Spiritual Authority and Temporal Power in the Indian Theory of Government

In this revised edition of one of Coomaraswamy's most significant writings, the Indian theory of government is expounded on the basis of the textual sources, mainly of the Brahmanas and the Rgveda. The "marriage formula" in the Aitareya Brahmana ("I am that, thou art this, I am sky, thou art Earth"), spells out the relation between the Spiritual and the temporal power. This "marriage formula" has its analogous applications in the cosmic, political, family and individual spheres of operation, in each by the conjunction of complementary agencies.