The State in Ancient India: A Study in the Structure and Practical Working of Political Institutions in North India in Ancient Times c19.50

c19.50

The scope of the activity of the state in Kashmir is the same as elsewhere in India. Irrigation, for instance, was cared for by the state. In the 8th century A.D., Lalitâditya distributed the water of the Vitastâ by constructing a series of water-wheels (IV, 212). Besides the cases of the foundation temples and vihâras, etc., already referred to, it may be mentioned that, according to the traditional history, the ancient king Meghavâhana began his reign by commanding his officials to proclaim everywhere by beat of drum that no living beings were to be slaughtered anywhere on any account (III, 5). With the same object in view he undertook a Digvijaya (III, 27) and made the conquered ` kings ' take a vow of abstinence from slaughter (III, 29). Butchers and others who had hitherto lived on the sale of meat were encouraged by grants from the royal treasury to adopt a sinless livelihood (III, 6). In strictly historical times, in the latter half of the ninth century A.D., Avantivarman issued a command—which was to be observed till the end of the world—prohibiting the killing of fishes and birds on a vast take (V, 119). It appears that the king exercised some supervision over the temples (V, 169). King Harṣa (1189—1201 A.D.) introduced new fashions in dress. Jayāpīḍa revived Sanskrit learning by attracting famous scholars and poets to his court towards the close of the 8th century A.D.