Raja#Related titles and variations
{{Short description|Monarch or princely ruler in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia}}
{{Other uses|Raja (disambiguation)|Rajah (disambiguation)|Rajan (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
File:Jai Singh and Shivaji.jpg of Amber receiving Shivaji a day before concluding the Treaty of Purandar (12 June 1665), Shivaji was later conferred with the title of Raja by emperor Aurangzeb.{{cite book | last=Eraly | first=A. | title=Emperors Of The Peacock Throne: The Saga of the Great Moghuls | publisher=Penguin Books Limited | year=2007 | isbn=978-93-5118-093-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h7kPQs8llvkC&pg=PT672 | access-date=2024-10-27 | page=672}}]]
{{Royal and noble ranks of West, Central, Southern Asia, and North Africa}}
Raja ({{IPAc-en|Λ|r|ΙΛ|dΚ|ΙΛ}}; from {{Langx|sa|ΰ€°ΰ€Ύΰ€ΰ€¨ΰ₯}}, IAST {{IAST|rΔjan-}}) is a noble or royal Sanskrit title historically used by some Indian rulers and monarchs and highest-ranking nobles. The title was historically used in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested from the Rigveda, where a {{IAST|rΔjan-}} is a ruler, see for example the Battle of the Ten Kings, the "Battle of Ten Kings".
The title has equivalent cognates in other Indo-European languages, notably the Latin Rex and the Celtic Rix.{{Cite journal |last=McCone |first=Kim |date=1998 |title='King' and 'Queen' in Celtic and Indo-European |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/30007840 |journal=Γriu |volume=49 |pages=1β12 |issn=0332-0758}}
Raja-ruled Indian states
{{princely states topics}}
While most of the Indian salute states (those granted a gun salute by the British Crown) were ruled by a Maharaja (or variation; some promoted from an earlier Raja- or equivalent style), even exclusively from 13 guns up, a number had Rajas:
; Hereditary salutes of 11-guns :
- the Raja of Ali Rajpur
- the Raja of Bilaspur
- the Raja of Chamba
- the Raja of Faridkot
- the Raja of Jhabua
- the Raja of Mandi
- the Raja of Manipur
- the Raja of Narsinghgarh
- the Raja of Pudukkottai
- the Raja of Rajgarh
- the Raja of Sangli
- the Raja of Sailana
- the Raja of Samthar
- the Raja of Sitamau
- the Raja of Suket
; Hereditary salutes of 9-guns (11-guns personal) :
; Hereditary salute of 9-guns (11-guns local) :
- the Raja of Savantwadi
; Hereditary salutes of 9-guns :
; Hereditary salute of 9-guns{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uIzJDQAAQBAJ&q=jawhar+9+guns+salute&pg=PA167|title=The Statesman's Year-Book: Statistical and Historical Annual of the States of the World for the Year 1939|last=Epstein|first=M.|date=2016-12-23|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780230270688}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qbI-AQAAIAAJ&q=jawhar+9+guns+salute&pg=PA10|title=The Pioneer Mail and Indian Weekly News|date=1921}}
- the Raja of Chhota Udepur
- the Raja of Khilchipur
- the Raja of Maihar
- the Raja of Mudhol
- the Raja of Nagod
- the Raja of Sant
- the Raja of Shahpura
; Personal salute of 9-guns :
- the Raja of Bashahr
List of Rajas in Bali
{{Main|List of monarchs of Bali}}
=Rajas of [[Gelgel]]=
- Εri Kesari Warmadewa (fl. 914)
- Ugrasena (fl. 915β942)
- Tabanendra Warmadewa (fl. 955β967)
- Indrajayasingha Warmadewa (co-regent, fl. 960)
- Janasadhu Warmadewa (fl. 975)
- Εri Wijaya Mahadewi (queen, fl. 983)
- Gunapriya Dharmapatni (queen, before 989β1007)
- Dharma Udayana Warmadewa (fl. 989β1011) [husband]
- Εri AjΓ±adewi (queen, fl. 1016)
- Dharmawangsa Wardhana Marakatapangkaja (fl. 1022β1025) [son of Dharma Udayana]
- Airlangga (c. 1025β1042; King in Java from 1019) [brother]
- Anak WungΓ§u (fl. 1049β1077) [brother]
- Εri Maharaja Walaprabhu (between 1079 and 1088)
- Εri Maharaja Sakalendukirana Laksmidhara Wijayottunggadewi (queen, fl. 1088β1101)
- Εri Suradhipa (fl. 1115β1119)
Jaya Dynasty
- Εri JayaΕakti (fl. 1133β1150)
- Ragajaya (fl. 1155)
- Jayapangus (fl. 1178β1181)
- Arjayadengjayaketana (queen, fl. 1200)
- Haji Ekajayalancana (co-regent fl. 1200) [son]
- Bhatara Guru Εri Adikuntiketana (fl. 1204)
- Adidewalancana (fl. 1260)
- Queen of Bali, name unknown (?β1284) β in 1284, Kertanegara attacked Bali and captured the queen of Bali{{Cite book |author1=John Norman Miksic |author2=Goh Geok Yian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zjklDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA464 |page=464|title=Ancient Southeast Asia |date=2016-10-14 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-317-27904-4}}
Singasari subjugates Bali 1284
- Rajapatih Makakasar Kebo Parud (Governor, fl. 1296β1300)
Native rulers reemergence
- Mahaguru Dharmottungga Warmadewa (before 1324β1328)
- Walajayakertaningrat (1328-?) [son]
- Εri Astasura Ratna Bumi Banten (fl. 1332β1337)
Majapahit conquers Bali 1343
Dynasty of Samprangan and Gelgel
- Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan (14th century or c. 1471?; King of Bali in Samprangan)
Vassalage under Majapahit 1343-c. 1527
- Dalem Samprangan (14th century or c. 1502?) [son]
- Dalem Ketut (late 14th century or c. 1520?; King of Bali in Gelgel) [brother]
- Dalem Baturenggong (mid 16th century) [son]
- Dalem Bekung (fl. 1558β1578 or 1630s) [son]
- Dalem Seganing (c. 1580β1623 or ?-1650) [son]
- Dalem Di Made (1623β1642 or 1655β1665) [son]
- Dewa Pacekan (1642β1650; position uncertain) [son]
- Dewa Cawu (1651-c. 1655, died 1673; position uncertain) [uncle]
- Anglurah Agung (usurper c. 1665β1686)
=Rajas of [[Mengwi]]=
- Gusti Agung Εakti (Gusti Agung Anom) (c. 1690β1722)
- Gusti Agung Made Alangkajeng (1722-c. 1740) [son]
- Gusti Agung Putu Mayun (1740s) [nephew]
- Gusti Agung Made Munggu (1740sβ1770/80) [brother]
- Gusti Agung Putu Agung (1770/80-1793/94) [son]
- Gusti Ayu Oka Kaba-Kaba (regent 1770/80-1807) [mother, grandmother]
- Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung I (1807β1823) [son of Gusti Agung Putu Agung]
- Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung II Putra (1829β1836) [son]
- Gusti Agung Ketut Besakih (1836-1850/55) [brother]
- Dutch suzerainty 1843β1891
- Gusti Ayu Istri Biang Agung (1836β1857) [widow of Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung Putra]
- Gusti Agung Ngurah Made Agung III (1859β1891) [descendant of Gusti Agung Putu Mayun]
- Mengwi destroyed by Klungkung, Badung, Gianyar and Tabanan 1891
=Rajas of [[Tabanan Regency|Tabanan]]=
- Εri Magade Nata [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Langwang (Prabhu Singasana) [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Tabanan (Prabhu Winalwan) [son]
- Gusti Wayahan Pamedekan (?-1647) [son]
- Gusti Made Pamedekan (1647-c. 1650) [brother]
- Gusti Ngurah Tabanan (Prabhu Winalwanan) (second time, c. 1650-?)
- Prabhu Nisweng Panida (?-1654?) [son of Gusti Made Pamedekan]
- Gusti Made Dalang (1654?-?) [brother]
- Gusti Nengah Malkangin [son of Gusti Wayahan Pamedekan]
- Gusti Bolo di Malkangin [son of Prabhu Winalwanan]
- Gusti Agung Badeng (regent late 17th century) [son-in-law of Gusti Made Pamedekan]
- Prabhu Magada Εakti (c. 1700) [son of Prabhu Nisweng Panida]
- Anglurah Mur Pamade [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Sekar (fl. 1734) [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Gede [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Made Rai (?-1793) [brother]
- Gusti Ngurah Rai Penebel (1793-c. 1820) [brother]
- Gusti Ngurah Ubung (c. 1820) [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Agung I (c. 1820β1843) [grandson of Gusti Ngurah Made Rai]
- Dutch suzerainty 1843β1906
- Gusti Ngurah Agung II (1843β1903) [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Rai Perang ( Gusti Ngurah Agung III)(1903β1906) [son]
- Dutch conquest 1906
- Cokorda Ngurah Ketut (1929β1939) [nephew]
- Gusti Ngurah Wayan (Jero Kompyang Tabanan) (regent 1939β1944)
- Cokorda Ngurah Gede (1944β1950, kepala 1950β1955, died 1987) [son of Cokorda Ngurah Ketut]
- Tabanan incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
- Cokorda Anglurah Tabanan (titular head of the dynasty 21 March 2008 β ...) [son]
=Rajas of [[Karangasem Regency|Karangasem]]=
- Gusti Nyoman Karang (c. 1600)
- Anglurah Ketut Karang [son]
- Anglurah Nengah Karangasem (late 17th century) [son]
- Anglurah Ketut Karangasem (fl. 1691β1692) [brother]
- Anglurah Made Karang [son of Anglurah Nengah Karangasem]
- Gusti Wayahan Karangasem (fl. 1730) [son of Anglurah Ketut Karangasem]
- Anglurah Made Karangasem Εakti (Bagawan Atapa Rare) (1730s) [son of Anglurah Made Karang]
- Anglurah Made Karangasem (1730sβ1775) [son]
- Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem (1775β1806) [grandson]
- Gusti Gede Ngurah Lanang (1806β1822) [nephew]
- Gusti Gede Ngurah Pahang (1822) [grandson of Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem]
- Gusti Gede Ngurah Lanang (second time 1822β1828; died 1837)
- Gusti Bagus Karang (1828β1838; died 1839) [son of Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem]
- Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem (1838β1849) [nephew]
- Lombok overlordship in Karangasem 1849β1894
- Gusti Made Jungutan (Gusti Made Karangasem) (vassal ruler 1849β1850) [former punggawa (local chief)]
- Gusti Gede Putu (vassal ruler 1850β1893) [nephew of Lombok raja]
- Gusti Gede Oka (vassal ruler 1850β1890) [brother]
- Gusti Gede Jelantik (1890β1908; died 1916) [brother]
- Anak Agung Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem (1908β1950; died 1966) [son of Gusti Gede Putu]
- Karangasem incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
- Anak Agung Gde Jelantik (kepala 1951β1958) [son]
=Rajas of [[Jembrana Regency|Jembrana]]=
Agung Dynasty
- Gusti Agung Basangtamiang (17th century) [son of Gelgel minister Gusti Agung Widya]
- Gusti Brangbangmurti [son]
- Gusti Gede Giri (c. 1700) [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Tapa [son]
- Gusti Made Yasa [brother]
- Gusti Gede Andul (first half of the 18th century) [son]
Dynasty from Mengwi
- Gusti Ngurah Agung Jembrana (mid 18th century) [grandson of Gusti Agung Sakti of Mengwi]
- Gusti Ngurah Batu (regent ?-1766) [son]
- Gusti Gede Jembrana (1766-?) [nephew]
- Gusti Putu Andul (before 1797β1809) [son]
- Gusti Rahi (regent for Badung, fl. 1805)
- Kapitan Patimi (regent, Buginese, c. 1805β1808)
- Gusti Wayahan Pasekan (regent c. 1812β1814)
- Gusti Made Pasekan (regent c. 1812β1814) [brother]
- Gusti Putu Sloka (1809β1835) [son of Gusti Putu Andul]
- Gusti Alit Mas (regent c. 1835β1840)
- Gusti Putu Dorok (regent c. 1835β1840) [great-grandson of Gusti Ngurah Batu]
- Gusti Made Penarungan (regent c. 1840β1849)
- Gusti Ngurah Made Pasekan (regent c. 1840β1849)
- Dutch suzerainty 1843β1882
- Gusti Putu Ngurah Sloka (1849β1855; died 1876) [son of Gusti Putu Sloka]
- Gusti Ngurah Made Pasekan (patih 1849β1855; raja 1855β1866)
- Anak Agung Made Rai (regent 1867β1882; died 1905) [grandson of Gusti Putu Andul]
- Dutch direct rule in Jembrana 1882β1929
- Anak Agung Bagus Negara (1929β1950, kepala 1950β1960; died 1967) [grandson of Anak Agung Made Rai]
- Jembrana incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
=Rajas of [[Buleleng Regency|Buleleng]]=
Dynasty of Panji Εakti
- Gusti Panji Εakti (c. 1660-1697/99)
- Gusti Panji Wayahan Danurdarastra (1697/99-1732) [son]
- Gusti Alit Panji (1732-c. 1757/65) [son]
- Dependent on Mengwi first half of the 18th century
- Gusti Ngurah Panji (in Sukasadda c. 1757/65) [son]
- Dependent on Karangasem c. 1757β1806
- Gusti Ngurah Jelantik (in Singaraja c. 1757/65-c. 1780) [brother]
- Gusti Made Jelantik (c. 1780β1793) [son]
- Gusti Made Singaraja (1793-?) [nephew]
Karangasem Dynasty
- Anak Agung Rai (?-1806) [son of Gusti Gede Ngurah Karangasem]
- Gusti Gede Karang (1806β1818) [brother]
- Gusti Gede Ngurah Pahang (1818β1822) [son]
- Gusti Made Oka Sori (1822β1825) [nephew of Gusti Gede Karang]
- Gusti Ngurah Made Karangasem (1825β1849) [nephew of Gusti Gede Karang]
Dynasty of Panji Εakti
- Gusti Made Rai (1849, 1851β1853) [great-great-grandson of Gusti Ngurah Panji]
- Dependency of Bangli 1849β1854
- Gusti Ngurah Ketut Jelantik (1854β1873; regency 1853β1861; died 1893) [descended from Gusti Ngurah Jelantik]
- Dutch direct rule 1882β1929
- Anak Agung Putu Jelantik (regent 1929β1938; anak agung 1938β1944) [descended from Gusti Ngurah Jelantik]
- Anak Agung Nyoman Panji Tisna (1944β1947) [son]
- Anak Agung Ngurah Ketut Jelantik (1947β1950; died 1970) [brother]
- Buleleng incorporated in Indonesian unitary state 1950
- Anak Agung Nyoman Panji Tisna (kepala 1950β1958; died 1978)
=Rajas of [[Gianyar Regency|Gianyar]]=
- Dewa Manggis I Kuning (chief of Pahang)
- Dewa Manggis II Pahang (chief of Pahang) [son]
- Dewa Manggis III Bengkel (chief of Bengkel) [son]
- Dewa Manggis IV Jorog (Raja of Gianyar c. 1771β1788) [son]
- Dewa Manggis V di Madya (c. 1788β1820) [son]
- Dewa Manggis VI di Rangki (c. 1820β1847) [son]
- Dewa Manggis VII di Satria (1847β1884; died 1891) [son]
- Dependency of Klungkung 1884β1891
- Dewa Pahang (1891β1896) [son]
- Dewa Manggis VIII (Dewa Gede Raka until 1908) (1896β1912) [brother]
- Ide Anak Agung Ngurah Agung (ruler (anak agung) 1913β1943) [son]
- Ide Anak Agung Gede Agung (1943β1946; died 1999) [son]
- Ide Anak Agung Gede Oka (1946β1950, kepala 1950β1958; died 1993) [brother]
- Gianyar incorporated in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
=Rajas of [[Sukawati]] and [[Ubud]]=
Dynasty from Klungkung
- Dewa Agung Anom (Raja of Sukawati before 1713β1733)
- Dewa Agung Gede Mayun Dalem Patemon (1733-before 1757) [son]
- Dewa Agung Gede Sukawati (c. 1757) [son]
- Dewa Agung Made Pliatan (second half of 18th century) [brother]
Lordship of Ubud, under Gianyar suzerainty
- Cokorda Putu Kandel (c. 1800) [son]
- Cokorda Sukawati (19th century) [son]
- Cokorda Rai Batur (fl. 1874) [son]
- Cokorda Gede Sukawati (before 1889β1919) [son]
- Cokorda Gede Raka Sukawati (1919β1931; died 1967) [son]
- Cokorda Gede Agung Sukawati (1931β1950; died 1978) [brother]
- Gianyar with Ubud incorporated in Indonesian unitary state 1950
=Rajas of Pamecutan in [[Badung Regency|Badung]]=
Dynasty from Tabanan
- Prabhu Bandana, Arya Notor Wanira (17th century) [son of Shri Magade Nata, King of Tabanan]
- Gusti Ngurah Papak [son]
- Gusti Jambe Pule (c. 1660β1683) [son]
- Split in a Jambe and Pamecutan line 1683
- Gusti Jambe Merik (1683-?) [son]
- Gusti Jambe Ketewel [son]
- Gusti Jambe Tangkeban (c. 1757) [son]
- Gusti Jambe Aji [son]
- Gusti Jambe Ksatria (?-1780) [son]
Rajas of Pamecutan
- Gusti Macan Gading (1683-?) [son of Gusti Jambe Pule]
- Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Εakti (fl. 1718) [son]
- Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Mur ing Ukiran [son]
- Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Bhija [son]
- Split in a Pamecutan and Den Pasar line c. 1780
- Kyai Agung Gede Raka (?-1813) [son]
- Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Mur ing Gedong (1813β1829) [son]
- Anak Agung Lanang (1829β1840) [grandson of Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Bhija]
- Kyai Agung Gede Woka Mur ing Madarda (1840β1851) [son]
- Cokorda Agung Pamecutan (ruler (cokorda) 1851β1906) [nephew]
- Dutch conquest of Badung with Pamecutan 1906
- Cokorda Ngurah Gede Pamecutan (of entire Badung 1946β1950, kepala 1950β1959; died 1986) [grandnephew]
- Badung included in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
=Rajas of Kasiman in Badung=
- Gusti Ngurah Gede Kasiman (1813β1861) [son of Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan of Den Pasar]
- Gusti Ngurah Ketut Geledog (1861β1904) [son]
- Anak Agung Ngurah Mayun (1904β1906)
- Dutch conquest of Badung with Kasiman 1906
- Gusti Ngurah Made (lord (punggawa) 1927β1954; died 1959) [son]
=Rajas of [[Denpasar]] in Badung=
- Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan (Kaleran) (before 1780β1817) [great-grandson of Kyai Anglurah Pamecutan Sakti]
- Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan Dewata di Satria (1817β1828) [son]
- Domination by Kasiman 1829β1861
- Gusti Ngurah Gede Oka (titular raja 1829-1842/48) [son]
- Gusti Ngurah Made Pamecutan (titular raja, mid 19th century) [brother]
- Gusti Gede Ngurah Pamecutan (Cokorda Alit Ngurah I) (1861β1890) [son]
- Cokorda Alit Ngurah II (ruler (cokorda) 1890β1902) [son]
- Cokorda Made Agung (1902β1906) [brother]
- Dutch conquest of Badung 1906
- Cokorda Alit Ngurah III (of entire Badung 1929β1946; died 1965) [son of Cokorda Alit Ngurah II]
- Rulership goes to Pamecutan line 1946
=Rajas of [[Bangli Regency|Bangli]]=
- Dewa Gede Tangkeban I (of Nyalian ?-1804)
- Dewa Rai (c. 1804β1815)
- Dewa Gede Tangkeban II (c. 1815β1833) [son of Dewa Gede Tangkeban I]
- Dewa Gede Tangkeban III (1833β1875) [son]
- Dewa Gede Oka (1875β1880) [son]
- Dewa Gede Ngurah (1881β1892) [brother]
- Dewa Gede Cekorda (1894β1911) [brother]
- Dewa Gede Rai (regent 1913β1925) [brother]
- Dewa Gede Taman (regent 1925β1930) [grandson of Dewa Gede Tangkaban III]
- Dewa Putu Bukian (caretaker 1930β1931) [grandson of Dewa Gede Tangkaban III]
- Anak Agung Ketut Ngurah (ruler (anak agung) 1931β1950, kepala 1950β1960; died 1961) [son of Dewa Gede Cekorda]
- Bangli is included in the Indonesian unitary state 1950
Rajadharma
File:Nainsukh 2013GB2044 jpg l.jpg assesses a horse, by Nainsukh, {{circa|1740s}}; it was usual for horses to be shown off in front of a white sheet, to better appreciate their form.]]{{Main|Rajadharma}}
{{See also|Dharma|Dharmaraja (disambiguation){{!}}Dharmaraja}}
Rajadharma is the dharma that applies to the king, or the raja. Dharma is that which upholds, supports, or maintains the order of the universe and is based on truth.Lariviere, 1989 It is of central importance in achieving order and balance within the world and does this by demanding certain necessary behaviors from people.
The king served two main functions as the raja: obligatory and religious.Kane, p.101 The religious functions involved certain acts for propitiating gods, removing dangers, and guarding dharma, among other things. The obligatory functions involved helping prosperity (such as during times of famine), dealing out even-handed justice, and protecting people and their property. Once he helped the Vibhore to reach his goal by giving the devotion of his power in order to reduce the poverty from his kingdom.
Protection of his subjects was seen as the first and foremost duty of the king. This was achieved by punishing internal aggression, such as thieves among his people, and meeting external aggression, such as attacks by foreign entities.Kane, p.56 Moreover, the king possessed executive, judicial, and legislative dharmas, which he was responsible for carrying out. If he did so wisely, the king believed that he would be rewarded by reaching the pinnacle of the abode of the Sun, or heaven.Lariviere, p.19 However, if the king carried out his office poorly, he feared that he would suffer hell or be struck down by a deity.Kane, p.96 As scholar Charles Drekmeier notes, "dharma stood above the king, and his failure to preserve it must accordingly have disastrous consequences". Because the king's power had to be employed subject to the requirements of the various ashramas and varnas' dharma, failure to "enforce the code" transferred guilt on to the ruler, and according to Drekmeier some texts went so far as to justify revolt against a ruler who abused his power or inadequately performed his dharma. In other words, dharma as both the king's tool of coercion and power, yet also his potential downfall, "was a two-edged sword".Drekmeier, p.10
The executive duty of the king was primarily to carry out punishment, or daαΉαΈa.Kane, p.21 For instance, a judge who would give an incorrect verdict out of passion, ignorance, or greed is not worthy of the office, and the king should punish him harshly.Lariviere, p.18 Another executive dharma of the king is correcting the behavior of brahmins that have strayed from their dharma, or duties, through the use of strict punishment.Lariviere, p.48 These two examples demonstrated how the king was responsible for enforcing the dharmas of his subjects, but also was in charge of enforcing rulings in more civil disputes.Derrett, p.598 Such as if a man is able to repay a creditor but does not do so out of mean-spiritedness, the king should make him pay the money and take five percent for himself.Lariviere, p.67
The judicial duty of the king was deciding any disputes that arose in his kingdom and any conflicts that arose between dharmashastra and practices at the time or between dharmashastra and any secular transactions.Kane, p.9 When he took the judgment seat, the king was to abandon all selfishness and be neutral to all things.Lariviere, p.10 The king would hear cases such as thefts, and would use dharma to come to a decision.Lariviere, p.8 He was also responsible for making sure that the witnesses were honest and truthful by way of testing them. If the king conducted these trials according to dharma, he would be rewarded with wealth, fame, respect, and an eternal place in heaven, among other things.Lariviere, p.9 However, not all cases fell upon the shoulders of the king. It was also the king's duty to appoint judges that would decide cases with the same integrity as the king.Lariviere, p.20
The king also had a legislative duty, which was utilized when he would enact different decrees, such as announcing a festival or a day of rest for the kingdom.Kane, p.98
Rajadharma largely portrayed the king as an administrator above all else.Kane, p.31 The main purpose for the king executing punishment, or danda, was to ensure that all of his subjects were carrying out their own particular dharmas. For this reason, rajadharma was often seen as the root of all dharma and was the highest goal.Kane, p.3 The whole purpose of the king was to make everything and everyone prosper.Kane, p.11 If they were not prospering, the king was not fulfilling his dharma.Kane, p.62 He had to carry out his duties as laid down in the science of government and "not act at his sweet will." Indeed, in the major writings on dharma (i.e. dharmasastra, etc.), the dharma of the king was regarded as the "capstone" of the other varnas' dharma both due to the king's goal of securing the happiness and prosperity of his peopleDerret, p.599 as well as his ability to act as the "guarantor" of the whole social structure through the enforcement of daαΉαΈa.Drekmeier, p.10-11
In contemporary India, an idea pervades various levels of Hindu society: the "Ramarajya", or a kind of Hindu Golden Age in which through his strict adherence to rajadharma as outline in the Hindu epics and elsewhere, Rama serves as the ideal model of the perfect Hindu king. As Derrett put it, "everyone lives at peace" because "everyone knows his place" and could easily be forced into that place if necessary.
See also
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- Derrett, J.D.M. "Rajadharma." The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 35, No. 4 (Aug. 1976), pp. 597β609
- Drekmeier, Charles. Kingship and Community in Early India. Stanford: Stanford UP, 1962.
- Kane, Pandurang Vaman. 1968. History of DharmaΕΔstra: Ancient and MediΓ¦val Religious and Civil Law in India. [2d ed.] rev. and enl. Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.
- Lariviere, Richard W. 1989. "The Naradasmrti." University of Pennsylvania Studies on South Asia.
External links
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