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Rājasuya

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Rājasuya literally means ‘to press out or generate a king’.

One of the Vedic sacrifices often mentioned by the purāṇas is the Rājasuya-yāga. It could be performed only by a kṣattriya or a king. Some authorities opined that it could be performed after the Vājapeya[1] while others felt that it should be done before. The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa[2] declares that one who performs the Rājasuya becomes a rājan[3] whereas the performer of the Vājapeya becomes a samrāt.[4] It is a rite of royal consecration and lasts for more than two years.

Rājasuya Ritual[edit]

The yajamāna or the sacrificer has to take the dīkṣā or preliminary vows on Phālguna-śukla-pratipad.[5] He then performs a Soma sacrifice called the Pavitra. The procedure for this is the same as for the Agniṣṭoma sacrifice. This is then followed by a series of iṣṭis[6] like:

Abhiṣecanīya rite[edit]

The most important part of the Rājasuya is the Abhiṣecanīya rite[8] wherein the water for the abhiṣeka[9] has to be brought from seventeen sources kept in seventeen vessels of udumbara wood[10] and poured on the sacrificer’s[11] head by several persons including the commoners. Then there is a symbolic march for the plunder of cows. A group of one hundred cows is ‘seized’ by the king and then given back to their owners. A dice-play in which the sacrificer-king always wins is also a part of the ritual. As in other sacrifices, the sacrificer has to take the avabhṛthasnāna or the concluding bath.

Fees for Rājasuya Ritual[edit]

The fees prescribed for this sacrifice is extremely heavy. It is 2,40,000 cows to the various priests. The Pāṇḍavas are said to have performed this sacrifice in their capital Indraprastha.[12]


References[edit]

  1. ↑ Vājapeya is another well-known sacrifice.
  2. ↑ Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa 9.3.4.8
  3. ↑ Rājan means king.
  4. ↑ Samrāt means the emperor.
  5. ↑ It is the first day of the bright half of the month of Phālguna, generally in February/March.
  6. ↑ Iṣṭis means sacrifices performed with oblatory materials like ghee and porridge.
  7. ↑ It is a rite to drive away demons
  8. ↑ Abhiṣecanīya rite is the rite of function lasting for five days.
  9. ↑ Abhiṣeka means the act of pouring the water on the head.
  10. ↑ Udumbara wood is Ficus glomearata.
  11. ↑ It is poured on the king’s head.
  12. ↑ Mahābhārata, Sabhāparva chapters. 33-45
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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