Raja
राज
rāja
King; One who shines as head of state with power.
Hindu Darmasastras always preferred the rule of a King with council of ministers, Sabha and Samiti to support him.
During the Vedic age king were elected by people and peoples consent is taken before appointment of Yuva Raja who would later assume the seat of king. Atherva Veda(book 6) have many hymns regarding the duties of kings, and governance of a nation. A.V. also have hymns on how a Raja is appointed by common man and displace him for his in efficiency. In Chandogya Upanishad (5.11.5) Aswapathi Kaikeya, an ideal king talks about how he cares about his subjects and dharma.
The ideal king of Indian concept is Rama, who has sacrificed everything he had for the benefit his subjects. Most of the kings in Purana traced their descent to Surya, Chandra, Agani, Soma. There are worst kings as well, Kamsa who killed all the children of a particular age is the best example.
In Santiparva of Mahabaratha, Bhisma gives an account of origin of custom of having King and their selection, duties, responsibilities.
| Word | Sanskrit | IAST | In General | Veda | Purana | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rajadharma | राजधर्म | rājadharma | Rajdharma is the right performance of duty expected from a King. Rajadharma according to... | Read More | ||
| Rajamarthanda | राजमार्तण्ड | rājamārtaṇḍa | King Bhoja of Dhaneswara was a scholar and prolific writer. Bhoja wrote a vritti, a brief... | Read More | ||
| Rajangas | The state has got six constituents (angas). They are the svamin ( King), mantri parishad (council... | Read More | ||||
| Rajaniti | राजनीति | rājanīti | Rajaniti is the policy guideline by which a country is to be governed. According the Smriti texts,... | Read More | ||
| Rajarajesvara | Siva is also called as Rajarajeswara. The deity in Brihadeeshwarar temple is known as... | Read More | ||||
| Rajarajeswari | Rajarajeswari is the mother goddess who is the mistress of the king of kings. She is Tripura... | Read More | ||||
| Rajarshi | राजर्षि | rājarṣi | A king who has risen to the state and staure of a Rishi is called Rajarshi. They were very liberal... | There are many rishis who composed Samhita mantras and Upanishads. Chandogya U. says,... | Prithu, Yayathi, Shivi are some of the celebrated Rajarshis. | Read More |
| Rajas | रजस् | rajas | Rajoguna is sometimes called as rajas. Sankhya and Bhagavad Gita advocate three types of... | Read More | ||
| Rajasuya Yajna | rājasuya yajña | It is a very complicated yāga, extending over two years and comprising a number of istis and Soma... | Pandavas performed this Yaga in Indraprastha. | Read More | ||
| Rajatarangini | राजतरङ्गिणी | rājataraṅgiṇī | Kalhana wrote this famous historical work in the 12th Century CE. Rajatarangini traces... | Read More |