A History of Hindu Political Theories from the Earliest Times to the End of the First Quarter of the Seventeenth Century A.D. c7.61

c7.61

The theory of the creation of Indra’s sovereignty by the highest of the gods fits in with the view of kingship in the Brāhmaṇas, which, as we have seen, not only represent the monarch as a god in innumerable passages, but also derive his authority in one place from his divinity. A somewhat different theory of the foundation of Indra's kingship is presented in a passage of the Ait. Br. introducing its description of the Great Unction (Mahābhiṣeka) ceremony. “The gods headed by Prajāpati said to one another, ‘This one is among the gods the most vigorous, the most strong, the most valiant, the most perfect, who carries best out any work (to be done). Let us instal him to the kingship.’ They all consented to perform just this ceremony (Mahābhiṣeka) on Indra.”/∗ In this passage it will be observed, Indra's sovereignty is sought to be derived from the election of the gods, Prajāpati himself figuring as the chief of the divine electors. Further, the ground of Indra's election is declared to be his possession of the highest qualities of body and mind.† This version of the origin of monarchy is afterwards reproduced in the Buddhist canon, with the important addition of an original contract fixing the respective duties of the king and his subjects. It may, therefore, be held that the Brāhmaṇa anticipates in some measure the celebrated theory of Social Contract of later times.