Vasudevahindi (cultural history)
by A. P. Jamkhedkar | 1965 | 134,331 words
This essay is an English study of the Vasudevahindi reflecting cultural history and traditions of the life of people in ancient and medieval India during the 6th century. The Vasudevahindi is a romantic and religious tale divided into two parts. The first part is attributed to Sanghadasa (6th century A.D.) and explores the wanderings of Dhammilla a...
8. Servants in the Audience-hall of the King
According to the Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa the arrival of visitors was reported by the padihara to the king when he was in the private quarters or in the court 5. It was not possible to have a meeting with the king if a person was not allowed by the padiharab. The king" also had persons who could be employed as messengers, carrying written messages 8. The Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa informs us that magadhas and padhagas who were bards singing songs appropriate to the time and place in praise of the king, moved with the latter the 1. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II. 194b, 21lb. 2. Ibid., II. 194b. 4. Ibid. 6. Ibid., 253. 3. Ibid., II. 21lb. 5. Vasudevahindi by Sanghadasa, 99, 233. 7. Ibid., 311-17. 8. Ibid., 80.
66 whole day right from his awakening1. The Kamcuki, who is described to be wearing a waist-band and holding a staff covered with a sheet of gold, attended upon the king along with other servants2. About Padihara who attended the king when he entered the audience-hall the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa states that from the entrance to the throne of the king there was something like a chain of padiharas (padihara-parampara) who reported to the king the arrival of a dignitory. The procedure of such a report has been described as follows. While speaking to the king the padihara bent on his knees to observe proper decorum. If the king wished to see the person, permission to such an effect was immediately conveyed again through the padihara-chain 3. The padiharas could prevent any person from entering the palace unless the person concerned was freely allowed to enter by the king himself 4. 1. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II.148a. A magadha had influence in the court of the king; Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II.177b.%; padhaga, Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa; II.190. Bards accompanied the king in tours and wars; Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II.145a, 54a. 2. Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa, II.55b-56a. 3. Ibid., II.78ab, 149a, 203b. 4. Ibid., II.33b.
67 The messengers (lehaharaya) of the king moved to several countries with sealed letters (muddaleha) and signs of recognition (sabhinnana) from the members of royal family. This has been referred to in the Vasudevahindi by Dharmadasa 1.