - [Up: c8.s2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2) ## Linked texts (1) - [Śatapathabrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.satapatha.5.3.1.2) — Yājñavalkya & Śāṇḍilya (Vedic teacher), Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.115](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.dikshitar-1929.c8.s2.115) · Pramāṇa