BEGINNING OF MONARCHY IN INDIA

IKSHVAKU -THE FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY

The first historically important king of India was Ikshvaku  said to be a son of mythical Manu Vaivasvata. He is the founder and ancestor of Sun dynasty .  He is reported to have set up his colonies at a number of places and expanded the sphere of influence of the Aryan tribes by  struggles, conquests and colonization. The Ramayana   clearly describes Ikshvaku as the son of Manu.

Ikshvaku was undoutedly one of the earliest and most important Indo-Aryan monarchs of India, but he is speculated by some scholars (including Max Müller) as having been not a descendant of Manu but the chief of a tribe called Ikshvakus located on the upper reaches of river Indus. He also finds mention in the Rig-Veda (X.60.4.6), where he is described ‘as rich and dazzling’ and  his rule is stated to be glorious and full of splendour. The Aryan civilization was established and spread over the Sapta Sindhu  region by king Ikshvaku. He established the first stable monarchy after the Deluge, in the early Bronze age probably in the same period the Indus Valley Civilisation was taking shape.   The Ramayana supports this view when it says clearly that the first kingdom was established only after the Satya yuga though the Aryan tribes are said to be dominating the Sapta sindhu region for over  sixty centuries as the modern researches confirm

Ikshvaku established the rule of law - a law grounded in grace and justice - developed and heralded a golden age during which time Arya-vartha, the Aryan homeland, became a paradise on earth. He is considered one of the wisest, bravest and greatest kings ever. Ikshvaku was also a contemporary of Persian king Jamsheed and king Ukusi of Sumeria. He is said to have defeated the materialistic Panis,who were occupying Afghanistan .Panis later known as Phoenicians  were maritime people and business magnates who always quarrelled and fought with the Indian Aryans,  living on the banks of the Indus and that the latter knew them as Panis.

 Professor. L.A.Waddell ( 1854-1938 ) finds Ikshvaku to be identical with  king Ukusi, the  first Sumerian king of the first Sumerian dynasty of Kish Chronicle, and with king Agushe and dates his period from 3378 BCE to 3349 BCE . Egyptian king Menes also seems to be  ruling at the same time.   Modern consensus dates the era of Menes or the start of the first dynasty between c. 3100–3050 BCE.  Dr.Beneditti, an eminent Italian scholar places  the accession of Ikshvaku in 3197 BCE.

It thus suggests, on the basis of the  comparative study of the ancient civilizations from Egypt to China, that the parameters of  the  recordable historic events of all these nations  were evolved almost at the same time sometimes in the 4^th  millennium BCE and not earlier. Thus there is no reason to doubt the historicity of Ikshvaku and the establishment of Aryan monarchy in India,sometimes in the period 3300 –3100 BCE., on the basis of available evidence ,literary and archaeological.  . 

Col. James Tod is also of the opinion that the monarchies of Egypt, China and Assyria were established later to the Aryan kingdoms of Sun and Moon .

His kingdom, most probably, lay in the Upper Indus Valley, on both sides of the river Indus or it may be that he was having a colony to the west of the Indus too, guarded by high mountains in the region of  north –west. 

KING HARISHCHANDRA OF SOLAR DYNASTY

KING HARISHCHANDRA OF SOLAR DYNASTY

King Harishchandra was the most loveble son of Trishanku, and the 34th king of the Solar dynasty.

His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name in Sanskrit means "having golden splendour". He had two unique qualities - the first being, he kept his word and never went back on what he uttered as a promise; the other being, he never uttered a lie in his life. These twin qualities were tested heavily in his lifetime by various circumstances that led him to penury and separation from his family. But he stood by his principles in the face of all ordeals and persevered to become a symbol of courage.

Though reduced to a state of utter helplessness by the sage Vishwamitra – as the Puranic story goes - Harishchandra never lost his humility, faith or his honour.  Later Vishwamitra  narrated the origin and the consequence of the feud between Vasishta and himself which were the cause of the sufferings of Harishchandra and his family and thus called it all an illusory drama.  It seems the powerful  and arrogant clergy in collusion with inimical forces  dislodged the noble king and he had  to spend some youthful years in exile in the neighbouring Varanasi but he regained his throne with strong public support after defeating the designs of his rivals. His capital lay between Ayodhya and Varanasi, probably on the banks of river Gomti.Many mythical episodes  were later coined  casting aspertions on his truthfulness by zealous rivals of no significance.

 This simple historic fact was later mythologised and the name of venerable sage Vishwamitra was dragged in the story only to vilify him. An attempt was made earlier  also by the insurgents with a great military force during the reign of Asitbahu – about eight generations earlier

 King Harishchandra stands as a beacon of truth amongst  all the illustrious and renowned kings of India. He, as already stated, stood steadfast in his determination to do his duty in the face of severe obstacles, impediments and difficulties that would have deterred any other ordinary mortal.

He was a very just and caring king, loved by all his subjects. There was no want in his kingdom and people lived in comfort and happiness.  Ancient records reveal that  he had  performed a Rajasuya  yajña  and  was acknowledged as an emperor. Harishchandra's character is indelibly etched in the minds of the Indians and his story is of perennial interest. It will last for as long as the value of truth lasts. It illumines our life. It was this story which helped Prince Yudhishtra to get over his adversities. It  occurs in the Mahabharata and also in the Puranas, and has been repeatedly immortalized  in poetry, cinema and in drama. It took its origin in the early literature, flowed through the Puranas, ran into cascades of poetry, and has continued to enrich the life of our people. He was succeeded by his son Rohita or Rohitashwa.

Harishchandra lived the life of truthfulness and soon became renowned as “Satyavrata” – an observer of truth.