Essay name: Vasudevahindi (cultural history)
Author:
A. P. Jamkhedkar
Affiliation: Savitribai Phule Pune University / Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute Pune
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 Vasudevahimdi is a romantic and religious tale that revolves around the wanderings of Vasudeva (a former Jain monk) and religious teachings in the guise of love stories, a common theme of poetry in Jainism.
Chapter 2 - Political conditions
3 (of 115)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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35
The Vh (M) has nothing new to offer in connection
with the origin of kingship, but it exalts the king in one
place to the status of a lokapala (the guardian of one of
the four quarters). The king was conceived as the fifth
1 lokapala of the world and as such the people were expected
to accept his overlordship inspite of the difference in
religious faith. A pasamdi a hermit in the case given
in the Vh (M)
-
-
was expected to honour a king even though
the latter was a follower of Jaina religion
Cakravartin :
2 鈥�
Parallel to the Tirthankara who was the saviour
of the humanity in the spiritual field, Jainism also conceives
the idea of a saviour endowed with temporal powers. He was
the Cakravartin. Bharaha, the eldest son (padhamasuo)
of
Usabha, succeeded him to the throne of Kosala kingdom. On
1. Vh(M), II. 14b; Similarly in the Brahmanical conception
the king is said to possess the essences (amsa) of the
eight dikpalas; MDS, VII, 4, 7.
2. Vh(M), II. 14b.
