The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c18.23

c18.23

But the coronation of Ṛiṣabha, the first of the twenty-four Tirthakaras, in the 16th canto, is conducted in Brahmanic style. The account is also useful for other details which are probably true to facts. Water was brought from the Ganges, Sindhu (Indus) and other rivers (sacred only in the belief of Brāhmaṇas), for the consecration. The various holy waters, mixed with camphor, sandal, etc., and again with the essence of many kinds of flowers, were poured on Ṛiṣabha by "kings," that is, feudatories, among others. Jewels and many other precious articles were showered on him. His father Nābhi took the crown off his head and, with his own hands, placed it on that of Ṛiṣabha, saying, 'Ṛiṣabha is the protector of all the crowned heads, not I.'³ On this auspicious occasion, the capital Ayodhyā was astir with song and music and dance.⁴ Later, at the close of his own reign, Ṛiṣabha installed his son Bharata as king and another prince Bāhubali as Yuvarāja.⁵ On a yet later occasion in the narration of the Ādi Purāṇa, another consecration is performed in a similar style, at first by many great Râjas, then by inmates of the seraglio, by priests and by citizens.¹ Besides Nâbhi and Ṛiṣabha there are other kings or feudatories in the Âdi Purâṇa who renounced the world on the approach of age or even earlier and anointed their sons in their places. Religion could exercise this sort of influence even on those who had no decidedly spiritual turn of mind. For instance, Jayakumâra once entrusted the government to his younger brother, Vijayakumâra, and went to various places for enjoyment.² Later, he formally anointed his son and renounced the world.³ King Atibala suddenly realised that worldly dominion was contemptible and soul-killing and promptly renounced his country, family and all else.⁴ Other legends of the Âdi Purâṇa, however, show that kings, so long as they occupied the throne, generally lived a life of luxury and enjoyment. Lalitâṅgadeva, for instance, is said to have had four chief queens and four thousand other wives and to have spent countless years in enjoyment.⁵