Polity In Ancient India
Kingship:
A survey of the texts of Ancient India gives us an insight into the political ideas of the age. the Vedas can be considered the primary source of political ideas while the Pali Canon talks about Buddhist political ideas. the Santi Parva of Mahabharat Also talks about the statecraft but the most authoritative source on ancient Indian statecraft is the Classic Arthashastra by Vishnu Gupta or Kautilya.
Kingship initially was based on human need and military action, the king’s first duty been provided leadership during war. but the divinity of kingship Rose due to the advent of the sacrificial cult. it was enhanced with the performance of three sacrifices namely:
Rajasuya: – Royal consecration ceremony whereby the king was identified with Indira, Prajapati and Vishnu.
Vajapeya: – Rejuvenation ceremony marked by drinking of Soma and Chariot races.
Ashwamedha: – a horse sacrifice intended to expand the king’s power through territorial expansion and to ensure fertility and prosperity of the kingdom.
The divine right theory of kingship was all-pervasive and all the dynasty is from the Maurya enforce this theory. while the Maurya assumed the title Devanamapia ( beloved of the Gods), the Kushans assumed Devaputras and the Guptas maharajadhiraja and all this shows their belief in divinity in kingship.
Manu was considered the first God. Except for Rajputs, who claims Descent from the fire God Agni, all other Kings claimed the Descent from Manu through the Ishvaku (Solar line) and Ila (Lunar line).
The sacred law Dharm, Brahmins, Council of Ministers and public opinion acted as cheques on Royal Absolutism and the king’s responsibility was the protection of the society which is his Dharma or sacred duty.
Succession was normally through primogeniture with a few exceptions when the eldest is unable to rule. abdication in favour of sons was seen in the case of Chandragupta Maurya and Chandragupta 1. when there was no primogeniture followed, the empire was weakened. Some things like the Sakas, Pallavas and later the Chola appointed Yuvaraja or head Prince and he was to succeed in case of the king’s death. in Kerala, the Cheras ruled through the male line but the king was the eldest son of the deceased King’s eldest sister. If a King died heirless The ruler was elected or appointed by the magnets like the Pala King Gopala, who was elected and Nandivarman Pallava, who was appointed.
Legal System:
Law was based on Rta (divine cosmic order) and Dharma. it was the king’s main duty to protect the Dharma and so he was the highest judicial authority. certain people like learnt brahmins, women, public servants, etc cannot be asked to give evidence. torture and ordeal could be used for grave offences. A brahmins murder invited the death penalty. there was no equality before the law in the modern sense as cast rules governed the dispensation of Justice.