Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c36.67

c36.67

§ 220. The Abhishechana is twofold, the first part is the sprinkling of waters by what may be described as different estates of the realm, and the second is the theological anointing on the head by the priest just before the king-elect ascends the throne (āsandī). A tiger skin is spread in front of the Mitrā-Varuṇa's hearth and the king-elect steps upon it. Four men, one after another sprinkle him—a Brahmin, a kinsman of the king-elect, a Rājanya, and a Vaiśya which literally means 'one of the people'. The Śūdra is absent and the kinsman seems to be a tautology. The latter is not found in the corresponding Taittirīya ritual (Taitt. Br., I. 7. 8. ) where the Priest as Brahmin, Rājanya, Vaiśya, and lastly, Janya, do the besprinkling. The last one, Janya, stands for the Śūdra in the sense of a man of the 'hostile' tribe as in the Aitareya Brāhmaṇa, VIII. 26., and as originally he was. In later times the Śūdra always appears.