TEXT, TIME AND THRONE: DECIPHERING DIVINE KINGSHIP IN VĀLMĪKI RĀMĀYAṆA THROUGH ASTRONOMICAL REFERENCES

Abstract [English]

This paper examines divine kingship through astronomical references, with particular emphasis on the horoscopic narratives surrounding Śrī Rāma. Astrologers occupied a prominent position in Indian society, and kings regularly appointed them for their expertise in prognostication. Evidence from epigraphy, iconography, and courtly practice demonstrates that astrologers were integral to royal patronage, legitimizing kingship while contributing knowledge in ritual, agriculture, architecture, and trade. Literary sources such as the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata recount numerous celestial phenomena and celebrate the authority of astrologers. The study argues that planetary positions were regarded not merely as temporal markers but as determinants of character and destiny, with Rāma’s revered life serving to validate astrological principles. Since the fourth century BCE, predictive texts such as the Parāśara Horāśāstra, Yavanajātaka, and Bṛhajjātaka have shaped literary traditions, which incorporated astrological references extensively. By tracing these continuities, the paper highlights the enduring cultural significance of astrology in shaping religious imagination and political authority across Indian civilization.