Rajan
Also called: Raja · Topic: The Vedic Age · NCERT: Class 6, Ch 7 "India's Cultural Roots"; Class 7, Ch 4 "New Beginnings: Cities and States"
Meaning
The rājan (or rājā) was the chief of a Vedic jana (clan). He was mainly a clan leader, not an all-powerful king. His main jobs were to lead the jana in war and protect its members. Kingship was usually passed down in the family. But the texts also speak of kings being elected, or even thrown out. So his power had limits. Assemblies such as the sabhā, samiti and vidhata acted as checks on him. Later, the rājā ruled a janapada (territorial state).
Example
The Yajurveda coronation oath says the king must judge the strong and the weak fairly, protect the country from every disaster, and do good to the people. It shows the duties expected of a Vedic rājā.
Don't confuse with
- Samrāṭ or later emperors: the rulers of large kingdoms in later times, such as Magadha after c. 600 BCE, had far more power. The early rājan was a clan chief limited by assemblies.