Hindu Theories of the Origin of Kingship and Mr. K. P. Jayaswal—A Supplement
By Unexhibited
Summary
The text discusses Hindu theories on the origin of kingship, referencing Vedic and Puranic sources. It highlights the divine creation of kings, citing a text from an unknown Brahmana via Vivaripa’s commentary on the Yajnavalkya Smriti. This text describes how gods, failing to govern humans through benevolence, created a king (Narada) by combining divine qualities, as instructed by Prajapati. The king’s role is to protect people and uphold dharma. The text also mentions Brahmapurinam and Vispudharmottarapuranam, which outline rituals for royal consecration involving Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, and virtuous women. A debate arises on whether these guidelines imply popular suffrage in king selection. Additionally, the text references Kautilya’s Arthakastra, edited by Jolly and Schmidt, as part of the Punjab Sanskrit Series. It notes the series’ independent publication since 1922 without external funding. The author emphasizes the importance of manuscript preservation and suggests annual bulletins to track Oriental publications, avoiding duplication. The Punjab Sanskrit Depot’s efforts in publishing critical editions are acknowledged, alongside challenges in managing vast manuscript collections.
Conclusion
This analysis of Hindu theories on kingship's origins reveals a deliberate divine framework for royal authority, emphasizing Prajapati's role in creating kings as instruments of cosmic and moral order. The texts highlight a structured consecration process involving cross-caste participation, suggesting a communal endorsement of kingship's sacred mandate. The divine origin theory, reinforced by Puranic accounts, positions kings as unique intermediaries between gods and humans, tasked with maintaining societal harmony. These findings challenge purely electoral interpretations, underscoring instead a theocratic foundation for kingship's legitimacy, where royal power derives from divine delegation rather than mere human consensus. The document's focus on textual evidence from Brahmanas and Puranas provides a foundational framework for understanding kingship's theological underpinnings in Hindu tradition.