Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c18.69

c18.69

§ 103. It should be borne in mind that in all these classes of constitutions, the ceremony of consecration was deemed essential. Without that there was no legal state. And why so? The rulers had to take the oath of good and honest government. The ceremony was so important that in democratic republics where the whole country was supposed to rule (Vairājya), the whole country took abhisheka consecration by a special ritual.¹ The Lichchhavis had their *abhisheka* (above p. 51, n. 2), and the Mallas had their fixed place where their rulers in taking office went through 'coronation,' (*Mukuṭa-bandhana*, 'putting on the coronet,' MPS, 6. 15) which pre-supposes *abhisheka* (§ 220 below). 'Un-anointed' ruler is a term of contempt in Hindu politics. It is to denote an unlawful ruler. It is applied to foreign tribes in the Purāṇas²