Pre-Buddhist India: A Political, Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey of Ancient India Based Mainly on the Jataka Stories c4.t2.330

c4.t2.330

We may still go deeper into the royal splendour and paraphernalia. The jewelled throne and the white umbrella are the two majestic symbols of kingship.¹³ Descriptions of the court occurring frequently, besides being interesting from the political standpoint, give us an idea of the royal splendour—not quite exaggerated. We read: "Entering the city the Bodhisatta passed into the spacious hall of the palace and then seated himself in all his godlike beauty on his jewelled throne beneath the white umbrella of his kingship. Round him in glittering splendour stood his ministers and Brahmins and nobles, whilst sixteen thousand nautch girls, fair as the nymphs of heaven, sang and danced and made music, till the palace was loud with sounds like the ocean when the storm bursts in thunder on its water."¹ And in another place² we find him "seated in majesty and splendour beneath a white canopy of sovereignty upon a throne of gold with legs as of a gazelle...." His solemn processions round the city, specially on occasions like his return from expeditions, are awe-inspiring.³