Concept:The Hiranya-garbha ritual was a ceremony that symbolically “reborn” a ruler as a Kshatriya, even if he was not born into that class.
Explanation:In the seventh century, many regional chiefs and landlords gained power and became samantas (subordinates) to existing kings.
Over time, these samantas grew wealthy and declared themselves independent.
For example, in the mid-eighth century, the Rashtrakuta chief Dantidurga overthrew his Chalukya overlord.
He then performed the hiranya-garbha (golden womb) ritual with the help of Brahmanas.
This ritual was believed to cause the “rebirth” of the sacrificer as a Kshatriya, regardless of his original birth.
Thus, it allowed a non-Kshatriya ruler to claim the status and legitimacy of a Kshatriya king.
Answer:Option B: to declare the king as Kshatriya even if he was not one by birth.