Kings Power

WAS KINGSHIP ELECTIVE?

It remains easy to understand the concept and selection of a Kulapati - he was the family patriarch; the selection of a vispati and janapati remains speculative. Assumably, the seniormost kulpati was accorded the honour of being the vispati. Similarly, the choice of janapati was possibly based on like consideration. Kings (janapatis) were elected on occasion by the visas (people), as we know from the
Rig-Veda. The Atharva-Veda recommends this form of selection, although it was in all probability the vispatis rather than the general populace who formed the electorate. This text contains, too, the assuring 'Let your enemies challenge you, we have elected you' message from the people to their King. He was generally more feared than loved, elections a rare occurrence, and kingship more often than not hereditary . The Vedic period witnessed, for instance, hereditary kingship over four generations of the Purus and ten generations of the Srnjayas.

The Vedic kingdom could not have been larger than the city-state of ancient Greece. This was to change during the later Vedic period and the Brahmanas testify to the concept of an empire 'from the Himalayas to the seas'. References have also been made to the exalted political status of samrat (or emperor) and the rajasuya and asvamedha sacrifices. Titles such as raja, maharaja, svarat, bhoja, and samrat are indicative of the different levels of power and status attributed to and wielded by Kings. These differences, although not clearly stipulated, are referred to in later
Vedic literature.

KING'S POWER

Initially, the elected monarch was a 'first among equals' (as was the Homeric king) - he accepted his elected post but could not ipso facto demand taxes. Voluntary payments and gifts were the norm. His power remained restricted, and tellingly enough, a poet is depicted as offering prayers on the King's behalf - for the receipt of regular taxes from the people! This changed with the gradual increase in monarchial power, signalled by court grandeur, land ownership and the possession of cattle herds. This, together with his existent command of the military force, led to a position of absolute strength. Religion was never far behind - religious duties were the domain of the royal purohit (priest) who was vital to the continuing prosperity of realm and ruler. The King, like the pharoahs of Egypt, performed no religious ceremonies himself.

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