Kingship in Ancient India: Genesis and Growth

Kingship was one of the most important political institutions of ancient India. This work provides new insights into the evolution of kingship in ancient India. It contains valuable information regarding the emergence, growth and development of the institution of kingship from the Vedic age to the twelfth century. The origin and antiquity of kingship, Kingship System and hereditary and elective kingship in the Vedic Age, political and constitutional significance of coronation and other ceremonies in Vedic and Post Vedic times, kinds and class of rulership, growth of imperialism, mode of royal succession, king and the state formation, political and diplomatic policies of the king, position, status, powers, functions, privileges and prerogatives of the king, constitutional and non-constitutional checks on the autocracy of the king, a limited monarchy, etc. have received the elaborate treatment at the hands of the authors. The work is largely based on the original sources: Sanskrit, Buddhist and Jain works, accounts of the foreign writers — Greek, Roman and Chinese–and coins and inscriptions besides the modern works and other relevant sources. The objective approach to the study of the subject, critical analyses of the data, scientific interpretations of the facts and lucid and comprehensible language constitute the distinguishing hallmark of the work. The work is very useful to the students, scholars and others, interested in the study of the origin and evolution of kingship in ancient India.