The throne Vikramaditya used to sit was not an ordinary one. There were several legends attached to it. A legend said the throne was presented to Raja Vikramaditya by Lord Indra to inspire him to rule more judiciously, truthfully, impartially, efficiently and speedily. It is believed that whenever Vikramaditya would be occupying that throne he became extra sharp, charged up with some noble energy that set all his positive aspects and qualities alight.
He would be extremely charitable, kind and merciful in that throne. A deserving candidate could ask for anything from him. The throne was to great extent responsible for the glory Raja Vikramaditya earned during his reign as it helped him conceive incredible ideas about solving complex problems and deliver amazing judgments in difficult cases.
It inspired him to go about his kingdom in disguise to meet people and learn the state of affairs of his subjects first hand. If there were some flaws he corrected them without any delay.
Ujjayani, the capital of Malwa was a dazzling city, a centre of commerce, trade, culture, politics and properity. The people were largely religious and peace loving. They prided over Raja Vikramaditya who had become a legend in his own life time. He graced Ujjayani as its ruler for several decades. None comes in this world forever. Even the mightiest has to depart one day. So did Raja Vikramaditya. In quite advanced age he died leaving behind many legends about his deeds that became treasures of folk lore and literature in later era.
After the death of Raja Vikramaditya the city of Ujjayani lost its glory. The descendent kings decided to shift the capital of Malwa from Ujjayani. Their new capital was called ‘Dharanagari’. The bad days of Ujjayani started. The royalty gone from there and the business and culture also shifted from there. The people also left gradually there was no attraction left in the deserted capital. The grand palace of Raja Vikramaditya turned into a haunted house over the period, now home of bats, pigeons and jackals. It became a ruin and the miracle throne of Vikramaditya got entombed in rubble. It sank deep into the ground and all that was left of it above was now a big mound of rubble, stones and soil covered it. A flattish topped hillock it got reduced to.
Infact the later day kings did try to sit on that throne but everytime they did so, the attempt was thwarted by a mysterious voice that came from it. The voice said that only he who was as valiant, kind, charitable, justiceful and righteous as Vikramaditya could sit on the throne. Somehow the throne could not be shifted or lifted as it was permanently fixed to the floor. So, it remained where it was, in the palace court of Raja Vikramaditya. That was how the magic throne remained where it was fixed and over a period of time got entombed in the mound of rubble and soil.
Several hundred years later Raja Bhoja descended on the throne of Dharanagari. He was a vary valiant, justice loving and charitable king. Very efficient administrator he was and that brought peace and prosperity to the people. He often toured his land to see the state of his people. He was much like Raja Vikramaditya.
Once Raja Bhoja was touring his kingdom with his retenue. They were passing by a field when they noticed a strange scene.
A farmer sat on a high mound in the field that farmers often made to guard their crops from the birds and cattle from a high ground for a better view. But it was not the case here. The farmer was calling out to the birds and cattle to come and feast on his crop.
It greatly surprised Raja Bhoja and his retenue members. They all stared at the farmer. Was he mad?
“Farmer!” Raja Bhoja called out and advised,” You should be guarding your crop instead of inviting the birds and cattle to feast on it. Are you alright?”
“I am alright, My Lord,” the farmer said with sweet smile adding, “All these birds and cattle are children of God and this crop is His gift to us. I can’t even think of storing all the food grains like a hoarder while these creatures go hungry. No sire. After all the feasting by these noble creatures enough foodgrains are left to keep my family alive. So, why should I bother? ‘Live and let live’ is the message of God.”
“Farmer, you talk like a sage. Your sublime philosophy is admirable,” Raja Bhoja truthfully spoke and added, “O farmer saint! Please come down from that high ground. I want to meet you.”
The farmer came off the high mound and met the king. But off that mound his behaviour suddenly changed. When he saw the birds eating his crop he screamed and tried to wave them away cursing menacingly. He lamented, “Gone is my crop I had worked so hard for. I am ruined. I will kill every one of these birds with arrows or beat them to death. Oh God, help me!”
The sudden change of behaviour in the famrer greatly surprised Raja Bhoja.
“My Lord!” The farmer pleaded, “Do something to save my crop. I am your subject. These birds are ruining me.”
Raja Bhoja thought for a while and then spoke, “Don’t worry farmer. Let the birds feast. We will give you double the quantity of foodgrains you lose to birds.”
“No, My Lord! I want my own yield of foodgrains. They represent my labour.” So saying the farmer ran back to the high ground of mound to scare away the birds by throwing stones. But once on the mound the stance of the farmer again changed. He again began to invite the birds to feast on his crop.
Raja Bhoja and his ministers looked at each other. The common view emerged in the discussion that there was something in that mound that was influencing the mind of the farmer. What it was? Raja Bhoja himself walked upto the mound and surveyed around. Suddenly he felt waves of some energy setting him aflush. Noble thoughts began to sweep his mind. The sentiments of kindness and generosity emanated from his heart. He felt totally a new person of saintly disposition. It surprised him.
He carefully inspected the mound top, its slope and areas around. It was like a machan of soil in the centre of the fields.
Raja Bhoja gave the farmer a cart load of sovereigns and bought the entire area from the farmer alongwith his fields and promised more money if needed. Then, the king ordered the excavation of the site.
The digging operation revealed a divine throne buries several meters deep in the ground. The digging party tried to lift up the throne but they failed. Even an army of hundreds of workers could not shift or lift up the throne. Some mysterious force was keeping it weighted down or fixed to something to the deep below.
Someone suggested that it was some kind of very special throne that had some divine power working on it. The royal priest suggested that may be, a yajna was required to propitiate the divine power to get the throne removed from there.
The area around the throne was cleared and infront of it a yajna fire pit was prepared. For days priests incanted holy mantras from Vedas invoking the names of all the deities. At the conclusion of yajna positive signs appeared. The throne now could be pushed around without any difficulty. The throne was then lifted out of the pit and transported to Dharanagari, the new capital of Malwa Union.
Meanwhile, Raja Bhoja got a royal hall vacated and arrangements made to install the divine throne there with due ceremony and fire rites.
