Sengkol or Sengol as it is called in Tamil literally comes from Sem, which means glorious, and kol which stands for a measuring stick and thus denotes a ruler (scale).
The word ruler itself, though an English word, is a very interesting word and in its concept, shows a deep connection with practice of governance and rule as explicitly displayed by Bharat from across millennia.
In English, a ruler stands for both a scale or measuring stick as well as “one who rules” – king or otherwise.
Why is ruler, the word for one who governs as well as for a measuring scale?
The answer to this can be appreciated from the Indian thought and practice of Sengkol. Sengkol in the Indian languages is also known as Dharma Danda. Dandais not to be seen and limitedly understood as punishment. Danda here also means the same as Kol – a measuring stick or ruler or scale.
It is called Dharma Danda as it acts as a scale that guides the one who rules to stay within the limits of Dharma. Thus, in Indian ethos, Dharma Danda denotes the guiding lines that help keep governance within the bounds of Dharma. It thus acts like a ruler for the ruler, who is expected to keep the land and its people behaving within norms too.
What is Dharma?
Dharma is not to be confused with Dharam, the presently used word in Hindi for religion. The traditional Indian word for religion has been Matha/ Math – meaning of your preference, choice, opinion etc. India traditionally has also broadly had six fundamental matha and they were called Shadmatha. Dharma is different from religion and in that way is a truly secular concept and word.
Dharma comes from the root Dhar, meaning to bear, to hold–like Dharti for Earth and Dharan for wearing, bearing.
Dharma is the innate nature or character that anyone or anything bears. It is applicable for living and non-living entities all the way from the infinitisimally minute particle to the infinitisimally large Universe. It denotes the behaviour that one exhibits and behaviour is a response to situations, contexts and that which is around.
Dharma defines the entity and the entity’s relation with other entities. It is hence contextual – based on an individual, role and situation. Therefore, Dharma is the root for the cause and effect chain in the cosmos and forms the order that governs the evolution of the cosmos, which is also called as Rta from which comes the word Rtu for the pattern or orderly cycle of seasons. We see this Rta also in the English word Rhythm.
A Physical Model For A Land And Its Government
Why did Bharat choose a Danda as a model to represent Government and its Governance? Danda or Kol is a measuring stick. A measuring stick is used to measure length, distance etc. A stick is also used to point out and direct as well as draw the lines, bounadries or framework for anything.
Dharma Danda Represents the Following:
- A guiding stick to point towards Dharma within limits of which a Government should conduct itself.
- A measuring stick that denotes the measure of the extent of the land that is under the rule of the Government.
Epitomises the Physical Extent and its Character (Dharma)
The physical extent, measure, bounadaries of a governed land cannot be lifted and handed over during a transfer of power or Government. Dharma Danda is the closest physical and meaningful model that can be used in lieu for a large tract of land, so that it can be held in the hand and seen by all from a single place. Our ancestors had since time immorial devised such a beautiful physical model to denote the physical extent of a civilisation.
Sign Of A Nation And Good Governance
A nation has multiple artefacts to represent its identity, values and ethos such as a Flag, an emblem, Constitution, Anthem, currency, National song and such other National symbols. Dharma Danda has been one such symbol of the civilisation from time immemorial, all across Bharat.
Dharma Danda is the closest meaningful model which can be used to depict a physical tract of land and has been suitable to depict transfer of Governance of that land from one Government to the next.
Dharma Danda is like the baton in the relay race for civilisation. It gets passed on from one Government to the next, successively, across generations and times.
Removing Misconceptions Around Dharma Danda
In other civilisations, Danda called the sceptre, came to be associated with power since the style of monarchy in other lands differed widely from that in Bharat. In Bharat, even a King, Rajan was subject to law. He could not make law. He could only dispense law. Law and Dharma were supreme and not the king. Whereas in other lands, the king was sovereign. He was above law and could make law. He, thus, had the power. Thus, the Danda or sceptre held by a king in the West came to denote power of a king. Not so in India.
In Bharat, when a king ascended the throne, it was customary for the King to say thrice
“Adandayosmi, Adandayosmi, Adandayosmi” meaning
“I am beyond measure, I am beyond law, I am not subject to anything”. The Rajaguru annointing the King had to tap the King thrice on his head with the Dharma Danda and repeat, Dharmadandayosi, Dharmadandayosi, Dharmadandayosi meaning “You are to behave in a measured manner. You are not beyond law. You are within ambit of Dharma.”
Such a concept of a physical model for a land, a Rajya, holds good irrespective of whether the land is ruled by a king, Rajan or by a democratically elected Government. For, Dharma Danda stands for the Rajya and its Danda. Dharma Danda guides the Governance to stay within the bounds of Dharma. Thus, the Dharma Danda denotes a land and the nature of its Governance.
The USA shows clarity in this understanding by having chosen to represent its Goverrnment by a mace a couple of centuries ago, even though it was formed as a democratically elected Government and not a monarchy.
To help understand the concept of Sengkol / Dharma Danda and remind us of its significance, Bharath Gyan has conceived the concept of Sengkol Day celebrations in Chennai starting from the year 2024, on every year May 28th, the day the Sengkol was installed in the New Parliament building in the year 2023. The annual events are being ably conducted by Rasika Ranjani Sabha of Mylapore, Chennai since May 28, 2024.
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