Which of the following Yagya was performed by the Rashtrakuta King Dantidurga at Ujjain?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) Hiranya-Garbadhan

Explanation:
• The Rashtrakuta King Dantidurga performed the Hiranya-Garbadhan (Hiranyagarbha) ritual at Ujjain in the 8th century CE.
• This ritual was a grand ceremony performed with the help of Brahmanas.
• It was a symbolic re-birth ritual, where the chief transformed into a Kshatriya (warrior class) even if not born one. It implied acquiring a new status and legitimacy as a ruler.
• It marked the establishment of the Rashtrakuta power in the Deccan and Central India, replacing the Chalukyas of Badami.
• This historical event is a key indicator of political and social transitions in early medieval India.

Information Booster:
• The term "Hiranya-Garbha" literally means "golden womb".
• This ceremony was crucial for rulers whose lineage was not traditionally Kshatriya, allowing them to gain social acceptance and political power.

Additional Knowledge:
(a) Tulapurusha: A ritual where the king weighed himself against gold, which was then distributed to Brahmanas (often associated with later Chola and other South Indian kings).
(c) Saptasagar: A ritual involving giving away seven seas (symbolically) in charity.
(d) Ratnadhenus: A ritual involving the gift of a bejeweled cow to priests.