History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c62.193

v4.c62.193

The successor should be bathed with water in which sesame and mustard are mixed, proclamation should be issued in his name that he has succeeded as king, the purohita and astrologer should show him to the people while he occupies a seat other than that occupied by the late king; the king should honour the people, proclaim peace and security, set free some prisoners and wait for the formal coronation. The Rājanītiprakāśa (p. 62) adds that on the death of a king his successor should be crowned one year thereafter and that when a king abdicates his successor may be crowned on any auspicious day without waiting for a year. From the fact that the Kaliṅga king Khāravela was crowned in his 25th year and the fact that the Bārhaspatyasūtra¹¹¹ (I. 89-90) states that up to the 25th year the prince may spend his time in play and education and then in earning wealth, Jayaswal (in 'Hindu Polity' part II. p. 52) concludes that a Hindu coronation could not take place before the 25th year. This is proving too much. The Bārhaspatya-sūtra says *not a word about the age of coronation*. Authorities like the Viṣṇudharmottara require waiting for a year only after the death of the former king.