Ageofimperialkan04bhar PDF
Ageofimperialkan04bhar PDF
Ageofimperialkan04bhar PDF
i THE AGE OF I
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& KANAUJ
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The history of the period covered by this
volume revolves round the pivot of Kanauj —
from which it derives its name. The Pratiharas,
the Palas and the Rashtrakutas constitute the
triangle of forces fighting for supremacy, with
the imperial city as the trophy. Incidentally the
theory that Harshavardhana was not the last
empire-builder is further sustained by the larger,
and the more stable empire of the Gurjara
Pratiharas which receives detailed treatment.
The Rashtrakutas emerge in brilliant colours
against the background of ancient Deccan. The
part played by Kabul and Zabul in resisting
Muslim infiltration has for the first time been
brought into proper perspective.
Rs. 500/-
3TTTT^rr:
Let noble thoughts come to us from every side
—Rigveda, I-89-i
THE AGE OF
IMPERIAL
KANAUJ
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BHAVAN'S BOOK UNIVERSITY
THE AGE OF
IMPERIAL
KANAUJ /
FOREWORD BY
K. M. MUNSHI
B.A., LL.B., D.LITT. LL.D.
President, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
GENERAL EDITOR
R. C. MAJUMDAR
M.A., PH.D., F.A.S., F.B.B.R.A.S.
Ex. Vice-Chancellor and Professor of History
Dacca University
Hon. Head of the Department of History
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
ASSISTANT EDITORS
A. D. PUSALKER
M.A., LL.B., PH.D.
Assistant Director and Head of the
Department of Ancient Indian Culture
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
AND
A. K. MAJUMDAR, m.a., d. phill
Director,
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Delhi Kendra
2009
BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN
Kulapati K. M. Munshi Marg
Mumbai-400 007
All Rights reserved by the Publishers
PRINTED IN INDIA
By Atul Goradia at Siddhi Printers, 13/14, Bhabha Building, 13th Khetwadi Lane,
Mumbai - 400 004, and Published by P. V. Sankarankutty Additional Registrar (Publications),
for Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kulapati Munshi Marg, Mumbai - 400 007.
E-Mail : bhavan@bhavans.info • Web-site : www.bhavans.info
Contributors
A. S. ALTEKAR
M.A., LL.B., D.LIJT.
Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and CultlfiP&
* in the Patna University
R. C. MAJUMDAR
M.A., PH.D., F.A.S., F.BtB.R.A.S.
D. C. GANGULY
M.A., PH.D. (LONDON)
Secretary, Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta
<%
D, C. SIRCAR
M.A., PH.D.
Superintendent for Epigraphy, Government of India, Ootacamund;
formerly Lecturer in Ancient Indian History and Culture in the
University of Calcutta
R. SATHIANATHAIER
M.A.,- L.T.
Professor of History and Politics Jn the Annamalai University
G. V. DEVASTHALI
M.A., B.T., PH.D.
Professor of Sanskrit in the H. P. T. College, Nosik
H.° D. VELANKAR
M.A.
Joint Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; formerly Professor of Sanskrit,
Wilson College, Bombay
A. D. PUSALKER
M.A., LL.B., PH.D.
Assistant Director and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian Culture,
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
H. L. JAIN
M.A., LL.B., D.LITT.
Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Pali andPrakrit in the Nagpur University
K. R. SRINIVASA IYENGAR
M.A., D.LITT.
Professor and Head of the Department of English in the Andhra University, Walt air
U. N. GHOSHAL
M.A., PH.D.
Formerly Professor of History in the Presidency College, Calcutta
NALINAKSHA DUTT
MA, B.L., P.R.S., PH.D., D.LITT. (London)
Professor of Pali in the University of Calcutta
J. N. BANERJEA
M.A., PH.D.
Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and Culture in the
University of Calcutta
T. M. P. MAHADEVAN
M.A., PH.D.
Professor and Head of the Department of Philosophy in the University of Madras
H. D. BHATTACHARYYA
M.A.
Formerly Head of the Department of Philosophy, Dacca University, and
Honorary University Professor of Indian Philosophy and Religion,
Banaras Hindu University
I. J. S. TARAPOREWALA
B.A., PH.D., Bar-at-Law
Formerly Professor of Comparative Philology in the University of Calcutta,
and Director, Deccan College Post-graduate and Research Institute, Poona
U. G BHATTACHARJEE
M.A.
Formerly Professor of Philosophy in the Presidency College, Calcutta
FOREWORD
By Dr, K. M. Mxjnshi
The Age begins with the repulse of the Arab invasions oh the
mainland of India in the beginning of the eighth century and ends
with the fateful year A.D. 997 when Afghanistan passed into the
hands of the Turks.
With this Age, ancient India came to*an end. At the turn of
its last century, Sabuktigm and Mahmud came to power* in Ghazni.
Their lust, which found expression in the following decades, was to
shake the very foundations of life in India, releasing new forces.
They gave bhrth to medieval India. Till the rise of the Hindu power
in Maharashtra in the eighteenth century, India was to pass through
a period of collective resistance.
This Age saw the rise and fall of three great Empires in the
country: of the Rashtrakutas, founded by Dantidurga (c. A.D. 733-
757) and his successor, Krishna I (c. A.D. 757-773), which domi¬
nated the South till its collapse in the year A.D. 974; of the Palas
in the East, which saw its zenith under Dharmap&la (c, A-D. 770-
8l0), though it revived a little at the end of the tenth century; of
the Pratiharas of the West and North, founded by Niagabhata I,
which saw its zenith during the reigns of Mihira Bhoja (c. A.D.
836-885) and Mahendrapala (c. A.D. 885-908), went under on account
of the catastrophic blows dealt by the Bashfrakuta raids, but retain¬
ed a shadowy imperial dignity to the end.
* I have incorporated without quotation marks several paragraphs from
my study of the period in The Glory that was Gurjaradesa (2nd Ed. Revised and
in part re-written),
•
VII
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
II
It was the Age of Kanauj or, Kanyakubja, the imperial city of
Isanavarman, which dominated Madhyadesa, the heartland of India.
It was the coveted prize of the three imperial powers racing for all-
India supremacy. Ultimately it passed into the hands of the Prati-
bara Gurjaresvaras about A.D- 815; remained the metropolis of
power till A.D. 950, and continued to be the most influential centre
of culture till A.D. 1018 when it was destroyed by Mahmud of
Ghazni.
By inheritance Kanauj was the home of Indo-Aryan traditions.
In the post-Vedic ages the region from Hard war to Unnao, near
Lucknow, was known as Aryavarta. Later with the spread of Indo-
Aryan culture, first, north India, and then the whole country, came
to be called by that name. The original Aryavarta, then come to
be known as Brahmavarta, with accretions, was called Madhyadesa
during this age.
When Hastinapura met with disaster due to floods, as the recent
excavations at Hastinapura corroborative of the Puranic testimony
show, Nichakshu, the descendant of Janamejaya Parlkshita led the
Kurus to Kausambi. In the early sixth century when the Maga-
dhan Age opened, it was the capital of a powerful Aryan kingdom;
Vatsaraja, who could lure elephants by his music, was then its ruler-
It remained such capital till the end of the sixth century of the Christ¬
ian Era. Then North India was overrun by the Hunas. Kausambi
was destroyed. But with Isanavarman, the liberator v/ho drove out
the Hunas, Kanauj came into prominence, as the centre of power in
Madhyadesa, no longer a principality of the Gupta Empire.
In the seventh century the kings of Bengal and Mialava destroy¬
ed the power of Kanauj, then in the hands of the descendants of
Isanavarman. On the ruins of the Maukhari kingdom, Sri Harsha
built his short-lived empire of Madhyadesa. During his forty-two
years’ rule (A.D. 606-647), Kanauj grew into the foremost city of
India. Sri Harsha, however, could not create a hierarchy pledged
to support his imperial structure. He left no able successor. His
empire was dissolved soon after he died-
For more than half a century thereafter, the history of Kanauj
is wrapt in obscurity. At the end of it, Yasovarman, a great con¬
queror and the patron of Bhavabhuti and Vakpati, is found ruling
Kanauj. Both Yasovarman and Lalitaditya of Kashmir joined hands
against the inroads of the Arabs and Tibetans. But the allies soon
fell out and Lalitaditya destroyed the power of Yasovarman.
The Classical Age of India closed with the reign of Yasovarman.
This Age then opened with one Indrayudha on the throne of Kanauj,
•••
vm
V
FOREWORD
Ill
The first great conqueror to emerge on the scene, with the Age,
was the Rashtrakuta Dantidurga. The son of Indra I by a Cha-
iukyan princess of Gujarat, he began his Napoleonic career in
c. A.D. 733, became the master of the whole of Maharashtra by 753,
and destroyed the Chalukyan Empire to assume an imperial status.
He was succeeded by his uncle Krishna I. the builder of the Kailasa
temple of Eliora. In a reign of fifteen years, he added to the empire
what are the modern states of Hyderabad and Mysore,
About the same time, Gopala, elected to the position of a chief¬
tain, consolidated Bengal. His son Dharmapala (c. A.D. 770-810)
led his conquering army through the whole valley of Gangfa; re¬
duced the ruler of Kanauj to a puppet; held courts at Kanauj and
Pataliputra- For long he commanded the allegiance of most of the
kings of the north.
There was ferment also in the west. In A.D. 712 the Arabs
conquered Sindh. About A.D. 725 Junaid, its governor, under the
orders of Caliph Hasham of Baghdad, sent an army for the con¬
quest of India. It overran Saur&shtra, Bhillamala, the capital of
Gurjara (the Abu Region), and reached Ujjayim.
Then arose an unknown hero, Nagabhata by name; possibly he
belonged to a branch of the royal Pratihara family of Bhillamala,
the capital of Gurjaradesa. He rallied to his banner the warriors
of the allied clans of Pratiharas, Chahamanas and also, perhaps,
Guhilaputras, Chalukyas and Paramaras, all of whom had their
home in the region of Mount Abu- Nagabhata fought the invading
army, flung it back, destroyed it.
This victory welded the clans of Gurjaradesa into a hierarchy.
It gave them self-assurance and the will to conquer. With a leader
and a destiny, they laid the foundations of a new power that was
destined to play an important part in history.
During Nagabbata’s time Dantidurga with his conquering army
swept over the north, captured Ujjayim, where the Pratihara, his
fortunes temporarily eclipsed, played the host to the conqueror.
Vatsaraja, the son of a nephew of Nagabhata I, styled “the pre¬
eminent among valiant Kshatriyas”, waxed strong and entrenched
IX
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
ing territory. The Arabs, however, were driven out of Kutch bet¬
ween A.D. 833 and 842. A few years later, they lost the best part
of Sindh.
Two petty principalities only remained to the Arabs of which
Multan and al-Mansurah were the capitals. The Hindus, who had
been forcibly converted to Islam, went back to their ancestral fold.
Baled hurl says that in the time of al-Hakim ibn-'Awanah. “the peo¬
ple of al-Hind apostatised with the exception of the inhabitants of
Qas^ah. A place of refuge to which the Moslems might dee was not
to be found, so he built on the further side of the lake, where it bor¬
ders on al-Hind, a city which he named al-Mahfuzah (the guarded),
establishing it as a place of refuge for them, where they should be
secure and making it a capital.55
Sulaiman who visited India in A\D. 851 refers to Bhoja in vivid
terms. “Among them is the king of Jurz (Gurjara). This king
maintains numerous forces and nOxother Indian prince has so fine
a cavalry. He is unfriendly to the Arabs, still he acknowledges that
the king of the Arabs is the greatest of kings. Among the princes
of India there is no greater foe of the Muhammadan faith than he.
His territories form a tongue of land (Saurashtra?). He has great
riches, and his camels and horses are numerous. Exchanges are car¬
ried on in his state with silver (and gcldi in dust, and there are said
to be mines (of these metals) in the country. There is no country in
India more safe from robbers.55
In A.D. 916, Abu Zaid, while completing the Silsilat-ut Tawa-
rikh of Sulaimsan, also attests to the excellent social conditions in
India. “These observations”, he says, “are especially applicable to
Kanauj, a large country forming the empire of Jurz.”
AL-Mas’udl of Baghdad, who visited India more than once
between A.D. 900 and 940, refers to the Bauiira as ‘the lord of the city
of Kanauj’ and as ‘one of the kings of Sindh5. “He has large armies
in garrisons on the north and on the south, on the east and on the
west; for, he is surrounded on all sides by warlike kings. . . .Bauiira,
who is the king of Kanauj, is an enemy of the Baiharia (Vallabha Raja,
the title of Rashtrakuta emperors), the king of India.” He adds:
Bauiira, the king of Kanauj, “has four armies, according to the four
quarters of the wind. Each of them numbers 700,000 or 900,000 men.
The army of the north was against the prince of Multan, and with
the Musulmans, his subjects, on the frontier. The, army of the south
fights against the Balhara, king of Mankir (Manyakheta).” Accord¬
ing to him, Balhara is at war with Jurz, “a king who is rich in horses
and camels, and has a large army.”
xii
FOREWORD
Xlll
4
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Impurity does not attach to the land, but to the people. Va'nidsrama-
dharma is a dynamic and expansive social organisation to be main¬
tained and spread- Arvavarta extended wherever the dharma is
enforced and maintained.
* ' - •
The women of Lata were noted for their beauty and elegance.
At the same time, it would be untrue to accept the position of women
as portrayed by Rajasekhara as reflecting the generally prevailing
conditions under which women lived, for whatever it was, it was
distinctly better than the position to which they were reduced under
the painful pressure of the Era of Resistance.
VII
the Mekalas; who drove out the Kalingas; who destroyed Kun-
talas as if with an axe; who forcibly seized the royalty of the
Rama-fhas”.
Rajasekhara’s Kdvya-mimdmsd is a work of great value and
gives glimpses of the life and literature of the times.
The poet was a much travelled man, and has some very inter¬
esting remarks to make about the manners and speech of the people
of different parts of the country. The Magadhas and those living
to the east of Banaras spoke Sanskrit well but Prakrit badly. A
Gauda could not speak Prakrit properly; he should, therefore, either
give up the attempt or improve his Prakrit. The Kamatakas recited
poetry proudly with a twang at the end of each sentence irrespective
of sentiment, style or quality. The Dravidas recited prose and
poetry both in a musical way. The people of Saurashtra and Tra-
vana spoke Sanskrit but mixed it with Apabhramsa to add beauty
to their speech. Kashmirians were good poets but their recital
sounded like a mouthful of gaduchL
IX
My thanks are due to Dr. R. C. Majumdar, the General Editor,
and Dr. A. D. Pusalker, the Assistant Editor, for their indefatigable
and conscientious labours, and to the scholars who have supplied their
learned contributions for this volume. I am specially indebted to the
Associated Advertisers & Printers Ltd., Bombay, who have, in such
a short time, seen the volume through the Press, and to the staff of
the Bhavan and the Press who looked after the preparation and print¬
ing Of this volume with care and zeal. It is difficult to express ade¬
quately the deep debt of gratitude to Shri G. D. Birla, the Chairman,
and other members of the Board of the Krishnarpan Trust who have
so liberally financed the preparation of these volumes.
xxiii
CONTENTS
Page
Foreword by Dr. K. M. Munshi vii
Preface by the General Editor xxxiii .
List of Maps xxxix
Abbreviations xli
CHAPTER I
THE RASHTRAKUTA
• • EMPIRE
By A. S. Altekar, m.a., ll.b., d.litt.,
Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History
and Culture in the Patna University
1. Dantidurga 1
2. Krishna I . . . . . . . . . . 3
3. Govinda II and Dhrava 3
4. Govinda ni . . .. 6
5. 6arva or Amoghavarsha 8
6. Krishna II . . . . . . ... 11
7. Xndra ni 12
8. Govinda IV and Amoghavarsha III 13
9. Krishna III . . . . .... 14
10. Khottiga and Karkka II . . 15
11. Retrospect and Review 16
CHAPTER II
RISE AND FALL OF THE PRATIHARA EMPIRE
By R. C. Majumdar, m.a., ph.d., f.a.s., f.b.b.r.a.s.,
1. Nagabhata I 19
2. Vatsaraja 21
3. Nagabhata II . . .. .. •• 24
4. Bhoja .. . . . . . • • - 28
5. Mahendrapala . . .. .. . 33
6. Mahipala 33
7. Mahipala’s Successors 37
8. The Pratlhara Empire—A General Review 39
CHAPTER III
THE PALAS
By R. C. Majumdar
1. The Rise of the Pal as 44
2. Dharmapala (c. A.D. 770-810) .. 45
3. Devapala (c. A.D. 810-850) .. 50
4. Fall of the Fala Empire . . . . .... 52
XXV
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
CHAPTER IV
EASTERN INDIA DURING THE PALA PERIOD
By R. C. Majumdar
Page
I. Nepal 58
II. Kamarupa .. •. . . . . 60
Ill. Utkala (Orissa) . . 62
1. The Karas . . . . . . 63
2. The Bhanjas .. .. 69
A. The Bhanjas of Khinjali 70
B. The Bhanjas of Khijjinga 74
3. The Minor Dynasties . . 76
CHAPTER V
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
By D. C. Ganguly, m.a., ph.d. (london),
Secretary, Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta
I. The Chandella Dynasty . . .. .. •• 83
II. The Kalachuris * . . . . .. . . . . 87
1. The Kalachuris of Tripuri . . . . . . 87
2. The Kalachuris of Sarayupara - . . . . 93
III. The Paramaras .* .. . , . . . . 94
IV. The Minor Dynasties of Gujarat and Kathiawar . . 99
1. The Saindhavas . . . . •• . . 99
2. The Chalukyas . . . . . . . . . 101
3. The Abhiras . . . . . . ' . . . . 102
4. The Varahas (?) of Saurya-mandala .. 102
5. The Chapas . . .. . . . , . . 102
V. The Chaulukyas .. . . . . . . . . 104
VI. The Chahamanas . . .. . . .. ... 106
VH. The Guhilas .. .. . 109
1. Guhilas of Mewar . . .. . . . . 109
2. Guhilas of Dhod . . . . . . . . 110
VIII. The Tomaras .. .. .. .. .. Ill
IX. The Shahis (or Sbahiyas) . . . . . . .. 112
X. Kashmir .. . . . . . . . . . . 115
1. The Karkota Dynasty . . .. . . . . 115
2. The Utpala Dynasty . . .. . . . . 117
3. Dynasties of Yasaskara and Parvagupta .. •• 120
XI. The Hill State of Chamba . . .. .. . . 121
XII, Kumaun and Garhwal (By D. C. Sircar, M.A., Ph.D.,
Superintendent for Epigraphy, Government of
India, Ootacamund) .. . . . . . . 123
XIII. The Arabs in India (By R. C. Majumdar) . . . . 125
1. Kabul and Zabul .. . . . . 125
2. Sindh . . .. .. . . . . . . 126
xxvi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER VI
THE DECCAN
By D. C Sircar, m.a., ph.d.,
Superintendent fdr Epigraphy, Government of India,
Ootacamund; formerly Lecturer in Ancient Indian
History and Culture in the University of Calcutta
Page
I. The Eastern Chalukyas .. .. .. .. 133
II. The Eastern Gahgas (c, A.D. 750-1000) .. .. 140
1. Later Members of the Early Ganga Family .. 140
2. Rise of the Greater Gahgas .. .. . . 141
3. Tlie Ganga House of Svetaka .. . . .. 144
4. The Kadambas of Jayantyapura .. .. 145
III. The Somavarhsis . . .. . . . . 146
CHAPTER VII
SOUTH INDIA
By R. Sathianathaier, m.a., l.t..
Professor of History and Politics, Annamalai University.
I. The Pailavas . . .. .. .. .. 151
1. Danti-varman and Nandi-varman III .. .. -151
2. Nripatuhga-varman and Aparajita .. .. 152
II. The Cholas of Tanjore .. .. .. .. 153
1. Vijayalaya and Aditya I ' .. .. .. 153
2. Parantaka I ,. .. .. .. .. 154
3. The Rashtrakuta Interregnum in Tondamandalam 155
4. Gandaraditya, Parantaka II, and Uttam Chola .. 156
III. The First Pandya Empire .. . . .. 157
1. Nedunjadaiyan .. .. .. .. 157
2. &rimara Srivallabha and his Successors . . 158
IV. The Western Gahgas . . ,. .. . . 160
1. Sivamara II to Prithvlpati II . . .. .. 160
2. Butuga II to Rakkasa Ganga .. .. .. 161
V. The Bianas . . . . .. . . . . . . 163
VI. The Nojambas and the Vaidumbas .. .. . . 163
VII. Aluvakheda, Kohgudesa and Kerala .. .. 164
APPENDIX
The Genealogy and Chronology of the Pailavas
By D. C. Sircar
1. Successors of Nandi-varman Pallavamalla .. 166
2. Tentative Genealogy of the Later Pailavas . . 168
CHAPTER VIII
CEYLON
By D. C. Sircar
I. Political History •• •• .. 169
II. Fine Arts . . • • • • • • •• • • 174
xxvii
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
CHAPTER IX
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
A. Sanskrit
By G. V. Devasthali, m.a., b.t., ph.d..
Professor of Sanskrit in the H.P.T. College, Nasik
Page
I. Belles-Lettres . . . . . . . . •• 178
1. Drama (Last paragraph by A. D. Pusalker) . . 178
2. Kavya .. . . . . . . . . 182
3. Romance .. .. . . .. .. 187
4. Champu .. .. ... 188
II. Scientific Literature .. .. .. .. 189
1. Lexicography .. ' .. . . .. .. 189
2. Grammar .. . . . . . . . . 190
3. Poetics . . . . . . . . . . . 191
4. Metrics (By H. D. Velankar, M.A., Joint
Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bombay) .. 198
5. Medicine ,. . . •• .. . . 199
6. Mathematics, Astronomy, and Astrology . . 200
7. General Review of Secular Literature . . 200
III. Religious and Philosophical Literature
(Introductory paragraph by Dr. R. C. Majumdar) 202
1. Puranas .. ,. . . .. .. 202
2. Dharmasastras or Smritis . . . . . . 203
3. Philosophy .. .. . . . . . . 204
B. Prakrit . . . . . . 207
By H. D. Velankar, m.a..
Joint Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,
Bombay
C. Non-canonical Pali Literature
By A. D, Pusalker
(i) Chulla Dhammapala . . . . . . 210
(ii) Mahanama .. •. . . . . . . 211
(iii) Khema . . . . .. . . . . 211
(iv) Upatissa . . .. . . . . . . 211
(v) Telakatahagath'a . . . . .. . . 212
D. Apabhramsa Language and Literature
By H. L. Jain, m.a., ll.b., d. litt.,
Head of the Department of Sanskrit, Pali and
Prakrit, Nagpur University
1. Origin of Apabhramsa . . . . . . 213
2. Nature of Apabhramsa .. . . .. 214
3. Apabhramsa in Sanskrit Dramas . . .. 215
4. Apabhramsa Doha8 . . . . . . . 216
5. Epic Poems . . . . . . . . . . 217
6. Short Stories , . . . . . . . . . 219
E. Dravidian Languages and Literature
By K. R. Srinivasa Iyengar, m.a., d. litt..
Professor and Head of the Department of English
in Andhra University
I. Kannada Literature .. .. . . , . 220
H. Tamil Literature . . . . . . . . . 227
xxviii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER X
POLITICAL THEORY, ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION,
LAW AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS
By U. N. Ghoshal, m.a., ph.d.,
Formerly Professor of History in the Presidency College, Calcutta
Page
I. Political Theory .. .. .. 232
II. Administrative Organisation—North India . . 240
III. Administrative Organisation—South India .. 245
IV. Law and Legal Institutions .. .. * . . 249
1. Visavarupa .. .. .. .. .. 249
2. Medhatithi .. .. .. .. .. 250
3. The Smriti-samgraha .. .. .. .. 253
CHAPTER XI
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
A. General Review .. .. 257
By R. C. Majumdar
B. Buddhism
By Nalinaksha Durr, m.a., b.l., ph.d, d.litt..
Professor of Pali in the University of Calcutta
I. Doctrinal Changes .. .. .. .. .. 259
1. Emergence of Tantrikism .. .. .. 259
2. Dharanis .. . . .. .. .. 261
3. Avalokitesvara and Tara .. . . .. 262
4. Early Tantrik Texts ... .. .. .. 263
(i) The Mahjusrl-Miilakalpa .. . . 263
(ii) The Guhyasamaja .. . . .. 265
5. Two Schools of Tantrik Teachers .. .. 266
6. Distinction between Tantrikism and Mahayanism 266
II. Historical Review .. .. .. .. 267
1. Traditional Account by Taranatha . . .. 267
2. The Patronage of the Pala Kings .. .. 270
(i) Gopala .. . . . . . . . . 270
(ii) Dharmapala .. .. . . . . 271
(iii) Devapala . . .. .. .. 274
(iv) The Successors of Devapala .. .. 274
Iconography (By J. N. Banerjea, M.A., Ph.D.,
Carmichael Professor of Ancient Indian History and
' Culture in the University of Calcutta) .. . 275
C. Jainism
By A. p. Pusalker
I. Introduction .... . . . . .. 288
H. Jainism in the North .. .. .. .,. 289
III. Jainism in the Deccan and South India .. . . 290
IV. Literature .. .. • • * • .. * .. 293
V. General Observations .. ■; •• •. 294
VI. Iconography (By J. N. Banerjea) .. .. . . 296
xxix
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
II. VAISHNAVISM
By D. C. Sircar
1. The Acharyas 311
2. Iconography (By J. N. Banerjea) . . - 313
E. Tdntrik Religion 315
By H. D. Bhattacharyya, m.a.,
Formerly Head of the Department of Philosophy, Dacca University,
and Honorary University Professor of Indian Philosophy and
Religion, Banaras Hindu University
CHAPTER XII
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
By U. N. Ghoshal
Page
I. Education 366
1. Courses of Study .. 367
2. Student Life 368
3. Female Education 368
4. Some Educational Centres and Establishments 369
II. Social Life 369
1. Social Divisions and Sub-divisions 369
2. Marriage Rules
374
3. Law of Adultery
377
4. The Position of Women
378
5. Some Social Types
382
6. Some Groups and Associations
383
7. Standard of Living 384
8. Popular Amusements 386
9. Lawful Food and Drink 387
10. Toilette and Personal Hygiene 389
11. Beliefs and Superstitions 390
12. Pious and Charitable Works 392
13. General Estimate of Character 392
»
CHAPTER XIII
ECONOMIC LIFE
By U. N. Ghoshal
1. Agriculture, Industry, and Trade • « • « 400
2. Organisation of Industry and Trade * • • • 405
3. Interest and Wages • • • • 407
4. Influence of Canon Law upon Economic
Development » « • • 408
5. General Economic Condition • • 9 • 408
CHAPTER XIV
COLONIAL AND CULTURAL EXPANSION
By R. C. Majumdar
I. The &ailendra Empire . . .. 412
II. Kambuja 416
1. Jaya-varman II and III 416
2. Dynasty of Indra-varman 419
3. General Review . . 421
III. Champa 423
1. The Dynasty of Panduranga (c. A.D. 757-860) . . 423
2. The Bhrigu Dynasty (c. A.D. 860-985) 424
3. The Annamese Invasions 426
xxxi
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Page
IV. Jsvs .. .. ., . . .. 427
1. The Kingdom of Matanam 427
2. End of Hindu Civilisation in Central Java 428
3. Eastern Java—Dynasty of Sindok 430
V. Burma 432
VI. Civilisation in the Hindu Colonies n South-East
Asia 434
1. Society 434
2. Religion .. .. 435
3. Art .. 439
(i) Indo-Javanese Art 439
(ii) Art in Indo-China 441
4. Literature 442
VII. China 444
VIII. Tibet 446
IX. Western Countries 449
/ /
« a
xxxu
PREFACE
By Dr. R. C. Majumdab
General Editor
the whole of Northern India. Then came the turn of the Pratlharas
who, under Bhoja and Mahendrapala, brought under their direct
administration a vast extent of territory, from the Kathiawad Penin¬
sula in the west to Northern Bengal in the east. No such empire
flourished in North India after the Guptas. For there is no doubt
that the Gurjara-Pratlhara Empire was more extensive, more
durable, and had a more stable and organised administration than
the empire of Harsha-vardhana. The detailed account of this empire
in the present volume will show the erroneous, almost ludicrous,
character of the notion that Harsha-vardhana was the last empire-
builder in Northern India, to which reference has been made in the
Preface to the preceding volume.
Both the Palas and Pratlharas felt the full brunt of the Rash^ra-
kuta power. Although the Rashtrakutas ruled over the Deccan, they
were fired by the ambition of conquering Northern India. They de¬
feated the Pratlhara rulers Vatsaraja and Nagabhata and the Pala
king Dharmapala. Under Dhruva and his son Govinda III they
proved to be the greatest military power in India, and while the
former carried his victorious campaign as far as the doab between
the Ganga and the Yamuna, the latter overran the whole country
up to the Himalayas. Even a century later, one of their successors
sacked the imperial city of Kanauj, then at the heyday of its glory,
and forced the Pratlhara Emperor to fly for his life.
The Rashtrakutas also successfully fought with the Pallavas
and other powers of the South Indian Peninsula, and advanced even
as far as Ramesvaram. From the political point of view the Riashtra-
kuta Empire constitutes the most brilliant episode in the history of
the ancient Deccan. No other power, south of the Vindhyas, played
such a dominant role in the history of North India, until the age of
the Maratha Peshwas in the eighteenth century.
The. Pratlharas, though never a match for the Rashtrakutas,
played a dominant role in North Indian politics. They stood as
bulwark against the Muslims of the Sindhu valley. It has been
asserted by the Muslim writers that the Pratlharas were the greatest
foes of the Muslims, and could easily defeat the latter; but when¬
ever the Pratlharas advanced, the Muslims threatened to destroy
the famous image of the Sun-god in Multan, and the Pratlharas im¬
mediately retreated. The Muslims thus took advantage of the reli¬
gious feelings of the Hindu Pratlharas in order to save themselves
from impending ruin.
It appears that the danger of Muslim menace was not yet fully
realised by the Pratlharas. Otherwise they should not lpave been
deterred by religious scruples from exterminating Muslim rule in
xx xiv
PREFACE
India*—a feat which was easily within ‘their power. The Rashtra-
kutas went one step further. They befriended the Muslims and
gave them all facilities for settling in their territory. They even
allowed Muslim settlements to build mosques and to be ruled by
their own governors. Whatever we might think of the political
wisdom of the Rashtrakutas, their attitude is undoubtedly a mani¬
festation of that spirit of religious toleration, which characterised
India but was rare in that age elsewhere in the world, and offered a
strange contrast to the iconoclastic fury of the Muslims.
To the west of the Pratiharas lay the kingdom of the Shahiyas.
Originally ruled over* by the Turkish chiefs who claimed descent
from Kanishka, it was usurped by a Rrahmana minister, and the
new ruling family came to be known as the Hindu Shahiyas. They
became very powerful and ruled over an extensive territory from
the Hindu Kush to the East Punjab.
Although the Muslims were checked in Sindh they never gave
up the idea of pushing their conquests to India. The Caliphs made
repeated attempts to conquer Kabul and Zabul. Zabul made a pro¬
longed and stubborn resistance against Arab aggression for more
than two hundred years, and was not finally subdued till A.D, 870.
Kabul, which was conquered at the same time, regained indepen¬
dence, and formed a part of the Shahr^a kingdom. The heroic
resistance of these two states against the greatest military power
in the world has not yet received the recognition it deserves, and
has therefore been treated in some detail.
Tre rise of Ghazni, towards the close of the period under review,
was likely to be a great peril to India, and the Hindu Shahiyas, who
guarded her frontiers, were engaged in deadly conflict with the
rulers of this state. The struggle began towards the very end of the
period covered by this volume, and continued beyond it. A detailed
account of this conflict, which inflicted untold miseries upon India
and paved the way for its final conquest by the Muslims, will there¬
fore be given in the form of a continuous narrative in the next
volume.
The end of the first millennium, with which this volume closes,
was a turning point in the history of India. India was on the verge
of a great political transformation to which the nearest precedent
is furnished by the invasion of the Aryans about three thousand
years earlier. But the external invasion was not the only factor of
importance. The internal change was also a momentous one. The
collapse of the Pratihiara Empire brought into prominence new
powers, known later under the collective name of “Rajputs”, who
XXXV
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
xxxvii
LIST OF MAPS
1. Rashtrakuta Empire
2. Paid and Pratihdra Em,pires
3. South India, A.D* 320-1000
xxxix
0
ABBREVIATIONS
Abb. Rat. Abhidhdnaratanarndld of Haldyudha.
ABORI. Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research
Institute, Poona.
Apar. Apardrka.
Ap. Dh. Su. Apastamba Dharma-suira,
AH. Rdshtrakutas and their times, by A. S. Altekar.
ARSIE. Annual Report of South Indian Epigraphy.
ASC. Archaeological Survey of India, Reports by
Sir Alexander Cunningham.
ASI. Archaeological Survey of India, Annual
Report.
ASS. Anandd-srama Sanskrit Series9 Poona.
ASWI. Archaeological Survey of Western India.
AUS. Allahabad University Studies.
Bala. Bdlardmdyana of Rdjasekhara.
BEFEO. Bulletin de VEcole Franqaise d} Extreme-Orient,.
Hanoi.
BG. Bombay Gazetteer,
Bhav. IBhavisayattakaha, of Dhanapala.
Bh. List. ' A List of Inscriptions of Northern India by
D. R. Bhandarkar^ (Appendix to El, XJX-
XXIII).
BI. Bibliotheca Indica, Calcutta.
BKQ. Outline of the History of the Bhahja Kings of
Orissa. by R. C. Majumdar (DUS, III. 2.137-
170).
BSOS. Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies, .
London.
BSS. Bombay Sanskrit Series.
Bu-ston. History of Buddhism, by Bu-ston. Eng. trans.
by E. Obermiller. Heidelberg, 1932,
BV. Bharatiya Vidyd, Bombay.
CCIM. Catalogue of the Coins in the Indian Museum,
Calcutta.
CII. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum.
CP. Copper-plate.
CW. Collected Works of R. G Bhandarkar. 4 vols.
Poona, 1927-33.
DHI. Development of Hindu Iconography, by J. N.
Banerjea. Calcutta, 1942.
DHNI. Dynastic History of Northern India, hy H. C.
Ray, 2 vols. Calcutta, 1931, 1938.
DKA. Dynasties of the-Kali Age, by F. E. Pargiter.
Oxford, 1913. . “ •
DLP Series. Sheth Devch(>nd Lalbhai Jaina Pustakoddhara
Series, Bombay.
DUS. Dacca University Studies.
Dyn. Kan. Dynasties of the* Kanarese Districts, by J. F
Fleet.
EC. Epigraphia Carnatica.
xli
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
xiiv
CHAPTER I
1. DANTIDURGA
Two records of his reign, viz. the Samangad plates dated AJD.
754° and the undated Daiavatara cave inscription of Ellora7 give a
grandiloquent description of the triumphaj. career of Dantidurga.
He is said to have fought on the banks of the Mahi, Mahanadi and
Reva. and won victories over - Kahchi, Kalifiga, Kosala, Sri-iSaila,
Malava, La^a, and Tanka. He is also saicT to have made liberal re¬
wards to various rulers at Ujjayini and fixed his quarters in a Gur-
jara palace in that city. A later record8 probably elaborates this
when it says that Dantidurga performed Hiranyagarbha (or the
Great Gift) at Ujjayini in which “kings such as the Gurjara lord and
others were made door-keepers”. But his crowning act of glory
was the overthrow of the Chalukya king, described in several re¬
cords. According to contemporary records, he defeated with a small
force the formidable Karnataka army and won victories over Valla-
bba, the lord of all kings. In later records he is credited with hav¬
ing wrested the supreme sovereignty from the -Chalukyas9 and
“humbled the circle of proud kings from the Himalayas down to the
limit of Setu” (i.e. Adam’s Bridge).10
long but died some time before A.D. 758. This is the earliest known
date of his successor, his uncle Krishna I, who, we may presume,
was a valued lieutenant of his ambitious nephew in his military
conquests.13
2. KRISHNA
• • I
Dantidurga had defeated Kirtivarman, but had not extinguished
his power. The Chalukya emperor retired to Karnatak and pro¬
ceeded to reorganise his forces for a further trial of strength. The
challenge was so successfully met by the new Hash^rakuta ruler that
the Chalukya empire was wiped out of existence by c. A.D. 760.
Krishna then proceeded against the Gahgas ruling in Mysore and
occupied their capital Manyapuram for some time. Later on he
sent his son, the crown-prince Govinda, to invade the dominions
of Vishnuvardhana IV, the Chalukya king of Vengl, who being a
ruler of a Chalukya branch was naturally hostile to the new power
that had swept away the Chalukya supremacy from Western Deccan.
The expedition was successful and, as a consequence, the whole of
the former Hyderabad State was incorporated in the Rashtrakuta
empire in c. 772. Silabhattarika, a daughter of Vishnuvardhana IV,
is known to have been a queen of Dhruva, a younger brother of
Govinda. Probably her marriage followed the conclusion of the
peace.
Krishna I also defeated a king called Rahappa, whose identity
is uncertain. He brought under his sway southern Konkan and
placed it in charge of Sanaphulla, the founder of the Silahara family.
The Bhandak plates prove that practically the whole of Marathi-
speaking part of Madhya Pradesh was under Krishna.
Krishna was great not only as conqueror but also as builder.
The famous rock-cut Siva temple at Ellora, which is justly regarded
as a marvel of architecture, was constructed at his orders, and bears
an eloquent testimony to the high level of skill attained by India
in the arts of sculpture and architecture under the Rashtrakuta
patronage. Krishna had the titles Subhatunga and Akdla-varsha.
3. GOVINDA II AND DHRUVA14
Krishna I died about A.D. 773 and was succeeded by his eldest
son Govinda II, Prabhutavarsha Vikramdvaloka. He had been
nominated as yuvardja by his father and had distinguished himself
on the battlefield by defeating Vishnuvardhana IV of Vengi. He is
also credited with some conquests after his accession; but he proved
an utter failure as a ruler. Soon after his accession, he abandoned
himself to a life of pleasure and debauchery and practically left the
whole administration To his younger brother Dhruva. The latter
3
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Govinda III stayed for some time in his capital and there his son
and successor Amoghavarsha was born. It is somewhat curious
that most of these details of the northern campaign are not found
in the records of Govinda’s reign and known only from an inscription
recorded nearly 70 years later. But still, as they are substantially
corroborated by contemporary records* we need not dismiss them as
altogether fictitious though there may be some amount of exagge¬
ration.
The date of the great northern campaign of Govinda III has
been a subject of keen controversy among scholars. For a long time
it was believed that it took place about A.D. #06 or 807. But it is
now generally held that all these conquests were achieved before
A.D. 802, most probably in A.D. 800.17
Vishnuvardhana IV of Vengfi died in A.D. 709 and was succeeded
by his son Vijayaditya II. The new ruler challenged the Rashtra¬
kuta supremacy, but Govinda defeated him and put his-younger
brother Bhfma Salukki on the Vehgi throne in c. A.D. 802. The new
ruler naturally enough became a loyal henchman of Govinda.
Taking advantage of Govinda’s absence in the north, the Pal-
lava, Pan<jya, Kerala and Ganga rulers formed a confederacy against
him. Govinda marched against them with lightning speed and
scattered them all before the end of A.D. 802. The occupation of
Kanchl by the Rashtrakuta forces created a tremor in the heart of
Hie king of Ceylon, who tried to ingratiate himself into Govinda’s
favour by presenting him two statues, one of himself and the other
of his premier. Govinda installed one of them in the Siva temple
at Kanchl to serve as a column of victory to proclaim to the subjects
of his enemy his great power and might.
5. 6ARVA OR AMOGHAVARSHA
Govinda HI was succeeded by his son &arva, better known as
Amoghavarsha, in A.D. 814. He assumed the titles Nripatunga,
Maharajashxmda,'Vtra-N&rayana, and Atisaya-dhavala. The new em¬
peror was a boy of 13 or 14, and his father had arranged that Karkka,
8
THE RASHTRAKOJA EMPIRE
who had succeeded his father Indra as the viceroy of Gujarat, should
assume the reins of government during his minority.
The arrangement worked satisfactorily for two or three, years,
but a formidable revolt broke out in A.D. 817. It seems to have
been led by the Vehgi ruler Vijayaditya II who, though ousted from
the throne by Govinda III, had subsequently managed to regain it.18
A number of disgruntled officers, relations, and feudatories swelled
the ranks of rebels; and they eventually gained the upper hand. The
boy emperor had to flee and the Rashtrakuta power was for a
time completely eclipsed ab.aut A.D. 818. Karkka, however, soon
retrieved the situation and7 reinstated his ward upon the imperial
throne some time before A.D. 821.
After spending five or six years in restoring order and authority
in the different provinces of his empire, Amoghavarsha launched
an attack on Vijayaditya of Vehgi and inflicted a severe defeat upon
him in c. A.D. 830. It appears that the Rashtrakuta forces were in
occupation of Vengi for about a dozen years thereafter. The city
was recaptured by Panduranga, a general of Vijayaditya II, shortly
before A D. 845.
An almost continuous war was going on between the
Rashtrakiitas and the Gangas during the first twenty years of the
reign of Amoghavarsha. Eventually the latter were able to drive
out the Rashfrakuta forces from the major part of their country.
Amoghavarsha also did not make any serious effort to regain his
ascendancy in that province. In c. A.D. 860 he married his daughter
Chandrobalabbe to a Ganga prince named Butuga, which put an
end to the hostility between the two houses and ushered in an era
of co-operation between them.
and order but also to send an expedition against the Palasi The
arts of peace attracted him more than feats of war. He was a libe¬
ral patron of literature and his court was adorned'by a number of
famous Hindu and Jain writers such as Jinasena, the author of the
Adipurdna, Mahaviracharya, the author of Ganitasdrasamgraha.
and Sakatayana, the author of Amoghavritti. He was himself
the author of Kavirajamdrga, the earliest Kanarese work on
poetics. He treated all creeds with impartiality and his own life
was a striking synthesis of what was best in. Hinduism and Jainism.
He revered Mahavira as profoundly as Mahalakshml, and on one
occasion proffered to the latter a finger of his own in the belief
that such sacrifice would abate a severe epidemic. Kings rarely
bleed for others; usually they make others bleed for themselves.
Towards the evening of his life from c. A.D. 860, he used off and on
to retire from the work of administration in order to devote him¬
self as much as possible to religious worship. Amoghavarsha’s name
will endure as of a ruler who established peace and order in his king¬
dom, encouraged art and literature practised the principles he
preached, and did not flinch even from offering a limb of his body
by way of sacrifice, when he thought that public welfare demanded,
it.
6. KRISHNA
• • II
Amoghavarsha I died about A.D. 878 and was succeeded by
his son Krishna II who, like bis illustrious namesake, assumed the
titles Akdlavarsha and Subhatunga. He married the daughter of
the Chedi ruler Kokkalla I and received substantial help from his
wife’s relations in the arduous struggles of his reign.
Several Rashtrakuta records19 make a bold claim on behalf of
Krishna II that he terrified the Gurjaras, destroyed the pride of UL\a,
taught humility to the Gau^as, deprived the people on the sea-
coast of their sleep, and that his command was obeyed by the Anga,
the Kalinga, the Ganga, and the Magadha, waiting at his gate.
Much of this is, no doubt, mere conventional praise based upon a
kernel of historical truth. But there is no doubt that his reign
was full of wars.
The most arduous of his campaigns were those against the
Pratiharas and the Eastern Chalukyas. Several records refer to
his fight with the Gurjara-Pratihara ruler Bhoja20, and the
Begumra plates, dated A.D. 914. state that even then old men
remembered the great battle and talked of it. It is clear from the
records of the Lata f Gujarat) Branch of the Rashtrakutas that they,
particularly their chief Krishnaraja took a distinguished part in the
n
*
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
7. INDRA III
Krishna II died towards the end of A.D. 914 after a reign of
about 36 years. Like his father he had a leaning towards Jainism.
12
THE RASHJRAKOTA EMPIRE
9. KRISHNA HI
by the sack of its capital, and matters were worsened by the mal¬
administration of the new emperor and his two vicious ministers.
This naturally aroused imperial ambitions in the minds of the feu¬
datories, and one of them eventually deprived Karkka of his
sovereignty over the Deccan within eighteen months of his acces¬
sion.
This feudatory was Taila II of the Chalukya family. He was
ruling over a small fief at Tarddava^i in Bijapur District as a sub¬
missive feudatory of the Rashtraku^as from the time of Krishna III
down to A.D. 965. He, however, believed that he was a direct
descendant of the Imperial Chalukya family of Badami, and his
ability and military capacity urged him to make a bid for the impe¬
rial status snatched from his ancestors by the Rashtrakutas. He
made elaborate but secret preparations, and by the end of A.D. 973
openly revolted against the authority of Karkka. The latter march¬
ed against him, but was signally defeated in a sanguinary battle
fought. somewhere in northern Karnataka. The notorious minis¬
ters of Karkka were killed in the battle, but Karkka himself escap¬
ed and managed to carve out a small principality for himself in
Sorab taluk of Mysore State, where he continued to rule up to
A.D. 991. Though Karkka gave up the task of restoring Rash-
{rakuta supremacy as hopeless, it was attempted by the Ganga ruler
Marasimha on behalf of his nephew Indra, a grandson of Krishna III.
This effort also failed, as Taila succeeded in crushing his enemy’s
forces in A.D. 974, Both Marasimha and Indra turned Jain monks
and died by the Sallekhana vow, and Taila became the overlord of
the Deccan by A.D. 975. His reign and the history of his family will
be described in the next volume.
Papers pp. 97-8). The equivalent Christian date being AJD. 715, it pushes back
the accession of Dantidurga by more than 25 years. If we accept this inter¬
pretation, Dantidurga must have had a long reign of more than 40 years, as his
other known record, Samangad plates, is dated A.D. 754.
6. I A, XI. 111.
7. ASWf, V. 92.
8. El, XVIH. 252.
9. El, IV. 287.
10. El, XVUI. 252. - ,
11. This para is based upon the inference suggested by the Navsari plates of Pula-
kesin and Ellora plates of Danticjurga.
12. Vol. HI, pp. 247-8, 263.
12a. For a different view on this point, cf. next chapter (pp. 20-21. fn. 14).
13. According to some records (/A, XII. 264) Dantidurga died without a son, and
Kannara (i.e. Krishna) succeeded him. According to the Baroda plates of
A.D. 812-13 (lA, XII. 158), Krishna I had replaced a relative who had gone
astray. The view that Dantidurga was deposed by his uncle Krishna lot
oppressing his subjects cannot be upheld. For a full discussion of the point,
cf. Altekar, Rdshprakufas, pp. 41-2.
14. For the reign of Govinda II, cf. Alas Plates (El, VI. 208), Daulatabad Plates (El,
IX. 195), and Bhor State Museum Plates (El, XXH. 176).
15. A large number of inscriptions refer to the conquests of Dhruva and Govinda III.
Among them may be specially mentioned:
(i) Radhanpur and Wani plates of Govinda HI (IA, XI. 157).
(ii) Baroda Plates (IA, XII. 158).
(iii) Nilgund, Sirur, and Sanjan plates of Amoghavarsha (El, VI. 98; VII.
203; XVIH. 244).
16. This deta^ is found in Radhanpur and other plates, but not in Sanjan plates
which merely refer to Oie birth of his son in Sarva’s kingdom.
17. The vexed problem of the chronology of the campaigns of Govinda. Ill was
discussed by the author of this chapter and Mirashi, in D. R. Bhandarkar Volume,
pp. 153 ff. and El, XXIH. pp. 214-7, 293-7. The views given above are slightly
different from those held previously by the author. Cf. also El, XXXII, 159 (Ed.).
18. This will be described more fully in Chapter' VI.
19. Karhad PI. (El, IV. 287).
20. This will be described more fully in Chapter II.
21. Indra himself, his father Jagattunga, grandfather Krishna H, and son Amogha ¬
varsha II had all married princesses of the Chedl family of Tripuri,
22. According to one view, he ruled till at least A.D. 927 and was succeeded by his
elder son Amoghavarsha who was removed by Govinda TV in A.D. 930 (Ef,
XXVI. 162-3). Some scholars believe that he ruled till the end of A.D. 928 (El,
XXXII. 50). The date 922, for the death of Indra HI as given in the first edition
(p. 13) by the late Dr. Altekar has been proved to be wrong by epigraphic re¬
cords and has been changed to 927 (Ed.).
23. Some authorities place it in A.D. 934 (El, XXVI. 163-4).
24. This is denied by Prof. K. A. N. Sastri (JOR, XVI. 155).
24a. For a different view, cf. Ch. V, Section H.
25. HIED, I. 3, 13, 21.
26. A1 Istakhr! (ibid. 34) says: “There are Musalmans in its (land of Balhara) cities,
and none but Musalmans rule over them on the part of the Balhara. There arc
Jama Masjids in them (where Muhammadans assemble to pray).” The bracketed
portion is added by Ibn Haukal (ibid) who repeats the rest.
27. POC, X. 406.
IS
I
CHAPTER II
1. NAGABHATA I
The family came into prominence in the second quarter of the
eighth century A.D. by the successful resistance it offered under
Nagabha^a I to the Arabs. He is described in the Gwalior Inscrip¬
tion as “having crushed the large armies of the powerful Mlechchha
king.” It has already been noted above6 how he saved Western
India from the Arabs and gradually brought under his sway a large
number of states that had been overrun by them. In particular, he
established his supremacy over the Gurjara kingdom of Nandi
purl, and probably also over the Pratihara family of Jodhpur. A
new feudatory family the Chahamanas—was set up in Broach, but
the old dynasty of Harichandra. continued at Jodhpur. Siluka,
whose history has been related above,6 was'perhaps the last indepen-
19
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
dent ruler of this family. His two successors Jhota and Bhilla-
ditya are said to have proceeded respectively to the BhagirathI and
Gangadvara, and no martial glory is ascribed to them.7 This would
indicate that the Jodhpur family was politically insignificant during
the latter half of the eighth century A.D. It is obvious that
Nagabhafa and his descendants now attained the supremacy and
leadership of the Gurjara confederacy, so long enjoyed by the Jodh¬
pur chiefs.
It is unfortunate that we know practically nothing of the ances¬
tors of Nagabhafa I. Very likely they had carved out a kingdom
in Eastern Rajputana and Malwa about the same time as the other
branch had conquered the region round Broach. Like the latter,
- they too probably acknowledged the suzerainty of the Jodhpur
Pratiharas until Nagabhafa established the independence of his king¬
dom on a firm footing in the wake of the political disruption that
followed the disastrous Arab raids.
The date of Nagabha^a’s accession is not definitely known,
but since he successfully opposed the Arabs* he must have ruled
in the second quarter of the eighth century A.D. Whether he de¬
feated Junaid or his successor Tamin8 it is difficult to say, but in any
case, he must have ascended the throne within a few years of A.D.
730. He ruled probably till A.D, 756 as will be noted below.
About the time when Nagabha^a was laying the foundations of
the future greatness of his family, another powerful dynasty arose
in the Deccan, immediately to the south of Malwa. These were the
Rashfrakutas whose history has already been dealt with in the pre¬
ceding chapter. The Rashtrakufa king Dantidurga, who reigned
between c. A.D. 733 and 758, is said to have defeated the Gurjara
king and made him serve as a door-keeper (pratihara) when he per¬
formed the Hiranyagarbha-dana ceremony at Ujjain.9 It has been
suggested by some scholars10'that there is a pun on the word prati-
hdra and an allusion to the Pratihara king of Avanti. Though this
view is not accepted by all,11 there is no doubt that a Gurjara king
had to submit to Dantidurga, who went to the extent of occupying
the palace of the vanquished ruler.12
Dantidurga also claims to have = conquered Lafa (Southern Guja¬
rat) and Sindh. Since Dantidurga died before A.D. 758, it is more
or less certain that his Gurjara adversary could not have been any¬
body else but Nagabhaja I. But since the latter is acknowledged as
suzerain by Bhartrivaddha, the Chahamana ruler of Broach, in A.D.
756,^ it does not appear that Dantidurga’s military victory was
followed by any permanent conquest.14 Both Nagabhata I and
Dantidurga fished in the troubled waters caused by the Arab raids.
20
i
RISE AND FALL OF THE PR ATI HA R A EMPIRE
ly, it appears from the general tenor of the verse that the author
proposes to name the four rulers in the four directions. The pro¬
posed translation adds a fifth without indicating its connection or
relevancy to the context. It is urged by some that the fifth ruler
has been named because he reigned over Vardhamanapura where
the work was composed. But if we accept the identification of
Vardhamana with Wadhwan in Kathiawar Peninsula, we can hardly
regard Vatsaraja as a western ruler, even though his kingdom
was in Rajputana, as is argued by scholars who do not accept the
other translation locating, it in Avanti. To obviate this difficulty
one scholar proposes to identify Vardhamana with Badnawar, ^about
40 miles to the south-west of Ujjain.19 But in that case, we cannot
assign any reason why the fifth king should be mentioned at all.
Thus there are difficulties in the second translation which are of a
more serious nature than those of the first. For, as regards the
redundance of the word tifipa, it should hardly surprise us if we
remember such expression as Gurjaresvara-pati used with reference
to the son of the same Vatsaraja, in a record dated A.D. 812,20 i.e.
less than thirty years after Jinasena wrote. On the whole, there¬
fore, it is a more reasonable view to regard Vatsaraja as the' king
of Avanti in A.D. 783. This view is also corroborated by what has
been said above regarding the Gurjara king defeated by Dantidurga.
The two Jain works would thus prove that the Pratihara king
Vatsaraja ascended the throne in or before A.D. 778, and his king¬
dom comprised both Malwa and eastern Raj pu tan a. That he ruled
over Central Rajputana also is proved by two epigraphic records.21
Some idea of the extent of his kingdom may be gained from the^
fact that the northern king named by Jinasena as his contemporary
was Indrayudha, who was probably king of Kanauj.22 There is no
doubt that Vatsaraja gradually extended liis dominions in the north.
The Gwalior inscription of his great-grandson records that he forci¬
bly wrested the empire from the famous Bhantfi clan. This Bhan<Ji
clan has been taken by some to refer to the ruling family founded
by'Bhai^dif the maternal uncle of Harsha.23 It would then follow
that this clan wielded imperial power, probably with its seat of
authority in Kanauj, though we have no independent evidence of
this. But whatever we might think of these probabilities, there
is no doubt that VfitsarSja was ambitious of establishing an empire
in Northern India and attained a great deal of success. We learn
from the Rashfrakuta records24 that he defeated the Lord of Gau^a,
who must be identified with a Pala king of Bengal, probably Dhar-
mapala; and carried away his umbrellas of state. Vatsaraja was
aided in this expedition by his feudatory chiefs, one of whom, the
Chahamana Durlabharaja of SakambharT, is said to have overrun
RISE AND FALL OF THE PRATlHARA EMPIRE
3. NAGABHATA XI
After his defeat at the hands of Dhruva/ Vatsaraja passes com¬
pletely out of our view. Nothing is known of him or of his king¬
dom during the palmy days of Bala imperialism under Dharma-
pSla. It is probable that his power was confined to central Raj-
putana. His son and successor Nagabhata II, however, retrieved
the fortunes of his family. The Gwalior Inscription of his grand¬
son tells us that the rulers of Andhra, Saindhava, Vidarbha and
Kalinga succumbed to him, that he defeated Chakrayudha and
the lord of Vanga, and forcibly seized the hill-forts of the kings
of Anartta, Malava, Kirata, Turushka, Vatsa, and Matsya.29 The
records ctf some of the families feudatory to him corroborate and
supply details of these conquests. On the other hand, the Rash-
trakuta records categorically assert that Nagabhata was defeated
by Govinda III who overran his dominions and reached the
Himalayas. .
Although we thus know a great many details of the eventful
career of Nagabhata II, it is not easy to arrange then chronologi¬
cally, and view his reign in a correct perspective. We do not know,
for example, whether his discomfiture at the hands of the Rash-
trakutas nreceded or followed his victories,—in other words, whe¬
ther his reign began in disaster and ended in glory, or whether the
reverse was the case. No wonder, therefore, that different views
have been adopted by different scholars about the life and career
Of this great emperor,30 The following reconstruction of his history
may be regarded as merely provisional:—
The forcible seizure of the hill-forts of Anartta, Malava, etc.
is said to have begun even in his boyhood. It has been suggested
that some of these events might actually have taken place in the
reign of Vatsaraja.31 But as the same record refers to the achieve¬
ments of Vatsaraja, and is silent about them, this view is not pro¬
bable. They may, therefore, be regarded as the earliest military
exploits of Nagabhata II. The geographical position of the rulers
shows that Nagabhata advanced towards North Gujarat (Anartta)
and Malwa in the south and east, and this probably brought him
into conflict with the Rashtrakufas, which is referred to in the re¬
cords of both the parties. Indra, the Rashtrakuta ruler of Lata,
is said to have defeated the Gurjara king who fled to distant re¬
gions.32 On the other hand Vabukadhavala, a feudatory chief of
Nagabhata n, is said to have defeated the Karnatas, which apparent-
24
RISE AND FALL OF THE PRATIHARA EMPIRE
*
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
4. BHOJA
Pratiharas threw off the yoke of this king. The copper-plate further
shows that by A.D. 843 Bhoja had reasserted his authority over
Gurjaratra or Central and Eastern Rajputana. The success of Bhoja
was undoubtedly due to the loyal devotion of some of his feudatories,
one of whom, the Guhilot prince Harsharaja, son of Sahkaragana,64
is said to have overcome the kings in the north and presented' horses
to Bhoja (Ins. 4).
But Bhoja did not lose heart and bided his time. An inscrip¬
tion,69 dated A.D. 876, refers to his resolve “to conquer the three
worlds”, and there is no doubt that he renewed his aggressive career
some time in the third quarter of the ninth century A.D. The death
of Devapala removed a thorn in his side, for the next two kings
of the Pala dynasty, who ruled during the second half of the ninth
80
RISE AND FALL OF THE PRATiHARA EMPIRE
Bhoja had a long reign of more than 46 years, two of his known
dates being A.D. 836 and 882.66 An Arab account of India, com¬
posed in A.D. 851 and generally attributed to Sulaiman, refers to
the great power and resources of the king of Juzr. As Juzr un¬
doubtedly stands for Gurjara, the Arab account may be taken to
refer to Bhoja. As such it is an interesting commentary upon his
reign and personality and may be reproduced in full:—
N
5. MAHENDEAFALA
Bhoja probably died about A.D. 885, and was succeeded by his
son Mahendrapala I, whose earliest known date is AD. 893 (Ins. 3).
A verse in RdjatarangvnX, the meaning of which is obscure, seems
to indicate that he lost some territory in the Punjab, gained by his
father, to S&hkaravarman king of Kashmir.69 But, with this doubt*
ful exception, Mahendrapala not only maintained intact the vast
empire inherited by him, but also further expanded it towards, the
east. No less than seven of his records have been found in South
Bihar and North Bengal with dates ranging from years 2' to 19.
These indicate that shortly after his accession he conquered Maga-
dha and pven a part of Northern Bengal, the home territory of his
hereditaiQr enemy, the Balas. Mahendrapala’s records have also
been found in Kathiawar Peninsula, Eastern Punjab, Jhansi Dis¬
trict and Awadh (Oudh), and we may say, without much exaggera¬
tion, that his empire extended from the Himalayas to the Vindhyas
and from the Eastern to the Western ocean.
The name of Mahendrapala is also written in slightly varying
forms such as Mahindrapala and Mahendrayudha, and he was also
known as Nirbhaya-narendra or Nirbhayaraja.70 His guru, or
spiritual preceptor, Rajaiekhara, is a famous personality in Indian
literature. Although his writings do not throw any light on the
career or personality of Mahendrapala, they refer*in unmistakable
terms to the glory and grandeur of the imperial city of Kanauj.
6. MAHIPALA
Mahendrapaht’s last known date is AD. 907-8,71 and he pro¬
bably died not long afterwards. The succession to the throne after
him is a matter of dispute, as the available data lend themselves to
various interpretations. He had at least two queens, Dehanaga-
devi and MahTdevI (or Mahadevi).72 The son of the former, Bhoja II,
ascended the throne before Vinayakapala, the son of the latter,
one of whose known dates is AD. 931 (Ins. 9). Mahipala,73 a son
of Mahendrapala, is known to have ruled in AD. 91474 and AD. 917
fins. 8), while a king Kshitipala is known to be the father of king
Devapala ruling in AD. 948-9 (Ins. 7). There are good grounds to
believe that the last two kings also belonged to the same family.
A king Devapala, with the epithet Hayapati (lord of horses), son
of Herambapala, is mentioned in another contemporary inscrip¬
tion,76 and it is held by some that this Devapfila is identical with
his namesake, ruling in A.D. 948-9. Thus his father would be
Herambapala alias Kshitipala, and as these are synonymous respec¬
tively with Vinayakapala and Mahipala, the identity of all the four
33
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Bhoja II Vinayakapala
V
(alius MahlpSla
alias Kshitipala
altos Herambapala)
(A.D. 914, 917, 931)
point only to break down, the Pratiharas had a longer spell of suc¬
cess than either of their rivals.
The Pratlhara line was distinguished for its long succession of
able rulers. Apart from the hero who founded the royal dynasty,
four such remarkable personalities as Vatsaraja, Nagabhata II,
Bhoja, and Mahendrapala, ruled almost uninterruptedly for a cen¬
tury and a half with a short break of three years. They created the
tradition of an imperial glory which long endured and survived
many rude shocks. It is reflected in the literary works of Raja-
sekhara, the last Indian poet who could, with justifiable pride, refer
to his royal patron as “the Mahdmjddhirdja of Aryavarta” (King-
Emperor of Northern India). But the best testimony to the power
and glory of the Pratiharas is the eloquent tribute paid to their
wealth and resources by their inveterate enemies, the Arabs.
GENERAL REFERENCES
1. R. C. Majumdar, Hie Gurjara-Pratiharas. JDL. X. 1-76 (abbreviated as GP).
2. R. S. Tripathi, History of Kanauj (abbreviated as THK).
3. A. S. Altekar, The Rashprdkufas and their times (abbreviated as AR).
4. D. Sharrna, The Imperial Pratiharas—a revised study. (JIH, XXIL 93).
5. N Ray, A note on the chronology of the Later Pratiharas. (I A, LVU. 230).
IMPORTANT INSCRIPTIONS (Referred to in the text by the serial No.)
1. Gwalior Stone Inscription of Bhoja, El, XVUI. 99.
2. Jodhpur Inscription of Bauka, El, XVIII. 87.
3. Two Grants of Chahikya Chiefs of the Time of Mahendrapala, El, IX. 1.
4. Chatsu Inscription of the Guhilot chief Baladitya, El, XII. 13.
5. Kahla Plate of Xalachuri Sodhadeva, El, VII. 88.
6. Harsha or Haras Stone Inscription of the Chahamana Vigraharaja, El, II. 119 ff;
IA, XLU. 60 ff.
7. Siyadoni Inscription, El, I. 162.
8. Asm Inscription of Mahlpala (A.D. 917), IA, XVI. 173.
9. Bengal Asiatic Society’s CP of Vinayakapaia (A.D. 931), IA, XV. 138.
10. Partabgarh Inscription of Mahendrap&la U (A.D. 946), El, XIV. 176.
11. Rajorgarh Inscription of Vijayapala (A.D. 960), El, HI. 263.
12. Barah CP of Bhoja, El, XIX. 15; XXIII. 242.
13. Dauiatpura CP of Bhoja, El, V. 208; JBBRAS, XXI. 410.
14. Gwalior Ins. of Bhoja, dated V. 932. El. 1.154.
1. Ch. X, pp. 153 ff.
2. Cf. Vol. Eft, p. 155.
3. Cf. VoL m, p. 153.
4. Cf. JDL, X. 10 and the authorities referred to therein.
5. Vol. m, pp. 155, 173.
6. Vol. m. p. 154.
7. Cf. Ins. No. 2, given above.
8. Vol. HI, p. 173.
9. Sanjan CP. El, XVffl. 235.
10. JDL, X. 25; El, XVIII. 239; THK. 226-7; AR. 40 (fn. 32).
11. IHQ, VI. 753; ABORI, XVUI. 396; IC, XI. 161.
12. Curiously enough this fact, mentioned in the Ellora Ihs. (ASWI, V. 87), is not
referred to by any of those who oppose the view that Vatsaraja ruled in Malwa.
13. Cf. Hansof PI. H, XU. 197. The name of the suzerian king is given as Naga-
valoka, but he is generally identified with Nagabhata I (ibid, 200). The grant
was issued from Broach and records the gift of a village in Akruresvara-vishaya
which has been identified with Anklesvar taluk on the left bank of the Narmada.
We may, therefore, regard the Chahamana principality as extending up to the
Kim nver and thus corresponding to the old Gurjara kingdom of NandlpurT.
40
RISE AND FALL OF THE PRAT1HARA EMPIRE
14. It has been urged (JIH, XXIL 94) that according to Antroli-Chharoli pi.
(JBBRAS, XVI. 105), dated A.D. 757, “Karka II, a feudatory Rashfi-akuta chief
of Gujarat, gave away villages from practically the same region, showing there¬
by that sometime between AJ3. 756 and 757 the Rashtrakuta ruler Dantidurga
had succeeded in defeating the Pra$Iharas and ending their supremacy in
Lata.” But the villages granted lay to the south of the Kim river. Dr. Altekar
argues (AR. 11) that “since the donee hailed from Jambusara in the Broach
District” this region was included in the dominions of Karka II. But this
assumption can hardly be justified. On the whole, there is nothing to indicate
that Nagabhata lost his supremacy over the feudatory principality of Broach
which extended up to the Kim river in the south (see preceding note).
15. ABORT, XVHL 397-8.
16. For various opinions, cf. JDL, X. 23-25. Also, 1C, XI. 161 ft.
17. Fleet (El, VI. 195); Bhandarkar (El, XVIII. 238-9); Altekar (AM. 39); Tripathi
(THK. 225-6).
18. J. C. Ghosh (IHQ, VI. 755); Dasaratha Sarma (ABORT, XVIII. 396; JIHXXHL
43); H. L. Jain (1C, XI. 161).
19. H. L. Jain, op. tit. But in the map on p. 165, Badnawar is placed to the north¬
west of TJjjain.
20. Baroda PL Of Karkaraja, 1A, XII, 163.
21. Daulafcpura CP. (El, V. 208); Osia Ins. (AST, 1908-9, p. 108; JRAS, 1907, p. 1010).
22. THK. 213.
23. I proposed the identification-of die Bhandis with the Bhaffis (JDL, X. 28), and
this view was accepted by Tripathi (THK. 229). Their identification with
Bha$#i*s family was proposed by Ojha and is accepted by many. BharkU is
referred to in Harsha-charita, but we do not know anything about him dr his
successor, not even whether he was a ruling chief.
24. Radhanpur and Wand Grant of Govinda III (El, VI. 248; I A, XI. 157).
25. IHQ, XIV. 844.
28. Cf. HBR. 105, in. 1, 2 and also Ch. HI. §2, below.
27. Cf. in. 24.
28. Vide infra, Ch. HI, § 2.
29. Hie identification of these places has been discussed in JRAS, 1909, pp. 257-8.
Anartta is northern part of Kathiawar Peninsula, and Vatsa probably represents
the region round Kausambl, or Rewa country, further to the south, which is
associated with the name of Vatsa.
30. Cf. JIH, XXEL 99 ft, PIHC, XL 141.
31. JIH, XXH. 103.
32. Baroda PI. 1A, XU, 163; Sisavai Grant, v. 15; El, XXIH, 209.
32a. References are to the list of “Important Inscriptions” given at the end of this
Chapter.
33. Vide infra, Ch. V, I VI.
34. For a possible conflict or alliance between Nagabh&ta II and the E. Chalukya
long Vijayaditya n, cf. Ch. VI.
35. JIH, XXIL 102-3.
36. El, XXVL 185.
37. The Barah CP (EX, XIX. 15) shows that the KiUonjara-mandala in the Kanya-
kubja-bhulcti was included in the dominions of Nagabhata II.
38. Baroda PI. 1A, X33, 163.
39. The victory of Govinda HI is referred to in many Rashtrakuta records of the
main and Gurjara branches. Nagabhata is mentioned by name in Sanjan CP.
(El, XVm. 235) which also refers to Govinda’s advance up to the Himalayas.
The Pathari Pillar Ins. (El, IX. 255) refers to file hasty retreat* an# ‘devastated
home* of Ntitg&valoka, who has been identified with Nigabhata H, Karkka,
to whom the credit for this achievement is given, probably accompanied the
Ra&trak&fe king Govinda HI (IA, 1911, 239).
40. Sanjfcn CP. v. 23 (El. XVXXL 245).
41. Dr. Altekar has shown good grounds for the belief that Govinda QI led more
than one expedition to Northern India, and has given a revised chronology of
his campaigns (D. K. Bhandarkar Vol. 153). But he has somewhat changed his
views in the preceding chapter.
42. El, IS. 198.
43. SI, L 156-7.
44. El, TOX. 15.
45. THK. 236; JIH, XXU. 104.
41
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
46. This appears from the epithets given to the various kings in the official genea¬
logy contained in the royal charters.
47. El, I. 154.
48. This seems to be hinted at in v. 12 of the Gwalior Ins. (No. 1).
49. El, XIX. 15; v. 208.
50. El, XIX. 15; XX3U. 242.
51. Vol. HI. pp. 153 ff.
52. See p. 20.
53. El, V. 208.
54. See above p. 25.
55. S£e above, p. 10.
56. Begumra PI. 1A, XII. 179.
57. See later, Ch. V. §11.
58. JRAS, 1895. 513; El, IX. 277.
59. El, I. 156.
60. Tripathi thinks that Guhila II accompanied Mahendrapala I in his expedition
against Bengal (THK. 250-255; cf. also Ch. V. §VH. 2). Hie question cannot
be definitely decided one way or the other.
61. For a detailed account, cf. PIHC, VI. 166.
62. EJ, XIX. 174.
63. Begumra Grant of Krishna (IA, XIH. 66); Begumra Grant of Indra III, No. I,
v. 15, El, IX. 31.
64. El, XIV. 176.
65. This follows from the description of Arab writer Sulaiman that Bhoja’s territory
formed a tongue of land. It is also confirmed by a tradition in the Skanda
Purdna to which Dr. Raychaudhuri drew attention (1HQ. V. 129-133).
66. Pehoa Ins. (El, I. 184).
67. HIED, I. 4.
68. According to the story in the Skanda Purdna, referred to in fn. 65 above, Bhoja,
king of K&nyakubja, abdicated his throne and went on a pilgrimage to the holy
sites of Saurashtra. But this story, mixed up with myths and fables, can hardly
be regarded as historical. Dr. Raychaudhuri has sought to prove the abdication
by reference to epigraphic data, but without success (cf. THK. 245).
69. For full discussion on this point, cf. JDL, X. 55.
70. The name read by Fleet as Mahlahapala in the Asni CP. (IA, XVI. 173) is
obviously a misreading for Mahlndrapala.
71. Siyadoni Ins. (El, I. 162).
72. This form occurs in Partabgarh Ins. (El, XIV. 182).
73. Tripathi is wrong in’his statement that according to Asni Ins. Mahlpala was
bom of Mahldevi (THK. 254). This (or any other) inscription does not give
the name of Mahlpala's mother.
74. Haddala CP. 1A, XU. 190; XVUI. 90.
75. Khajuraho Ins. El, I. 122.
76. JDL, X. 58-63; THK. 257.
77. El, XIV. 180.
78. I A, LVII. 230.
79. THK. 255.
80. Ibid.
81. See later, Ch. V, §H.
82. PIHC, VL 169.
83. HIED. X. a.
84. For full discussion, cf. JDL. X. 63; THK. 263.
85. As RSjaiekhara was the guru of Mahendrapala also, it is likely that he wrote
his. poems in the early part of Mahlpala’s reign.
86. El, m 38.
87. AR. 101-2; THK. 260; JDL, X. 66.
88. Khajuraho Ins. ET, I. 121.
89. Some scholars hold that the incident refers to the help that Mahlpala received
in his struggle against his brother (THK. 256). But, as already noted above,
we have no evidence of any such struggle for the throne.
90. Harisena associates Vinayadikapala, in AD. 931, with Vardhamanapura, usuallv
identified with Wadhwan (above, p. 22). Cf. IC, XI. 162.
91. AS1, 1924-25, p. 168.
92. This is strtragly denied by Tripathi (THK. 262, 270). He, however, observes
that the Chandella ruler Ya&ovarman gave 'a great blow to the prestige of the
PratftriLras’ (ibid. 272).
42
RISE AND FALL OF THE PRATIHARA EMPIRE
48
CHAPTER III
THE PALAS
1. THE RISE OF THE PALAS
to assert his power after the death of Dharmapala and if, as some
scholars believe, he transferred his capital to Kanauj, he must have
achieved some success. But Devapala soon re-established the Pala
supremacy, and it was possibly after his successful campaign against
the Pratiharas that he advanced to the Huna and Kamboja princi¬
palities. Nagabhata’s son, Ramabhadra, probably also had his king¬
dom invaded by Devapala. The next Pratihara king Bhoja also, in
spite of his initial success, suffered reverses at the hands of Devapala,
and could not restore the fortunes of his family so long as the Pala
emperor was alive. Thus Devapala successfully fought with three
generations of Pratihara rulers,33 and maintained the Pala supre¬
macy in Northern India.
The Dravida king defeated by Devapala is generally supposed
to be the Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha. This view is not unlikely
in view of the part played by Dhruva and Govinda III in Northern
India, and the weakness and pacific disposition of Amoghavarsha.
But Dravida, it should be remembered, normally denotes the land
of the Tamils in the south and not the Deccan, the territory of the
Rashtrakutas. From this point of view, it has been suggested that
the Dravida king defeated by Devapala was most probably his con¬
temporary Pandya king Sri-Mara &rI-Vallabha who claims in an
inscription to have defeated a hostile confederation consisting of the
Gangas, Pallavas, Cholas, Kalihgas, Magadhas and others.34 The
Magadhas in this list obviously refer to the Pala forces, and it is
not unlikely that the conquest of Utkala brought Devapala into con¬
tact with the southern powers. As the Rashtrakutas were common
enemies of these powers and the Palas, an alliance between them
might have been dictated by political exigencies. Unfortunately,
we know little of this phase of Pala diplomacy, and cannot say any¬
thing definite about the expedition of Devapala to the far south. But
some victorious campaign in this’region may be the basis of the claim
put forward in the Monghyr copper-plate (No. 2) that the empire of
Devapala extended from the Himalayas in the north to Ramesyara
Setubandha in the south.
But whatever we might think of Devapala’s victory in the ex¬
treme south, there cannot be any doubt that he occupied the position
of a paramount ruler in North India. It does not appear that his
direct rule extended beyond Bengal and Bihar, but as his victorious
arms, reached the frontier both in the east and the west, there is
no reason to doubt that he effectively maintained the suzerainty
which he had inherited from his father. His great rivals, the Praii-
hiiras, in spite of some initial successes, could not re-establish theii
power till after his death. The Rash^rakOtas left North India alone
51
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
during his reign, and Devapala probably carried the fight to their
dominions. He certainly led his army as far as the Sindhu and
claimed an imperial position in North India, a feat to which no other
ruler of Bengal could lay claim during the next thousand years.
Devapala had a long reign of about forty years.35 He was a
great patron of Buddhism like his father, and his fame spread to
many Buddhist countries outside India. About this time a powerful
Buddhist dynasty, the Sailendras, ruled over an extensive empire
in the East Indies,56 Balaputradeva, a king of this dynasty, sent an
ambassador to Devapala, asking for a grant of five villages in order
to endow a monastery at Nalanda. Devapala granted the request.37
Another record informs us that a learned Buddhist priest, hailing
from Nagarahara (Jelalabad), received high honours from Devapala
and was appointed the head of Nalanda monastery.38
The reigns of Dharmapala and Devapala constitute the most
brilliant chapter in the history of Bengal. Never before, or since,
till the advent of the British, did Bengal play such an important
role in Indian politics. A brief but interesting account of the Pala
empire at the height of its glory is given by the Arab merchant
Suiaiman who visited India and wrote his account in A.D. 851.39
He refers to the Pala kingdom as Ruhmi,40 a name which cannot be
satisfactorily explained. According to him the Pala ruler was at
war with his neighbours, the Gurjaras and the Rashtrakutas, but
his troops were more numerous than those of his adversaries. "We
are told that the Pala king took 50,000 elephants in his military
campaigns, and ten to fifteen thousand men in his army were “em¬
ployed in fulling and washing cloths.”
The Tibetan records claim that some of their rulers, who were
contemporaries of Dharmapala and Devapala, conquered the domi¬
nions of the Palas, and specifically refer to Dharmapala as submitting
to Tibetan supremacy. This is not, however, corroborated by any
independent evidence, and we cannot say how far the claims can
be regarded as historically true. It is not unlikely that Tibet exer¬
cised some political influence in Eastern India during the period
A.D. 750-850, and the occasional reverses of the Pala rulers at the
hands of the Pratiharas and the Rashtrakutas may be partly due to
Tibetan aggression.41
throne and retired to an ascetic life. His son and successor Narayana-
pala, who ruled for more than half a century,43 was also of a pacific
and religious disposition. During the «reigns of these two unmartial
kings the Pala empire fell to pieces. Some time after A.D. 860 the
Rashtrakutas defeated the Pala rulers.^4 The Pratiharas took
advantage of the distress and weakness of their rivals; and their
rulers Bhcja and Mahendrapala gradually extended their power to
the east. Narayanapala not only lost Magadha (South Bihar), but
for a time even North Bengal/the homeland of the Paias, passed into
the hands of the Pratihara king Mahendrapala.45
The triumph of the Pratiharas encouraged the subordinate chiefs
to throw off the yoke of the Paias. King Harjara of Assam assumed
imperial titles and is credited with many victories; and the Sailod-
bhnvas established their power on a firm footing in Orissa.45
9. It is definitely said in the Bashtrakuta records that Dhruva met the king of
Gauda between the Ganga and the Yamuna and carried off his umbrellas of
stab# (Sanjan CP. v. 14; El, XVffl. 244). It has been recently urged by a scholar
(/HQ, XX. 84) that Dhruva did not defeat the king of Gautfa, but really got
his state umbrellas from Vatsaraja when the latter was returning from hi*
expedition to Bengal. In his opinion, it was Vatsarija whom he met and
defeated between the Gangs and the Yamuna, but the writer of the Bashprakuta
records, who knew that Dhruva captured the white umbrellas belonging to the
Gauda king, naturally, but erroneously, thought that the Gaud& king was
defeated by Dhruva. This theory is no doubt ingenious and even plausible,
but cannot be accepted in view of the categorical statement in Sanjan CP, so
long at least as we have no evidence in support of it.
10. The full significance of v. 12 of Ins. No. 1 which contains an account of this
assembly has been discussed in HBR, 107.
11. Cf. e.g. THK. 216, 230.
12. The IJdayanasundari-kathd Jay Scddhala (G. O. S. edition), pp. 4-6.
13. Uttarapatha technically means the western part of North India, but applied to
Dharmapala, ruler of Bengal and Bihar, it evidently means the overlordship of
North India.
14. This is clearly indicated by Ins. No. 2, v. 8.
15. Cf. Ch. II, p. 23 above.
16. It is significant that all three contending powers, the Palas, the Pratlharas,
and the Rashtrakutas, had their eyes fixed upon Kanauj. The Pratlharas finally
transferred their capital to this city. The Rashpraku(a king Dhruva and
Govinda IH overran this region, and one of their successors, Indra III, captured
and ruthlessly sacked this city which was then the imperial capital of the
Pratlharas.
17. /C, IV. 266.
18. 1A, 2892, p. 257, fn. 6.
29. 1C, TV. 266. The capital of the Kiratas was situated in the jungles of Gokarna
to the north-east of Pasupati (Levi, Le Nepal. II. 83)^
20. For Nagabhata’s history and military campaigns, cf. Ch. H, pp. 24 ff.
21. Gwalior Ins. of Bhoja, v. 10 {El, XVIII. 112). The description shows the strength
. of the Pala army and may be contrasted with the ‘easy victory’ obtained by
Vatsaraja against the king of Gau^a referred to above.
22. Cf. Chapters I and II.
23. According to Sanjan CP, “Dharma and Chakrayudha surrendered of themselves”
to Govinda III (El, XVIII. 253). There is no evidence in support of the view
that Dharmapala was defeated in a battle by Govinda 1H (JBORS. XII. 362).
24. Iris. No. 2, v. 12.
25. For authorities, cf. HBR. 115.
26. It consisted of a central temple surrounded by 107 others—all enclosed by a
boundary wail. It provided for 114 teachers in different subjects (JASB, N. S.
V (1909), pp. 1 ff.).
27. For detailed description, see Vol. V, Ch. XVI.
28. El, IX. 248.
29. Ins. No. 4, v. 5.
30. Ins. No. 2, v. 13.
31. Ins. No. 4, v. 13; No. 3. v. 6. Darbhapani’s father Garga was a minister of Dharma¬
pala.
32. Ins. No. 3, v. 6.
33. For details see<2h. II.
34. For a full discussion of this point, cf. ROC, VIII. 537; S. K. Aiyangar Com. Vol.
197; HBR. 120-21. But K. A. N. Sastri opposes this view (India Antique, 254).
35. The last known date of Dev&pala depends upon the reading of the figure for
his regnal year in the Nalanda CP. It is usually read as 39 (El, XVII. 318), but
seems to-be really 35 (JRASBL. VII. 215).
36. Vide infra, Ch. XV.
37. Nalanda CP. (El, XVII. 318).
38. Goshrawa Stone Ins. (1A, XVII. 307).
39. HIED, I. 5, 25. But some scholars doubt whether the account was really written
by Sulaiman (cf. Arab Geographers’ Knowledge of Southern India by S. M H
Nainar, pp. 7 ff).
40. IHQ, XVI. 232.
41. HBR. 124. Cf. also Ch. IV, 81.
•THE PALAS
42. The whole question has been fully discussed in HBR: 188.
43. His latest known date is year 54 (1A, XLVII. 110).
44. According to Sirur Ins. dated A.D. 866 (l A, XII. 218), Ahga, Vahga and Magadha
paid homage to king Amoghavarsha, who could not possibly have undertaken
an expedition against the Palas before his conquest of Vengi which took place
about A.D. 860.
45. Several inscriptions of Mahcndrapala have been found in South Bihar (Palas of
Bengal. 64) and one in Paharpur (North Bengal) (MASI, 55. 75).
46. See next Chapter.
47. This is proved by an image found in Bihar with an ins. dated in the year 54
(IA, XLVII. 110). Inscription No. 3 shows that Narayanapala was in possession
of Bihar in the year 17. So the Pratiharas conquered it propably during the
interval between these years (c. A.D. 870-908). As Mahendrapala did not ascend
tlie throne till after A_D. §82, his conquest of Bihar and North Bengal may be
placed between A.D. 890 apd 900.
48. According to v. 5 of the Dcoli CP, Krishna II was the preceptor “charging the
Gaudas with the vow of humility” and that *‘his command was obeyed by Ahga,
Kalihga, Gahga and Magadha” (El, V. 193). The Rashtrakufa king was probably
accompanied by Malta, p chief of Velanandu (in Krishna District), for the latter
claims to have subdued the Vangas, Maghdhas and the Gaudas (Pithapuram
Ins. v. 11; El, TV. 40).
49. For other views, cf. HBR, I. 131, £n. 4.
50. The Pala records have nothing to say about them except that Rajyapala dug
tanks deep, like the sea and constructed temples high as the mountains (cf. Ins.
No. 5, vv. 7-10). In a verse applied to Gopala II and Vigrahapala II in two
different records (No. 5 and Jajilpara CP of Gopala II. JASL, XVII. 137) their
elephant forces are said to have wandered in the eastern regions, western
deserts, Malaya mountains in the south and the Himalaya in the north. These
aimless wanderings were formerly regarded by some scholars as a coveil allusion
to the loss of ancestral kingdom by Vigrahapala, but as the same verse is now
known to apply to the earlier king Gopala II also, this interpretation is doubtful
(cf. HBR. 136). But the verse may indicate the hopelessly weak position of
both the kings.
51. For the history of these dynasties, cf. Ch. V. For the effect of Chandella invasions
on Bengal, cf. IHQ. XXVIII. 177.
52. As noted above, some of these units are separately mentioned also in the
Rashtrakutta records (cf. fn. 44 and 48 above).
53. Irda CP. El, XXII. 150; XXIV. 43.
54. JASB, VII. 619.
55. El. XXVI. 313.
56. Cf. 1C. XII. 88.
57. El, XVII. 349.
58. HBR. Ch. VII. The year 46 is found in Madanpur Plates (El, XlXVIII. 51, 337).
59. Cf. Mandhuk (Tippera District) Ins. of Gopala II year 1 (IHQ, XXVIII. 55) and
Jajilpara CP. of the same king (JASL, XVII. 137).
CHAPTER IV
I. NEPAL
The history of Nepal, during the two centuries following the
death of Jayadeva II,1 is very obscure, as the Vaihiavalis (chronicles
are hopelessly confused and there are no epigraphic records to help
us. One strange episode at the beginning of this period has been
preserved in R&jatarangim? It tells us how, in the course of his
victorious campaign, Jayaplda, the grandson of Lalitaditya,3 came
to Nepal, was captured by its king Araxnudi, effected his escape
through the self-sacrifice of his minister, and conquered the king¬
dom. Like his other adventure concerning Jayanta,4 this also reads
more like a romance than real history, and Stein rejects it as
mythical, L4vi has, however, pointed out that the name Aramudi is
Tibetan, and as we know’from Tibetan sources that Nepal was at
this time, under the political subjection of Tibet, and there was hosti¬
lity between this country and Kashmir, there may be some basis for
the story. According to the Chronicles of Ladakh, the Tibetan
king Khri-sron-lde-btsan (A.D. 755-97) carried his victorious arms
to India.6 According to another Tibetan text, composed in the ninth
century A.D., his son conquered a large part of Jambudvlpa.6 The
next important king Ral-pa-can (A.D. 817-836) is said to have con¬
quered India as far as the confluence of the Gang a and the sea.7 As
noted above,8 there is no independent evidence in support of these
claims. But, according to some Nepalese chronicles, the Tibetan
king Namoyati ruled over Nepal after the reign of Vasantadeva,
and we may regard the Tibetans as having exercised a general
supremacy over Nepal. This Namoyati may be identified with king
Aramu<Ji who defeated and imprisoned JayapTda, as mentioned
above. But it is very doubtful if Aramudi is a Tibetan name.68 In
addition to the Tibetans, the Palas also appear to have exercised some
sort of supremacy over Nepal,9
These foreign conquests may explain the political confusion in
Nepal which is reflected in its chronicles. The year A.D. 879, the
58
EASTERN INDIA DURING THE PALA PERIOD
epoch oi‘ the Newarl era, which is current even now it) Nepal, pro¬
bably marks an important political event in its history. According
to Prinsep and Cunningham the new era, dating from October 20,
A.D. 879,. was inaugurated by king Raghavadeva. S. Levi, however,
rejects this view, as this king does not occupy any prominent place
in the local chronicles. He suggests that the new era was simply
the Saka era with the omission of the eight hundred. In his opinion,
after the end of the Saka year 800, the Nepalese, who had a supersti¬
tious dread for the figure 8, began to count the year afresh as 1, 2.
etc. without any reference to the figure for hundred. This view
gains additional strength from the fact that we have now good
grounds to believe that of the two earlier Nepal: eras, the first one
was rcallv the Saka era, and the second, the same era with the
omission of 500.70 It would thus appear that the Nt-palese adopted
the Saka era before the end of its fourth century, and continued to
use it ever since, dropping the hundredth figure, first after 500
and then, again, after 800 years of that era. The last-named era pro¬
bably came into use during the reign of Raghavadeva. and hence he
was regarded by posterity as the founder of that era.
Raghavadeva is mentioned in two old Chronicles, which assign
to him a reign-period respectively of 43 and 63 years. The names
of his successors are also given differently in them. It is not unlikely
that the two Chronicles refer to two different lines of kings ruling
simultaneously over two regions. King Vikramadeva and his three
successors are, however, common names in both the lists. Narendr2-
deva. who succeeded Vikramadeva, is known from the colophon of
a manuscript to have ruled in A.D. 999. Henceforth the royal lists
in the Chronicles can be checked with the help of colophons and
epigraphic records. Thus, we reach a firm ground in the history of
Nepal only at the close of the period dealt with in this Volume.71
A great deal of uncertainty, however, prevails in respect of
the chronological and genealogical position of king Gunakamadeva,
who is mentioned in all the Chronicles as having played a great role
in the history of Nepal. His name is placed in the two old Chronicles
immediately after Narendradeva. These assign him a reign of
85 years while the modern Chronicles give it as 51. All this is im¬
possible, for Gunakamadeva’s reign must have come to an end by
A.D. 1000, as his successor is said to have ruled for 51 years, and
the next king Nirbhaya is known ta have jointly ruled with Rudra
in the year 128 ( — A.D. 1007).12 Gunakamadeva was evidently a
king of some eminence, and a great many traditions have gathered
round his name. He probably extended the boundaries of his domi¬
nions beyond the valley towards the east. He is said to have been
owner of fabulous wealth, and to have spent a large amount in rcli-
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
II. KAMABUPA
f-1—1—i
IV. Sivakaradeva II (73 ?) V. Santikaradeva I = VIII. Tribhuvana-
I alias Gaya$a I Mahadevi I (110)
alias Lalitahara I (93)
VI. Subhakaradeva II (100)32 isf
I
VII. Subhakaradeva III ahas Simhaketu alias
Kusumahara I (103)
68
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
As will be seen from the above table, there were five kings bear¬
ing the name Subhakara. The first king of that name is known from
Neulpur plate, but as the characters of the newly discovered Khadi-
pada (now Cuttack Museum) inscription of Subhakara seem to be
older than those of the former, it has been suggested that there was
an earlier king bearing that name.36 On the other hand, it has been
pointed out that the palaeographical differences between the two
inscriptions are “not so great as to render the identification of these
two Subhakaras impossible.”36 The identity of these two kings has
been assumed in the above table, but it is not unlikely that there was
an earlier king of that name, who even preceded No. I.
It has been stated in Hindol Plate that when kings like Lakshmi-
kara and others of the Bhauma family “had gone to heaven,” there
flourished in that family king Subhakara (No. III). It may be infer¬
red from this that there was a king called Lakshmlkara, who was
either identical with No. I or his predecessor, immediate or remote.
But there is nothing to justify the assumption that Lakshmlkara was
the father of No. I.3T
This view goes against the assumption that the dates of the
Kara kings are to be referred to the Harsha era.42 This theory is
open to several objections. In the first place, the ruler of Orissa
about A.D. 795 would be a queen (Nos. XIV-XVI) who was a Saiva
and not a Buddhist. The Buddhist ruler of Orissa in A.D. 795, who,
according to the Chinese source, “had a deep faith in the Sovereign
Law’’, must be identified with one of the first three Kara kings
who are called respectively ‘Paramopasafca’, ‘Paramatathagata* and
*Paramasaugata’, and not with any of their successors who were
devotees of Mahesvara. Secondly, according to Taranatha, there was
political disintegration both in Bengal and Orissa shortly before
the time when Gopala was elected to the throne. As his statement
has proved to be true with regard to Bengal, we may give credit
to it in respect of Orissa as well. It is more probable, therefore,
that the Karas, who ruled for two centuries in an unbroken line of
succession, established a powerful kingdom about the middle of the
eighth rather than the seventh century A.D. Thirdly, if we refer
the date of the Kara records to Harsha era, king No. Ill would
flourish about the middle of the seventh century A.D., but the scripts
of his plate are so distinctly later than the Ganjam plate of Sasanka
that it has been assigned to the latter half of the eighth century
A.D 43 Fourthly, if the date of king Unmattakesarl, recorded in
Oj
A.I.K.—3
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
the Ganjam grant, is really 20, we can hardly refer it to the Harsha
era as Orissa had not yet been conquered by Harsha.
On these and other grounds it is more reasonable to refer the
foundation of the Kara dynasty to the middle of the eighth century
A.D. In that case wc cannot refer the dates in their records to any
known era, and must presume that it was a case of continuous
reckoning of the regnal year of the first king by his successors which
has given rise to so many local eras, including the Ganga era in
Kalihga.
Very little is known of the detailed history of the long line of
rulers belonging to the Kara dynasty. As mentioned above, kings
Nos. I-IIX were all devout Buddhists. The Neulpur plate, issued by
No. Ill, refers to the first two as kings and gives the title Maharaja
to the third. In a record of No. IV, however, both Nos. Ill and IV
are given the higher imperial titles Paramabha{\draka Mahdrdjddhi-
rdja Paramcsvara. These titles were borne by all their successors,
whose charters have so far come to light, and these charters are also
drawn in characteristic imperial style, the royal order being address¬
ed to Mahasamantas, Maharajas,tRdjaputras and a host of high offi¬
cials. This shows that the kings were independent and powerful, but
we have no reason to believe that their permanent authority extended
beyond the boundaries of Orissa or even over the whole of it.
The Talcher plate, dated 149, tells us that Unmay|asimha (No. II)
defeated in battle the king of Ra$ha and carried away his daughter,
while his son Subhakara X INo. Ill) subjugated the Kalihgas. It is
somewhat singular that neither the Neulpur plate issued by £ubha-
kara I himself nor any other record refers to any such exploits.
But some corroboration about the conquests of the Kara kings
at this time is obtained by the Ganjam Grant of Jayavarmadeva.
This record indicates that Jayavarman of the £vctaka Branch44 of
the Gahgas, who ruled in the northern part of Ganjam District,
acknowledged the supremacy of king Unmattakesari of Virajas.
This Unmatt^kesari may be identified with the Kara king No. II. It
would then follow that even in his time a part of Kohgoda was in¬
cluded within the dominions of the Karas, and the next king §ubha-
kara had probably extended his conquests further south to Kalihga.
But as Kohgoda formed a part of the dominions of the Gahgas of
Kalihga, it is also not unlikely that Subhakara himself achieved a
victory over them in his father's reign, and hence his name was
associated with the conquest of Kalihga in later days.
Although the dates of Subhukara I and his son Sivakara II.
read respectively as4 54 and 73, are somewhat doubtful, we may
oc
EASTERN INDIA DURING THE PALA PERIOD
67
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
dcva III. It is no doubt very singular that there was a regular suc¬
cession of four queens on the throne, which passed after Dandi-
MahadevI to two senior ladies of the royal family. All the three
ruling queens of the family whose charters have so far come to light,
viz. Tribhuvana-MahadevI (No. VIII), Dantfi-Mahadevi (No. XV)
and Dharma-Mahadevi (No. XVII), assumed imperial titles Paramo.-
bhattarika, and Maharajadhiraja-Paramesvari.
Wc can get a fair idea of the dominions of the Karas from the
names of villages mentioned in their land-grants. In addition to
the coastal territories comprised in the modern districts of Balasore,
Cuttack and Puri, their dominions included Angul, the did feuda¬
tory states of Hindol, Dhenkanal, Taleher, Pal Lahara, a part of
Keonjhar, and the northern part of Ganjam District. These terri¬
tories are sometimes referred to as included in North and South
Tosali, but the name Utkala also occurs in the records.
fore, this region must have frequently changed hands, or the feuda¬
tories issued land-grants without any reference to their Kara over-
lords.
All the land-grants of the family are issued from the same
place, which is called Guhadeva-pataka in the earlier records and
Guhesvara-pataka in the later ones. This town was evidently the
capital of the family. A late tradition places the foundation of the
Kara kingdom in Jajpur. The Gan jam grant also refers to the second
king of the dynasty as king of Virajas, evidently a variant of Viraja,
which is a well-known name of Jajpur. It may be presumed there¬
fore that this town represents the site of the ancient capital of the
Karas.48
GENERAL REFERENCE
Brnayak Misra—Orissa under the Bhauma Kings.
- Section I of this book gives a list of Kara inscriptions, and either edits or
contains a short account of them. The historical discussion in Section II is,
however, not always helpful or reliable. Five new inscriptions have been dis¬
covered since the above work was published. They are referred to in the
footnotes.
2. The Bhanjas
More than thirty records of kings with names ending in Bhahja
have so far come to light. The task of arranging them in a genea-'
logical or chronological order has proved a difficult one and scholars
differ widely on the subject. But we can easily distinguish two
important branches, one ruling at Khinjali, and the other at Khij-
jinga. The latter is undoubtedly the same as Khiching in Mayur-
bhanj whose ruins still testify to its great antiquity. Khinjali, which
lay far to the south, cannot be definitely identified. The records
refer to twb Khinjalis, and it has been suggested that one lay to
the north and the other to the south of the Mahanadl. But there is
no doubt that the kingdom of Khinjali corresponded, at first, to the
old feudatory states of Baud and Sonpur in Orissa and its imme¬
diate neighbourhood, though later its boundaries extended further
south to the northern part of the Ganjam District.49*
The rulers of this family, so far known from their records, are
represented in the following genealogical table:—
I. Yathasukha
i
. II. Mallagambhlra
i
IX. Vidyadharabhanja (Amoghakalasa)
i
1
X. Nettabhanja II iKalayanakalasa II)
The first four rulers are known from the Tekkali plates of
&alrubhahja,r ‘ The rulers Nos. IIX-X are known from other records.
While there is no doubt about the genealogy of these rulers t III-X .
doubts have been entertained regarding the identity of Silabhahja,
and his son 6atrubhanja, mentioned in the Tekkali plates, with the
rulers bearing the same names and the same relation in the other
list.'^ Their identity has been challenged on the ground that the
opening verses of the Tekkali plates resemble those of the later, and
not earlier, Bbanja rulers of the family. But as Nos. Ill to X ruled
in an unbroken line of succession, the four rulers mentioned in the
Tekkali plates can only be regarded as collateral »?.(?. contemporary-
or posterior, to No. X. The latter view is untenable as the characters
of the Tekkali plates are undoubtedly much earlier than those of
No. X. and there are not sufficient grounds fPr the former view. The
identity of names of two generations naturally leads to the presump¬
tion of the identity of the persons, and the genealogy has accordingly
been drawn on this basis.
Even the identity of Banabhanja mentioned in the different re¬
cords has been challenged, and Ranaka Banabhanja and Maharaja
Banabhanja have been held to be different persons."'' But here, again,
there are not sufficient reasons to reject the normal presumption
about their identity.
A recently discovered plate, not yet published, adds the name
of another Bhahjn kinrr. who-evidently flourished after No X. and
EASTERN INDIA DURING THE PA LA PERIOD
Even allowing for the obvious exaggerations, this verse may be taken
to testify to the existence of one or more Bhahja ruling families long
before the eighth century A.D. This theory is supported by a short
record below a tempera-painting on a rock-shelter in the village of
Sitabhinji, Keonjhar District. “The subject-matter of the painting
is a procession relating to a king on elephant who is preceded by
footmen, a horseman, and a dancing woman and followed by an
attendant woman. A painted inscription below the king gives the
name of the king as “Maharaja 6ri Disabhanja”.
Mr. T. Ramachandran, from whose account the above description
is quoted; refers the inscription to the fourth century A.D. and says
that this date is “corroborated by an ensemble of evidence furnished
by other associative antiquities.”68
%
Kottabhanja
(Yuvardja) Kottabhanja
Vlrabhadra is described as ‘Chakravartisamah’ (like an emperor),
and ^atrubhanja is called Mahdmarujia.i-ddhipati-Mahardjddhiraja-
Paramesvara. Ranabhanja is called both Maharaja and Maharaja-
dhirdja. These titles and the fact that they issued charters without
reference to any overlord indicate that they were at least de -facto
independent rulers.
As regards chronology, we have two specific dates for Rana¬
bhanja, viz. 288 and 293.72 These cannot be referred to the era used
by the Karas, as the royal Kara dynasty is not known to have con¬
tinued beyond the year 200 of that era, and there is nothing to indi¬
cate that their era was in use after them. The other possibilities
are the Harsha and the Gahga eras. Jf we assume the former, which
appears more probable, Ranabhanja nourished towards the close of
the ninth century A.D., and the dynasty must have ruled roughly
between A.D. 850 and 1000. We may then assume that it rose to
power out of the chaos and confusion in Orissa caused by the invasion
of the Palas under Devapala, and took full advantage of the downfall
of the Pala empire.
Although we'know very little of the history of this dynasty,
special interest attaches to it for more than one reason. In the first
place, the ruins of temples and images at Khiching, the old capital
75
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
kings, Salanatunga and his son Gaya^atuhga, born in the line of Raja
Jagattunga who came from Rohitagiri (Rohtasgarh in Shahabad
District). Gayadatuhga, who is described as Samadhigata-pancha-
make sab da and the ruler of Yamagarta, has been identified by some
with king Gaya^a of the Kara dynasty,70 but this is not very likely.
Perhaps the dynasty was at first feudatory to the Karas and assum¬
ed independence after their decline. The Talcher Plate of Sivakara-
deva,77 dated 149 (=c. A.D. 900), records a grant of land in
Purvarashtravishaya by the Kara king at the request of Ranaka
Sri Vinltatuhga, This Ranaka is probably the same as is mentioned
in the Bonai Grant78 together with his son Khadgatunga and
grandson Vimtatuhga II, ruler of Eighteen Gondamas including
Yamagarta. Gayadatunga probably belongs to this family79 which
is also said to have migrated from Rohitasva and ruled in parts of
Talcher, Pal Lahara and Keonjhar State. A ruler, Jayasimha, with
feudatory titles, issued a Grant80 from the banks of the Mandakini
river. As the donated lands belonged to Yamagarta-mandala, he
ruled in the same region as the Tuhgas.
Another Bonai Grant refers to the Buddhist Mayura-vaihsa
which originally came from the Chitrakuta mountain and ruled
over Vanai-mandala, which is evidently the same as Bonai. It
mentions Uditavaraha, his descendant Tejavaraha, and the latter’s
son Udayavaraha with the titles Paramasaugata Samadhigaia-
pancha-mahasabda Maharaja Ranaka.61 This, too, was probably a
feudatory line, assuming de facto independence. As the Grant of
this family has some verses in common with those of the Tunga
plates, the two families were probably closely connected and ruled
over the same or neighbouring territories.
More importance attaches to the Sulkis (called also Sulkikarhsa-
family) who are probably identical with the “Sulikas with an army
of countless horses” referred to in the Haraha Inscription of the
Maukhari king Lsanavarman.82 A number of records63 give us the
genealogy of the family, but there are some variations. It is not
easy to reconcile them, and different views have been entertained
by different scholars. The following genealogy may be tentatively
offered as the most satisfactory:—
Kanchana-stambha
i
Kalaha (or Kanada) -stambha alias Vikramaditya
Nidaya-stambha
77
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Jayananda
I
Parananda /
&ivananda
!
Devananda I
Vilasatuhga * Vilasatuhga
Dhruvananda Devananda II
TS
EASTERN INDIA DURING THE PA DA PERIOD
79
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
SO
EASTERN INDIA DURING THE PA LA PERIOD
48. Misra. op cit. 87. Thisview is supported by Dr. D. C, Sircar who has discover¬
ed a fragmentary inscription of 6ubhakara I amid the ruins of the Hamsesvara
temple at Sivadasapura, not far from the celebrated Viraja temple of Jajpur.
This is the only record of the Karas so far found within the boundaries of
modern Jajpur (JASL, XVII. 15).
49. JBORS, XVII. 105; XV. 83-4; BKO. 147.
50. El, XVIII. 286.
51. Edited by R. D. Banerji (JBORS, XVIII. 387) and S. Rajaguru (JKHRS, I. 181),
and commented upon by Dr. D. C. Sircar (IHQ, XXVIII. 229). The name
Yathasukha was read as Pathasukha by Rajaguru, and the name of Mallagambhlra
as Paliagambhira by R.‘ D. Banerji. The date was read as 800 by Banerji, as
1012 by Rajaguru, 17 by Dr. B. Misra (op. cit. 105.), and 14 by Dr. Sircar. The
first figure may be easily read as 10, but the second one .is very unusual and
cannot be read with certainty. In any case, the date seems' to be a regnal year
and not one in Samvat or £aka era as held respectively by Banerji and Rajaguru.
52. Dr. Sircar (op. cit.) regards the rulers, mentioned in the Tekkali plates, as
belonging to a collateral line, ruling contemporaneously with the Bhanjas of
Vanjulvaka. But his chronological ideas are not very clear. In one place
(p. 229) he says that Satrubhanja flourished considerably after the reign of
Ranabhanja (about the middle or the third quarter of tenth century). Brt on
the very next page he remarks that “the use of the numerical symbols instead
of decimal 'figures in the record of Satrubhanja Mangalaraja (i.e. Tekkali Plates)
would, however, suggest that he flourished before the eleventh century.”
53. ABORl, XVII. 393.
54. IHQ, XXVIII. 228.
55. JBORS, XV. 85.
•56. Tekkali PI. cf. fn. 51 above.
57. JBORS, XVII. 104.
58. EL XXIV. 15.
59. It is, however, possible to identify him also with king No. VI or X. In Hint case
we shall have a new branch or a continuation of the old family.
60. Antirigan CP. El, XVII. 282, 298.
61. See above, fn. 51.
62. This was originally suggested by B. Misra (op. cit. 104) and Dr. Bhandarkar
(List No. 2053, fn. 2), and later by Dr. D. C. Sircar (PIHC, XII. 128).
63. Cf. IHQ, XXVIII. 228.
64. Sec above, p. 67.
65. Baud Plate, JBORS, II. 356.
G6. JAHRS, VII. 109.
67. Cf. Sonpur CP. of Satrubhanja (El, XI. 99) and Chakradharpur (Daspalla) CP.
of Ranabhanja (JBORS, VI. 269).
68. JAHRS, XIX. 191.
69. IHQ, XXVIII. 227-8.
70. Above, Vol. Ill, pp. 221 ff,
71. For detailed discussion and alternate views, cf. BKO, 137 ff.
72. JASB, XL (1871), 161; El, XXV. 147.
73. ASI, 1922-3, p. 124; 1923-4, p. 85; 1924-5, p. 111. Generally speaking, the archi¬
tecture and sculpture of Orissa during this period show a far greater progress
and development than we could reasonably expect from the petty principalities
ruling there. We have, therefore, devoted more space to its history than would
be justified by its political importance.
74. It may be more than a thousand years if we regard Disabhanja of Sitabhinji
ins. as flourishing in the fourth century A.D. (see fn. 68 above).
75. For inscriptions, cf. JASB, V (1909). 347; XII. 291.
76. DHNl, I. 420.
77. Misra, Orissa under the Bhavvxa Kings, p. 41.
78. JBORS, VI. 236. Bhandarkar thinks that the record refers only to Vinitatunga,
the donor, and his son Khadgatunga. (Bh. List No. 1747).
79. There are striking resemblances between the wordings of the Bonai Grant and
the Tonga charters. Both again refer to the king Vanaryasatru.
80. JBORS. II. 417. The Editor reads the date of the Grant ns 99, but this is very
doubtful.
81. JBORS, VI. 241; XXXI 159. Bhandarkar thinks that the plate only mentions
Uditavaraha or Udavavaraha and his son Tejavaraha (List No. 1754).
82. Vol. Ill, p. 68.
81
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
83. For the inscriptions of this dynasty, cf. El, XII. 156; JASB, LXIV (1895). 123 ff;
JBORS, II. 168 if; 395 ff. All the plates are issued from Kodalaka or Kodaloka
which has. been identified with Kualu in the Dhenkanal State (JBORS, XVI.
453). •-
84. H. P. Sastri takes Rana-stambha I as son of Kula-stamhha (JBORS, II., 460),
but cf. El, XII. 1.58.
85. According to MM. H. P. Sastri he made a land-grant in Ra$ha,-mandala or
West Bengal. The village granted, named Jara, according to Sastri, still exists
in tine Hooghly District, and a section of its inhabitants still call themselves
Sukli (JBORS, H. 168-71). But as Dr. D. C. Sircar has shown, this view is
erroneous and there is no reason to suppose that Rana-stambha conquered any
part of West Bengal as Sastri supposed (JOR, XVIII. 45).
86. El, XIV. 112; JASB, 1895, p. 124; 1911, pp. 443, 447; DHNJ, I. 439.
87. The Bonai Grant refers to Yamagartla-mandakx as situated in the Vishaya of
Eighteen Gondamas (JBORS, VI. 237, 239),
88. JBORS, XVI. 462-3.
89. JBORS,vXV. 87; XVI. 457. El, XXVI. 74; Ancient India, No. 5, p. 50; Misra
(op cit. 35) takes D hr u van an da (or Dhxivananda as read by him) as another
name of Devananda. The relation between the last three kings is not Certain/
For ,the views adopted, cf. El, XXVI. p. 76, fn. 2.
90. Ancient India, No. 5, p. 50.
91. See references under footnote 89. Misra (op. cit.) reads the date as 193 on
p. 35 and 183 in the plate facing p. 96. Dr. Bhandarkar reads the date as 293
(List, No. 2643). Hie hundredth figure, however, seems to denote 300, as there
are two distinct adjuncts, one above and one below the letter l which is usually
read as 100. The decimal figure resembles the one used in the plate of
Dandi-MahadevI, read as 80. If we read the date_as 183, the date may be re¬
ferred to the era used by the Kara kings, and we may assume that the family
was feudatory to the Karas but assumed de facto independence towards the end
of their rude. Bhandarkar refers the date 293 to the Harsha Era.
92. FIHC, XII. 127.
82
CHAPTER ¥
After the close of Harsha’s reign (c. A.D. 925), his son Yaso-
varman, also known as Lakshavarman, assumed the royal state, j^s
noted above, the disintegration of the Pratihara Empire began about
this time, and Mahendrapala II’s successor Devapala1 was unable
to keep in check the revolutionary forces. Yasovarman, who was
a contemporary of Devapala, made use of this opportunity for
enhancing his political power and defied the authority of the Prati-
haras. The Khajraho inscription states that he was a scorching fire
to the Gurjaras. He conquered Kalanjara, which had been in the
possession of the Imperial Pratiharas. and pushed the northern
boundary of his kingdom up to the banks of the Yamuna. He is said
to have made the Yamuna and-the Gangs his pleasure lakes when
he went out for the conquest of the regions. After consolidating
his position in Bundelkhand, Yasovarman directed his army against
his southern neighbours. About this time, the Kalachuri Yuvaraja I
was ruling the Chcdi country from his capital Tripurl near Jubbul-
pore, and the Piramara Slyaka II was governing the adjoining
country of Malava as a vassal of the Rashtrakuta Krishna III. Yaso¬
varman fought successfully with both Yuvaraja I and Slyaka IT. and
pushed the southern boundary of his kingdom up to the borders of
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
under their subjugation for long, Yuvaraja I rallied his forces and
succeeded in driving them out of Pahala. The Bilhari inscription
mentions his victory over the Karnatas and the Latas. Lata or the
Southern Gujarat formed part of the Rashtrakuta Empire. The
great poet Rajasekhara evidently refers to this battle when he states
that ‘‘Yuvaraja (I) won a victory over Vallabha, who formed a con¬
federacy with other chiefs.” This achievement of Yuvaraja was
a memorable event in the history of the Kalachuris. To celebrate
this victory Rajasekhara staged his drama Viddhasdlabhanjikd at
the court of Yuvaraja. The authenticity of the statement in the
Bilhari inscription that Yuvaraja I raided Kashmir and the Himalaya
may well be doubted. It has been noticed above that the Khajraho
inscription puts forward similar claims on behalf of the Chandella
Yaiovarman, the northern adversary of Yuvaraja I.
Yuvaraja 1 helped the Saiva ascetics in preaching their doctrine
in his kingdom. There was a famous Saiva monastery known as
Golaki-matha in the pahala-manduZa, which was founded by Dur-
vasa. Sadbhavasambhu, a remote successor of Durvasa, and the
high priest of the Golaki-ma|ha, received from Yuvaraja a large
number of villages foj* the maintenance of that monastery. Yuvaraja I
married Nohala, the daughter of the Chaulukya Avanivarman, who
resided at the city of Mattamayura. There was a Saiva monastery
in this city, which exercised tremendous influence over that part of
the country during this period. Yuvaraja I invited Prabhavasiva of
this monastery to his kingdom and entrusted to him the charge of
a monastery, which was built at great cost, and which was richly
endowed by the king. At Chandrehi, twenty-nine miles south of
Rewa, Bagheikhand, there are remains of a temple of 2§iva and a
monastery. This might have been the monastery over which Pra-
bhavasiva had been placed in charge. Yuvaraja built a magnificent
temple at Gurgi, twelve miles east of the Rewa town. The place
is now in ruins. The queen Nohala erected a temple of Siva at
Bilhari, in the Jubbulpore District, and granted seven villages for
its maintenance.
The poet Rajasekhara, who lived for some time at the court of
the Pratlhara Mahendrapala and his son Mahipala of Kanauj, was
also intimately connected with the Kalachuri kings of his time. The
poet remarks that “of rivers the Mekalasuta (i.e. Narmada), of kings
Ranavigraha, and of poets Surananda are the ornaments of the coun¬
try of Chedi.” This obviously refers to the poet’s association with
the court of Tripuri during the reign of Sankaragana Ranavigraha,
the father of Yuvaraja I. Rajasekhara says that he wrote the drama
Viddhasdlabhanjikd to please Yuvarajadeva, and as already men-
90
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
2. Kalachuris of Sarayupara
The death of Munja took place between A.D. 993 and 998. He
was succeeded by his younger brother Sindhuraja, who assumed the
titles of Kumarandrdyana and Navaa&hasdnka. He defeated the
Chalukya Satya^raya, king of the Deccan, and recovered the terri¬
tories which Munja had to surrender to Taila II. The poet Padma¬
gupta, who lived in his court also, composed a book Navasdhasdnka-
charita or the life of Navasdhasdnka Sindhuraja. The book nar¬
rates how a king of the Naga dynasty, whose kingdom lay two
hundred miles south of the Narmada, sought help from Sindhuraja
against a neighbouring demon-king named Vajrahku£a. Sindhuraja,
along with the Vi dyad haras, reached the country of the demons
after crossing the Godavari and killed the demon-king in a battle.
In gratitude the Naga king gave his daughter gaiiprabha in mar¬
riage to the victor. That the outline of this story, narrated by
Padmagupta, is based on historical facts is admitted on all hands.
It has been suggested that the Naga king was a chief of the Naga
dynasty ruling in old Bastar State, and the demon-king was a chief
of the Non-Aryan Mana tribe of Vajra, modem Wairagarh, in the
Chanda District, Madhya Pradesh. The Vidyadharas were the
Silaharas of Thana, whose ruler at that time was Aparajita. Sindhu-
98
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
1. The Saindhavas^
tured a city there but had to withdraw from the country because of
the outbreak of an epidemic, which carried away a large number of
their soldiers. After this disaster the Caliph Mahdl “gave up the
project of conquering any part of India/’ The town which was con¬
quered by the Arabs may be identified with Ghumli. The real cause
which forced the Arabs to withdraw from the shores of Barda was
not, however, the outbreak of epidemic in their military camps.
That was probably the report which the Arab generals sent to the
Caliph to save their skin. There is evidence to prove that Agguka I
inflicted a defeat on them and freed his country from their designs.
An inscription states that Agguka I “showed the greatness of Varaha
when he easily rescued his country, which was being drowned in
an ocean of naval force sent by powerful enemies.” This obviously
refers to Agguka’s victory over the Arabs.
2. The Chdlukyas
A Chalukya dynasty ruled in some part of Saurashtra, possibly
in Junagadh', contemporaneously with the Saindhavas. Their his¬
tory is based entirely on two copper-plate inscriptions18 found in the
town of Una, in Junagadh. The earliest known king (mahipati) of
this dynasty is Kalla, who was succeeded by his brother Mahalla.
These two royal brothers flourished in the latter part of the eighth
century. The successor of Mahalla was Kalla’s son. This ruler,
whose name cannot be deciphered from the inscription, was succeed¬
ed by his son Vahukadhavala. Vahukadhavala ruled in the first
quarter of the ninth century. About this time the Chalukyas came
under the sway of the Pratlharas of Kanauj, whose king Nagabhata II
conquered all the territories up to Western Saurashtra. Vahuka¬
dhavala claims to have defeated Dharma, Karnata army, and -"rhany
other imperial kings. Dharma was evidently Dharmapala of Beh-^
gal, and the Karnata army refers to the forces of the Rashtrakufas
of the Deccan. It is obvious that Vahukadhavala fought these battles
under the leadership of the Pratlhara Nagabhata II. Vahukadha-
vala’s son and successor was Avanivarman I, who was succeeded
by his son Mahasdmanta Balavarman. Balavarman acknowledged
the supremacy of the Pratlhara Mahendrapala I, and was ruling in
A.D. 893. He won a victory over Jajjapat of the Huna-man$ala to
the north-west of Malava. After Balavarman, his son Avani¬
varman II, also known as Yoga, ascended the throne. Avanivarman
was ruling in A.D. 899 as a vassal of the Pratlhara Mahendrapala I.
He led an army against the Chapas of Vardhamanapura, and defeated
their king Dharanlvaraha, who was a feudatory of the Pratlhara
Mahipala I, son of Mahendrapala. This clash between the feuda-
101
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
tones of the Pratiharas shows that about this time the latter had
lost effective control over the outlying provinces of their Empire.
Avanivarman had to acknowledge defeat at the hands of the Para-
mara Slyaka II in the latter part of his reign which extended up to
the middle of the tenth century. The rule of the Chalukyas in
Saurashtra was put an end to by the Abhlras in the third quarter
of the tenth century.
3. The Ahhiras
The Abhlras established their supremacy over the Southern and
Western Saurashtra under their king Graharipu in the second half
of the tenth century. Their capital was Vamanasthali, modem
Vanthali, nine miles west of Junagadh. Graharipu, who is described
as a Mlechchha chief, carried on anti-Brahmanical activities. He
ate beef, and plundered the pilgrims to Prabhasa tirtha (Somanatha).
In order to end this menace, the Chaulukya Mularaja, king of
Anahilapataka, marched with his army against Graharipu. Graha¬
ripu strengthened his position by securing assistance from Laksha,
son of Phula, king of Kachchha-deic, also known as Jartra-deia,
modern Kutch. A great battle was fought on the banks of the
Jambumali river in which Laksha lost his life and Graharipu was
taken prisoner.19
5. The Chapas
The Chapas were also known as Chava^as, Chavotkatas, and
Chapis. There were two branches of the Chapa dynasty. One of
102
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
V. THE CHAULUKYAS
It is generally assumed that the names Chalukya and Chaulukya
are synonymous. But the traditional belief of the Chalukyas in
regard to their origin is different from that of the families calling
themselves Chaulukyas. The existence of at least three branches
of the Chaulukya dynasty is known. The oldest of them ruled at
Mattamayura, which was situated in Central India in the neighbour¬
hood of Malava and Chedi. The earliest known chief of this branch
is Simhavarman, whose son and successor was Sadhanva. Sadhanva’s
son and successor was Avanivarman, who ruled in the last quarter
of the ninth century. Avanivarman gave his daughter in marriage
to the Kalachuri Yuvaraja I. He was a patron of the Saiva ascetics
residing in his kingdom.
Mdlaraja I, as has already been noticed, was the founder of an¬
other branch of the Chaulukya dynasty, which in course of time rose
to imperial eminence. He established his capital at Anahilapataka,
which was also known as Anahilapura, Anahilanagara, Anahila-
pattana, and Anahilavada. His inscription states that he conquered
Sarasvata-manuala (i.e. the country on the banks of the Sarasvati
river) with his own arms and resided in the city of Anahilapataka.
He was an ambitious king, and chose Saurash^ra as the field of his
first military excursion. He forced the Chapa Dharanivaraha to flee
from his capital Vardhamana, and annexed his kingdom. He led
successive invasions against Kachchha-desa, modem Cutch, but was
repulsed, by its ruler Laksha or Lakh a. About this time the anti-
Brahma nical activities of the AbhTra chief Graharipu of Vamanasthali
prompted him to lead an army against him. In this religious war
he is said to have been helped by contingents from the chiefs of
Abu, Srlmala, Marava^a and other places. Lakha, king of Kachchha,
came with his army to assist Graharipu. In the battle that followed
Lakha lost his life and Graharipu was taken prisoner. Mularaja
brought Kachchha-desa under his sway.
Mularaja had to fight defensive wars in other directions. Once
his kingdom was invaded on the north by the Chahamana Vigraha¬
raja, king of Sekambhan. To make the situation worse, the Chaulukya
Batappa, the chief of Lata, and a general of the Chalukya Taila II,
made an onslaught on the southern border of his kingdom. In this
predicament he, on the advice of his ministers, retired to the fort of
Kantha, modern Kanthakot, in Cutch, to bide his time, hoping that
Vigraharaja would withdraw to his own country during the following
rainy season. But contrary to his expectation Vigraharaja, dis¬
regarding the obstacles caused by the rains, overran SSrasvata-
ynanddla and Lata and reached the banks of the Narmada. Being
104
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
105
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAXJJ
1. Guhilas of Mewdr
2. Guhilas of Dhod
and they might not have any political connection with Pehowa, a
place of pilgrimage, where they, like many others from different
parts of India, founded religious establishments. According to
Firishta Thaneswar, about 20 miles east of Pehowa, was within the
kingdom of Delhi in the early part of the eleventh century. In the
tenth century the Tomaras came into conflict with the Chahamanas
of Sakambhari. A Tomara chief named Budrena (Rudra?), who was
probably a descendant of Gogga, lost his life in a battle with the
Chahamana Chandana, son of Guvaka II. Chandana’s grandson
Simharaja, who flourished in the third quarter of the tenth cen¬
tury, won a victory over the Tomara leader (nayaka) Salavana, and
captured a large number of his soldiers. The Tomaras continued to
rule the Hariyana country till the middle of the twelfth century when
they were overthrown by the Chahamana Vigraharaja III Visaladeva.
114
CENTRAL. AND WESTERN INDIA
X. KASHMIR
1. Karkota Dynasty
ously a touch of romance. The report that the king won victories
over some chiefs of that country, however, seems to have a historical
foundation. From Gautfa he is said to have gone back to Prayaga
to meet his troops and thence started for Kashmir. On his way he
defeated the king of Kanyakubja, who seems to have been Indraraja.
As soon as he reached the Kashmir valley he was opposed by the
usurper Jajja, who was easily defeated and slain. After a period of
three years’ absence from his country, he made a triumphant entry
into his capital.
king died ten days after his accession. As there was no direct heir
to the throne, the queen Sugandha assumed the royalty at the wishes
of the people. At this 'time, the Tantrin infantry formed a powerful
political organisation in Kashmir and made their power felt in mak¬
ing and unmaking kings. The queen tried to secure the throne for
Nirjita-varman, also known as Pahgu, who was the grandson of
Sura-varman, a half-brother of king Avanti-varman. But the Tan-
trins deprived the queen of her sovereignty, and placed Partha, the
son of Nirjita-varman, who was ten years old, on the throne in A.D.
908. Sugandha left the royal palace and took her residence at Hush-
kapura. Eight years later, in A.D. 914, with the help of the Ekahga
troops, a military body, rival to the Tantrins, she advanced towards
the capital to regain her power. But the Tantrins defeated the
Ekahgas and put Sugandha to death. Nirjita-varman, with the
sanction of the Tantrins, became the guardian of his son Partha.
He maintained his position by paying heavy bribes to the Tantrins,
and oppressed the people with numerous fiscal exactions. At this
time, in A.D. 917, a great famine broke out in Kashmir, causing
the death of a large number of people. In A.D. 921 Nirjita-varman
deposed Partha with the help of the Tantrins and himself assumed
the royalty. In A.D. 923 he placed his other son named Chakra-
varman on the throne, and died soon after. Chakra-varman ruled
for ten years under the guardianship of his mother and grandmother.
The Tantrins, eager for more money, overthrew him and placed
his half-brother &ura-varman I on the throne. After a year, Aura-
varman had to yield his throne to Partha, who had regained the
fayour of the Tantrins. A year later, in A.D. 935, Chakra-varman
got back the sovereignty by paying a higher price. Shortly after¬
wards Chakra-varman, having failed to meet the demands of the Tan¬
trins, fled in fear. Thereupon the minister Sambhuvardhana, by
offering handsome bribes, purchased the throne for himself. Chakra-
varman sought the help of the Damaras (feudal landowners) who
were hostile to the Tantrins. The Damara Sarhgrama took up his
cadse and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Tantrins near Padmapura.
Chakra-varman entered the capital ^rlnagara, where he was received
with honours by the feudal lords, chiefs, ministers and the Ekahgas.
Sambhuvardhana was taken prisoner and executed. Chakra-varman
abandoned himself to vicious pleasures, and alienated the sympathy
of the people. In A.D, 937 he lost his life at the hands of robbers.
Unmattavanti (Mad Avanti), son of Partha, was.then raised to the
throne by the ministers. He was one of the most vicious and tyran¬
nical kings that ever occupied the throne of Kashmir. At his insti¬
gation, his subordinates killed his father in a most diabolical manner.
119
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
and dismissed him. She put down the revolt of Yasodhara and his
associates and won over some ot them to her side by offering them
high posts in the government. Yasodhara was made the commander-
in-chief of her army. He led an expedition against the Shahi Thak-
kana and forced him to submit. But he soon) fell into the ill graces
of the queen and was dismissed. His old associates again revolted
and besieged the royal palace. The queen, with the help of her
faithful minister Naravahana and some othei^ officers, brought the
situation under control. Shortly after this the queen, on the report
of'^malicious persons, lost confidence in Naravahana who, in order
to avoid disgrace and humiliation, committed suicide. About this
time the Damaras were also trying to raise a revolt. The situation
was made worse for the queen by the death of Rakka, the commander-
of the army. In order to cope with the situation Didda recalled
Phalguna and made him the chief of the army. Phalguna conquered’
RajapurT, the modern hill state of Rajauri.
King Abhimanyu died in A.D. 972 after a rule of fourteen years,
leaving behind three sons Nandigupta, Tribhuvana and Bhlma-
gupta. Nandigupta assumed the royalty. Didda received a severe
shock by the death of her son. For a year she kept her evil propen¬
sities under control and engaged herjself exclusively in establishing
religious foundations and building new cities. But soon after, she
resumed her vicious activites. She brought about the death of
Nandigupta. He was succeeded by Tribhuvana, who also shared
the same fate two years later (A.D. 975). The young Bhlmagupta
was then placed on the throne. He Was allowed to enjoy this posi¬
tion for onlv five years. About this time Phalguna died. The queen
then killed Bhlmagupta and ascended the throne in A.D. 980.
Didda made the Kha£a Tuhga of the Parnotsa country her prime
minister. The appointment of Tuhga, who was formerly a herdsman
of buffaloes, caused great resentment among the people. Vigraha-
raja and Sarhgramaraja were the two sons of king Udayaraja of
Lohara, the brother of Didda. The refractory elements brought the
prince Vigraharaja to Kashmir to help them against Tuhga. Vigraha-
raja rallied the Brahmanas against the queen. But Didda succeeded
in bringing the Brahmanas back to her side by heavy bribery. All
attempts to dislodge Tuhga failed. Tunga earned great renown by
leading a successful expedition against Prithvlpala, the king of
RajapurT, who had become hostile. As Didda had become fairly old
she appointed her nephew Samgramaraja of Lohara as her successor.
She died in A.D. 1003 and was followed on the throne by Samgrama¬
raja. The supremacy of the Lohara dynasty was now established in
Kashmir.
121
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
122
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
Raja’s death.
thereupon invaded Zabul but evidently could not subdue its ruler.
For we are told that during the next three Caliphates (A.D. 775-
809) the Muslim officers collected tribute as best as they could (or
according to their strength and weakness). When Caliph Al-
Ma mum (A.D. 813-833) visited the eastern region, the ruler of Zabul
paid double tribute to him.
It is said that the Caliph sent an army against Kabul and forced
its ruler to submit and pay taxes. But evidently both Kabul and
Zabul regained independence. Two more expeditions were pro-r
bably sent against Kabul in A.D. 769 and 786, but without any
conspicuous success. It was not till about A.D. 870 that both Kabul
and Zabul were conquered by Ya’qub ibn Layth, the founder of
th$ $affarid dynasty, who began his life as a brigand iiji Sijistan
and ultimately became the ruler of Persia and the neighbouring
regions in the east. The king of Zabulistan was killed and the
people embraced Islam. Henceforth this petty state, that had car¬
ried on a prolonged and heroic resistance against the Arab aggression
for more than two hundred years, ceased to belong to India either
politically or culturally. But Kabul probably regained indepen¬
dence and formed a part of the Hindu Shahiya kingdom, whose his¬
tory has been narrated above.47
2. Sindh
that a Yavana vassal chief made obeisance to him. Here again the
reference seems to be to a Muslim ruler of Sindh. An inscrip¬
tion, dated A.D. 842, states that powerful Mlechchha rulers on the
river Chambal made obeisance to the Chahamana king. These and
similar other isolated references51 point to the fact that since the
initial success of the Arabs in Sindh, in the first quarter of the eighth
century A.D., they were unable to make much headway in India
owing to the vigour and alertness of the Indian chiefs.
The decline of the ‘Abbasid power about the middle of the
ninth century A.D. had its natural repercussions on Sindh. During
the Caliphate of Al-Ma’mun (A.D. 813-833), Bashar, the governor
of Sindh, rebelled but was defeated by Ghassan. The latter took
Bashar as captive to Baghdad, leaving Musa as his deputy in Sindh.
Musa nominated his own son as his successor, and henceforth the
governors of Sindh ruled practically as independent chiefs. Later,
it formed a part of the dominions of the $affarids (A.D. 872-903).
After the fall of the $affarids the Muslim territories in Sindh were
divided into two independent states, viz. those of Mansura and
Multan. The former extended from the sea to Alor> and the latter
comprised the upper valley of the united Sindhu up to this city.
Little is known of their history, but it appears that the greater
part of the administrative authority was left in the hands of the
Hindus.
Neither^of the two states was very powerful. Multan was
always in dread of the mighty Pratlhara power. The Pratihara
army frequently marched gainst Multan, and its Muslim ruler
secured his safety by playing upon the religious sentiments of the
Hindus. There was a famous image of the Sun-god in the city of
Multan which was venerated all over India. We learn from Al-Ma’-
sudi that “when the unbelievers march against Multan and the faith¬
ful do not feel themselves strong enough to oppose them, they
threaten to break their idol and their enemies immediately with¬
draw.” I§takhri, who makes a similar statement, adds that “other¬
wise the Indians would have destroyed Multan.”
The other Muslim state in Sindh, viz. Mansura, was equally
exposed to the attacks of the Hindus. According to Al-Ma’sudi, “it
was constantly at war with a nation called the Meds, who are a
rdpe of Sind, and also with other races on the frontiers of Sind.”
The older generations of historians like Elphinstone felt sur¬
prised at the slow progress of the Islamic conquest of India, ^nd
sought to explain it by various hypotheses which have no founda¬
tion in fact. The real matter for surprise, however, is that the
128
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
129
A.I.K.—9.
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
1.30
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
131
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
V)2
CHAPTER VI
THE DECCAN
I. THE EASTERN CHALUKYAS
king, who ruled for seven years (A.D. 930-36), built the Malles-
varasvami temple at Vijayawada. During Yuddhamalla’s rule, the
Rashtrakutas were all powerful in the Andhra country. An inscrip¬
tion12 of Amma II naively admits that the Sabara chiefs, the
commanders of the army of Vallabha (the Rashtrakuta king), and
others apportioned the Eastern Chalukya kingdom among them-
selves for seven years (i.e. the duration of Yuddhamalla’s reign).
With Rashtrakuta help, however, Yuddhamalla succeeded in hold¬
ing his position against a number of rival claimants to the throne,
including Chalukya-Bhlma II who was a son of Vijayaditya IV and
a step-brother of Amma I; but Yuddhamalla was ultimately ousted
by Chalukya-Bhlma II. According to the Maliyapundi grant,13
the five years following the death of Vikramaditya II witnessed the
princes of the family who coveted the kingdom, viz. Yuddhamalla,
Rajamartanda, Kanthika-Vijayaditya (V) and others, fightipg for
supremacy and oppressing the people like Rakshasas; then Chalukya-
Bhlma “slew Rajaraayya in battle, made Kanthika-Vijayaditya and
Yuddhamalla] go to foreign country and despatched to, the abqde
of death many others who, though respectable kings, had sho^n
themselves puffed up by evil conduct and were causing distress \o
the country.” Another record14 says that Bhlma (Chalukya-
Bhlma II) ruled for 12 years (A.D. 935-46) after having extirpated
Yuddhamalla and other claimants to the throne. The Kalachum-
barru inscription16 of Amma II says that Chalukya-Bhlma II
slew the glorious Rajamayya, the mighty Dhala^a the fierce
TataBikki (or Tata-Vikyana, i.e. Tata Vikramaditya), Bijja always
ready for war, the terrible Ayyapa (the Nolamba king), the army
of Govinda (Govinda IV Rashtrakuta), Lova-Bikki who was the
ruler of the Cholas, and Yuddhamalla. Western Ganga records16
refer to a struggle between the Nolarhba king Ayyapa and Mahendra
(i.e. Chalukya-Bhlma II).
GENERAL REFERENCES
A. S. Altekar—The Rashtrakutas and their Times.
J. F. Fleet—I.A., XX; Bombay Gazetteer, I, ii.
D. C. Ganguly—The Eastern Chdlukyas.
B. V. Krishna Rao—JAHRS, X. 16.
H. C. Ray—Dynastic History of Northern India, Vol. I.
R. Sewell—The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India.
N. Venkataramanayya—The Eastern Chdlukyas of Vengi; The Chdlukyas of
Le (Ve)mulavdda.
and ruled for 44 years; the next rulers were his three sons, viz.
Gundama (3 years), Kamarnava (35 years) and Vinayaditya
(3 years); thereafter Kamarnava’s son Vajrahasta-Aniyankabhlma
became king and ruled for 35 years; he was followed by his three
sons, viz. Kamarnava (6 months) who married Vinayamahadevi of the
Vaidumba family (holding sway in the land about Arcot, Cuddappa
and Nellore Districts from the ninth to the thirteenth century), Gun¬
dama (3 years) and Madhukamarnava (19 years). Vajrahasta-
Ananta-varman, who was crowned in A.D. 1038, was the son of Ka¬
marnava by the Vaidumba princess. This account evidently suggests
that Gunamaharnava was the first king of this branch of the Ganga
family, that the Ganga kingdom had been divided into five princi¬
palities apparently owing to the weakness of the central government,
and that Gunamaharnava’s son Vajrahasta succeeded in reuniting
the diverse units under his sole sway. But though this account of
the rise of the Greater Gangas is not altogether improbable, at least
in regard to the broad outline, it has to be noted that the tradition
recorded in the later records28 of the family, from the latter part of
the reign of Ananta-varman Chodaganga, is somewhat different.
The later account represents the Ganga family as a branch of
the lunar dynasty and reminds us of the fabricated genealogy of
the Pallavas, Eastern Chalukyas and others. It traces the descent
of the family from Ananta (Vishnu), Brahman born of Vishnu’s
navel,> his mind-born son Atri (the gotrarshi of the Ganga family),
and Atri’s eye-born son Sasanka (Moon). From the moon to Yayati’s
son Turvasu, the Puranic account of the lunar dynasty is followed.
It is then said that Turvasu had, through the favour of the goddess
Ganga, a son named Gangeya whose descendants were known as
Ganga. The seventeenth descendant of Gangeya, as enumerated
in the list, was Kolahala (also called Ananta-varman) who is said
to have built Kolahalapura (modern Kolar in Mysore) in the Gah-
gava^i vishaya. Here is an attempt to trace the descent of the
Eastern Gangas of Orissa from the Western Gangas of Mysore, who
however claimed to have belonged to the Kanvayana gotra and the
solar dynasty of Ikshvaku.29 Kolahala’s son was Virochana in whose
lineage, after 81 kings had ruled at Kolahalapura, flourished Vira-
sirhha. Virasirhha’s son Kamarnava presented his own territory to
his paternal uncle and set out to conquer the earth with his four
brothers, viz. Danarnava, Gunarnava. Marasimha and Vajrahasta.
He came to Mount Mahendra in Kalinga (in Ganjam District)!
and worshipped the god Gokarnasvamin (Gokarnesvara). Through
the god’s favour, Kamarnava obtained the Vrishabha-lanchhana (bull
crest) and the insignia of sovereignty. He then took possession of
the Kalinga country after having defeated £abaraditya and ruled for
142
THE DECCAN
•The early history of the Pan<J uvamsa, also called the family of
the Moon (Somavamsa), which ruled in South Kosala with Sripura
(modern Sirpur in Raipur District) as the capital, has been already
discussed.43 The rulers of this family were called lords of Kosala,
although their records have been mostly found in the western part
of this janapada,44 Their early charters had the Vaishnavite emblem
of Garu^a on their seal while the later ones bore the Saiva symbol
of the couchant bull. Little is known of this family after king
6ivagupta (Mahaiivagixpta) Balarjuna, who seems to have flourished
at the close of the sixth and the first half of the seventh century
A.D.46 Another group of kings, some of whom bore the names Siva-
gupta and Mahasivagupta and had names ending in the word kesarin
(like some members of the Pan<Juvarhsa), is also known to have
claimed descent from the Somavamsa (family of the Moon) and suze¬
rainty over Kosala. The records of the early members of this family,
which have been found in the Sambalpur tract in the eastern part
of the ancient South Kosala country, cannot, however, be assigned
to any date earlier than the tenth century. The kings moreover
have the distinctive epithet Trikalingadhipati, and never claim to
have been descended from the Pantjuvam^a. The seal of their early
records bears not the Garuda or the bull emblem but the Gaja-
lakshml symbol (although they were &aivas) like that of the Sara-
bhapunyas and the Kalachuris. The relations of the Somavamsls
und6r discussion with the earlier ruling families of South Kosala
cannot be definitely determined in the present state of insufficient
information.
146
THE DECCAN
An important official of the king was his minister for war and
peace, named Malladatta, who was the son of Dharadatta and served
the Somavamsi ruler at least from the sixth do the thirty-first year
of his reign. Malladatta was succeeded in the office by a second
Dharadatta who was probably his son. The history of the ministe¬
rial family of the Dattas, which solves a number of problems in the
genealogy of the Somavamsi rulers, illustrates the interesting an¬
cient Indian custom of the hereditary appointment of ministers re¬
ferred to in the Udayagiri inscription of Chandra-gupta II of the
Gupta dynasty.
years are found to have been issued from Yayatinagara on the Maha-
nadl, a city apparently founded by, and named after, the king. Some
writers believe that Yayatinagara was the name given by king
Yayati Mahasivagupta I to Vinitapura. His charters, like those of
his father, often record gifts of land specifically in Kosala or Dak-
shina Kosala, although an inscription47 of his ninth regnal year is
known to record the grant of a village in South Tosala which formed
an integral part of the dominions of the Karas. In one of his char¬
ters, an official of the king is specially mentioned as the Sandhi-
vigrahin of Kosaladesa. Dharadatta II, who served Janamejaya as
minister for war and peace during the later years of his reign, con¬
tinued in office till at least the twenty-fourth regnal year of Yayati,
and was later succeeded as minister for war and peace by another
member of the Datta family, named Simhadatta, who was the son
of Harshadatta and probably a grandson of Dharadatta II.
The latest known record of Yayati Mahasivagupta I is dated in
his twenty-eighth regnal year. The later records of the king des¬
cribe him as having captured 32 big elephants and defeated a certain
ruler named Ajapala of whom nothing is known.
A short supplement, comprising three verses, engraved at the end
of a charter of Yayati Mahasivagupta,48 tells us that a king of Kosala
of the lunar dynasty (soma-kula), named Svabhavatuhga, defeated
the Chaidyas or Kalachuris of Dahala (modern Jubbulpore region).
It seems further to say that certain lieutenants of the Chedi (Kala-
churi) king, headed by Bhatfa-Pedi, were honoured by their master
for invading the Somavamsi kingdom and carrying away a number
of women, but that the Somavamsi monarch, aided by a general
named Lakshmaiia, pursued the Chedi forces into the enemy’s terri¬
tory, killed Bhatfa-Pe<Ji and rescued the captured women. It also des¬
cribes how Svabhavatunga’s son (whose name is not mentioned)
cared little for the Chaidya (Kalachuri king) named Durgaraja and
burnt the land of Dahala (the Chedi country) rendering it depopu¬
lated. v
149
/
23 He is said to have been the son of Vajrl (Vajrahasta). See Bh. List, p. 386.
24. JASL, XVIII. 77.
25. JAHRS, XX. 161.
26. Bh. List, No. 1090.
27. Ibid, No. 1091.
28. Ibid, No. 1103. See El, XXVIII. 235ff; ARS1E, 1935-6, pp. 61-3.
20. There is absolutely no evidence in favour of the conjecture that the Gahgas
were the descendants of the ancient people called Gangaridae by classical writers.
For the Indian name of the Gangaridae, see Sircar, ‘The City of Gahga’,
PIHC, 1947, pp. 91-98.
30. The two kings, who are also mentioned in the earlier account, lost their lives
respectively about A.D. 977 and 980. They probably fought with the Telugu-
Choda king on behalf of the Eastern Chalukyas.
31. JKHRS, I. 219.
32. The expression is usually taken to be a combination of the words sapta (7)
and rasa (6). In that case the date may be Saka 913 (A.D. 991). But I have
no doubt that saptarasa stands for 17. See JKHRS, I. 219-21.
33. Bh. List. No. 2053.
34. EC, X. Mb. 123.
35. El, VI. 347.
36. El, IX. 229.
37. Sewell, HISI, 54.
38. See Vol. Ill, p. 217.
39 JKHRS1 I 219
40. ARSIE, 1932-3, pp. 56-7. If the inscription is really dated in Saka 1005
(A.D. 1083) and in the 7th regnal year of the king, his name Devendravarman
may be regarded as a mistake for Anantavarman (i.e. Chodagariga, son of Raja-
raja I Devendra-varman, c. A.D. 1070-78).
41. El, XXII. 138 ff.
42. El, III. 223.
43. Vol. Ill, pp. 220 ff.
44. A recently discovered record, dated in the 57th regnal year of Balarjuna, con¬
tains the names of two villages which have been located in the old Kalahandi
State. This probably suggests that the rule of the Panduvarhsis extended over
the eastern part of the janapada as well (JKHRS, I. 265-6). In El, XXVIII.
322-3, the villages have been located in Sambalpur District, Orissa.
45. Vol. Ill, p. 222.
46. The published eye-copy (JRASB, L. XIII. 74) of the Bhuvaneswar Inscription
(1.2) suggests the reading of a word in a damaged section as triling-ddhipa in
connection with this king. It is uncertain whether Janamejaya is himself called
the lord of Trilinga or one who defeated the Trilinga king.
47. El, III. 351; Misra, Dynasties of Medieval Orissa, pp. 63 ff.
48. It was originally published in JPASB, 1905, pp. 14-16. See now JASL, XIX.
117 ff.
49. IHQ, XXVIII. 227; also cf. above, Ch. IV. III. 2.
50. Misra, Dyn. Med. Orissa, p. 68.
51. The Daspalla plates of 6atrubhanja, recently edited in El, offer astronomical
details suggesting the beginning of the era in A.D. 831. Cf. IHQ, XXIX. 148 ff.
[This is not compatible with the view of Kara chronology adopted above on
p. 63. Cf. also p. 79, fn. 33.—Ed.]
150
CHAPTER VII
SOUTH INDIA
I. THE PALLAVAS
1. Danti-varman and Nandi-varman III
Danti-varman, whose inscriptions range from his second to his
fifty-first regnal year and cover a large part of the Pallava dominions,
was the son of Nandi-varman II Pallavamalla by Reva (Rkvaka),
the Rashtrakuta princess. Danti-varman, who was thus the grand¬
son of Dantidurga Rashtrakuta, married a Kadamba princess. About
A.D. 804 Rashtrakuta Govinda III invaded Kanchl which had earlier
been attacked by his predecessor, Dhruva. We do not know how the
relations between the Pallavas and the Rashtrakutas changed for
the worse. An inscription in Tamil of Danti-varman in the Partha-
sarathi temple, Triplicane (Madras), describes him as “the orna¬
ment of the Pallava family,” belonging to the Bharadvaja gotta,
the gotra of the previous Pallava sovereigns as well. This record
proves the antiquity of that temple which was built by an earlier
Pallava ruler. The reign of Danti-varman witnessed a recrudescence
of the Pandya aggression, and Varaguna I occupied the Kaveri!
region. The inscriptions of Danti-varman are significantly ^absent
from that region from his sixteenth regnal year to the end of his
reign, while some records of the Pan<Jya king are found there. The
Banas were feudatory to Danti-varman.
Danti-varman’s son, Nandi-varman III, known by his conspicuous
surname of TeUarrerinda, worshipped &iva, patronised Tamil lite¬
rary savants like Perundevanar, author of the BhcLratavenba,
and married £ankha, the daughter of Amoghavarsha I Rashtrakuta.
Nandi-varman’s other surnames like Avani-naranan, Varatungan and
Ugrakopan are mentioned in a contemporary Tamil work, the
Nandikkalambakam. It throws a flood of light on his. military
activities—his achievements at Tellaru (North Arcot District) and
several other battle-fields. It is clear that Nandi-varman III heroi¬
cally rolled back the swelling tide of Fan<Jya aggression, which had
come to a head during his predecessor’s reign; he inflicted a deci¬
sive defeat on the enemy at Tellaru and pursued him, it is said, to
the banks of the Vaigai. The battle of Tellaru must have been
fought early in the reign of Nandi-varman, seeing that it is described
in his Velurpalaiyam plates issued in his sixth regnal year. The
literary work referred to above mentions him as the ruler of the
151
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Kaveri region, the Kongudesa, etc., and enumerates his chief cities
Kanchl, Mallai (Mahabalipuram) and Mayilai (Mylapore, Madras).
Like Danti-varman, Nandi-varman was the overlord of the Banas.
who was seated on the back of a tall elephant” and that he earned
the surname of Kodandarama. This event, which may be assigned
to about A.D. 893, gave Aditya mastery over Tondamandalam.
Subsequently he conquered the Kongudesa (the districts of Coim¬
batore and Salem) from the Pandyas and the Western Gangas pro¬
bably with the aid of the Chera king, Sthanu Ravi, with whom he
maintained cordial relations. Aditya is also credited with the sei¬
zure of Talakad the capital of the Western Gangas. Prithvlpati II
recognised the overlordship of Aditya, whose kingdom now stret¬
ched from Kalahasti and Tirukkalukkunram to Pudukkottai and
* •• »• • •
2. Pardntaka I
Aditya was succeeded by his son Parantaka who ruled for more
than forty-five years (A.D. 907-953). The date of his accession is
definitely known and may be said to be the bed-rock of Chola chro¬
nology. The reign of Parantaka was an eventful one and he led
numerous military campaigns with the help of his allies, viz. the
Western Gangas, the Kerala ruler and the Kodumbalur chiefs. By
these successful wars he built up the Chola Empire which attained
the pinnacle of fame and glory under his successors.
The most important among the conquests of Parantaka was
Madura, and it was achieved gradually during the first half of his
long reign. Soon after his accession to the throne he raided Madura
and won the title of Madhurantaka or destroyer of Madura. In his
third regnal year he assumed the title of Maduraikonda or captor
of Madura. Consequent on his defeat, the Pandya king, Rajasimha II,
sought and obtained the aid of the Ceylonese ruler. About A.D.
915 a famous battle was fought at Vellur (south-west of Madura)
where the Pandyas and the Sinhalese were beaten. A third cam¬
paign effected the expulsion of Rajasimha about A.D. 920, and three
years later Parantaka described himself as Maduraiyum llamum
Koiida or captor of Madura and Ceylon. But towards the close of
his reign, he failed in his attempt to obtain from the Ceylonese ruler
the insignia of Pandya royalty left with him by Rajasimha, who
had fled to Kerala. The conquest of Madura was, however, by no
means easy, and Parantaka was engaged throughout the latter half
of his reign in reducing tlhe conquered country to order and obedi¬
ence. In subduing Madurai, he received the help of the Kerala ruler
and of the Kodumbalur chiefs.
154
SOUTH INDIA
Not long after the Cholas had thus extended their power far
and wide, the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III invaded Tondamandalam
with the support of Butuga II, the Western Gahga chief. A decisive
engagement took place at Takkolam in A.D. 949 in which the Chojas
were completely defeated and the crown-prince Rajaditya lost his
life. It was the death knell of the imperialist ambitions of Paran¬
taka, who lost Tondamandalam as well as his control over the
Pandya country.
Eleven queens of Parantaka are mentioned in his inscriptions,
and one of them was a Kerala princess. He had five sons—Raja¬
ditya, Gandaraditya, Arikulakesari, Uttamaslli and Arihjaya, the
last being the son of the Kerala princess. Parantaka had also two
daughters. He was devoted to Siva and constructed many temples.
He provided the Nataraja shrine at Chidambaram with a gold roof.
Some of his titles have been mentioned; his other titles are Para-
kesari-varmanVlrantimyana, Devendra ChakravarU, Panditavatsala
(one fond of learned men), Kunjaramalla or wrestler with elephants,
and Surasiilamani or the crest-jewel of heroes.
155
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
158
SOUTH INDIA
1. Sivamara II to Prithvipati II
A.D. 940 after the passing away of his son, Vikkiyanna or Vikrama-
ditya, led to the enthronement of Butuga 11 in Gahgavadi with the
aid of Krishna III Rashtrakuta,, their alliance resulting in the Chola
catastrophe at Takkolam in A,LX 949.
V. THE BANAS
i*
164
SOUTH INDIA
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Arokiaswami, M., The Early History of the Velldr Basin. Madras, 1954.
2. Ayyar, V. Venkatasubba, S1I, XII. Madras, 1943.
3. Gopalan, R., History of the Pallavas of Kanchi. Madras, 1928.
4. Jouveau-Dubreuii, The Pallavas. Pondicherry, 1917.
5. Mahalingam, T. V., The Banas in South Indian History (JIH, XXIX. 153-81,
277-305).
6. Pandarathar, T. V. Sadasiva, Pirkalach-Cholar-Charittiram Part I (in Tamil),
Annamalainagar, 1949.
7. Pandarathar, T, V. Sadasive, Pandiyar Varalaru (in Tamil). Madras, 1950.
8. Rao, M. V. Krishna, The Gangas of Talkad. Madras, 1936.
9. Rice, B. L., Mysore and Coorg. London, 1909.
10. Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta, The Pxindya Kingdom. London, 1929.
11. Sastri, K. A. Nilakanta, The Cholas, I. Madras, 1935.
12. Sewell, R. Hist. Ins. Madras, 1932.
13. Venkayya, V., Five Bana Inscriptions from Gudimallam (El, XI. 222-40). Cal¬
cutta, 1911-12.
1.G5
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
APPENDIX
167
THIS AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
|
i
I
4. Nripatirnga-varman (A.D. 872-913).
It has to be admitted that the reigns of the four kings may have
overlapped to a considerable extent. It is also uncertain whether
the latest known dates of these kings were actually the last years
of their reigns.
168
CHAPTER VIII
CEYLON
I. POLITICAL HISTORY
The next king Sena III (A.D. 933-42), probably a brother of the
preceding ruler, died in his ninth regnal year, and was succeeded
by Udaya IV (or III, A.D. 942-50) whose relation to his predecessors
is unknown. During this king’s rule the Chola king, who had con¬
quered the Pandya country, demanded from the Ceylonese monarch
the diadem and other valuables left in the island by the Pandya
ruler in the reign of Dappula IV (or V). The demand not having
been complied with, a mighty Chola army invaded Ceylon and
occupied large tracts of the island. King Udaya IV (or III) fled
with the crown and other valuables to Rohana. The Chola king
can be no other than Parantaka I (A.D. 907-53) who calls himself
“conqueror of Ceylon” in his records.4 It is claimed in the Ceylonese
chronicles that the Ceylonese king’s general now laid waste the
borderland of the Chola monarch and compelled him to restore all
the valuables carried away from the island as booty. But the in¬
vading Chola army appears to have actually left Ceylon owing to
the Rashtrakuta invasion of the Chola country under Krishna III
about A.D. 949, the year of the great battle of Takkolam. Udaya IV
(or III) died in his eighth regnal year, while his successor Sena IV
(A.D. 950-53) ruled for three years. The next king Mahendra IV
Srisanghabodhi (A.D. 953-69), who was probably his predecessor’s
brother, married a princess of the royal house of Kalinga in India.
During his rule, the Vallabha king sent a force to Nagadvipa (identi¬
fied by some writers with north-western Ceylon, but by others with
Jaffna) to subjugate Ceylon; but the war was concluded by a peace
between the two powers. The Vallabha is apparently king Kri¬
shna III (A.D. 939-6 7) of the family of the Rashtrakutas, who were
the successors of the Chalukya Vallabharajas and were known to
the Arabs as the Balharas of Mankir (Vallabharajas of Manyakheta).
There are epigraphic and literary records5 referring to the subjuga¬
tion of Ceylon by Krishna III before A.D. 959. although the Rash¬
trakuta expedition appears to have been merely a raid. Mahendra IV
is also said to have repulsed a Chola invasion under Parantaka II,
who led an attack against the island as its ruler had helped-the
Pandya king in his revolt against the Cholas.
172
CEYLON
The people of the island were secretly bringing up the young prince
Kasyapa in the southern country due to fear of the Cholas. When
the Chola king heard that the boy had reached his 12th year, he sent
a force to seize him. An army of 95,000 men now ravaged South
Ceylon.
174
CEYLON
South Indian saints in pure Dravidian style have been recovered from
the Devales and Kovils. These include images of Siva, especially
of the Nataraja type, Parvatl, Ganesa, Karttikeya, Vishnu, Lakshmi,
Balakrishna, Hanuman and Surya, as well as of Sundaramurtisvami,
Manikka Vasagar, Tirujnana Sambandhasvami and Apparasvaml.
There is no doubt that these were works of South Indian artists; but
whether most of thtm were cast in South India or at Polonnaruva,
the Chola headquarters in Ceylon, cannot be determined with cer¬
tainty. Some of the specimens are very fine. An excellent bronze
image is that of the goddess PattinI Devi which is now in the British
Museum. PattinI is the guardian of female chastity, but has power
also over epidemics. Her cult went to the island from South India.
The frescoes of Sigiriya closely resemble in style those in the
Ajanta caves. They portray, either singly or in couples, twenty-one
figures and probably represent celestial damsels (all covered by
clouds below the waist), though some writers would take them to
be queens and princesses with their ladies in waiting. Colours used
by the artists are red, yellow, green, and black. The figures are
graceful and sensual, and the brush work exhibits sound knowledge
of modelling and technique. But their standard compares rather
unfavourably with that of the best frescoes in the Aianta caves.
The painting in the Pulligoda Galkomde near Polonnaruva, repre¬
senting five nimbate seated male figures, may date from the seventh
century; but the rock-paintings at Hindagale, representing Buddha
in the thirty-third heaven, appears to be of a later date.
1. The rule of succession was that the next younger brother of the king succeeded
him on the throne. Only when there was no brother did the crown pass to
the next generation, and in that case also the eldest son of the eldest brother
of the preceding generation became king. The sister’s son of the king enjoyed
a certain preference This remnant of an earlier matriarchy was at times a
disturbing factor in the right of succession. A conflict between matriarchy
and patriarchy is noticeable in the rivalry of Mahendra II and Dappula for
the throne.
2. SII, III. 461.
3. JRAS, 1913, p. 526.
4. Sastri, Colas, I. 148.
5. Altekar, Rdshtrakutas, 118-9.
6. The accession of Mahendra V is assigned by Geiger to AD. 981 but by Hultzsch
to A.D. 978. Considering the fact that his 36th regnal year corresponded to
a date in A.D. 1016 or 1017, it seems that he ascended the throne in AD. 979
or more probably in A.D. 980.
7. SII, II. 241, 424 if. Rajaraja’s inscription at Padariya in Ceylon is dated in his
27th year corresponding to A.D. 1011-12 (SII, II. p. v.).
8. Sewell, HISI. 62.
9. SII, HI. 51 ff.
10. Ibid. 20-2-3.
11. The accession of Vijayabahu is assigned by Hultzsch to A.D. 1054, and Geiger
to A.D. 1059. But the fact that he was defeated by the Cholas in his 12th regnal
year, probably falling shortly before A.D. 1069, and that he recovered the island
from the Cholas in his. 15th regnal year or shortly after AD. 1070 would suggest
that he ascended the throne in AD. 1055-56.
12. For an account of the Pali literature of Ceylon, cf. Vol. HI, pp. 394 ff.
177
A.I.K—12
CHAPTER IX
I. BELLES-LETTRES
The famous poets of the sixth and the seventh centuries A.D.,
such as Bharavi and Magha, presented a queer combination of real
poetic merit with pedantry or artificiality. Of the two sides thus
displayed the latter was not only the easier to imitate but was also
the more attractive owing to the external show that it could pre¬
sent. The lesser p^ets that followed these masters, therefore, natu¬
rally fell a prey to the temptation and produced works which are
noted more for their artificiality than for any intrinsic merit. This
love of pedantry v/as increased to no small extent by the fact that
Sanskrit literature was mainly composed not only by the Pavditas but
also for them. It is, therefore, no wonder if we find pedantry and
artificiality to be the general characteristics of the great bulk of
literature produced during this and the following ages. It would,
however, be wrong to suppose that this age had nothing of real value
to contribute to Sanskrit literature. It saw the rise of a special form
of prose composition—the Champu. It is this age, again, that gives
us our earliest anthology, a class of works of no mean importance to
the student of Sanskrit literature. But by far the most important
contribution of this age to Sanskrit literature is in the field of poetics
which reached its high watermark of development during this period.
i
1. Drama
180
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
family and Rajasekhara’s great regard for her is evinced by his refe¬
rences to her views in his Kdvyarnimdrhsd, Rajasekhara was the guru
of king Nirbhaya alias Mahendrapala; while his B&labharata16 was
composed for his successor, Mahipala.17 Again, on the one hand he
quotes from Vakpatiraja, Udbhata, and Anandavardhana, and praises
Bhavabhuti; while he himself is referred to by Somadeva and Dha-
nanjaya and eulogised by Sod^hala. He must, therefore, be placed
at about A.D. 900.
Kshemlsvara18 composed his Chandakausika for Mahipala19
whom H. P. Shastri identifies with the Pala prince of that name, and
Pischel with the Pratlhara Mahipala of Kanyakubja, the patron of
Rajasekhara. According to the former identification Kshemlsvara
would belong to the eleventh century, while the latter would take
him back to the tenth. His grandfather Vijayakoshtha or Vijaya-
prakoshtha also was a man of learning. The Chandakausika in five
acts deals with the Harischandra legend of the Mdrkandeya Purdna
without displaying any distinct dramatic merit or even high poetical
ability. His other work is the Naishadhdnanda20 in seven acts based
on the story of Nala.
To the tenth century belongs also the Mahdndtaka which holds
a unique position in Sanskrit literature in more respects than one.
It is found in two recensions differing very widely from each other.
The Bengali version has fourteen acts and gives the name as Mahd¬
ndtaka; while the Devanagari, which gives the name as Hanuman-
ndtaka, has only ten. The latter ascribes the work to the monkey
of the Ramiayana fame. Several and varied indeed are the legends21
current about this play; and though differing in details they are
agreed that what is now extant of this unique work is only a recast
or reconstruction of the original which is lost. According to one
legend it was revised by Madhusudana at the command of Vikra-
maditya, while another makes one Damodara revise it at the com¬
mand of Bhoja. The chronology of these versions is hard to fix
with any definiteness. It is clear, however, that in its present form
the work contains verses not only from the Ramdyana and the
Hitopadesa, but also from the Bdlardmayana and the Anctrgha-
rdghava; and is in its turn drawn upon by Subhata of the thirteenth
century. But it must be noted that a great portion of this work must
be much older, as is suggested by the legends, and also by the fact
that three verses from this play have been quoted by Anandavar¬
dhana in his Dhvanydloka,22
The Mahdndtaka is not a Nataka in the exact sense of the term.
It is something between an epic and a dramatic composition com¬
parable to Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda, which can be enjoyed simply as
181
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
There is one more Abhinanda, also styled Gauda, who has given us
an epitome of the Yogavdsishtha in forty-eight cantos divided into
six prakaranas. His identity with the author of the epitome of the
Kadambari is also not yet definitely proved.38
One more name that must be mentioned here is that of Vasu-
deva, son of Ravi and pupil of Bharataguru, who has given us three
long epics. The Yudhishthiravijaya, narrating the story of Yudhish-
thira up to his coronation in eight dsvasas, was composed during the
reign of Kulasekhara; while the Saurikathodaya and the Tripura-
dahana mention Rama as the ruling prince. All these poems very
well display their author’s fondness for Yamakas which has led
scholars to ascribe to him even the Nalodaya,39 It is difficult to fix
the date of Vasudeva, for we have no definite clue regarding the
identity of his patron Kulasekhara. Pisharoti and Ayyar would
place him in the ninth century A.D, but Keith declares this date to
be improbable.40
Dhananjaya, the Jain author of Dvisandhana (or Rdghava-
pdndaviya), has wrongly been identified by Keith and Winternitz
with Dhananjaya Srutakirti, the author of Namamdld (A. D. 1123-
1140); for Dhananjaya Srutakirti, the author of Dvisandhana, is
quoted by Vardhamana .and eulogised by Somadeva and Jalhaija.41
The historical kavya is very meagrely represented in Sanskrit
literature as a whole, and causes of this phenomenon are per¬
haps to be found in the peculiarities of the Indian mind. The in¬
scriptions, which form an important source of our knowledge of the
history of the ancient days, and particularly the Prasastis or encomia,
are often metrical in form and sometimes contain no little poetical
merit. But the value of these compositions as poetry varies enor¬
mously. It must, however, be said that they represent a first step
towards Prasastis of the eighth century A. D. composed by Rama-
chandra who styles himself Kavisvara. He displays his mastery
over language in a poem of fourteen stanzas applying equally well
to Siva and Parvati. A similar phenomenon is observed in the in¬
scription of Lalitasuradeva of the ninth century A. D.42
The only important historical kdvya belonging to this period
is the Navasdhasdnkacharita of Padmagupta alias Parimala, son of
Mrigankagupta. This wrork in eighteen cantos narrates a purely
imaginary story of the winning of the princess Sasiprabha with a
covert reference to the history of king Sindhuraja Navasahasanka of
Malava. Padmagupta is mentioned by Bhoja, Kshemendra and
Vardhamana. He must, therefore, be placed about A.D. 1000.43
In the field of lyrical poetry very little has been preserved for
us between Kalidasa and Govardhana, a contemporary of Jayadeva.
184
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
who died in Samvat 895; but at the same time we are told that he
was a contemporary of Mayura and Bana at the court of king
Harsha.47 It is thus difficult to foe the date of this author* though
we may be sure that he was earlier than A.D. 1000.48
Of the didactic poems we may note only three. The earliest is
the Ku\tan%mata of Damodaragupta, a minister of king Jayaplda of
Kashmir. This is a very highly interesting small poem and may be
said to be a sort of manual for the guidance of the hetaerae. To the
ninth century belongs the Bhallatasataka of Bhallafa who wrote
under king Sankara varman of Kashmir. This is a collection of a
hundred stanzas in different metres carefully elaborated. Curiously
enough it contains one stanza of Anandavardhana. The Jain Soma-
deva, author of the Yasasiilaka champu (tenth century), composed
the NUivakyamrita which, though definitely more moral in its tone,
is yet almost entirely based on Kautilya’s Arthastistra to which it
may well serve as a sort of commentary. It advises kings to behave
well and prudently rather than with cunning.
The Kichakavadha,49 narrating in five cantos the story of
Bhima killing Klchaka and his followers, is one of the earliest speci¬
mens of Alaska and Yamaha and similiar devices pressed into the
service of poetry. It has been quoted, as is but natural, by gram¬
marians, rhetoricians, and also lexicographers, the earliest being
Namisadhu who composed his commentary on Eudrata’s Kdvydlam-
kdra in A.D. 1069. But beyond his name, Nitivarman, we know
nothing about the author of this work. Similar, though of poor
workmanship, is the Rakshasakavya (or K&vyamkshasa) which is
variously ascribed to Kalidasa, Ravideva, and Vararuchi, though
Keith50 is inclined to accept Ravideva as its author. Wintemitz61
sees stylistic and other similarities of this poem with the Nalodaya,
and ascribes both to Ravideva, son of Narayana. The Nalodaya,
narrating in three cantos the story of Nala, is again a highly ela¬
borate poem ascribed to Kalidasa. There can, however, be no doubt
that it is not from the pen of the author of Raghuvamsa, who
never indulges in elaborate metres or rhymes. Keith52 ascribes this
work to Vasudeva, the author of the Yudhishthiravijaya. Whoever
be tfye author of the Rjdkshasakdvya, its date can tolerably be fixed
on the strength of the fact that a manuscript of some anonymous
commentary thereon was copied in Sam vat 1215 (c. A.D. 1159).
It may, therefore, be presumed that the poem itself was composed
much earlier than the twelfth century.63
The anthologies, as a class of literary works, first make their
appearance in the tenth century. These, of course, are collections
of stanzas composed by poets of old, arranged according to various
186
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
4. Champu
Whatever may be said to be the origin of the Champu, it
is certain that it is the most elaborate and artificial form in Sanskrit
literature, calculated to afford to the poet the amplest opportunities
to display not only his erudition but also his command over prose
as well as verse in one and the same composition. Up to the tenth
century, compositions were either in prose or in verse almost
exclusively; and even when they were in prose and verse inter¬
mingled, the latter was used only occasionally and for some definite
purposes. But the yearning of poets to display their mastery over
both simultaneously seems to be responsible for the rise of this
altogether new form in Sanskrit literature. Though the earliest
traces61 of this form can be found in the Jatakamalu and the
inscription of Harishena, yet the earliest work of this class, written
in full Kavya style, belongs to the tenth century A.D., so that the
Champu may be said to be one of the contributions of this age to
Sanskrit literature.
The word Champu itself is of obscure origin. Nor has the form
any very definite technique. Visvanatha defines it merely as a Kavya
in,prose and verse.62 which shows that its technique was apparently
the same as that of Kavya, but for the intermingling of prose and
verse. Nor is there any fixity as regards the purposes which are
to be served by prose and verse respectively.
The earliest work of this class that has come down to us is the
NalachampH, also called Damayantikatha, of Trivikramabhatta. It
is only a torso in seven chapters narrating the famous epic story of
Nala. Trivikrama does not seem to be a very good poet in spite of
his own boasts, though his erudition and linguistic art must be
admitted as being pretty high. The Maddlasd champu is another
work of this class composed by this very Trivikrama, son of Nema-
ditya63 and grandson of 6ridhara of Sandilya Gotra. He belonged
to the beginning of the tenth century and was a poet at the court
of the Rashtrakuta king Indra HI, for whom he composed the text
of the Navsari inscription in A.D. 915.
To the middle of the tenth century belongs the Digambara
Jain Somadeva, the author of the Yasastilakachampu composed in
Saka 881 (c. A.D. 959) during the reign of the Rashtrakfita king
Krishna III. Though Somadeva is known from his work as belong-
188
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
1. Lexicography
The Dhanvontari Nighantu, the earliest extant medical lexicon,
in its present form belongs to this period, though in its original forjn
it may be much older. Of the ordinary dictionaries (kosa) only one
can with some accuracy be assigned to this period, and that is the
Abhidhana-ratnamdla of Halayudha who has followed the authority
of Amaradatta, Vararuchi, Bhaguri and Vopalita.67 The arrange¬
ment of the work is almost like that of the Amarakosa. The
synonymous portion extends over four handas called Svarga, Bhumi.
189
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
2. Grammar
In grammar we come across the name of Maitreyarakshita, a
Buddhist, who wrote a commentary on the Nydsa of Jinendrabuddhi
under the title of Tantrapradipa, and has also to his credit the
Dhatupradipa, based on the Diidtup&tha of Panini. It is difficult to
fix the date of this author; for the only thing we know about him is
that Sarvananda (A.D. 1159), the commentator of the Amarakosa,
is the earliest writer to quote him by name. His Dhatupradipa
refers to, and is therefore later than, the Tantrapradipa. Another
rival commentary on Jinendrabuddhi’s Nydsa is the Anunydsa com¬
posed by Indu or Indumitra who may have flourished earlier than
Maitreyarakshita. One more vmter, of the ninth century, is Yimala-
mati who is known to have composed the Bhdgavritti,69
^akatayana,70 the founder of a new school, belongs to the ninth
century. There can be no doubt regarding the historicity of the
writer; and his date also has been fixed beyond all dispute on the
strength of a reference made by him in Ms Amoghavritti to an his¬
torical event of the reign of king Amoghavarsha, the great Rashtra¬
kuta king who ruled between A.D. 814 and 878. His main work is the
Sabdanusdsana, which, however, has little originality though at one
time it seems to have attained very high popularity, not only among
tpe &vetambara Jains for whom it was intended, but also among
other non-Jain authors.
Durgasirhha, who probably flourished about A.D. 800, is the
oldest known commentator on Katantra grammar or Kalapa, as it
is otherwise known. In addition to his Vritti, on wMch he himself
wrote a Tiled, we have also another commentary, viz. &ishya-
hitany&sa by Ugrabhuti (c. A.D. 1000). Though Katantra may
190
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
have been very old in its origin, we have at present no work of this
school earlier than that of Durgasimha. This school spread over
Bengal and Kashmir, Among the Kashmirian writers may be
mentioned Bhatta Jagaddhara and Chhichhubhat|a who composed
the Bdlabodhini and the Laghuvritti respectively about A.D. 1000.71
3. Poetics72
Greater and more fruitful activity was evinced during this age
in the field of poetics,73 To this age belonged great rhetoricians
like Udbhata, Vamana, Rudrata, Anandavardhana, Abhinavagupta,
and Kuntaka (or Kuntala), It is this age again that saw the rise
and growth of the various theories of poetics laying stress re-
spectively on factors like Alamkdra (ornament or poetic figures),
RUi (style), Dhvani (tone, suggestion), and Vakrokti (crooked
speech) as the essence of poetry. This age may, therefore, be said
to be the golden age of Sanskrit poetics.
that Kavya must have Rasa (sentiment), and thus indicates his ac¬
quaintance with the Rasa theory. But this does not prove that he
belongs to the Rasa school. The Rltis (styles) he refers to only
casually, and neglects Gunas (qualities) altogether. But to
Alamkaras he attaches great importance which may justify the
view that he was a writer of the Alamkdra school. His partiality
to figures appears not only from the fact that he defines a greater
number of them, than, is done by Bhamaha, Dandin, and Udbhata,
but also from his exposition of the figures which is more systematic
and scientific than theirs. No predecessor has been mentioned by
name by Rudrata, though he seems to refer to Bharata and to
Mayura, the author of the Mayurasataka, This shows that he must
be later than these two writers. He must again be much earlier than
A.D. 1068-69 when a commentary on his work was composed by
Namisadhu, a Svetambara Jain and pupil of Salibhadra. Again he
is quoted by numerous writers from the tenth century onwards. Thus
he is quoted or referred to by Rajasekhara, Pratlharenduraja,
Dhanika, Abhinavagupta, and Mammata. Thus Rudrata cannot be
later than A.D. 900, and his acquaintance with the Dhvani theory
coupled with his great affinity with Bhamaha and Udbhata shows
that he must have flourished between A.D. 800 and 850. It appears
from Namisadhu’s commentary on Kdvydlamkdra75 that Rudrata
was also known by the name Satananda, and that his father's name
was Vamuka.
Mention may be made of another work which is based on
Rudrata’s Kdvydlamkdra. It is the Sringdratilaka which, in three
chapters called Parichchhedas, deals with the Rasas, the Bhdvas
(emotions), the kinds of Ndyaka (hero) and Ndyikd (heroine), the
Vipralambha Sringdra in its various stages, the six updyas (means)
of winning one’s offended beloved, the other Rasas, and the four
vrittis. Very often the author of this work, whose name is Rudra¬
bhatta, is confounded with the author of the Kdvydlamkdra. But
there seems to be very little solid ground for the identification of
these two authors. Thus, for example, while Rudrata has not one
word to say in favour of the courtesans, Rudrabhatta, even after
admitting all strictures against them, has yet to offer some defence
on their behalf. But on the whole there is a remarkable similarity
between the two, not only of thought but even of phraseology, which
can be accounted for only on the assumption of one of the twro being
the borrower. Rudrabhatta must, therefore, be placed after Rudrata
and as such may be said to have lived between A.D. 900 and 1000
the lower limit being roughly determined on the strength of the fact
that the earliest writer to quote from the Sringdratilaka is Hema-
chandra.
192
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
rasah * He must have flourished about A.D, 960-990 and had greatly
influenced Abhinavagupta.
one finds that once Chitra kdvya and the sabddlaihkdras got a sort
of sanction at the hands of Kuntaka, they cropped up in such exu¬
berance as to stifle real poetry or Dhvani kdvya. It is true that
Kuntaka had very few followers among the rhetoricians; and yet
it cannot be denied that poets of the later centuries finding Dhvani
kdvya perhaps much beyond their capacities, for want of the most
important requisite, pratibhd9 turned their attention more to the
other type of kdvya which afforded better opportunities for a dis¬
play of learning and scholarship and which it was easier to compose
even in the absence of pratibhd. In fact even writers possessed of
pratibhd did not remain satisfied by composing simple suggestive
poetry without any display of the various feats with the help of
words and their sounds. This is evident from works like the Gita-
govinda. Later rhetoricians right from Mammata down to Jagan-
natha Pandita championed the Dhvani theory, no doubt; but even
they could not deny a place to Chitra kdvya in their classification of
poetry, with the result that its growth could not be retarded. There
was, indeed, little in the field of poetics after Anandavardhana (or
perhaps after Kuntaka) which can be said to be new; and the rea¬
sons for such a state of things are perhaps to be sought in the social,
religious and even political condition of India during these centu¬
ries.
4. Metrics
5. Medicine
Though the principal Samhitds of medicine had already been
composed, it was left to this age to bring to perfection the branch of
pathology in the masterly work called Rugvinischaya, known also as
Madhazm-niddna after its author, or simply Niddna. This work of
Madhavakara, son of Indukara, for the first time in the history of
Indian medicine, treats of all diseases together and has often been laid
under contribution by later writers on this subject such as Chakra-
panidatta and Vahgasena. The numerous commentaries on this work
show that it enjoyed high popularity. It is not clear whether
Madhavakara is earlier than Dridhabala, son of Kapilabala, who is
said to have revised and enlarged the Charaka-samhitd of Agnivesa
in the eighth or the ninth century A.D. He is generally assigned to
the ninth century A.D.81
The Siddhiyoga (also called V rindamadhava) is another curious
work belonging to the same period which closely follows the order
of diseases and treatment as found in the Madhava-niddnsa. Its
author Vrinda himself admits his indebtedness to the work of
Madhavakara with whom he need not be identified;82 and since he
is drawn upon by Chakrapanidatta in the eleventh century he may
be placed about A.D. 1000.
Interesting again is the Nighantu of Dhanvantari, the oldest
medico-botanical dictionary that we have at present. Older works
of this class, if there were any, have all been lost to us. The Dhan-
vantarxya Nighantu itself is found in two recensions comprising
seven and nine chapters respectively. Amara is said to have used
this work in his Ko§a. But what was used by Amara must be some
older version of the extant work which cannot be older than about
the eighth century A.D. since it refers to quicksilver. The idea of
the earlier and the later editions of this Nighantu, thus suggested,
finds some corroboration in a stanza found in a manuscript of the
work stating that the original work of Dhanvantari was revised 'by
Kasyapa.83
Another important branch that was just cropping up in the
medical science is the one dealing with the preparations of quick¬
silver and other metals. The importance of quicksilver grew to a
large extent, because its preparations were deemed to give perpe¬
tual youth, life for thousand years, invisibility, invulnerability, and
other goods things. The earliest work on this topic that can be dated
fairly accurately is the Rasaratnakara of Nagarjuna, who is placed
in the seventh or the eighth century by Ray, and in the tenth cen¬
tury by Wintemitz,84
199
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
tion as a spoken language, pari passu with the growth of the canoni¬
cal languages of the Buddhists and the Jains and of the various other
DesabhasMs. It is true that Sanskrit continued to be used as the
chief language for exchange of thought among the learned down to
a very late date. But this very fact, it may be observed, led to its
estrangement from the generality of the people, so much so that the
literature that came to be composed in Sanskrit had its appeal more
or less to the Panditas rather than to the common people of India.
It is this gulf that arose between the language of the people and
that of literature that seems to be responsible for*the several fea¬
tures noticeable in Sanskrit literature of this age. Thus in Kdvya
we notice the sameness of theme in several works. More often than
not the theme is drawn from the epics or the Puranas, so that by
itself the theme being too well known has but little interest for the
poet or the erudite reader. What interests the poet now is a display
of his erudition, of his mastery over sound and sense, his infinite
vocabulary, and his power to execute some wonderful and intricate
devices. The readers of these works, naturally Panditas, also do not
care for the theme so much as for these extraneous factors. This
explains how there arose a tendency in Sanskrit literature to be
pedantic and artificial,—a tendency which, as is natural, grew
stronger and stronger as the gulf between the language of the people
and that of the learned gradually widened. The natural effect of
this is that Sanskrit literature and the Sanskrit speaking Panditas
were as a class torn away from the masses and remained for long
an object of awe and admiration, but hardly of love and sympathy.
As a natural result, therefore, the poet always sought to appeal to
the Panditas by rigidly following the poetical canons and, within
the limits set by them, to exercise his talents. This rigidity in its
turn practically eliminated the personal element of the poet, so much
so that in Sanskrit literature we miss the revelation of the poet’s
personality in their poems. This impersonal character of the Kdvya
is further enhanced by the theory of the rationality of the world
order which was recognised in India from very early ages. To
balance these defects, however, there are qualities such as mastery
over emotions and sentiments in all their shades, intimate and real
love of nature, a sympathetic outlook, power of description,, and
capacity to produce fine word pictures in a short space beautified by
appropriate metre. This is why we find many poets producing ex¬
quisite lyrics though they may be no good at epic poetry or even
dramas. For dramas were composed, later, not for the stage, but
merely as linguistic and poetical exercises.
All this weakness in belles lettres was, however, more than
compensated by the theory of poetics which saw its fullest develop-
201
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
ment in this age at the hands of these very Panditas, This shows
that the age as such was the age of critics and not of poets, and ex¬
plains the marked difference in quality between artistic and scien¬
tific literature during the period as a whole. We have already
seen how medicine, philosophy, and even astronomical science were
steadily growing and producing some special branches in their fields.
The Panditas naturally took greater and keener interest in the sci¬
ences, and directed their attention to expounding fresh theories and
exploring new avenues of thought.
It may thus be seen that belles lettres had little living interest
for the masses. Nor had it any such interest for the learned spe¬
cialists or original thinkers who worked upon it as merely a means
to an end. Literature to them was merely a hand-maid to poetics.
The scientific literature, however, had a living interest for the spe¬
cialists, though the masses in general were certainly averse to it.
Hence we observe that in the mass of literature surveyed here the
scientific side is more living and dynamic than the other which was
slowly and gradually freezing to a static condition.
The two great epics had now practically reached their final
form, though interpolations of-isolated verses, passages, and even
entire chapters possibly continued till quite a late date. The Dhar-
masastras and the Puranas had no doubt attained a sanctity which
should have normally made its rank closed to new accessions. But
as these texts served as sources of civil law as well as religious
beliefs and practices, there was always the vital need of keeping
them abreast with changing times. This led to the composition of
pseudo-Smritis and Upa-Puranas passing under the names of re¬
nowned sages or rather their namesakes who were even older or
greater than they, such as Greater or Older Manu, Narada, etc. But
there were other ways of attaining the same object, viz. extensive
additions to the existing Puranas, and commentaries on the Dharma-
sastras. If we add to these the compilations and digests of the latter
we shall practically complete the picture of these two branches of
literature.
1. Puranas
It is now agreed on all hands that large additions were made to
the Puranas during the period under review. To the texts of the
original Puranas, which may be pretty old, were added several
topics, at different times by different hands, i.e. whenever need for
these was felt. Thanks to the patient researches of Dr. Hazra,88
202
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
2. Dharmasdstras or Smritis
The two compilations Chaturvimsatimata and Shattrimsanmata
probably belong to this age since they have been quoted by Vijnan-
esvara in his Mitdkshard and also by Apararka, but not by Visvarupa
and Medhatithi.89 The first contains a summary of the teachings
of 24 sages. The second, known only from quotations, was also pro¬
bably a work of the same type. It is interesting to note that both
are decidely anti-Buddhist, and the latter even prescribes a bath
for touching Bauddhas, Pasupatas, Jains, atheists, and followers of
Kapila. On the whole, however, it has to be observed that the age
of original literature in Dharmasdstra is now over and that com¬
mentators and writers of digests have taken up the field. Visvarupa
wrote his Bdlakrldd on the Ydjhavalkya-smriti before Vijnanesvara
203
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
own are no more than mere names to us for the present. The
Nyayakandali9 however, is highly important, since Sridhara has
therein, for the first time in the history of the system, given us a
theistic interpretation of the Nydyavaiseshika,95 The Vyomavail is
another commentary on the same text composed by Vyomasekhara;
while the fourth commentary on the same text again is the LildvaU
of &rivatsa who probably belongs to the eleventh century A.D. One
important work of Udayana that must be mentioned here is the
Kusumdnjali or the Nyayakusumanjalit comprising seventy-two
Karikds together with the author’s own commentary thereon, in
which the existence of soul is established from the Nyaya point of
view. In this work Udayana criticizes not only the aesthetic doctrine
of the Mimamsakas, but also the theories of causation propounded
by the Samkhyas, the Vedantins, and the Buddhists.90
Vachaspati’s works in the field of Mimamsa have been already
noticed. In Vedanta, besides Vachaspati we have Sarvajnatmamuni,
the pupil of Suresvara and the author of the Samkshepasdnraka
which is only an epitome of Sankara’s Bhashya on the Brdhmasutra.
Among writers of other schools of Vedanta may be mentioned two
of the predecessors of Ramanuja. One is Nathamuni, the author of
the Nydyatattva and the Yogardhasya; while the other, Yamuna-
charya, the uncle of Ramanuja, has given us the Agamaprdrwdnya,
Mahdpurusha-Nirnaya, Siddhitraya, Gita-Safagraha, and several
other works. The Yogavasishthas&ra of Gauda Abhinanda also be¬
longs to the same period. It is, of course, like the original text,
partly philosophical and partly theological. Saivism was also deve¬
loping systematic schools, along the lines of Vaishnavism, in great
affinity with the Vedanta. Thus in Kashmir we get two schools of
Saivism, the Spandasdstra and the Praiyabhijndsdstra. The former
was founded about the ninth century by Vasugupta to whom god
Siva revealed the Sivasutra, the main sutra work of the school.
Another equally important work of this school is the Spandakarikd,
comprising fifty-one verses, composed by Kallata on the basis of
the instructions imparted by his preceptor Vasugupta. Kallata
lived in the reign of Avantivarman (A,D. 854). The important works
of the Pratyabhijna, school, are the Sivadrishti and the Pratyabhijna-
sutra, composed by Somananda and his pupil Utpala respectively
in the beginning of the tenth century A.D. The latter of these is
more important and has been commented upon by the famous rheto¬
rician Abhlnavagupta, the commentary being called the Pratyabhi-
jndvimarsint (composed between A.D. 991 and 1015). Abhinava-
gupta has also given us two more works of this school; the Tantra-
loka and the Paramdrthasdra. In the latter, it may be noted, Abhi-
navagupta has combined the monistic teaching of Advaita with the
206
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
B. PRAKRIT
During this period, the Prakrits had already passed beyond the
stage of a spoken language on the one hand, and were being sup-
planted by Sanskrit on the other, both in the field of exegesis and
•enlightenment, among the learned of all classes and sects. The result
was their comparative negligence even among the Jains. The Jains
respected the Prakrits as their holy language, since their Agamas
were composed in them. Yet they could not wholly keep them¬
selves aloof from Sanskrit, which had still retained its influence on
the minds of the learned and was respected as the cultural language
of the nation as a whole. Any new religious worships, philosophical
dogmas or spiritual experiments had to be submitted through the
medium of this language to the circles of the free-thinking leaders
of the society for their judgment and approbation. Without their
sanction no system had any hope or chance of being respected or
continued in the higher strata of the community. Indians in ancient
and middle ages were a highly free-thinking people by their nature,
education and equipment. They would not accept anything on the
mere recommendation of this or that person, howsoever great he
may be. Everything had to be proved by means of reasoning on
the generally accepted lines of argumentation which had been deve¬
loped through a long period. So that when the wise men of Jainism
clearly saw that the learned circles would not care even to look at
their precious theories unless and until they were presented through
this cultural language of the nation, they gradually took to writing
in Sanskrit for establishing their claim to a place in the midst of
the respectable philosophers of the land. They not merely explain¬
ed their Prakrit Agamas in Sanskrit, but also wrote independent
treatises in that language, either for conversion of intelligent men
to their faith or at least for their thoughtful consideration. Siddha-
sena Divakara was probably the first among the Jain Panditas who
thus turned to Sanskrit for the propagation of his faith and philo¬
sophy. Haribhadra, pupil of Jinabhata and known also as Vira-
hanka, was the next great writer of this school. He describes him¬
self as the son of Mahattara Yakini, who, an ordinary nun, had be¬
come instrumental in his conversion to Jainism according to tradi¬
tion. He lived in the latter half of the eighth century A.D. and
wrote many commentaries in Sanskrit on the Agamas, which before
207
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
they all were her slaves who had run away from her, two days back,
with tjie clothes which they wore but which were her property
According to the condition the other rogues could either corroborate
it and actually be her slaves, or admit defeat by saying ‘it is a lie’,
and supply food to all. They were naturally silenced by this dilemma
and accepted her as their undisputed leader, openly confessing that
woman was wiser than man by her very nature. The tales of the
cheats are fantastic and extremely amusing owing to their imagi¬
nativeness. But their cutting sarcasm becomes quite apparent when
similar tales from the Epics and Puranas, suspposed to contain the
truths of the Brahmanical religion, are placed side by side with
them. Both this and the other work of Haribhadra amply prove
his close acquaintance with folk-tales and legends of all kinds. But
in addition they also show his creative genius which admirably fills
up the gaps left by the existing story literature.
210
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
(ii) Mahanama
Mahanama is said to be the author of Saddhammappakdsml, a
commentary on the Patisambhidamagga. In the epilogue the author
states that he finished the work in the third year after the death of
king Moggalana, while residing in the Uttaramanthiparivena of the
Mahavihara. Though some scholars identify this Moggalana with Mog¬
galana I in the first half of the seventh century, B.C. Law prefers to
identify him with Moggalana III, father and predecessor of Vijaya-
bahu I (A.D. 1055-1110).102 Malalasekera believes this Mahanama
to be the second Mahanama appearing in Bodh-Gaya inscription
after Upasena II and to have been later than the earlier Mahanama
by a couple of centuries.103
(iii) Khema
Khemappakaraiia (also called Paramattha-dlpa) by Elder Khema
contains short descriptions of the chitta, and definitions of kusala
and akusald dhamma, a list of twenty-eight mnemonic verses briefly
giving the meaning of some abhidhamma terms. It is more appro¬
priately called N&ma-rupa-samtisa in Ceylon. With its short dis¬
quisitions on various subjects concisely written in simple, easy style,
the work serves as a little handbook for the study of medieval Abhi¬
dhamma. References to the author in the Nikayasamgraha and the
Saddhamma-ratndkara, the latter calling him Tipitaka-pariyatti-
dhara (versed in the text of Tipitaka), indicate that the book was
held in high esteem in Ceylon. Vachissara Mahasami of Ceylon
wrote a commentary on it in the twelfth century.
(iv) Upatissa
Though the book itself says nothing regarding its authorship,
the Bodhivamsa (or Mahdbodhivamsa} History of Bodhi tree) has
been ascribed to Upatissa of Ceylon by several authors. It is a prose
work, there being gathas only at the ends of chapters and towards
the end of the whole book. Beginning with a history of Buddha
Dlparhkara, it gives a brief account of the life of Bodhisattva under
previous Buddhas, life of Gotama, his enlightenment, planting of
Bodhi tree at Jetavana by Ananda, parinibbdna, three councils, land¬
ing of Mahinda in Ceylon and establishment of Buddhism there,
planting of the tree, and starting of ceremonies connected with its
worship.
211
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
(v) Telakatahagdthd
212
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
1. Origin of Apabhraihsa
2. Nature of Apabhramsa
214
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
4. Apabhrariisa Dohas
The earliest poetry in pure Apabhrariisa appears to have been
produced in the Doha metre, i.e. couplets of varying measure. In
the available Apabhrariisa poetry the Doha verses are more uni¬
versal and less grammatically regulated than the other forms of
poetic compositions. This metre has been adopted by almost all the
modern languages of North India, where the medieval saints used
it as their favourite vehicle of expression. The Doha compositions
fall into two classes according to their subject-matter, the romantic,
and the dscetic. The former class is represented by single verses
depicting'the sentiment of love, pathos, or heroism. They appear
to be mostly the compositions of bards. Examples of these occur
in the grammar of Hemachandra.
The latter class is represented by a large number of works com¬
posed by Jain and Buddhist saints. Paramappayasu and Jogasdru
of Joindu (sixth century), Pdhuda-Doha of Ramasiriiha Muni, S&vaya-
dhamma-Dohd of Devasena (tenth century), and Vairdgyasdra of
Suprabhacharya are some of the best examples of Doha works in
Jain literature. The theme is the spiritual unity of the universe
which discountenances all differences of caste and creed. In Deva-
sena’s Nayachakra, a Prakrit work on logic, we are told that the
work was originally composed in the Doha metre; but it was subse¬
quently transformd into Gathas by Mailla-dhavala because a critic,
remarked that Doha metre was not suitable for a serious subject
like logic. The date of Devasena, as recorded in one of his works,
is V. S. 990 (=A.D. 933). It appears that up to his time the learned
Panditas had not reconciled themselves to the use of the Doha form
of composition.
The Buddhist saints who wrote Doha verses are Tillopada,
Sarahapada, Kanhapada and others. Their works are found collect¬
ed in the Dohdkosa, first compiled by Haraprasad Sastri and later
re-edited by Dr. Shahidullah and by Dr. P. C. Bagchi. Many more
examples have been brought to light by Rahula Samkrityayana.
Their subject-matter may be termed mysticism, showing the same
traits as the Jain Dohas mentioned above, as well as the composi¬
tions of the later saints like Kablr, Dadu, and Nanak. The tradi¬
tional name for the language of these works is {Sandhyd Bhdshd,’ i.e.
Twilight Tongue, which is very significant when we remember that
216
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
6. Short Stories
Another important and interesting branch of Apabhramsa
literature is short stories meant for entertainment as well as moral
and religious instruction. We know that the Pali literature is domi¬
nated by tales and legends, such as the Jatakas and Avadanas
intended to point a moral. The Jain literature from the earliest
time is replete writh parables and anecdotes exemplifying religious
principles. Ethical works, in particular, make frequent mention of
219
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
persons who observed the rules in spite of much suffering and thus
reaped the reward in this life or the next. The ethical principle
laid down for the monks is that they should observe non-violence
and perfect equanimity of body and mind even at the risk of their
lives. The laity are recommended to observe the same in a less
rigorous form, and to discipline and train themselves gradually for
higher spiritual life. Religious instruction was imparted in two
ways. Those professing a different faith were sought to be con¬
verted by stories revealing the absurdities and incongruities of the
other creeds; while those who belonged to the true faith had to be
strengthened in the same and persuaded to observe the religious
vows and practices by inspiring examples from the past.
The earliest literature of the first kind in Apabhramsa is the
Dhamma-Parikkha of Harishena, who acknowledges his debt to
the work of his predecessor Jayarama in Gdthd metre. Evidently,
Jayarama’s Dharma-Parikshd was written in Prakrit verses and it
became the source of similar works in Apabhramsa and Sanskrit.
Harishena’s work is satirical and is of the same kind as the Dhurt-
tikhyana of Haribhadra Suri written in Maharashtn Prakrit during
the eighth century. But until Jayarama’s work in Gdthcis is brought
to light and its date is determined, it is difficult to say who was the
originator and who the imitator of this style. The Dhamma-
Parikkha of Harishena is composed in eleven sandhis comprising
in all 234 Kadavakas, equal to more than 2000 slokas. The poet
admits that he was originally a resident of Chitor in Mewad and
belonged to the Dhakkada family. He migrated to Achalapura
(probably modern Ellichpur in Amraoti District), where he studied
metrics and rhetoric, and wrote his magnum opus in A.D. 98?. As
his predecessors in the field of Apabhramsa poetry, he mentions
Chaturmukha, Svayambhu, and Pushpadanta. The subject-matter
of the poem is didactic, with a number of stories and fables inter¬
vening, and is similar to that of the Dharma-Patikshd of Ami to gat i
in Sanskrit composed in A.D. 1014. This latter work is known to
bear in its language marked traces of Prakritism, which cannot all
be traced to the present work. It may, however, be presumed that
Amitagati, when writing his work, had before him the present poem
composed a quarter of a century earlier.
I. Kannada Literature
bMrata seen from a single angle, the hostility between Bhima and
Duryodhana. Draupadi is humiliated in Duryodhana’s court; she
unbraids her tresses and takes the oath that she will not gather
them up again till the evil-doers are adequately punished; and
Bhima too declares that he will avenge the immitigable insult to
Draupadi. The story rushes precipitately on till Bhima and Duryo¬
dhana meet in the fatal fight with clubs.
Bh’ma has fulfilled his vow, and Draupadi braids her tresses
up once again. Ranna’s Gada-Yuddha is one of the few Indian epics
that fulfils the Aristotelian canons of form and concord of parts.
Ranna is an adept at exploiting the resources of onomatopoeia, and
the mere recitation of his verses often suggests the full amplitude
226
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
228
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
229
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
230
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
95. De, NIA, II, p. 271 and n. 3 (Ross Comm. Vol. p. 87 and n. 3).
96. Winternitz, GIL, IU, p. 466. The same Udayana is also the author of the
Lakshandvali a Vaiseshika work composed in A.D. 984 (ibid, p. 474).
97. A work in 85 karikas ascribed to Ad Lesha (Patahjali) printed in Pandit,
Vol. V, 1871, pp. 189 ff, and TSS, No. 12, 1911, is different from the one referred
to by Abhinavagupta—cf. Winternitz, GIL, III, p. 446 and n. 3.
98. Pali Language and Literature, pp. 34-5.
99. Saddhamma-Samgaha, Ch. IX.
100. JPTS, 1886, pp. 60, 70.
101. JPTS, 1917, p. 2.
102. Buddhaghosa, p. 77 n. 3.
103. PLC, pp. 144-5; CII, III, pp. 274 ff.
104. Dipavamsa und Mahdvamsa, p. 79; Catalogue, p. xiv.
105. PLC, p. 162; HIL, II, p. 223.
106. See Vol. II, pp. 221-3.
107. Prdkrita-sarvasva, 16.2.
107a. H. P. Sastri (Bauddha Gan O Doha, Intr.) called this language Sandhyd-bhashd.
or “twilight language”. V. Bhattacharya (IHQ, IV. 287-296), P. C. Bagchi
(IHQ, VI. 389-396) and F. Edgerton (JAOS, 1937. 185 f), however, have/shown
that the correct name is Sandhabhasha, meaning “symbolical or intentional
speech”. Winternitz (HIL, II. 393) and De (HBR, I. 329), among others, accept
this meaning.—Ed.
108. See above, pp. 197, 209.
109. R. S. Mugali, The Heritage of Karnataka (1946), p. 22.
110. E. P. Rice, Kanarese Literature, p. 29.
111. History of Kannada Language (1934), p. 56.
112. Mugali, The Heritage of Karnataka, p. 29.
113. Written both as Tirthakara and Tirthahkara.
114. Prof. R. S. Mugali’s translation.
115. For the section on Kannada Literature, I am greatly indebted to Dr, S. C.
Nandimath and the late Prof. S. S. Basawanal.
116. Vol. Ill, Ch. XV, Sec. III.
231
CHAPTER X
232
POLITICAL THEORY
234
POLITICAL THEORY
and the king's creation is told in the stories of their origin mentioned
above. The king, according to Brihaddharma,34 is a Kshatriya de¬
voted to the protection of the people. According to Vishnudhar-
mottara35 the king immediately after his selection by the chief men
in the State shall take the vow (vrata) that he would protect all of
them who are righteous. As in the older thought, this obligation is
enforced by the promise of spiritual rewards and the threat of spiri¬
tual penalties.36 Some clauses of positive law in the late Puranas
(like those in the Smritis) reflect the principles of the king’s authority
and obligation. Agni37 repeats the penalties for such offences
against the king’s dignity and authority as violation of the Queen,
miswriting the king’s edict and mounting the king’s conveyance. On
the other hand Vishnudhar mottara3S repeats the ancient Smriti
clause requiring the king to restore stolen property to owners of all
castes.
238
POLITICAL THEORY
the hair, wearing matted locks and so forth. Following the same
Smriti authority Somadeva 0 enforces the king’s obligation of protec¬
tion by the promise of spiritual rewards. On the other hand the
author, probably under the influence of the Jain doctrine of ahimsd,
so far from repeating the advanced Smriti ideas of resistance against
the evil ruler, resigns himself passively to the latter’s acts. The
king’s wrong-doing, he says,'51 like the ocean’s crossing the shores,
the Sun’s causing darkness and the mother’s devouring her own
children, is a characteristic of the Iron Age.
of the same reign33 we learn that Alla’s father was born in a Brah~
rnana family and was appointed ‘Warden of the Marches’ (maryada-
dkurya) by Emperor Ramabhadra. Afterwards Alla succeeded to
this office and was further appointed guardian of the fort by Bhoja I.
This proves that Brahmanas at that time sometimes adopted a mili¬
tary career and that offices went by hereditary succession.
Outside the territory directly governed by the Emperor lay the
tracts ruled by chiefs belonging to various clans, such as the Chaha-
manas, the Tomaras, the Chapas, the Chalukyas, and the Pratiharas.
There were besides the great feudatory families like the Chandellas
and the Paramaras who were destined for a long and independent
career as ruling powers after the fall of the Pratiharas. What is
more, we find the donated village in two records of A.D. 893 and
899,54 described as belonging to a group of eighty-four villages. This
was exactly the standard size of the clan-chief’s estate in mediaeval
Rajputana. In the light of the above facts it is possible to trace back
the type of clan-monarchies, as they have been called by Baden-
Powell, at least to the period of the Imperial Pratiharas of Kanauj.
The administration of the Pratihara feudatories possessed the usual
complement of officers known to Northern India from older times.
The list of persons receiving information of the donor’s grant in the
record of A.D. 893, mentioned above, consists of the raja (prince), the
rdjanyas (nobles), the rajasthdnlyas (viceroys), the uparikas (gover¬
nors), the amdtyas (ministers), and the dandapdsikas (police officers).
Another record of a feudatory chief, mentioned above, refers to a san-
dhivigrdhika (minister of foreign affairs) as the writer of the charter.
From the well-known Siyadoni inscription35 we learn that this town
was in possession of chiefs bearing the lofty title mahdrdjddhirdja in
the tenth and eleventh centuries A.D. We have some hints of the
policy of the imperial government in keeping the feudatories in check.
In the two records of A.D. 893 and 899, referred to above, the grant
of lands by the donor required the approval of an individual des¬
cribed as tcintrapala of the reigning emperor. Probably the tantra-
pala held an office similar to that of the Political Agent in an Indian
State during the British rule. The grant by Mahendrapala II of a
village in the holding of a certain talavargika in A.D. 946 probably
points to the Emperor’s right of alienating lands in the possession of
the smaller feudatories. Nevertheless we find even in the reign of
Mahendrapala I reference to a fight between two mahdsdmantas in a
memorial tablet of V.S. 960. The decline of the Imperial Pratihara
power gave the opportunity to many of the clans—the Kachchha-
paghatas of Gwalior, the Chandellas of Jejakabhukti, the Haihayas of
Dahala, the Paramaras of Malwa, and so forth—to assert their virtual
independence.
241
A.I.lv.—10
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
242
POLITICAL THEORY
was divided into the usual vishayas. The same record refers to
rural people headed by the vishctyakaranas and the vyavahdrikas,
but the precise nature of their functions is unknown.
We can form some idea of the general characteristics and ten¬
dencies of administration in Kashmir during this period from Kal-
hana’s account. The succession to the throne was by hereditary
descent, subject to breaks caused by usurpation and the like. The
accession of Yasaskara (A.D. 939) after the extinction of the Utpala
line was a striking exception to the general rule. For Yasaskara
was elected by an assembly of Brahmanas.63 But this revolution
was barren of constitutional results like the still more famous revo¬
lution in Bengal in the shape of Gopala’s election to the throne. As
regards the organisation of the administration, we find Lalitaditya,
the greatest king of Kashmir, being credited in the Rdjatarangim64
with the creation of five new offices (karmgsthdnas) over and above
the eighteen older offices attributed to the semi-legendary king
Jalauka65. The five offices were those of mahapratihara, mahd-
sdndhivigrahika, mahdsvasdla, mahabh&ndagarika, and mahd-
scidhanabhdga. Of these, the first two, known from Gupta times,
mean respectively the Chief of the Palace Guards, and the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, while the last three probably mean Chief Officer
of Cavalry, Chief Treasurer, and Chief Executive Officer respective¬
ly. Other State offices are incidentally referred to by Kalhana in
the course of his description of the subsequent reigns. Some of
these like nagaradhipa (Prefect of the city), pratlhdra (Chief of
palace guards), dandandyaka (general), and rdjasthariiya (viceroy?)
had their counterparts in the kingdoms of the plains.66 Common to
both again was the akshapatala (accounts office), although the
ekdngas of the Rdjatarangini, forming a sort of military police
attached to the same, are unknown elsewhere. Other offices like
those of the paddgra (revenue collector?), the dvdrapati (commander
of the frontier passes), the mandalesa (governor), and the kampa*
nesa (commander-in-chief) are more or less peculiar to Kashmir.67
244
POLITICAL THEORY
246
POLITICAL THEORY
the rule of this dynasty. In one case83 the king is said to have
granted the office of grdmakiifa in perpetuity to an individual. This
proves that the village headman, at least in some cases, could be
nominated by the king. Another record84 states that the mahd-
janas of a village elected the members of a Brahmana family on the
Committee of five (pancha-vctra), because of their eloquence in
committee assemblies. From this it may be inferred that the Vehgl
country under the Eastern Chalukyas, like the Chola Empire in
later times, knew self-governing village assemblies with elected
committees for the transaction of business.
Few details have been preserved of the administration of the
Pandya kings in the first period of their ascendancy (from the begin¬
ning of the seventh to that of the tenth century A.D.). There are,
however, clear indications of the existence of a well-organised
government under their rule. A distinguished family of the time
of the Early Pandya king Jatila Parantaka (c. A.D. 765-815) fur¬
nished a number of high officials with the titles uttcCramantri (Prime
Minister) and mahdsdmanta to the State service. We hear, besides,
of officers for executing the king’s orders for a pious gift as well as
of other revenue officers. Reference is made to the sen&pati
(general), while other records mention an officer in charge of
elephants (matangajddhyaksha) as well as troops in the service of
the king or other leaders.86 Not only therefore was the army in
charge of the supreme general, but there were separate commands
for its different branches, while the king as well as other leaders
maintained troops in their service. The lowest unit of the local
administration was the gramam (village) and a number of these
formed the kurram or nadu sometimes Sanskritized into rashtra.
In the working of the village administration the assembly (sabhd
or ur) played an important part. Such was the reputation of these
bodies for integrity and efficiency, that kings often placed perma¬
nent endowments of gold coins in their hands for meeting the ex¬
penses of worship in temples out of the interest accruing therefrom
at specified rates.86 Again, the body of temple servants and the
representatives of the village assemblies were sometimes jointly
constituted as trustees for the proper administration of the temple
funds.87 The assembly also owned lands which could be granted
by the great men of the village, and its approval was necessary
when a Brahmana donee of a village granted lands to his kinsmen.88
From a record of A.D. 80089 we learn that the assembly used to
meet at a stated hour in a fixed public place. According to the
rules framed by the assembly on this occasion, it was to be open
to all land-owners, but only those who had a certain property quali¬
fication along with the prescribed intellectual and moral attainments
247
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
248
POLITICAL THEORY
1. Visvarupa
would take the text in its literal sense to apply to the father’s own
wives alone. Similarly Visvarupa understands Yajnavalkya98 to
mean that what a man acquires by himself, without detriment to his
father’s interest, as well as a nuptial present and what he gets as
present from a friend, shall not be shared by him with his co-par-
ceners. He also takes Yajnavalkya" to mean that what was gained
by learning shall not be given to the co-parceners. These views
differ completely from those of Vijnanesvara. In the case of a man
without a son, Yajnavalkya100 mentions the order of succession as
follows:—wife, daughters, both parents, brothers and their sons, etc.
Commenting on these passages Visvarupa says that the wife shall
succeed if she were pregnant at the time of her husband’s death,
and the daughter shall do so if she was an “appointed” daughter.
This is quite different from the view of Vijnanesvara who would
allow the widow to succeed without any restriction save that of
chastity, and the daughters to do so without any qualification save
that the unmarried has precedence over the married, and the un¬
provided over the endowed daughter.
2. Medhatithi
251
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
order in the kingdom, so that the rules laid down need not always
be followed literally.’, In connection with the question of time
allowable for filing the plaint and its answer, Medhatithi107 argues
that the plaintiff already knows the amount of his dues or the man
who has wronged him. On the other hand when the defendant is
dragged before the court, he does not know the nature of the com¬
plaint against him and cannot find the right answer. The plaintiff,
therefore, must complete his plaint on the same date, or he may
be granted two or three days’ time. The defendant should be grant¬
ed a postponement which, however, must be only for the period
regarded as a fair interval for the understanding of the suit and the
finding of the answer. The text of Gautama108 allowing postpone¬
ment of the answer for one year, Medhatithi emphatically says,
should not be followed in practice, as he pertinently asks, if non¬
understanding is sufficient cause for delay, why should it cease to
be so after the lapse of one year only?
From the benefit of the rule allowing postponement of the ans-.
wer, Medhatithi expressly excludes the group of heinous offences.
His argument in support of this contention indicates his clear grasp
of the essential difference between civil and criminal cases. “In the
case of non-payment of debt and the like,” he says, “if the parties
settle it themselves, it is no business of the king to interfere. But
in the case of a criminal, it is the duty of the king to punish him
even though he may have come to terms with the plaintiffs.” In
other words, civil suits are the concerns of the private parties, while
crimes are essentially offences against the State. The different pro¬
cedure adopted in the two classes of suits is explained by Medhatithi
while discussing Manu’s text109 which forbids the king or his ser¬
vants to promote a suit. “This applies”, he says, “to non-payment
of debt and similar subjects: as for thieves and criminals who are
like thorns in the kingdom, these the king shall capture and punish
even when he catches them himself.” Dealing with the law of evi¬
dence, Medhatithi categorically rejects Narada’s statement that
documentary evidence is superior to witnesses. As he cogently
argues, “Documentary evidence is of two kinds—those written by
the party himself and those written by another person. This last
again is of two kinds—(a) those written by a scribe who volunteers
to do the writing, and (b) those written by an authorised scribe.
Now, a document written by another person is in every way of the
nature of a .witness.No reliability attaches to what has been
written by a single man, just as it does not attach to a single wit¬
ness. It may be argued that it is only when witnesses set down their
hands to something that they become documentary evidence. But
this difference cannot make the one superior to the other.... ‘Being
252
POLITICAL THEORY
3. The Smritisamgraha
We may conclude this chapter with some reference to the views
of the Smritisamgraha Digest, which are often of great historical
interest. Ownership, according to the author, is indicated by the
sdstras and is not an affair of the world—a view which was after¬
wards to become classical through its adoption by Vijnanesvara and
his school. Elsewhere the Smritisamgraha observes that the son’s
ownership is created in the father’s property by partition—a view
which was afterwards to be vigorously opposed by Vijnanesvara.
In another passage the Smritisamgraha takes the view quoted by
Medhatithi only for refutation, namely that Manu’s allowing an
extra share to the eldest son at the time of partition is not followed
in the present Age. In the order of heirs enumerated in the Smriti-
253
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
254-
POLITICAL THEORY
256
CHAPTER XI
258
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
B. BUDDHISM
I. DOCTRINAL CHANGES
1. Emergence of Tantrikism
The mission of Buddha to wean the Indian mind from the blind
faith in the efficacy of worship and rituals passed into oblivion, and
the leaning of the Indian mind towards the worship of divinities and
the awe and veneration for rituals and mystical utterances (man¬
tras) re-asserted itself. The belief in the efficacy of the Atharva-
vedic mantras, the superhuman powers acquired by the mystics
(sadhakas), the arts of divination, necromancy and the hundred and
one superstitious beliefs could not be totally eradicated from the
Indian mind, however arduous might have been the efforts of Bud¬
dha in that direction. The huge sacrificial literature (the Srauta-
sutras) that grew up in the post-Vedic period permeated the Indian
mind to such an extent that it was almost impossible to separate reli¬
gion from ritualistic worship and mystical utterances (mantras).
Buddha had to repeat his warnings to his disciples and devotees to
disabuse their minds of the efficacy of the mantra rituals, but the
sequel shows that he failed in his mission. In as early a text as the
Digha Nikaya there is one complete suttanta (Atdnatiya)2 which is
described as a rakkha (protecting spell) to be memorised for avert¬
ing evils from yakshas, gandharvas and other evil spirits. The
anomaly of the occurrence of parittas (=rakkhd—protecting spells)
in the Pitakan texts has been discussed in the Milindapanha.3 The
Mahdmayurtdhdrant appears in the Vinaya-Pitaka of the Sarvasti-
vadins. Hence it must be admitted that throughout the career of
Buddhism, the use of incantations or mystical utterances was in
vogue, and so Taranatha4 rightly said that in general the origin of
Sutras and Tantras could not be distinguished in regard to time, place
and teacher, and the utmost that could be stated is that the Tantras
(excluding the Anuttarayogatantra) appeared at the same time as the
M.cihdydna-sutras. The tradition is that the yogic practices propound¬
ed by Asanga led to the growth of esotericism, which in course of time
became Tantrikism. Tantrikism is not confined to Buddhism and re¬
presents a common phase of development both in Buddhist and Brah-
manical religions. A more detailed account of its nature and pro-
260
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
gress will be given in a later section of this chapter. Here it will suffice
to note only its characteristic features so far as Buddhism is con¬
cerned.
2. Dharanis
It did not take long to reach the Tantrik conception that Tara
as such was Buddha’s sakti and the relation of Buddha to Tara was
similar to that of Siva to ParvatT, the dual manifestations of Adi-
Buddha or the monistic Brahman.
(ii) Dharmapala
The next king Dharmapala was a great admirer of the teachings
of the Prajhaparamita-sutras and made Haribhadra, the great com¬
mentator of the Prajnaparamitd-sutra and exponent of the Yogachara
philosophy, his spiritual preceptor. He erected as many as fifty
monasteries for the study and teaching of the same. In Vikrama-
silavihara, founded by him, he granted allowance to those who studied
these texts. Taranatha acknowledges that the teachings of the Prajna-
pdramitds spread widely under the auspices of this king.60 After
the demise of Haribhadra, Dharmapala made Haribhadra’s disciple
Buddhajnanapada his spiritual preceptor. At the advice of this new
preceptor, the king supported also the study and teaching of the
Guhyasamaja.
Acharya Haribhadra (his full name being Haribhadrapada) came
of a royal family. He studied the Madhyamika t€ixts with Santarak-
shita, and the Yogachara texts with Vairochanabhadr^. He was ins¬
pired by Ajita Maitreyanatha in a dream and preferred the Yoga¬
chara teachings. He wrote commentaries on the Ashtasahasrika*
Prajndpdramitd and other texts. His commentaiy (Aloka) on the
Ahhisamayalankdra, a treatise interpreting the Prajnapdramitd-
sutras from the Yogachara standpoint, bespeaks his vast and deep
knowledge of the Buddhist doctrines. He resided in the Traikutaka-
vihara and died about twenty years after Dharmapala’s accession to
the throne.61
One of the best disciples of Haribhadra was Buddhajnanapada,
who, after the demise of Haribhadra, became the .spiritual preceptor
of the king. He propagated the rituals and teachings of the Kriyd
and Yoga tantras particularly of the Guhyasamaja, M&yajtila, Chan-
draguhyatilaka* and Manjusrtkrodha. He performed the consecra
271
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
272
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
273
A.I.K.—IS
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
(iii) Devapdla
Devapala was a zealous advocate of Buddhism.56 His remark¬
able achievement was the restoration of the sand-buried temple,
6rl Traikutaka, and its enlargement. This temple in course of time
came to be known as the new Somapurl-vihara the ruins of which
have been discovered at Paharpur.57 Haribhadra states in the colo¬
phon of his work, Abhisamayalahkaraloha, that he resided in the ex¬
cellent monastery Traikutaka, which was adorned with learned men.
In the Nalanda stone-inscription58 of Vipula-srlmitra, it is stated
that he was a disciple of Asoka-srlmitra, who again was a disciple of
Maitrl-sHmitra. The teacher of Maitrl-srlmitra, Karunasrlmitra,
while residing at the Somapuri monastery, was burnt to death by an
army of Vangala. At the time of Dharmapala, the Saindhava-srava-
kas burnt the image of Heruka and Tantrik books. The dvdra-pan-
dita of Vikramasila was Jnana-srlmitra, who was at first a Saindhava-
sravaka and then became a Tantrayanist. It seems that the inscription
refers to a deadly quarrel between the Saindhava-sravakas, whose
names probably ended with the words “Srimitra”, and the Tantraya-
nists of Bengal.
Another event of outstanding importance in the history of Bud¬
dhism is the communication of the king of Suvarnadvipa, Balaputra-
deva of the Sailendra dynasty, to Devapala, to which reference has
been made above.59 In this connection, we may refer to Chapter
XL of Taranatha’s History in which it is stated that Buddhism was
propagated in ancient days in the small islands called Siiiihaladvlpa,
Yavadvlpa, Tamradvlpa, Suvarnadvipa, Dhanasrldvlpa and Pahgu-
dvlpa. In the last two islands only there were Mahayanists and a
few in Simhala.
trimsa heaven after preaching the law there to his departed mother,
the acceptance of the honey ottered by a monkey at Vaisaii, and
lastly the great miracle, in which he simultaneously multiplied him¬
self in the presence of king Prasenajit of Kosala and a host of his
own followers and other Tirthikas at Sravastl. The Eastern Indian
School of mediaeval sculpture contains numerous examples of such
standing and seated figures of Gautama, and the Indian Museum,
Calcutta, alone possesses a large number of such images, mostly
hailing from Bihar and Bengal. The central figure in these com¬
positions usually depicts Buddha seated in baddhapadmasana with
his hands mostly showing the bhusparsa, indicating that it represents
the Master’s victory over Mara at Bodh-Gaya preliminary to his
attainment of the enlightenment, the other seven miracles in mini¬
ature being shown in well-arranged groups on his either side on the
back-slab. The main image with its hands in the dharmachakra-
mudraf illustrating the preaching of the first sermon, is comparatively
rare, as is also the standing type with the seven miniatures on the
background. The much mutilated figure in the collection of the
Vangiya Sahitya Parishat Museum, Calcutta (No. ) is thus of
some interest, for it shows Buddha standing in the sarnapddasthdnaka
attitude on a double-petalled lotus {visvapadma) below which the
Buddhist formula62 is written in ninth century script, flanked on
either side by three parallel rows of two scenes each with that of
Mahaparinirvana just on the top. The rarity of such compositions
can be accounted for by referring to the artistic sense of symmetry
required in the display of the miniatures. In this particular relief,
if the central figure is connected with the descent from the Traya-
strimsa heaven, then the explanation of the miniature standing Bud¬
dha on the right in the middle row is difficult; the one on the left in
the same row undoubtedly stands for the taming of Nalagiri, the wild
elephant of Raj agriha, and the Safikasya and Raj agriha miracles
are the only two in which the standing posture is necessary. The
birth-scene, of course, would necessitate the showing of Maya in
the same pose, but it is almost invariably carved in the right lower¬
most corner of the prabhavali and it does not jar at all with the
artistic sense. Many standing Buddha images again, which do not
contain these illustrations of the stereotyped set of miracles, fall
either under the Devavatara or Nalagiri-taming types; the first of
the two is more common and is often shown attended on either side
by 6akra and Brahma. Just to emphasise the act of descent, the
artists sometimes indicate stairs beneath the feet of the three, thus
reminding us of the early Buddhist convention of showing the same
scene with three stairs side by side, the middle one having one foot-
mark on its topmost rung and another on its lowermost one.63
276
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
and seated Buddhas have been found in northern and eastern India,
who, though attired like a monk, wear a jewelled crown and two
short necklaces, no other parts of the body being adorned with orna¬
ment. These crowned Buddhas were assumed by some to stand for
Adi-Buddha who appeared late in the pantheon; but this view is
hardly tenable, for most of them, if not all, are associated with the
incidents in the life-story of Gautama Buddha, and are thus none
but so many of his representations.65 Another point of interest with
regard to the standing Buddhas is that miniature figures of seated,
and rarely standing, Buddhas are often depicted on the top section
of their prabk&vciVi, and these presumably were meant to represent
some of the Dhyanl-Buddhas, whose cult, described above,66 was
further developed during this period.
The cult of the Dhyani-Bodhisattvas also underwent a great
transformation. It has already been said that the special cognizance
of Maitreya, the Buddha of the future and thus a Bodhisattva, in the
mediaeval Buddhist art is a bunch of Nagakesara flowers placed in
one of his hands in place of the earlier nectar-flask. Another dis¬
tinctive mark of this Bodhisattva is a miniature stupa placed in his
crown or by its side. This refers to the stupa of Kasyapa Buddha in
the Kukkutapada-giri near Bodh-Gaya; on descending to earth from
the Tushita heaven Maitreya would go to it from which Kasyapa
would come out and present to him the garments of a Buddha. Mai¬
treya can hardly be found now represented singly; he is either shown
as a well-dressed secular figure in the company of the seven ManushI
Buddhas very rarely represented, or as one of the acolytes of Vajra-
sana Buddha. But several of the Bodhisattvas of a different cate¬
gory, the Dhyani-Bodhisattvas, were extremely popular iconographic
motifs of the mediaeval age. That Padmapani-Avalokitesvara
among them should be the most important one can be explained by
the fact of his having been the Dhyam-Bodhisattva of Gautama Bud¬
dha, and thus numerous varieties of him have been described in the
s&dhanas; mediaeval images, more or less corresponding to some of
these descriptions, have been found mostly in northern and eastern
India. If a careful analysis is made of the iconographic traits of
some of them, there is hardly any difficulty in recognising in a good
many of them the Mahayanistic adaptations of two of the principal
Brahmanical cult-icons, viz. Vishnu and Siva. The iconography of
~the general form of Avalokitesvara and of a few others of his special
ones has some analogy to that of Vishnu, and the ideology underlying
both these gods, especially relating to their character as gods of pre¬
servation and deliverance, is one and the same. But the particular
aspect of Siva, when he appears in the role of a benignant deity and
a healer of diseases after proper propitiation, is none the less discer-
278
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
270
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
the five Dhyam-Buddhas are very often carved on the upper part of
the prabhavali with Amitabha, his spiritual father, placed in the
centre. The finely carved image corresponding in most of its details
to the above description, found at Vikrampur and now in the Dacca
Museum, is a representative specimen of this type of Avalokitesvara.
Many standing images of Avalokitesvara endowed with four and
sometimes with six arms have been found in northern and eastern
India; some are in the collection of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, and
a few are in the Patna Museum. These have been usually described
as Lokaniatha, but the description given of this variety of Avalokites¬
vara in the Sddhanamald does not tally with the sculptures. The
four-armed figures show vara, akshamala, bhringdra and padma in
the lower right, upper right, upper left and lower left hands res¬
pectively," Suchlmukha and Hayagriva to the right and left are the
usual attendants in these cases. The six-armed standing figures, on
the other hand, have a vara, mdtulunga, akshamdld in the right hands,
and a bhringara, pdsa and padma in the left ones; here both the
attending figures are female and very probably represent Tara and
Bhrikutl. Standing images of Lokesvara with more than six arms
are, though rare, not unknown; reference may be made to one twelve¬
armed variety of this god in the collection of the Indian Museum,
its additional hands holding such emblems as ankusa, kartri and a
few other indistinct objects.68 The Lokanatha aspect of Avalokite¬
svara, however, as described in the Sddhanamald, is two-armed, the
left hand holding a lotus, the right being in the varada pose; one of
the sddhanas of this deity refers to the mandala of eight gods like
Maitreya, Kshitigarbha, Vajrapani and others surrounding him. But
Lokanatha is generally depicted alone, seated or standing, only occa¬
sionally accompanied by Tara and Hayagriva. Nilakantha, as des¬
cribed in only one sadhana, is similar in appearance to his spiritual
father Amitabha; he is not decorated with any ornaments, and has
two serpents on his either side; the name and the iconographic traits
of this type of Lokesvara fully show that he is one of the Maha-
yanistic adaptations of Siva. Several other types of Lokesvara
images of the mediaeval period have been found, which do not con¬
form to the descriptions of any of the varieties given in the Sadha-
namMa; this fact proves that as in the case of the Brahmanical icono¬
graphy, our collection of Buddhist iconographic texts is also in¬
complete, and many must have been irretrievably lost. As regards
the mediaeval images of the other Dhyam-Bodhisattvas, whose
names have been already given, it may be observed that whatever
literary importance they might have had in the period, they apparent¬
ly had no prominence in the hieratic art of the time.
280
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
both single and in the company of her consort, have been discovered
in the north and east of India.
Another Mahayana goddess, also emanating from Akshobhya
but, unlike the last-mentioned, one of a terrific character, is Naira-
tma who resembles to some extent the Brahmanical Kali. She is
shown dancing vigorously with right leg raised and bent inwards,
the left firmly planted on a corpse (preta) lying on its back, holding
kartri (short sword) and kapala (skull-cup) in her two hands; she
looks terrible with bare fangs, protruding tongue, a garland of hu¬
man skulls, and a khatvanga placed along the left side of her body.
Her general pose and appearance remind us of those of Heruka
discussed above, - though their respective emblems are somewhat
different. Her images are extremely rare, and the Indian Museum
specimen may be regarded as unique.74
Parnasavarl, another female member of the Mahayana pantheon,
is of great iconographic interest on account of certain features apper¬
taining to her. She is both an emanation of Akshobhya and Amo-
ghasiddha, and her iconography is the same in both of her aspects.
The sddhanas describe her as three-faced and six-armed, her right
hands holding vajra, sara and parasu, her left ones, parnapichchhika
(a cluster of leaves), dhanu and tarjampdsa (a noose round the index-
finger in the tarjanlmudra); she stands in pratyalldha pose either on
personified representations of various diseases or pestilences or on
obstacles personified (Vighnas—the same as Brahmanical Gainesa,
the remover of obstacles, Vighnantaka), and is clad in leaf garments.
Her mantras describe her as a Pisdcto (ogress) and sarvamariprasa-
mdrn (healer of all epidemic diseases). This fact, as well as her
very name which associated her with the leaf-clad Savaras, one of
the aboriginal tribes of India, distinctly proves that she was recruited
from a non-Aryan cult, as a few of the particular constituents of
Durga, the Brahmanical goddess, were adapted from aboriginal cult
deities. Two extant images of PamasavarT found in East Bengal
closely follow the textual descriptions, and both have the figure of
Amoghasiddha on the top centre of their prabhdvall.75
286
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
C. JAINISM
I. ' INTRODUCTION
290
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
than a Hindu; he followed the Syddvada and also revered the Hindu
family deities. His chief preceptor was Jinasena and he had appoint¬
ed Gunabhadra as the preceptor for his son Krishna II. Authorship of
the ritual of Jain monasteries in Banavasi is attributed to Arnogha-
varsha. His other works and the literary activity of the Jains during
this period will be dealt with later in this chapter. Amoghavarsha
abdicated more than once, probably to observe the vow of a kin-
chancita. How he accepted Jain-dikshd is graphically described in a
contemporary work Caiiita-<sara-samgraha of Mahavlracharya 86
weapon was the winning over the good grace of the king, thereby
securing political patronage of the state. Gradually, as different
kings became converts or reconverts to Hinduism, which was now
made more attractive and receptive to the general public, Jainism
lost its hold and receded into the background.
There were other causes peculiar to Kamatak that worked the
disintegration of Jainism there. Beginning with castes and sub¬
castes taken over from Hinduism, Jainism was progressively adopt¬
ing a number of Hindu practices and beliefs, with the result that
it was gradually becoming almost indistinguishable from the sur¬
rounding creeds. It thus lost its characteristic mark, and its ad¬
herents there fell a prey to the prevailing proselytising forces.
IV. LITERATURE
The Jain literature of this period, written not only in Sanskrit,
but also in Prakrit, Apabhraihsa and the DesabhashcLs, is extremely
rich and varied, its characteristic features being the Jain dogmatics
and ethics, legendary literature in the form of the Puranas and
didactic tales, and logic. In the south, the honour of the creation
of the Kannada literature and of enriching it with classics of abid¬
ing value goes to the Jains. Their contribution to the Tamil litera¬
ture is also valuable; and we find that most of the major and minor
epics, which are the pride of Tamil literature, are composed by Jain
authors.
Haribhadra, originally a Brahmana, was the outstanding per¬
sonality among the Jain writers of the period. He has written a
large number of books in Sanskrit and Prakrit. He is the earliest
Sanskrit commentator of the canon, and his contributions to Jain
logic are outstanding. His Dhurtakhyana is a remarkable satire in
Indian literature. He inaugurated a new era in Yoga literature by
employing new terminology and an extraordinary and descriptive
style. He has also compared the Jain terminology with the Yoga
prakriyas in Patanjali. In his Shad-darsana-samuchchaya he gives
a brilliant exposition of the different systems of philosophy of the
day. Among other Jain writers of the period, mention may be made
of Bappabhatti, Silanka, 6obhana and Dhanapala. The work of eluci¬
dating canonical texts in Sanskrit, begun by Haribhadra and SHanka,
was continued by Abhayadeva (eleventh century) and Malayagiri
(twelfth century), gobhana, Dhanapala, Devendragaipi and Deva-
bhadra produced innumerable romantic tales, both in Sanskrit and
Prakrit, followed by Hemachandra and the writers of the Praban-
dhas and Charitas, who pertain to the subsequent period.
Turning to the authors in the South, we may begin with Aka-
lanka, whose date has been a matter of controversy.91 He was a
293
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
294
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
295
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
not come into conflict with the fundamental principle of the Jain
faith or the moral and disciplinary vows. In the light of this, thq
provision for balicharuddna, vaisvadeva and agnihotra in some
Rashtrakuta grants for Jain establishments appears to be legitimate
and permissible. Despite their attacks on the Hindu caste system
we find it to be prevalent among the Jains, at least in certain parts
of the country, even at the time of Somadeva,
In many other respects, too, Jainism was strongly influenced by
the faiths and practices of the Brahmanical religion. Jina and his
mystical predecessors came to be looked upon as gods, and many
hymns to Jina were sung as devotedly and fervently as the Brah¬
manical ones, often using similar words but with a different sense.
Jainism is described along with Buddhism as a theistic religion, in
the sense that it accepts God as a spiritual ideal but not as a Creator,
in the Shad-darsana-samuchchaya by Haribhadra. Further, Jina is
described as the Universal Spirit who is Siva, Dhatri, Sugata, and
Vishnu, possibly to accommodate Jainism to the spirit of the age.95
Bhakti, again, is taken as the supreme means of salvation, and Jina
became the saviour of souls, in the sense that his words lead them to
Moksha. The temple ritual with grants for the upkeep of temples, and
anointing images with milk, decorating them with flowers, etc. also
speaks of the influence of Hinduism. It may, however, be noted,
that the image worship and ritual indicated above arose among the
laity and not among the monks. We notice the influence of Hinduism
to a larger extent, particularly in the South, where we find not only
the four castes, but the caste marks, prohibition of widow marriage,
and such other things.
Finally, as already stated, the various Gachchhas originated in
the north with the 84 disciples of Uddyotana. According to the Kha-
rataragachchhapattavali he flourished 550 years after Devarddhi.96
Gandhani inscription on the back of the metal image of Sri Adinatha,
dated V.S. 937 (A.D. 880), refers to Uddyotana’s two disciples. The
inscription shows that he became Acharya in A.D. 880. Pattavalis
give 994 V.S., i.e. A.D. 937 as the year of his death. The inscription
does not mention Gachchhas as these arose after each of his disci¬
ples.97 Most of those Gachchhas have become extinct, and some
new ones like Tapa, Kharatara., Anchala, etc. have come into exis¬
tence. Uddyotana died on a pilgrimage which he had undertaken
from Malavadesa to Satrunjaya to worship Rishabha.98
VI. ICONOGRAPHY
Parts of Raj put ana and Central India, Kathiawar Peninsula,
Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and some parts of southern India (specially the
296
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
297
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
298
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
It has already been shown that the subsidiary deities of the first
class in the Jain pantheon are the Yakshas and the YakshinSS, known
also as Upasakas and Sasanadevatas. The Jain text Pravachana-
saroddhara describes the Yakshas as devotees of the Tirthankaras,
and they, with their female counterparts, are the principal attendants
of the Jin as. Though they are usually shown as accessory figures in
many medieavel Jain sculptures, separate figures of some of them
were well represented in the Jain temple-carvings of the post-Gupta
and later periods. Their names and their iconographic features dis¬
tinctly indicate the Brahmanical association of many of them. Thus,
Gomukha, the Yaksha of Rishabhamatha, from his bull face and bull
mount as well as such of his attributes as battle-axe, noose, etc. shows
his distinct affinity with Siva; the name of his principal, Rishabha-
natha, and the special cognizance also prove the latter’s affiliation to
the same Brahmanical deity. The tenth Yaksha, known as Brahma,
is distinguished by four faces and a lotus seat and such attributes as
citrus, rosary, abhaya or varamudrd} club, noose, etc.; though some
of the latter attributes are foreign to the Brahma Prajapati of the
Hindu pantheon, yet the name, the number of faces, the lotus-seat
etc., closely connect him with the first member of the Brahmanical
triad. Similarly isvara and Shanmukha Yakshas, the eleventh and
thirteenth in the list, can be associated with Siva and Subrahmanya
on the basis of their names, mounts and attributes. But such asso¬
ciation in the case of many others in the list is not apparent, though
their names seem to point towards similar affiliation. A reference
to the iconography of Kumara, Garuda, Kubera, Varuna and others
will prove this point. It seems that their names were adopted from
Brahmanical religion, but their elaborate iconography was developed
according to the ideology of the Jains. As regards many of their
female counterparts also, their names alone do not always explain
their Brahmanical association, though in some cases their names,
attributes and mounts distinctly indicate it. Ambika or Kushmainidini,
the 6asanadevata of Neminatha and consort of Gomedha, falls under
the category of the latter, and her iconographic features leave little
doubt that she is a Jain adaptation of the Hindu goddess of the same
name. But the Jains developed a mythology of their own, which had
very little in common with the stories connected with her Hindu ori¬
ginal. She is one of the Jain goddesses whose images have been
found all over India and her two-, four-, eight-, and even twenty¬
armed varieties of the early and late mediaeval periods are known.
The wall paintings of the Vardhamana temple at Tiruparuttikunram
(Jaina-Kanchi) in the Madras State illustrate the story of Agnita
and her two sons Subhankara and Prabhankara; Aenita was the name
of Ambika in her human birth according to the Digambara version
299
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
I. SATVTSM
name Trika primarily refers to the triple principle with which the
system deals, viz. Siva-sakti-anu or pati-pdsa-pasu. Though the other
schools of Saivism also accept these three categories, Kashmir Sai-
vism regards the individual soul and the world as essentially identi¬
cal with Siva, and so the three, according to it, are reducible to one.
The term Spanda indicates the principle of apparent movement or
change from the state of absolute unity to the plurality of the world.
And the expression Pratyabhijna, which means ‘recognition’ refers
to the way of realising the soul’s identity with Siva.
The beginnings of Kashmir Saivism are to be traced to the &iva~
sutras whose authorship is attributed to Siva himself. The sutras
are said to have been revealed to a sage by name Vasugupta who
lived towards the end of the eighth or the beginning of the ninth
century A.D. A succession of talented exponents of the system fol¬
lowed Vasugupta. Kallata,102 who was Vasugupta’s chosen pupil,
wrote, among other works, Spanda-sarvasva in which he explained
the meaning of the £iva-sutras as taught by his master. Somananda,
the author of Siva-drishti and a vritti thereon, was probably another
pupil of Vasugupta. Among other teachers of Kashmir Saivism,
who flourished during the period under review, we find the names of
Utpala, Ramakantha and Abhinavagupta. The last named was a
prolific writer on a variety of subjects. The period of his literary
activity extended over a quarter of a century, from about A.D. 991 to
1015. His best known work on Kashmir Saivism is the Paramdrtha-
sara which is an adaptation of an earlier Advaita work of the same
name by Adi Sesha.
The Ultimate Reality, in Kashmir Saivism, as in every school of
Saiva philosophy, is Sambhu or Siva the Supreme God. Siva is the
Atman, the self of all beings, immutable and ever perfect. He is
pure consciousness (chaitanya), absolute experience (para samvit),
supreme lord (paramesvara). He is the ground of all existence, the
substrate of all beings. He is beginningless and one; he resides in all
that moves and all that moves not. Time and space do not limit him,
for he transcends them, and they are but his appearance. He is both
immanent (visvamaya) and transcendent (visvottiriia). The world
does not exhaust him, for he is infinite. He is called anuttara, the
reality beyond which there is nothing. In the familiar strain of the
Upanishads, the teachers of Kashmir Saivism tell us that the Ultimate
Reality is beyond the reach of thought and language. Yet both mind
and speech attempt to understand and express the Real in its rela¬
tion to the universe.
The pure consciousness, which is the Supreme Reality and is
referred to as Siva, is the material as well as the efficient cause of
301
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
the universe. This view is much the same as the one sponsored by
Advaita-Vedanta as regards Saguna-Brahman. God or Reality is the
substance of which the world is made as well as the instrument which
makes it. Fundamentally there is no difference between the cause
and the effect. But while for Advaita the manifested world is non-
real, for Kashmir Saivism it is real.
By means of several illustrations the writers on the Pratyabhi-
jna system explain the creation of the universe from and by Siva.
The world is very often compared to the reflected city in a mirror.
“As in the orb of a mirror pictures such as those of a town or village
shine which are inseparable from it, and yet are distinct from one
another and from it, so from the perfectly pure vision of the supreme
Bhairava, this universe, though void of distinction, appears distinct,
part from part, and distinct from that vision.”103 And again, “As
syrup, molasses, jaggery, sugar-balls, candy, etc., are all alike juice
of the sugar-cane, so the diverse conditions are all of Sambhu, the
Supreme Self.”104 The illustration of the rope appearing as the snake
is also employed, though not with the same implication as in Advai¬
ta-Vedanta. Another familiar analogy used to explain creation is
the appearance of ideas in the mind. The creation-theory of the
Pratyabhijna school is known as abhdsavdda, i.e. the view which
holds that the universe consists of appearances which are all real in
the sense that they are aspects of the Ultimate Reality.
3. Sankardchdrya
In the south Saivism received a great impetus from the life and
work of a spiritual genius who was born in the Chera country about
the year A.D. 788, and who, in the short space of terrestrial existence
granted to him, revolutionised the spiritual outlook of men in India.
Though he is primarily known as the greatest exponent of Advaita
Vedanta, Sankara was nevertheless the Acharya par excellence who
cleansed the Hindu faiths of the excrescences that had gathered
round them due to accidents of history, and taught each aspirant to
follow the way that was best suited to him. Besides the commen¬
taries which he wrote on the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-gitd} and the
Brahma-sutras, he composed hymns in praise of the major gods of
Hinduism. Several of these hymns glorify Siva as the God of gods.
Sankara was himself a Saiva by birth. And tradition has it that he
was an incarnation of Siva, born for the purpose of consolidating
Hindu dharma, and in answer to the implorings of Sivaguru and
Aryamba at Kala^i. In the course of his digvijaya, Sankara met in
argument several groups of pseudo-Saivas who were responsible for
the prevalence of left-handed practices, and by quelling them freed
the followers of Saivism from their baneful influence. At Ujjain,
for instance, which was famous for the worship of Mahakala, he is
said to have vanquished in argument a Pasupatacharya. It is also
recorded that he visited Kashmir. And it is not unlikely that his
doctrine of Advaita influenced, in some ways, the formulation of the
Pratyabhijnd system.107
804
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
4. Iconography
hand in the dola- or gajci-hasta pose pointing to the lifted foot, the
front right hand in the abhaya pose, the back right and left hands
carrying a kettle-drum and a ball of fire respectively; the whole
composition is placed on a well-decorated pedestal on which rest
the ends of the circular or elliptical prabhd (tiruvasi in Tamil)
which encircles it. The sublime ideology underlying this very
characteristic dancing type of Siva images has been elaborately ex¬
pounded by A.K. Coomaraswamy.113 The Tamil text, called Unmai
vilakkam, explains the symbolism underlying the cosmic dance as
follows: “Creation arises from the drum, protection proceeds from
hand of hope (the abhaya pose in the front right one), from fire
proceeds destruction, the foot held aloft gives mukti” (the same as
anugraha or release). Thus, in a way, it practically embraces all
the five-fold activities of the lord,—his panchakrityas, viz., creation,
preservation, destruction, grace, and obscuration, the tiruvasi round
him symbolising the last of the activities. A different variety of
Nataraja seems to have been evolved in Bengal and eastern India,
which shows the ten- or twelve-armed god dancing in deep ecstasy
on the back of his mount, Nandi, surrounded by a host of accessory
figures. Such ten-armed images closely follow the description of
the dancing Siva given in the Matsya Purdna, and the Dacca Museum
specimen, originally collected from Sankarabandha, a village in the
Dacca District, can be regarded as the most representative of this
group. It is a fine piece of artistic work of the Pala period and
portrays with characteristic vigour the intense movement accom¬
panied by rhythmic grace.114 The Anugraha-murtis of Siva have
been found both in northern and southern India, but Some of their
varieties Ike Chandesanugraha-murti are typically south Indian in
character. Ravananugraha-murti figures are often found carved in
mediaeval Saiva temples, and one of the Ellora reliefs, depicting the
theme, has been adjudged as one of the best artistic remains of
ancient India.115 Partially broken square stone pillars from
Chandimau and Rajaona (Bihar), now in the collection of the Indian
Museum, Calcutta, characteristically portary the scenes of Siva
releasing the goddess Ganga from coils of his jatds (matted hair)
after being propitiated by Bhagiratha, and the Kiratarjuna story in
which Siva in the guise of a hunter (Kirata) fights with Arjuna, and
being satisfied with the latter’s prowess, grants him the Pasu-
patastra.116 A huge stone boulder at Mamallapuram (Madras)
contains an elaborate scene carved on its surface, which was sup¬
posed to illustrate the Kiratarjuna episode; it was later explained
as illustrating some phases of the story of the descent of the Ganga.
But it has now been proved beyond doubt that the earlier suggestion
about its character is correct.117
307
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
308
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
310
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
northern and southern India and how some of the Tamil saints
(Alvars), who flourished during that age, gave a new impetus to
south Indian Vaishnavism. In the post-Gupta period, the influence
of the Vaishnava faith can be traced in every corner of northern
India; some of the notable kings of various dynasties flourishing in
different north Indian tracts are known to have favoured this reli¬
gion. The same was also the case with South India. It must how¬
ever be admitted that the greatest stronghold of Vaishnavism in
post-Gupta India was the Tamil country where it flourished at first
under the impetus of the Alvars up to the eighth century and then
under another class of saints known as the Acharyas. While the
Alvars represented the emotional side of Tamilian Vaishnavism, the
Acharyas, who were their successors, represented its intellectual or
philosophical side.
The earliest of the Acharyas was Nathamuni, otherwise called
Ranganathacharya, who was a native of Vlranarayanapura (modern
Mannargudi in the South Arcot District). The traditional date of his
death is given as A.D. 920. This date appears to be too early for
Nathamuni’s death, but may actually be the date of his birth.
Another tradition makes him the contemporary of a Chola king re¬
siding at Gangaikondacholapuram and thus assigns his death to a
date not earlier than the reign of Rajendra Chola I who founded
the above city in the first half of the eleventh century. This date
for Nathamuni’s death is now usually accepted.
Nathamuni lived at Srlrangam and was the author of the Nyaya-
tattva which gives an elaborate exposition of the philosophy of the
Visishtadvaita school. The essential doctrine of this school is that
of the prdpatti which is absolute surrender to God in renunciation
and faith and is based on the Gita and the early Pancharatra works.
It is said that this doctrine was first brought into practise by
Nammalvar or Sathakopa and was later elaborated by Nathamuni
and his successors, the greatest amongst them being Ramanuja.
The sect founded by Nathamuni became known as the &rlvaishnava.
Nathamuni was inspired by the songs of the Alvars, especially by
those of Nammalvar or Sathakopa. He is said to have recovered all
the songs of Sathakopa and to have arranged those as well as the
extant songs of the other Alvars into four collections of about one
thousand stanzas each.
The school founded by Nathamuni did not approve of Karmon
done for worldly results and favoured renunciation of all results of
deeds. It was a reaction against the Purva-mlmamsa school of
such teachers as Prabhakara, Sabarasvamin, Kumarila and Mandana,
according to which salvation may be attained by the faithful per-
312
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
r
2. Iconography
Images of Vishnu and of his avatdras (incarnations) belonging
to the post-Gupta period are found in large numbers all over India.
An interesting variety of the asana-Vishnu of the mediaeval times
in the collection of the Khajuraho (also spelt Khajraho) Museum
shows the god with the fore-finger of his main left hand raised to
the height of his lips, with the usual accompanying figures clustering
round him. The peculiar hand-pose, indicative of silence, not re¬
corded in any of the known varieties of the Vishnu image, reminds
us of the bronze statuette discovered by Marshall at Sirkap and
identified by him as the child-god Harpocrates. There is no refer¬
ence to such figures as the Vishnu maunavratin of Khajuraho in any
of the well-known iconographic texts.123
Images of several incarnatory forms and manifestations of
Vishnu, whose early and late mediaeval representations are known,
are of great iconographic interest. The textual description of one
such, viz. Yajnapurusha or Yajhesa, corresponds to a very great
extent to one image in the eastern gateway (gopura) of the Chidam¬
baram temple. It shows a two-headed, four-horned, seven-handed
and three-legged figure with a bull by his side, and symbolises the
Vedic sacrifice in a very interesting manner. In the £atapatha
Brahmana, Vishnu, originally an aspect of Surya, is regarded identi¬
cal with sacrifice, and this is why the symbolical representation of
Yajna is called in some Pahcharatra texts and Puranas an avatara
of Vishnu.124 Another incarnatory form of the god is Dattatreya or
Hari-Hara-Pitamaha who can be recognised among some mediaeval
sculptures of India. It either shows the three members of the
orthodox Brahmanical triad, namely, Brahma, Vishnu and Siva,
placed side by side, or it may appear as a four-armed Vishnu whose
Brahma and Siva aspects are indicated by their respective mounts
carved on the pedestal by the side of Garuda. The standing and
seated images of this god, hailing respectively from Ajmere (Raj-
putana) and Badami (Deccan), are unique specimens of the second
variety of Dattatreya images.125 Visvarupa and Hayagriva are two
other avatdras of Vishnu, whose images, though rare, are not abso¬
lutely unknown. The former, a twenty-armed deity with various
attributes in the respective hands, characteristically portrays the
818
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
sophical concept gradually came into use. The earliest uses of the
word Tantra, as in Srauta-sutras, the Harivamsa, Susruta, Saihkhya
philosophy, and didactic fables, did not bear the meaning of a special
literature dedicated to the cult of Sakti. The worship of Mothers
and reference to Dakinis attending them may be traced to Gangdhar
inscription129a of the fifth century A.D., and the images of Mothers
are referred to in the Brihat-samhitd. But neither Amara in his
Kosa nor Bana in his works refers to the followers of Sakti, though
both know the Divine Mothers and Amara knows also that the man¬
tras have power (sakti).
disregarding fear, shame, pity, caste convention, etc. which his secret
rites involve. The aspirant (s&dhaka) practising Siddhantachara,
however, is not afraid of following socially disapproved practices
openly. He is relentless in the pursuit of what he thinks to be true,
and is not, therefore, troubled by the opinions of others regarding
what he eats and drinks, enjoys or hurts, for he holds that there is
nothing that cannot be purified by appropriate means. The use of the
five M’s (panchatattva or panchamakdra)—madya (wine), matsya
(fish), maihsa (meat), mudrd (parched grain) and maithuna (coition)
—under certain prescribed conditions of discipline could be made
without secrecy in appropriate places and times, and was intended to
further the progress of the aspirant towards the elimination of all
empirical distinctions and the attainment of complete freedom. The
Kuldrnava Tantra virtually tells us that just as one rises with the
help of the very ground on which one has fallen, so also it is through
drinking life ta the very lees that one has to make the spiritual ascent.
A thorn has to be eradicated with the help of another thorn; simi¬
larly indulgence must be forced to yield satiety and higher value.
Wine that merely intoxicates is a sinful beverage, but as the producer
of a euphoric condition, in which care and anxiety are absent, it is a
desirable drink. Similarly, flesh that nourishes the body, fish that
increases sexual potency,* grain that invigorates the system, and
coition that brings about a blissful condition (mcihasukha) and pro¬
longs the race at the same time, are all intended to keep the sddhaka
in a fit condition of body and mind to pursue spiritual aims. It is
obvious that in the case of some gross minds they failed to serve
their legitimate purpose, specially when promiscuity was permitted
with different types of women, mostly coming from lower castes and
dubbed as saktis. There was, however, a general prohibition against
using any woman except one’s wife for the purpose of the last of the
five tattvas (maithuna), and there were also other restrictions. The
idea was that a sddhaka must go beyond dualities of all kinds—of
love and hate, merit and demerit, touchable and untouchable, for¬
bidden and non-forbidden, or delectable and nauseating, in food and
drink, prohibited and non-prohibited in sex relation, male and
female, friend and foe, etc.,—and cultivate not only equanimity in
himself but also equality towards all.
It is only when this state of mind is acquired that the last stage
of sanctification is reached, namely, Kaulachara. This is the divyd
condition, for then the aspirant transcends the likes and dislikes of
earthly life like God himself to whom all things are equal. Pity and
cruelty are equally unmeaning in an ultimate reference, and so also
approbated and unapprobated conduct. Just as one of the Upani-
shads has said that to one who has attained Brahma-knowledge no
321
A.I.K.—21
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
sin attaches for any kind of antinomian act, so also the Tantras place
the Kaula (worshipper of kula or Sakti) above all moral judgments,
and put no prohibitions and restraints in his way as being unneces¬
sary for one who has pierced the veil of space and time, process and
differentiation. A Kaula roams in all dehdras at will, being at heart
a Sakta, outwardly a Saiva, and in social gatherings a Yaishnava.
He sees himself in all things and all things in himself. It appears,
however, that the later (uttara) Kaulas preferred the gross to the sym¬
bolic, just the reverse of what was fancied by the earlier (purva)
Kaulas, and the Samayins alone discarded both gross sex and sym¬
bolic yantra and restricted themselves to mere mental imagery in
celebrating the worship in a circle (Srlchakra). As usual, we have
very exalted explanations of the origin, nature and objective of Kaula
®adhana, and in the Kaulajndnanirnaya, which probably belongs to the
eleventh century, we have a description of the various dehdras, which
must have been crystallised some time before this work was written.
In fact, we have the information purveyed by the same work that
there were various Kaula schools prevalent at the time, as also that
very many methods of yoga (yogaprandli) were followed by these
schools. We have incontestable evidence also that both the Bud¬
dhists and the Nathists, too, countenanced the Kaula method of self-
realisation.
Elaborate rules are laid down as to the proper persons from
whom initiation is to be taken. While the Vaishnavas, Sauras and
Ganapatyas can initiate one belonging to their respective sects, the
&aktas and &aivas are privileged to initiate all sects, including their
own. Orthodoxy must have been alarmed, as at the time of Maha-
vira and Buddha, by the popularity of the ascetic and homeless
wandering mendicants, and so it put a virtual, though not absolute,
ban on the initiation of householders by their fraternity. But it made
a compromise by admitting that Tantrik initiation was essential even
for Brahmanas and indispensable for women and non-Brahmanas.
who had no right to Yedic initiation, and it ignored, when not extol¬
ling, the union with a sakti (woman partner) who was not the legally
married wife of the sddhaka; but it preferred a married man as guru,
even though he might indulge in vdmachara practices in the mystic
circle, where eight pairs of yoginis or ndyikds and their bhairavas
(male partners) used to meet. We are interested in the information,
furnished by the Dakshindchdra-tantrardja, that Gauda, Kerala ana
Kasmlra (with Kalika, Tripura and Tara as goddesses, respectively,
according to a later account) are the homes of the purer (Dakshind-
chara) sects. Elsewhere (Brihat-Gautamiya Tantra) it is stated that,
of gurus, those coming from the west are the best, those from the
south are middling, those from Gauda and Kamarupa are inferior
822
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
to the preceding, and those from Kalihga are the worst. An ampli¬
fied description in Jdbdia (quoted by Vidyadharacharya) puts the
gurus from Madhyadesa (Aryavarta), Kurukshetra, Lata, (Nafa,
Nata), Konkana, Antarvedi, Pratishthana and AvantI at the top, those
from Gaud a, Salva, Sura (?), Magadha, Kerala, Kosala and Dasarna
in the middle, and those hailing from Karnata and the banks of the
Narmada, the Reva and Kachcha, the Kalindas, the Kambalas (or
Kalambas) and the Kambojas (probably in Assam) at the bottom
of the scale. The Kuldlikdmndya mentions five celebrated seats of
Tantrik cult in different parts of the country, namely, Guyana, Jala
(Jalandhara), Purna (-giri), Matanga (Srisaila) and Kamakhya. In
the Sddhanamdld the four celebrated Tantrik pithas are Kamakhya,
Sirihatta, (with Arbuda or Jalandhara replacing Sirihatta in some
texts), Purnagiri and Uddiyana. Kamakhya or Kamarupa in Assam
is well known and Sirihatta is Syihet. Purnagiri has been identi¬
fied with Poona, but location in Assam has also been suggested for
it. Uddiyana has been identified with Kashgarh (Sylvain Levi), Swat
valley (Waddell, S. C. Das), Orissa (H. P. Sastri), and Western
Assam (B. Bhattacharyya). These areas for Tantrik gurus of diffe¬
rent grades of excellence, and these Tantrik centres, throw an in¬
teresting light on the diffusion of the creed and the probable place
of its origin. When to this is added the information that north¬
east India had active interchange of thought with the trans-Hima-
layan regions like Tibet, it has not been unreasonably concluded
that Tantras originated in this Indian area, and foreign elements
like the cult of Tara came from Buddhism of the adjoining regions
mentioned above. From about the tenth century a composite
Tantra, drawing materials from Brahmanic, Buddhistic and Nathist
circles, grew up, and some deities, adepts, cults and practices be¬
came common to all of them, though the traditions did not always
tally among the different communities and localities. ' Denomina¬
tionally and geographically considered, Veddchdra is patronised in
Maharashtra, Vaishnavdchdra among the Ramanuja and Gauda
schools, Dakshindchara among the &ankarites of the south, &aiva~
chdra and Vrrdchdra among the Lingayats and Vlrasaivas, and
Vdmdchdra, Siddhantdchara and Kauldchdra among the &aktas of
Kerala, Gauda, Nepala and Kamarupa. The first three disfavour
both Vlrdchdra and Bauddhachdra, while the others extol them.
Let us turn now to certain other specific beliefs and speculations
of the Tantras, and try to trace their antecedents. The &aiva Aga-
mas, the Vaishnava Samhitas and the &akta Tantras agree on one
point, namely, that a female principle representing the sakti or
energy must be associated with the ultimate reality or the source
or locus of power considered as male. This power is not only the
328
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
324
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
initiate’s name, and even the rosary for uttering the mantra have
to be suited to the chosen deity.
Once it was accepted that varnas (letters) are the stuff of reality,
a rapprochement between the worshipper and the worshipped deity
became almost inevitable. Thus the body of a deity was supposed
to be composed of the letters of the alphabet (lipi), the number being
generally fixed at fifty. A true worshipper would find a correspon¬
dence between the different parts of his own body and the letters
of the alphabet that make up the divine body. By the process called
nydsa (placing) a worshipper would place these letters in different
parts of his own body and consider himself to be possessed of a body
of mantras. But until the necessary purification is effected one cannot
divinise himself. So the purification of the elements that make up
the human body (bhutasuddhi) has to be done first. The other puri¬
fications refer to the seat (sthcma), the words or formulae (mantra),
the materials (dravya), and the image of the deity (deva). Sur¬
rounding himself with a circle of water, as if by a wall of fire, the
worshipper is to go through the process of identification with the
deity by meditating on the Vedantic formula of Jiva-Brahman iden¬
tity and by sending, by the way of the central of the three nadis
(nerves)—idd, snshumnd and ping ala, his finite self along with the
knlakundalini sakti through the six psychic centres (shafchakra)
up, till she unites with the infinite Self (Siva or Paramatman) in the
thousand-petailed lotus (sahasrara) in the cranium and the entire
paraphernalia of finite existence is dissolved. By prdndydma (re¬
gulation of breath) the evil that is in one’s own self (pdpapurusha)
is to be thrust out and burnt, and then alone will the body be fit to
receive the ‘mother’ letters (mdtrikamantra) in the various external
(bdhya) parts of the body and in the differently numbered petals
of the various lotus-centres or chakras inside (antar) the bodily sys¬
tem, and thus be entirely pervaded by the deity. No wonder that
before the recognition of the fifty-one Sakti-pithas distributed all
over India, pilgrimages to sacred places should have been considered
unnecessary by Saktas, who located these symbolically within their
own body.
But while mantras are located in the body by nyasa they are
also placed outside in a yantra (diagram) which represents, as it
were, the body of the deity. The Vedic gods were invoked without
any image and on the sacred grass (barhis, kusa) in a sacrificial field,
and the sculptured deities that followed were seated on lotuses,
perhaps through a wrong interpretation of the word padmdsana, a
bodily posture. A yantra has, like the sacrificial field, gates or doors
(dvara) and a painted or inscribed seat; and all together or in the
325
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
which arises out of the effort to accomplish all those limbs that
the x ajhapurusha produces Siddhi”. And here is the culminating
ph&oe of external worship with flowers: 4 The knowing ones regard
the following as the ten flowers to be used in worship:—non-ignor¬
ance (amayd), non-egoitv or non-appropriation (anahamkara), non¬
attachment (ardga), non-vanity (amada) y non-delusion (amoha), non¬
pride (adambha,), non-calumniation (aninda), non-perturbation
(akshobka), non-jealousv (amdtsCLrya) and non-greed (alobha).
But better than these are the five virtues which make up the other
group of flowers:—non-injury or non-violence (ahimsd), self-control
or subjugation of the senses (indr iya-nigr aha), charity or kindness
(dayd), forgiveness (kshamd) and knowledge (jhdna).” This surely
is religious teaching at its highest. Again and again in India when
the letter was threatening to kill the religious life, the spirit came
to the rescue. In their attempt to provide a comprehensive scheme
of social life, individual perfection, and religious devotion, the Tan-
tras failed occasionally to keep the baser elements in proper check
among a motley population of different grades of culture. But the
innate moral sense operated here as elsewhere to redeem men from
the thraldom of desire and selfishness. Perhaps we shall never re¬
capture the atmosphere in which the Pur-anas and the Tantras were
written, but we cannot afford to undervalue the devotion and thought
that went into their composition, or their ennobling influence in the
long run on the very composite population of an entire subcontinent.
They certainly brought the gods nearer the hearts and homes of men
and inspired their devotion, prompted their collective action for
charity, and gave a fillip to the building of religious edifices all over
the country.
CF) MINOR RELIGIOUS SECTS
I. POPULAR BRAHMANICAL RELIGION
1. Religious Syncretism
By the time the period opens the main elements that constitute
the religious life of India have already made their entrance into
popular faith. It is now a question of making alliances and settling
precedence among the major gods and of composing suitable reli¬
gious literature to establish the superiority, if not theLsupremacy,
of the chosen deity. The days of the early Puranas are over now,
but there was still scope not only for new compositions but also for
working up the older literature and adding and altering contents.
The religious unity of India was almost achieved; and though local
tradition and patriotism were sometimes responsible for making
extravagant 'diaims on behalf of local deities and sacred spots and
rivers, the different religious communities acknowledged almost
327
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
the same set of major gods and made an earnest effort to make a
rapprochement with other communities even when pushing the
claims of their own cults in distant areas and making converts. Bud¬
dhism was dying in the south but was still a living creed in the nor¬
thern part, where it became the inspirer of religious art in Bengal
and Bihar under the Palas; Jainism had still a strong following in
the south and was having a running fight primarily with £>aivism.
Brahmanism had to reckon with both, specially as the former was
developing a well organised pantheon and the latter-was trying to
win and retain popular support by absorbing theistic elements from
the contiguous Brahmanic culture.
Archaeological evidence is not wanting to show that the (hosti¬
lity of the creeds was not often quite mild arid that the appropriation
of the sanctuary of one religion by another and effacing the religious
symbols of the former by the latter were sometimes practised. As
popular instruction in religious cult extended from the scriptures.
to the temples, it became increasingly necessary for each major reli¬
gion ter possess gorgeous temples of its own to attract pilgrims and
evoke religious sentiment in the faithful; and fortunately devout
patrons were not wanting to endow places of religious worship and
build costly and spectacular houses of gods or saints. The scribes
continued their work no doubt, but the sculptor was gradually
becoming a more efficient instrument of popular edification and
education in religious matters. East, west,-north, south-^-every-
where gods and saints were decently, if not gorgeously, housed and
the carvers’ art purveyed to the hungry souls'not only delectation
of the spirit but also feasting of the eye. The high aesthetic and
spiritual banquet served must have whetted religious appetite and
excited the spirit of imitation and emulation. From the seventh
century onward temples grew in honour of different deities in
different parts of India and the rock-cut and structural temples,
which are at present the wonders of the world and of which Elura
(Ellora) and Khajumho are respectively the most prominent
examples, came into existence and often in close proximity to one
another as a trial of artistic strength among rival faiths. And no
Wonder, because during this period flourished the mighty Pratlharas,
Palas, Chandellas, Eastern Ghalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas of
Kalyani, Pallavas and Cholas who professed diverse creeds and were
zealous champions and liberal patrons of their respective creeds.
But rivalry is only one of the features of the religious life of
the times. ' Side by side there developed a syncretistic attitude in
religion—a' spirit of tolerance and mutual give-and-take. A modi¬
fied monolatry, which maintained the'supremacy of the particular
supreme'deity of the community while at the same time admitting
328
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
the existence and right to worship of other gods, made its appearance.
£>ankaracharya has been credited with the initiation of the panchd-
yo-tana pujd—the worship of the five gods Vishnu, Ssiva, Sakti or Devi,
Surya and Ganesa, the principal deity of the worshipper being plac¬
ed in the middle and the other four in the four corners of a square.
2. Solar Cult
840
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
because the fame of most of them rested on the assistance they ren¬
dered to Durga, Chandika or Ambika in her struggles against the
demons that threatened heavenly peace. It is very likely also that
the £iva-£akti cult was a federation of two originally independent
faiths and Durga had already been so separately extolled that it was
not possible to bring her into a completely subservient relation to
Siva. This will explain why in the Mah&bhdrata she appears at one
place as the wife of Narayana and at another as the wife of Siva, and
in the Durgd-saptasatx of the Mdrkandeya Puvana she is more a Vaish-
navi Sakti than a Saivite one, though her names betoken her Saivite
association. Sarasvati and Lakshmi, though widely worshipped as
the respective patrons of learning and riches, practically remained
wives of Brahma and Vishnu in Brahmanism. It is really in the
heterodox systems of Jainism and Mahayana Buddhism that Sarasvati
attained greater independence and evolved many forms and was
surrounded by personified abstractions. In Jainism Lakshmi too
enjoyed a similar independent status. That Sarasvati should appear
both as a sasanadevata and as an independent deity may provide a
clue to the exact position of these minor goddesses. Like the
Yakshas they never rose to the highest position in any pantheon and
yet they supplied artistic models for decorating temples and even
providing loci of minor veneration. Ganesa, for instance, hovered
between a yaksha and a deity, as when Sri Vinayaka the deity
became reduced to Ganesa the yaksha door-keeper with sounding
bells, both in India and outside. Kubera also hovered between a
major deity (one of the dikpdlas) and a yaksha-chief.
five cells. Many of these are hypaethral, which shows that the dei¬
ties enshrined were of minor consideration in the devotion of men.
The Bheraghat figures have suffered, like other monuments, the fana¬
tical fury of the iconoclasts; but most of them fortunately retain their
names inscribed in the sixty-five peripheral chapels. A perusal of the
names discloses the fact that they are not all canonical Some were
obviously incorporated from popular cult obiects of the time and
the locality, and some were actual or corrupted forms of Brahmanic
originals. A comparison with the list given by Hemadri about three
centuries later shows that there was no fixity in the names of the
Yoginis though their cult was fairly wide-spread. Even the eight
Yoginis now worshipped in Bengal have titles not to be found in
Hernadri’s list; in fact, the East Indian names of the sixty-four Yoginis
do not have any terribleness about them, being mostly names of
Durga herself, as the names in Hemadri’s list have. Thus, barring
the convention that the Yoginis must be sixty-four, there is very
little common in the different lists of names. What interests us in
the Bheraghat icons is the presence of §rI-Teramva, a Mahisha-
mardinl figure with sixteen hands, and of SarvatomukhI with a
lotus under-seat containing the Tantrik emblem of crossed triangles
(shatkona), with the b:ja word Hrim in the centre. Images of Brahma,
Vishnu, Surya, Ganesa, Karttikeya, some of the Divine Mothers, and
Ganga and Yamuna have been found in the ruins of the Bheraghat
temple, in the centre of which probably stood an Uma-Mahesvara
group according to Coomaraswamy. It is probably at a later period
that this Smarta method of combining the principal gods in the same
sanctuary was adopted.
343
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
tre of a popular cult, open and esoteric, the rival of Siva him¬
self, and even superior to the other gods who sought his aid and ap¬
proached and placated him when in distress. When the new fervour
arose, there was a revival of the ancient number of six, of whom the
five Sakti-Ganapatis are the most prominent, namely, the red four¬
armed Uchchhishta-Ganapati, the red ten-armed Maha-Ganapati, the
yellow six-armed Urddhva-Ganapati, the tawny-coloured six-armed
Pingala-Ganapati, and the white four- or eight-armed Lakshmi
Ganapati. Haridra-Gamapati with yellow7 colour and four arms was
also regarded as the supreme deity. In Anandagiri’s enumeration
Navamta, Svarna and Santana Ganapatis replace Urddhva, Pingaia
and Lakshmi Ganapatis. It is probable that some of the names owe
their origin to the materials with which the Ganapati figures were
made-—cream or butter (navanita)9 gold (svarva), turmeric (hari-
dra),—or to the degree of their yellowness. The devotees of these six
forms formed esoteric sects. Theogonic speculations tried to give
Ganapati a mystic origin out of &iva, and Tantrikism invested him
with yantras and mantras suited to different purposes. The image
of his &akti, labelled as &rI-AinginI, as also his own image is to be
found among the Bheraghat icons and in the Indian Museum collec¬
tion, and Ganesa himself with his Ganas also finds sculptural repre¬
sentation. The five heads, as in H era mb a - Gana pat i, sometimes get
separate forms under Buddhistic influence at a later time as in the
Nritya Ganapati of Nepal. In fact, images of Ganesa with other Bud¬
dhistic influences, e.g- Bhumisparsa-mudra, are also known from
other countries, which is not unnatural, seeing that latterly he be¬
came a Buddhistic loan deity. The ashta-siddhis came to be constru¬
ed into his &akti in Tantrik belief. In the Navagraha slabs he occu¬
pies the extreme right position—just the reverse of what he does
in the Saptamatrika slabs. His association with the Diggajas of
the four cardinal points can be made out from the Ghativala column
near Jodhpur (with four Ganesa images at the top facing the four
quarters) with a dated inscription of the ninth century A.D., while
in a slab from Sonarang (Bengal), Ganesa is found sculptured on the
right and the Saptamatrikas on the left of a Surya temple. The
Ghatiyala figure installed in a market place perhaps marks his as¬
sociation with success in trade.
The end of this period virtually closes the origin of new divini¬
ties. Henceforward local variations, elaborations and fusions cha¬
racterise the evolution of new forms. The most outstanding reli¬
gious upheaval was furnished by the Tantras which necessitated
an understanding with the deep-seated craving of the human heart
and an acceptance of the female principle in religious worship. After
346
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Mahay anism had reached its zenith and given a new pantheon, a
rapprochement with that cult was also found necessary, and when
Buddhism degenerated and declined, its elements were utilised with
suitable modifications to serve the needs of the newly absorbed
Buddhist population. There was a fusion of Buddhistic and Brah-
manical cults also and a revival of interest in the occult was res¬
ponsible for the popularity of Gorakshanatha and other Siddhas. A
new esoteric literature was born as a result of this new type of
interest.
II. ICONOGRAPHY
1. Sdkti
2. Ganesa
3. Kdrttikeya
4. Surya
850
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
among them seems to prove that the southern Bury a figures did not
come under any foreign influence, for their legs are always left
bare-142 Seated Sun images of the mediaeval period are compara-
lively rare, and an inscribed one, acquired from a Dinajpur village,
is ail the more interesting, for the pedestal inscription of the ele¬
venth-twelfth century A.D. refers to the god as samasta-rogdiidm
hartta (remover of ail diseases). Composite reliefs of the Sun-god
from northern as well as southern India, combining in them
the features of several members of the orthodox Brahmanica! triad,
are known. These sometimes are joint representations of Surya
and Narayana, or Surya and Siva, and very rarely the attributes of
Surya, Brahma, Vishnu and Siva are all combined in a single mono¬
graphic motif. The eight-armed and three-headed figure in the
Chidambaram temple, with Arixna and the seven horses carved on
the pedestal, and his hands carrying such attributes as a conch-
shell, a discus, a pair of lotus-buds, etc. evidently represents the last.
The so-called Trimurti figures found in Bundelkhand region are
really typical combinations of Surya and Vishnu, and are even
sometimes described as Surya-Narayana. A unique three-headed
and ten-armed sculpture of the twelfth century A.D., found at a
Rajshahi village, typifies in a very characteristic manner the combin¬
ed form of Surya and Siva; its three faces—the central one placid,
and the side ones terrific—, its ten hands holding such attributes as
saktif khatvdnga, nilotpalaf darnaru and the usual lotuses, and other
iconographic traits closely correspond to the description of Mart-
tanda-Bhairava given in the &draddtilaka-iantra.uz All these compo¬
site types of images perhaps show indirectly the part which the
Sun-god played in the evolution of many of the god-concepts con¬
nected with several of the important Brahmanical cults-
pur) basalt image of Revanta, however, does not follow the above
description in all its details, and presents the god in a novel manner.
The M&rkandeya Puruna144 says that Revanta was made the lord of
the Guhyakas by his father, and his special task was to deliver mor¬
tals in distress “amid the terrors of forests and other lonely places,
of great conflagrations, of enemies and robbers”; the Ghatnagar re¬
lief shows the god engaged in combat with a band of robbers who
were about to disturb the peaceful pursuits of the village people-145
5. Navagrahas
The worship of the Navagrahas was also of special importance
in times of danger, and they were duly propitiated by means of
grahayaga and svastyayana by different Hindu sectaries. So their
images were in great demand throughout India and they were usually
carved in a row on the lintel of the main sanctum of a Vaishnava
or a &aiva temple. The Siva temples of Bhu vanes vara (Orissa) bear
this feature- Sometimes these are also shown on the prabhti of
other cult divinities. Separate representations of these deities are,
however, very rare, and the presence of two of them, Chandra and
Rrihaspati, among the basement reliefs on the main mound at Pahar-
pur, are of great iconographic value.146 The Navagraha slab in the
collection of the Asutosh Museum, Calcutta University, is a very fine
sculpture; it shows the nine so-called planets: Ravi, Soma, Mangala,
Budha, Brihaspati, Sukra, £ani, Rahu, and Ketu, standing side by
side on lotus pedestals, holding their respective attributes in their
hands with Ganesa in the front of the row, and their respective Hn-
chchhanas carved below.147 The big Navagraha slab, which served
originally as the lintel piece of the Sun temple at Konarak (Orissa),
shows the deities as seated ones.
whole question in great detail, suggests that the figure for the year
is really 992, and as 9 and 7 were written very much alike such a
confusion may be easily explained. The main support of his argu¬
ment is that the details of the date given fit in with the year 992.150
So it would appear that Hodivala’s suggestion might be accepted and
the date of the first Pars! settlement in India (at Sanjan) may, there¬
fore, be provisionally fixed at Samvat 992 (— A D. 936).
The Pars! tradition mentions that the ruler who gave permission
to the first emigrants to settle at San j an was named Jadi Rana.
According to the Qissa-i-S&njan, he belonged to the race of the ‘Shah-
rayas\ Neither the name nor the race is otherwise known. But here,
again, Hodivala152 suggests that the original word Shdhrdydn is a
misreading or mistake for Shilharayan, which denotes the Silaharas.
This is quite plausible. In that case we may also accept his other
suggestion that the king referred to was Vajjada-deva. Vajja^a
might easily become Jadi, and as the emigrants, fresh from Iran,
would not like to address their benefactor as ‘deva’, which had in
the Zoroastrian literature a meaning entirely the reverse of that
which it bears in Saqskrit, they added the epithet ‘Rand’.
354
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
1. The Bhdshyas
The Purva Mimamsd claimed that the essence of the Vedas was
directions for works. As the Upanishads did not contain such
directions (vidhis), or very few of them, they had only a secondary
importance and the philosophy based on them was of inferior value.
358
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
But the Vedanta in some of its forms brought the quarrel to a head
by professing a total disregard for the works of religion which the
Mlmamsa supported. The cleavage between the two is nowhere so
sharp as in the life and teachings of Sankara, the author of a cele¬
brated commentary (bhdshya) on the Vedanta-sutras.
4. The Philosophy of Sankara; (c. A.D. 788-820)156
361
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
ciple” The hand here is not of the Sakti but of the Guru. See 161.
25. Guhyasamdja, Ch. VII.
Sarva-kdm-opabhogaisz=cha sevyamdnair—yathechchhatah
Anena khalu yogena laghu Buddhatvam-dpnuyat
This stanza should be read in the same light as the following stanza of
the Mddhyamika-Kdrika (Ch. XXV, 19).
Na samsdrasya nimdndt kim-chid—asti viseshanam
Na nirvdnasya samsdrat him-chid—asii viseshanam
In other words a Bodhisattva should try to realise that there is not the
slightest difference between nirvana and samsdra (phenomenal world) as the
latter is only an imaginary superimposition on the former. This superimposi¬
tion appears only to the unwise and not to the fully enlightened, the Buddha.
The Guhyasamdja, on the basis of this identity of nirvana and samsdra, regards
the enjoyment of samsdra as not harmful so long as one does not distinguish
samsdra from the nirvana.
26. Guhyasamdja, 37.
27. Ibid, 6.
28. Ibid, 129.
29. Ibid, 137.
30. Sddhanamdld, II, Intro., xli.
31. Guhyasamdja, 2-3.
32. Ibid, 137.
33. See Indrabhuti, J fumasiddhi, Ch. II.
34. Vidyabhusana, Indian Logic, 321-22.
35. Tdrandtha, 275.
36. Mystic Tales of Lama Taranatha, 11.
37. There were more than one Darika, and the Darika initiated by Lui-Pa was
different from the Darika of Dohdkosha.
38. Cf. B. C. Sen, Some Hist. Aspects of the Ins. of Bengal, 201; Sircar, Set. Ins., 377:
Mandasor stone ins. of the time of Nara-varman (A.D. 404).
39. See Sddhanamdld, Intro, xlviii.
40. G.O.S. No. XLIV.
41. G.O.S. No. XLTV.
42. Sddhanamdld, 353.
43. See Sddhanamdld, II, Intro. 60.
44. This LUavajra should be distinguished from Lalitavajra’s disciple Lilavajra
(Taranatha, 191) who lived about the seventh or eighth century.
45. See above, p. 43f.
46. Cf. Manjusnmulakalpa, 631.
47. Cf. Pag-sam-jon-zang, 111.
48. Waddell, Buddhism of Tibet, 31.
49. Tativa-samyraha, (G.O.S. Nos. XXX, XXXI), 184.
50. This confirms the statement about the propagation of these texts occurring in
the Ashpisdhasrika (225).
51. His colophon to the commentary (Aloka, 563-64, G.O.S.) corroborates the state¬
ment of TaranMha.
52. Tdrandtha, 232, 243.
53. Commentary on Sarvajnamitra’s Sragdhardstotra, 50.
54. Brihat-svayambhu-purana, 320-21.
55. Tsranatha, 229.
56. Taranatha, 211.
57. Cf. Ch. XII.
58. El, XXI. 97.
59. See p. 51.
60. See Waddell, op. cit., 33.
61. Tlranatha, 221.
62. The formula is *Ye dharmd hetu-prabhava hetum teshdrh tathdgato hyavadat,
teshdrh cha yo nirodha evarh vddt rnahdsramaiiah*. It contains one of the prin¬
cipal maxims of Buddhism and is very frequently found engraved on different
parts of the mediaeval Buddha and Bodhisattva reliefs.
63. R. D. Banerji, EISMS, PI. XXIX (a); B. M. Barua, Bharhut. Ill, PI. XLVII.
64. Sddhanamdld, I, Nos. 3-5, pp. 18-25; H, PI. I.
65. For these crowned Buddhas, cf. R. D. Banerji, op. cit.. Pis. XVH (b). XXI (c).
XXXI (b) & (c), XXIII (b), XXIV (c), XXVI (d) etc.
N. G. Majumdar identified them as Adi-Buddha figures, VJLS. Annual Report
362
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
him in Plates LXXXVII—LXXVIH, XCI, XCII & XCIV etc. of the same
volume.
143. Sdraddtilaka-tantra, patella xiv. For the Chidambaram relief, cf. H. Krishna
Sastri, South Indian Gods and Goddesses, p. 236, fig. 144; for the Surya-
Narayana images cf. I A, 1918, 136 ff.; for the Marttanda-Bhairava relief now
in the Rajshahi Museum, cf. VRS—Rep, 1929-30, 9-10, fig. 2.
144. Markandeya Purdna, CVHI, vv. 22-3.
145. VJRS-Rep., 1927-28, 1, fig. 2. HER, I. 459, pi. XVI. 42.
146. S. K. Saraswati, Early Sculpture of Bengal, 65-7, fig. 17; MASI, No. 55, 53-4,
pi. XXX (b) and (c); Dikshit’s identification of these two reliefs as Siva and
Brahma is unacceptable.
147. HER, I. 459, pi. XVII. 43.
147a. General references.
S. H. Hodivala, Studies in Parsi History. Bombay, 1920.
I. J. S. Taraporewala, The Exact Date of the Arrival of the Parsis in India
(Kane Festschrift, pp. 506-514).
148. Ch. XI: “Indo-Iranian Relations”.
149. Hodivala, Studies in Parsi History, 1-36.
150. Ibid, 70 ff.
151. The inscriptions have been translated in the Zarathoshti Abhydsa, HI. 160;
TV 212
152. Op. tit', 74 ff.
153. Parsi Prakdsa, X. 80.
154. HIL, II. 478.
155. Some writers of the period are:—
Buddhism: Santarakshita, Kamalaslla, Dharmottara.
Jainism: Akalanka, Vidyananda, Manikyanandl, Prabhachandra.
Nyaya-Vaiseshika: Vachaspati, Jayanta, Udayana, and Srldhara.
Sankhya: Probably the Sutras themselves were finally redacted during this
period. Gaudapada, the commentator of Sankhya-Karika, belongs to this
period.
Yoga: Vachaspati, who wrote on other systems also.
MImarhsa: Mandanamisra. Parthasarathi, according to Dr. S. N. Das Gupta,
flourished during this period.
Vedanta: Sankara, Suresvara (see footnote 157 below), Padmapada, Ananda-
giri, Sarvajnatmamuni, Bhaskara.
156. For various views about the date of Sankaracharya placing him between sixth
and ninth century AX)., cf. GIL, III, 434, fn. 1. An inscription in Cambodia
mentions the very interesting fact that Sivasoma, the guru of king Indra-varman,
was a disciple of Bhagavan Sankara who is presumably no other than Sankara-
charya. As king Indra-varman ascended the throne in Saka 799, Sankara-
charya cannot be placed much earlier than the beginning of the ninth century
AX). Attention to this passage was drawn many years ago by Dr. R. C.
Majumdar in a short note in Indian Review (Madras) and also by Prof.
K. A. N. Sastri in JOR, XI. 285. But it has not yet received much attention
from students of Indian Philosophy. The question has been recently discussed
by Pandit B. Upadhyaya in his Hindi work entitled "Sri Sahkardcharya”
(Ch. IV) (Hindustani Academy, Allahabad, 1950). But his arguments against
the evidence of the Kambuja Ins. are unconvincing.
157. Among the disciples of Sankara the most prominent are Suresvara, the author
of the famous Vdrttika, and the Naishkarmyasiddhi; and Padmapada, the
author of the Panchapadika which has been commented upon by Prakasatman
about A.D. 1200.
Scholars hold different views regarding the identity of Suresvara and
Manqlana.
365
CHAPTER XII
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
L EDUCATION
1. Courses of Study
The old Smritis are completely silent about the methods and
processes of primary education. But the later Smriti authorities
introduce us to a new sacrament, significantly called vidyarambha
(commencement of education), and alternatively aksharasvtkriti or
akshardbhydsa (training in the alphabet). According to them the
initiation is to take place in the boy’s fifth year, or at any rate
before his investiture with the sacred thread. On an auspicious
day, during the prescribed season, various deities and sages are
to be worshipped to the accompaniment of offerings to the sacred
fire, and honour shown to Brahmanas. Then the teacher, seated
facing the boy, is to give him his first lesson. According to an un¬
named Smriti authority the curriculum is to consist of a primer
(mdtrikanyasa) and arithmetic (ganita).1
a course of study in grammar and the like for helping him to under¬
stand the meaning of the Vedas. Turning to another point, we find
Parasara, Vyasa, and Laghu-Vyasa8 insisting upon the comprehen¬
sion of meaning of the Veda in place of mere reading of the text.
Medhatithi,9 however, argues that the comprehension of meaning
follows naturally after hearing the text.
2. Student Life
and of applying the rod only in a mild form and in the last resort is
inculcated by Medhatithi.21 On the admissibility of receiving fees
from pupils the Smriti authorities of this period are sharply divided
in their views. Following the authority of Manu and Yajnavalkya,
Vartiha Pur ana22 includes the Brahmana teaching for a stipulated fee
(bhritakadhyapaka) among those who must not be invited at a fune¬
ral repast. On the other hand, Matsya Purdna23 clearly sanctions
the acceptance of a fee from a pupil beforehand by his teacher, for
it says that one who does not teach a science (vidyd) or a craft
{silpa) after taking a fee (mulya) shall be fined the whole of this
sum by a just king. Medhatithi carefully distinguishes between the
cases where teaching for a fee is allowable and those where it is not
permitted. According to his view24 teaching in return for a fee is
blameworthy only when the payment is made a condition precedent
for the teaching, while receiving instruction from a paid teacher is
to be condemned only when the fee is paid by the student himself.25
Elsewhere26 Medhatithi declares that the conferring of some benefit
upon the teacher by the pupil, prior to his return home after finish¬
ing his course of study (samdvartana), is not precluded by the text
of Manu 27
3. Female Education
Long before the present period the Smritis had denied the right
or privilege of Vedic study to women. By progressively sanctioning
early marriage of girls, they further destroyed the chances of higher
education of women. How backward was the state of higher studies
among girls in general during the present age is proved by the signi¬
ficant omission of all references to women teachers in the contem¬
porary lexicographical works, and still more by the testimony of
Medhatithi30 to the general ignorance of the Sanskrit language among
women. Nevertheless we have reasons to believe that women, in¬
cluding those not belonging to the higher classes, had some opportu¬
nities, as in the preceding Age, for liberal education as well as train¬
ing in the fine arts. Rajasekhara31 refers, in justification of women’s
competence in poetical skill, to examples of princesses, of daughters
of high officials (mahdmdtra)1 of courtezans, and of concubines, who
were poetesses as well as adepts in sciences (sdstra) 9 In Avanti-
sundarl, the accomplished wife of Rajasekhara, we have a striking
illustration of a lady deeply learned in Sanskrit lore.33 The dramas
and prose romances of this Age also illustrate the contemporary state
868
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
2. Marriage Rules
can be returned even after ten days with mutual consent, this rule
of law does not apply to girls given away in marriage. Just as used
and worn-out clothes cannot be restored to the seller even within ten
days’ time, so a maiden who has been married cannot be abandoned.
Even when girls are given away for a fee, Medhatithi continues, they
may be treated like other commodities only before marriage, while
a girl who has been given away according to the approved forms
cannot be revoked at all. Concluding his argument, he observes
that Yajnavalkya’s rule,113 allowing a girl to be taken back for a
better bridegroom even after her betrothal, holds good before and
not after the seventh step (at the nuptial ceremony) is taken; V?hen
both parties have necessary qualifications, the betrothal cannot be
revoked even before marriage, while even a defective wife (other
than a non-virgin) cannot be abandoned after marriage.
The general literature also reflects the current ideas and prac¬
tices regarding marriage. AbhidhanaratnamdW22 contains the
words varshd and patimvara meaning a girl choosing her own hus¬
band, as also the words punarbhu and didhishu meaning a remarried
woman. We learn from a number of tales in Upamitibhava-
prapanchakathd that while love-marriages were known, they were
376
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
3. Law of Adultery
Medhatithi’s view124 of the law relating to adultery agrees
with the strict ideas of Gautama and Manu who would have the
guilty pair put to death with torture. He prescribes severe punish¬
ment even for those who have just begun to make approaches to
other men’s wives, while he lays down the death penalty for a non-
Brahmana committing adultery with a woman of the twice-born
caste, as well as for a man guilty of forcible connection with a
family-woman (kulastri) of lower caste whose husband is alive.
And yet it would appear from notices in the contemporary literature
that there were, as in former times, various classes of notoriously
frail women, while other women occasionally committed sin. The
evil reputation of women of the former type is illustrated by
AbhidhanaratnamaW25 which applies to the actor (nata) a synonym
(jayajiva) signifying his dependence upon the earnings of his
wife, as well as by Ratirahasya126 which includes the wives of
dancers and singers (charana) among those who are easily amenable
to seduction. Similarly Medhatithi127 mentions that the wives of
char anas, though not exactly prostitutes, admitted paramours into
their houses with the permission of their husbands. The list of
women who easily succumb to the seducer’s wiles is given in Rati~
rahasya and in Upamitibhavaprapanchdkathd,128
7. Standard of Living
The high standard of living of the people prevailing generally
in earlier times seems to have been maintained during the present
period. The names of a number of professions mentioned by Medha-
tithi179 reveal a state of luxurious living. Such are the professions
of a bath-man (snapaka), a toilette-man (prasddhaka)f and a pro¬
fessional cook fpachaka) as well as a maid-in-waiting (sairandhfi).
The variety of garments and ornaments current in these times was
remarkable. Abhidhanaratnamdla^o gives the synonyms for an
upper garment (pravarana) and a woollen blanket (dvika) as well as
women’s bodice (kurpasa) and petticoat (chandataka), while it
knows181 technical terms (kutha, etc.) for blankets thrown over the
backs of elephants. Similarly it refers to ear-ornaments (tatanka)t
armlet (keyura), neck-ornament (graiveya)y finger-rings, waist-bands,
and women’s leg ornaments (nupura)} In a list of things delightful
to the touch found in Upamitibhavaprapanchdkathd182 are included
couches (sayana) with soft cotton sheets, seats filled with goose
feathers, gowns (brihatikd) and other soft garments, upper garments
(prdvdra), woollen-cloth (? rdllikd or rakshikd), silks, home-grown
(patt&Thsuka) and Chinese (chtn&miuka), as well as musk, aloes,
sandal, and other unguents. Girls before marriage used to wear blue
bodices (cholikd), while after marriage they tied the knot (ruin) to
their garments.183 Women’s golden as well as jewelled girdles
(kanchi and rasand) and large ear-ornaments (tatanka) are mentioned
in verses quoted by Rajasekhara.184 Ladies of high families habi-
384
SOCIAL CONDITIONS:
8. Popular Amusements
On the subject of lawful food the Smriti law of thi^ period fol¬
lows, with some explanations, the traditional lines. Brahma
Purdna208 declares a number of herbs and vegetables as well as
cereals to be forbidden food. Medhatithi208* lays down at great
387
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
We have so far dealt with the Smriti rules relating to food and
drink. There is every reason to believe that the old Buddhist and
Jain canonical laws on this point were still regarded as authoritative
during the present period. As an illustration of the continuance of
the Jain ban against meat-eating and drinking, we may refer to the
long and severe sermons on the evils of both put into the mouths
of some observant princes.216
1. Cf. the quotations in Apararka on Yoj. I. 131, Sm. C., I. 26, and Saihskara-
prakdsa, pp. 321-26. A connected and complete account of the Vidydrambha
ceremony is given in the late mediaeval SaThskararatnamala (904-07) of Gopl-
302
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
natha DIkshita, which also quotes a few other authorities like Sridhara and
Garga.
2. I. 24, 13 -16,
3. Quoted in Sm. C., I. 29.
4. On Manu, III. 1.
5. Ibid, II. 108 and 243 f.
6. Quoted in Samskaraprakasa, 506-07 and Sm. C., I. 133-35.
7. On Manu, III. 2.
8. Quoted in Samskaraprakasa, 507-08.
9. On Manu, III. 1.
10. There are scattered references in literature, but these are not of much use.
11. In the story (Bhav. II. 1-3) the young Bhavisayatta, son of Dhanapati, a
rich and virtuous merchant of Gajapura, is sent to his preceptor’s house
(ujjhdsdla) where he learns quickly the lore of the Jain canon, grammar
lexicography, astronomy, spells and charms, as well as knowledge of weapons,
archery, hand-to-hand fight, wrestling, and the ways of elephants and horses.
Returning from his preceptor’s house he was complimented by his parents
on his acquisition of knowledge and character. On the date of Dhanapala,
author of Bhav., see Jacobi (Bhav. ed., Introd. 3 f) followed on independent
grounds by C. D. Dalai and P. D, Gune (GOS ed. Introd. 3-4).
12. On Manu, IX. 329-31.
13. The Vaisya, says Medhatithi (ioe. cit.), shall know in what region and at
what season gems, pearls, corals, metals like copper, iron and bronze, woven
cloth, perfumes and condiments fetch a higher price than in another. He
shall know, Medhatithi continues, what seed is sown thickly and what sparse¬
ly, what soil is suited for a particular kind of seed, what harvest is expected
from a particular type of soil. He shall also know what commodities (skins
and the like) are spoilt if kept for a long time, in what country large sup¬
plies of grains are available, at what season barley is profuse, what is the
custom of a particular country, by using what fodder and salts cattle are
likely to improve and so forth. This implies a thorough knowledge not only
of the marketing conditions and other characteristics of various articles but
also of much miscellaneous information.
14. On Manu, IX. 76.
15. Kutt, 212.
16. On Manu, II. 182.
17. Ibid, III. 2.
18. Quoted in Samskaraprakasa, 513.
19. Quoted in Sm. C., 1. 143.
20. Quoted in Samskaraprakasa, 515.
21. Manu, II. 159. Introducing the text Medhatithi explains that the author’s
object is to prohibit excessive chastisement in the form of beating, chiding
and the like to which the teacher takes recourse on finding his pupil to be
inattentive. Addressing the pupil as his child, the teacher should, accord¬
ing to Medhatithi, ask him gently to finish his lesson quickly so that he might
afterwards play with boys of his own age. But if the boy still remains in¬
attentive, he should be beaten with a bamboo slip as mentioned in the text.
Writing elsewhere (on Manu, II. 70) in a humorous vein, Medhatithi observes
that the boy, at the time of Vedic. study, should wear light dress, because
if he were to be clad in woollen clothes he would not feel the strokes of
the rope administered by the teacher for inattention and, not feeling the
strokes, he would not study in the proper manner.
22. Manu, III. 156; Ydj, III. 230; Vardha Parana, XIY. 5.
23. Quoted by Apararka on Ydj, II. 198.
24. On Manu, III. 156.
25. He who stipulates to teach the Veda, Medhatithi says (loc. cit.), in return
for a specific payment is called a bhritakddhydpaka (‘teacher for a stipulated
fee’). Such form of payment is known among bearers and others. But one
does not become such a teacher, if he teaches a pupil without first making
a verbal stipulation for payment of a specific sum for a specific teaching, and
receives the fee afterwards. In fact teaching in return for payment of an
unstipulated fee has been actually sanctioned. Similarly one is said to be
taught for a stipulated fee if he studies with his teacher after paying the
fee himself. But one does not incur blame if, in the absence of any other
393
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
teacher, his father or other guardian has paid the fee and placed him under
a teacher.
26. On Manu, II. 112.
27. Manu, II. 235.
28. On Manu, II. 108, 182, 191.
29. Commenting on Manu, II. 108, which requires a student to perform acts of
service to his teacher, Medhatithi mentions, as an example of such acts, the
fetching of water in jars for the teacher’s use. Again while explaining
Manu, II. 182, Medhatithi says that the student should do all household work
that is not degrading, but he must not be made to perform such acts as eating
remnants of food, other than that of his teacher, and sweeping the floor.
Explaining Manu, II. 191, Medhatithi observes that the student should do
unasked such acts for his teacher as fetching water in jars and massaging his
body when he is fatigued.
30. On Manu, II. 49.
31. Kdv. X, p. 53.
32. Suktimuktdvalx (GOS Ed. 47) of Jalhana, a twelfth century anthology, con¬
tains verses written by Rajasekhara in praise of five such poetesses, viz.
6llabhattarika, Vikatanitamba, Vijayanka, PrabhudevI, and Subhadra.
33. In Kdv. (Chaps. V, IX, XI) Rajasekhara quotes no less than thrice the views
of his wife on difficult questions of rhetoric.
34. Upamiti, pp. 354, 453-59, 875-92.
35. Rdjat, V. 28^9; VI. 87.
36. El, IV. 60 f.
37. El, IV. 180-tel.
38. ARSIE, Ins. No. 240 of 1930-31.
39. On Manu, V. 91.
40. Matsyapurdna, CGXVII. 163 f.
41. On Manu, VIII. 124.
42. Quoted by Vijnanesvara on Ydj, II. 21.
43. Quoted in Sm. C., I. 30.
44. Quoted by Apararka on Ydj, I. 224.
45. III. 149.
46. Manu, III. 150-67; Ydj, I. 222-24; Vardha Purdna, XIV, 4 f, CXC. 83 f.
47. Quoted by Apararka on Ydj, III. 30.
48. On Ydj, I. 20. The list consists of one who has taken service with a king,
one who performs sacrifices for many persons, one who performs sacrifices
for a whole village, one who is in the service of a village or town, and
lastly, one who does not perform the twilight ceremonies (sandhyd) in the
morning and in the evening.
49. XVI. 16.
50. VHddha-Hdrxta, IX. 349-50; Matsya Purdna, CCXXVH. 115-17; Manu, VIII.
394
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
395
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
396
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
397
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ <r
formity with canon law and custom, and is not harmful to the interests of
the city and the kingdom.
173. On Manu, VIII. 221.
174. El, XVI. 2 ff.
175. El, II. 99, 100, 102,
176. El, XIX. 58.
177. El, 1.186.
178. SII, IH. No. 128.
179. On Manu, IX. 76, 143.
180. II. 321 f.
181. Ibid, II. 153.
182. Upamiti, 220.
183. Vid. I.
184. Kdv. VI, p. 27.
185. Kar, II.
186. Vid. H.
187. Ibid, III.
188. Kar. I.
189. Ibid.
190. Ibid, III.
191. Ibid. IV.
192. Vid. III.
193. Ibid, H, IV.
194. Upamiti, 584.
195. Kar. II.
196. Vid, I.
197. Ibid.
198. Kar. IV.
199. Ferrand, 63, HIED, I. 39.
200. Cf. Kar. II; Vid. II; Kdv. XVHI; Upamiti, p. 354. On the significance of
charchari see Kuttanimatam, Bengali Trans, by Tridiva Nath Ray, pp. 192-3, f.n.
201. IA, XII. 13; El, V. 23.
202. Kdv, X, p. 52.
203. Cf. Vid. I, IV; Rati, IV. 22.
204. II. 173-75.
205. X. 1-2.
206. Ibid, XIII. 93.
207. Upamiti, 590-603.
208. Quoted by Apararka on Yd), I. 176 and in Chandesvara’s Grihastharatndkara,
359.
208a. On'Manu, V. 14 ff., 27, 41-2.
209. On Manu, V. 18.
210. Ibid, XI. 93-94.
211. On Yd), III. 222.
212. On Manu, IX. 235-36.
213. Ibid, XI. 146.
213a. Quoted in Sm. C. I. 29.
214. Quoted by Apararka p. 15; Sm. C. I. 12; Par. Mddh, I. 1. 133.
215. XXII. 83-4.
216. Upamiti, 603-04; 627-29.
217. Kdv, XVIII, pp. 102, 107.
218. Ibid, VIII, p. 39.
219. Kdv. VIII. p. 39; cf. also Kdv. XVIII, Upamiti, 590 ff.
220. On Manu, IX. 84.
221. For references, cf. Sulaiman (HIED, I. 7), Mas’udI (ibid, I. 20), Ibn Khordad-
,
bah (Fei'rand, 28) and Ibn Rosteh (Ferrand 70).
222. Ferrand, 105.
223. CLV. 1 f; CLVI, 14 f.
224. Cf. Daksha 11.48. Sahkha VIII 1-17; and Agni P.. CLV. 3-4. For fuller details
see KHDS, II. 1. 658 f.
225. Ferrand, 62 and n.
226. With the above we may compare the description in Kutf. 149 f. of the dress
and get up of a gantkd at the time of entertaining her lover. She should wear
clothes that are soft, washed, and fumigated with incense; she should put on
elegant ornaments, and she should perfume her mouth with a boiled deletion.
398
SOCIAL CONDITIONS
For the last-hamed we have a parallel in. the description of the king’s bath in
Bana’s Kadambari (cf. above, Vol. Ill, p. 571 n 5).
227. Abh. Rat. II. 386, 388-90.
228. Kav. XIII. p. 70.
229. Ibid, XVIII.
230. II. 385, 387.
231. XV. 85-92, 94-101.
232. Upamili, 545.
233. Kar, I.
234. Bala, X.
235. Kav, VIII, p. 39.
236. Ibid, III. pp. 8-9.
237. Bala, X.
238. CCVIII-CCXXXIX.
239. XCIII.
24C. On Manu, IX. 290.
241. Upamiti, 158.
242. Ibid, 156.
243. Kar. IV.
244. Vid. III.
245. El, IX, 6.
246. HIED, I. 10.
247. On Manu, III. 158, 166-67; and Ausanasa, IV. 525-26.
248. I. 24. 13-16.
249. EC. VIII.
250*. HIED, I. 9, 10, 164. Hodivala, 9-10.
251. Cf. the quotations in Apararka on Yaj. I. 210, 289-90; Agni Pur dim. CCIX,
23-24. The most well-known names in the list are tuldpurusha and hiranya-
garbha. The first involves the weighing of the donor on scales against gold
which is thereafter distributed among the Brahmanas, while the second in¬
volves the performance of sacraments on the donor seated in a golden vessel
which is thereafter broken and distributed among the Brahmanas. For the
complete list of the mahaddnas and summaries of their procedure, see KHDS,
II. 2. 870-77.
252. Matsya Purana, II. 274-89; Linga Purana, II. 28 f.
253. Cf. Atri, 43-46; Likhita, 6; Yama, 68-70; Agni Purana, CCIX. 2-3 (def. of
ishta and purta).
254. Cf. El, XVIII. 243 f. (Rashfrakuta Dantidurga performed hiranyagarbha); El,
IX. 33 f (Rashtrakuta Indra III performed tuldpurusha in A.D. 914); El, VII.
36 (Rashtrakufa Govinda IV performed tuldpurusha); El, I. 140 f (tuldpurusha
by Chandella king Dhanga).
399
CHAPTER XIII
ECONOMIC LIFE
1. AGRICULTURE, INDUSTRY, AND TRADE
400
ECONOMIC LIFE
The early Arab writers13 of the ninth and tenth centuries refer
to the fertility of the soil and the rich cultivation, both of grain
and fruits, specially in Western India with which they were parti¬
cularly acquainted. Some cities in Gujarat grew mangoes, cocoa-
nuts, lemons, and rice in great quantities, and likewise produced
quantities of honey. One such city also grew canes and teak trees,
while Malabar produced pepper and bamboo.
Thana, and Sopara, and further south lay Sindan (modern Sanjan,
88 miles north of Bombay), from which was exported pepper. On
the Malabar coast lay the important port of Kaulam Malaya (mo¬
dern Quilon) where the ships sailing from Muscat took in fresh water
before crossing the sea of Harkand (Bay of Bengal) for the journey
to Kalah-bar 28
Turning next to articles of trade, it will be appropriate to begin
with a list of India’s exports. As regards agricultural products, Ibn
Khordadbah29 writing towards the end of the ninth century, men¬
tions Indian exports consisting of diverse species of aloe-wood, san¬
dalwood, camphor and camphor-water, nutmeg, clovepink, cubele,
cocoanut, vegetable stuffs, and textures of velvety cotton. The early
Arab writers give us detailed reports of exports from different parts
of the country. Thus costus, rattan, camphor-water, indigo, and bam¬
boos were exported from Sindh. It appears that costus from the
Himalayas and indigo from Gujarat, as well as camphor and rattan,
probably from Malay and Sumatra, were brought to the ports of
Sindh for export. According to Kdvyamlmdmsd pine and deodar trees,
grapes, saffron, and jujube were products of Uttarapatha (North-
West India),30 while birch-barks are mentioned as products of the
Himalayas in a verse quoted in the same work.31 According to Ibn
Bosteh, teak was exported from the Rashfrakuta kingdom of Western
India where it was extensively grown. The pepper which was ex¬
ported from Sindan, and the sandals for which Cambay was famous,
according to Arab writers, were sent probably from South India
noted from early times as the home of these products. Kdvyamimdnhsd
mentions among products of Western India (Paschaddesa) varieties
of bamboos, palm trees, bdellium, and date trees.32 The characteris¬
tic products of Malaya Hill (Western Ghats below the Kaverl) in
South India consisted of sandalwood, pepper, cardamom and various
perfume-bearing plants.33 From the extensive reference to the use
of sandalwood which is found in the literature of this period we
can infer that a large and valuable trade in this article was carried
on by South India with the rest of the country. As regards Eastern
India, Purvadesa (defined as the land to the east of Banaras) grew,
according to Ravyamimamsa, different species of fragrant plants and
trees {lavali creeper and granthiparnaka tree) as well as aloes and
grapes.34 Again, Kamarupa, according to Abu Zaid,35 produced a
variety of aloe-wood called k&marubi which was valued sometimes
at 200 dlndras per maund. It was, he says, of the highest quality,
and was so tender as to retain the impression of the seal stamped
on it. It was brought all the way from Kamarupa to the temple of
the Sun-god at Multan, where the merchants bought it from the
priests of the deity. If Abu Zaid’s reference to Kamarupa is to be
403 ,
*
taken as correct, it would point to aloe having been the most valuable
article of export from Assam. It should, however, be mentioned
that another Arab writer Mas’udi, probably with better reason, sub¬
stitutes Khmer (Cambodia) for Kamarupa in the corresponding
passage. Of another kingdom called Rahma (or Ruhmi) by the
Arabs, we are told that it produced Indian aloe-wood and a remark¬
ably fine variety of cotton fabrics. The textiles of Rahma, accord¬
ing to Ibn Khordadbah, were of velvety cotton, while Sulaiman de¬
clared them to be so light and fine that a robe made of that cloth
could be passed through a signet ring. If the identification of
Rahma with the Pa la kingdom could be accepted as correct, it would
follow that cotton textiles of unique fineness were manufactured in
Bengal at this period and exported to other lands.36
As regards animals and animal products Kavyarntmamsd in¬
cludes skins and chowries made of chamara deer's tail among the
products of Uttarapatha, and musk among those of Purvadesa.37 In
the extreme south the Tamraparn! river in the Pandya kingdom, at
the point of its junction with the sea, was still famous for its pearl
fisheries.38 According to Medhatithi,39 precious stones and pearls
in the South, horses in the West, elephants in the East, as well as
saffron, silks, and woollens in Kashmir were royal monopolies, and
private trading in them was punished with confiscation of all the
property of the offender. We may refer, lastly, to the testimony of
two Arab writers, Sulaiman and Mas’udi, that horns of rhinoceros
were exported from the kingdom of Rahma to China for being made
into fashionable and costly girdles.40 The same writers supply the
information that the kingdom of Ruhmi produced “samara” (yak-
tail) hair from which fly-whisks were made.
As for mineral products, antimony (srotQnjana), rock-salt (sain-
dhava), and beryl (vaidurya) are mentioned by Rajasekhara41
among the characteristic products of Uttarapatha, The rock-salt
must have come from the famous Salt Range in the Punjab. As re¬
gards precious metals, Sulaiman and Mas’udi41a heard reports of the
•existence of gold and silver mines in the kingdom of Gudjra (Gur-
jara-Pratihara kingdom of Kanauj), while they definitely declared
that gold and silver were found in the kingdom of Rahma (Pala
kingdom?) above mentioned. These statements, vague and incon¬
clusive as they are, lack corroboration.
We now turn to the import-trade. The paucity of horses in India
has attracted the attention of foreign observers at all times. We have
during this period the testimony of Sulaiman and Ibn al-Faklh42
that the Indians, unlike the Chinese, had few horses. The best breed
of horses known to India at this period, as in former times, came
404
ECONOMIC LIFE
Besides the sreni and the samgha there were associations of labour¬
ers, and doubtless of capitalists as well. Illustrating Manu’s
law on the subject Medhatithi51 lays down the rule that among archi¬
tects, masons, carpenters, and the like the wages shall be distributed
on the principle that he who does the most difficult part of the job
shall receive more, and he who does the easier part shall get less.
409
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
were strung pearls, coral, lapis lazuli, and sapphire. Ornaments sets with pearls
of three varieties, coral, lapis lazuli, and so forth were presented (ibid, No. 6)
by Rajaraja I’s elder sister. Presents given by Rajaraja I’s general comprised
(ibid, No. 3D) golden ornaments set with pearls, diamonds, crystals and so forth.
The temple manager donated to the shrine of Ganapati at the same temple a
magnificent ring made of gold and set with eight rubies, two crystals, 14
diamonds, and 119 pearls (ibid. No. 86). Among presents made to the temple
by a private donor in Rajaraja I's reign were included (ibid, No. 79) golden
ear-rings set with pearls, pearl-ornaments, a gold marriage-badge set with five
diamonds and one ruby, sacred foot-strings set with pearls, and so forth. In a
list of treasures belonging to the same temple are included (ibid, No. 59) a
diadem containing more than 343 karanju of gold, ten diamond crystals, 64
corals, and no less than 13328 pearls as well as nine golden girdles adorned with
crystals, pearls, and coral. Another list of treasures belonging to the same
temple dated in the reign of Rajaraja I includes (ibid, No. 3) sacred girdles and
bracelets of gold set with pearls, a sacred crown of gold set with diamonds,
crystals, and pearls, a sacred garland of gold set with crystals and pearls, and
a sacred outer parasol of gold set with crystals and pearls. Many of the sacred
girdles contained more than 1500 pearls each, while the outer parasol contain¬
ed 1372 pearls.
23. SII, II. No. 93.
24. Cf. however, the story in Kdv. Ill, describing the sale of a pearl, found in
S. India at Kanauj.
25. Vol II, pp. 606, 613, 617 ff, 644.
25a. Cf. Ya’kubi’s list of products imported into India (Ferrand, 50-52).
26. Trikandasesha, I, 19.6.
27. Bhat?. Ill-VI; Upamiti, 860-904, 996-1002.
28. For references, see HIED, I. 15, 37, 441; F err and, 32, 38-40. 55, 57; 64, 95. On
the above see also Hobson-Jobson s.v. Cambay, Deul-Sind, Quilon, Saint-
John’s, Sopara and Tana.
29. Ferrand, 31.
30. Kdv. XVII. 94.
31. Ibid, XIV. 81.
32. Ibid, XVII, 94.
33. Abh. Ratn. II. 388; Kar. I; Kdv. XIV, XVII; Bala. 670,
34. Kdv. XVII, 93.
35. Ferrand, 88.
36. Ramha identified with Pala kingdom of Bengal (HBR, I. 122) but Ferrand (29
and 43 n) identifies it with Pegu and Qoedes (Hisioire Ancienne des Etais
Hindouises d’Extreme-Oricnt 135) with Lower Burma. Probably the Arab
accounts have jumbled together the records of the two kingdoms of Bengal
and Lower Burma.
37. Kdv., XVII. 93.
38. Cf. Kdv. V. XIV; Bdla, 671; Kar. III.
29. On Manu, VIII. 399.
40. These girdles were prized so highly by Chinese royalty and grandees that they
sometimes fetched 2000 or even 4000 dindras each (Ferrand, 44, 105). To the
above we may add the curious statement of Ibn al-Faklh (Ferrand, 57), that
perfumed rats were exported from Sindh to Zabag.
41. Kdv., XVII. 94.
41a. Ferrand, 43, 104.
42. Ferrand, 62 and n.
43. II. 284.
44. Upamiti, 474.
45. II. 174.
46. Ferrand, 48 n.
47. On Manu, VIII. 41.
48. Certain principal tradesmen, says Medhatithi (loc. cit.), offer to the king his
royal dues fixed verbally by declaring before him: “We are living by this
trade, let the tax thereupon be fixed at such and such a rate, be our profits
more or less.” Now on the king agreeing to this proposal, the tradesmen join
together and" lay down certain rules among themselves tending to bring them
large profits and injure the interest of the kingdom, e.g. such and such a com¬
modity should not be sold during such and such a time. If any one among them
transgresses these rules, he shall be punished for breach of the guild-laws
49. On Manu% VIH. 219.
410
ECONOMIC LIFE
411
CHAPTER XIV
415
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
II. KAMBUJA
But Kambuja threw off the foreign yoke and rose to prominence
early in the ninth century A.D. under its famous king Jaya-varman II.
416
COLONIAL AND CULTURAL EXPANSION
This king spent his early years in Java, in what capacity we do not
know. But he came to Kambyja and became its king in A.D. 802.
He moved from one capital to another till he fixed it on the top of
the hill called Mahendraparvata (Phnom Kulen, to the north-west
of Angkor Thom). There he invited a Brahman a named Hiranya¬
dama from Janapada (probably in India) to perform some Tantrik
rites, so that Kambujadesa might no longer be dependent on Java
but have a paramount ruler of its own. Hiranyadama instituted
the cult of Devaraja, and initiated Sivakaivalya, the royal guru
(preceptor), into the rituals of this worship. Jaya-varman II took
a vow to employ the family of Sivakaivalya and none else to cele¬
brate the worship of Devaraja. The king then returned to his old
capital city of Hariharalaya (Lolei, 13 miles to the south-east of
Angkor) ai)d reigned there till his death.
This short account of king Jaya-varman II is derived from a
long record incised in A.D. 1052 by a descendant of Sivakaivalya,
whose family had filled the post of Royal Priest from the reign of
Jaya-varman II till that time,—a period of 250 years. It is a long
record of 340 lines containing 130 verses in Sanskrit and 146 lines
of prose text in the native Khmer language. It describes in detail
the Tantrik rites performed by Hiranyadama and proves the great
hold of Indian culture in these distant colonies.
Although we do not possess any record of the time of Jaya-
varman II, we may form a fair idea of his life and reign from scat¬
tered notices in later inscriptions and literary traditions. It is obvi¬
ous that he did not ascend the throne of Kambuja by hereditary right,
though it is very likely that he was remotely related to some royal
families of Kambuja. Why he went to Java and how he became
the ruler of Kambuja remain unknown, but there is no doubt that
he freed the country from foreign yoke. The most interesting thing
in his early career is the frequent change of capitals, no less than
five of which are mei ioned in the record referred to above.
Although the sites of all these capitals cannot be definitely deter¬
mined, it appears that Jaya-varman fixed his first capital—Indra-
pura—not far from the ancient royal seat of Sambhupura, and that
he was a native of this region. Then we find a gradual change of
the royal seat towards the west, first towards Angkor, then further
west towards Battambang, and lastly back again to Angkor. It is
generally held that these changes were either due to royal caprices
or inspired by a desire to find a suitable site for the capital of the
newly founded kingdom. But it is equally likely that the changes
indicate troubles which forced the king to take refuge in different
parts of the country at different times. Or it may be that it took
417
A.I.K.—27
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
2. Dynasty of Indra-varman
But the change in the royal family did not affect in any way
either the extent of the kingdom or its political importance. On
the other hand Indra-varman claims in his record that his commands
were respectfully obeyed by the rulers of China, Champa, and Yava-
dvipa. Such specific claims cannot be dismissed as mere figments
of imagination. As we have seen above, Kambuja was made to suffer
a great deal by both Champa and Java (Yava-dvipa) towards the
close of the eighth and the beginning of the ninth century A.D. It
is very likely that she turned against her old enemies and scored
some success. There are also good grounds to believe, as we shall
see later, that Indra-varman extended his sway over the province
of Yunnan, and it is evidently in this region that he came into con¬
flict with China.
419
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
III. CHAMPA
gained the kingdom of Champa “by the special merit of his auste¬
rities, and by virtue of his pure intelligence, not from his grand¬
father or father.” Most likely the immediate ancestors of Indra-
varman were mere local rulers, and he made himself master of the
whole kingdom by his own prowess. His original name was “Sri
Lakshmindra Bhu misvara Gramasvamin,” and after he became king
of Champa he assumed the title “Sri Jaya Indra-varman Maharaja-
dhiraja.” The epigraphie records refer to his family as Bhrigu
dynasty, presumably because, according to the mythological account
of the origin of the family, Bhrigu was sent to Champa by Mahadeva
himself.
A.D. 989 under the name of Vijaya Sri Hari*varman (II) at Vijaya,
in Binh-Dinh, but later removed to the old capital at Indrapura,
Le Hoan now again ravaged the borderlands of Champa. Hari-
varman sent an embassy with rich presents to the Chinese Emperor
who commanded Le Hoan to keep within his own territory. Hari-
varman also conciliated the Annamese king by refusing assistance
to a rebel Annamese chief. Le Hoan appreciated this act and in
return stopped his incursions and released a number of Cham pri¬
soners (A.D. 992). During the same year Hari-varman was gratified
beyond measure by receiving a rich present from the Chinese
Emperor consisting of magnificent horses, standards, and other
equipments of war, Hari-varman wrote back to the emperor that
thanks to the imperial favour his kingdom was again enjoying
peace, and his neighbours no longer entertained any desire of ruin¬
ing him. It is evident, however, that the imperial favour emboldened
the Cham king to ravage the Annamese territory to the north,
although outwardly he was on friendly terms and sent diplomatic
missions to Le Hoan, This undercurrent of hostility between
Champa and her northern neighbour continued during the next half
a century and ultimately proved her ruin. For the time being, how¬
ever, things went on well, though Hari-varman’s successor, called in
Chinese chronicles Yan Pu Ku Vijaya Sri, who ascended the throne
some time before A.D. 999, transferred the capital permanently to
Vijaya, far to the south, as a precautionary measure.
XV. JAVA
1. The Kingdom of Mataram
A powerful kingdom was founded in Central Java by king
Sannaha in the first half of the eighth century A.D, Sanjaya, the
successor of Sannaha, is known to have been ruling in A.D. 732. He
is described in the Changal Inscription as “conqueror of the coun¬
tries of neighouring kings"; and a literary work, composed much
later, gives details of his conquests which included Sumatra, Kam-
buja, and probably also Malay Peninsula. It is difficult to say how
far this later tradition can be regarded as historical. But Sanjaya
was undoubtedly a great hero as his name figures prominently even
in later epigraphic records. Some scholars have even gone so far
as to regard him as the founder of the &ailendra Dynasty mentioned
above; but this view rests upon very slender foundations. There
are, however, good grounds to believe that Sanjaya was the founder
of the kingdom of Mataram which, after a career of glory in the
early period, again flourished in the sixteenth century as an impor¬
tant principality under a Muslim Sultan. The old capital of this
427
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
king had succeeded in his resistance and hurled back the invaders
from his country.
In spite of this set-back, king Dharmavaihsa enhanced the glory
and prestige of Java in Indonesia. Unfortunately, the origin and
incidents of his struggle with the Sailendras are not known, but it
may not be unconnected with the tragic end of the Javanese king
less than four years later. We learn from a record of his successor
and son-in-law Airlangga that in A.D. 1006 Java was destroyed by
a great catastrophe (pralaya) which overwhelmed it like the sea.
“Then the flourishing capital city,” so runs the record, “which was
hitherto a seat of joy and merriment, was reduced to ashes, and the
great king met his end in the year 929 (— A.D. 1007).”
It is held by some that the above passage refers to a natural
calamity like a volcanic eruption. But this is hardly borne out by
the detailed story of Airlangga’s flight, his fugitive life, and the
recovery of the kingdom after arduous fight with various enemies.
There can be hardly any doubt that the calamity was caused by a
hostile attack. It is natural to infer that the enemies who destroyed
the political life of Java were either the Sailendras or some powers
backed by them. But there is no evidence in support of it, and the
absence of any reference to the Sailendras in the detailed account
of the subsequent struggles of Airlangga makes it very unlikely.
But whoever might have been the enemy, his triumph was complete.
King Dharmavamia died and his kingdom perished with him in
A.D. 1007. The story of its recovery by Airlangga will be narrated
in the next volume.
V. BURMA
The Hinduised Pyu kingdom,7 with its capital at Srlkshetra
(Prome), was the most powerful kingdom in Burma during the
period under review. According to Chinese accounts it included
nearly the whole of the country, except the Mon kingdom in the
coastal regions of Lower Burma, and probably also Arakan. For
we are told that the Pyu kingdom touched Kambuja on the east and
India on the west, extended .up to the sea on the south and adjoined
Dvaravati on the south-west (evidently a mistake for south-east, if
it refers to the well-known Hindu kingdom in Siam). It is said to
have been 500 miles from east to west and 700 to 800 miles from
north to south. It extended up to the Thai kingdom of Yunnan in
the north and claimed supremacy over 18 subject kingdoms. The
Chinese account also gives us a list of eight or nine garrison towns
and of the 32 most important among the 298 tribes or settlements.
The capital city, 27 miles in circumference, was surrounded by a wall
482
COLONIAL AND CULTURAL EXPANSION
faced with glazed bricks, and this was protected by a moat whose
banks were also faced with brick. The city had twelve gates with
pagodas at the four corners. It contained several thousands of fami¬
lies, and over a hundred Buddhist monasteries, with courts and
rooms all decked with gold and silver.
cult of &iva was undoubtedly the most popular. Next came Vaish-
navism. As in India, the worship of Brahma never attained great
popularity. The images of Trimurti, i.e, the three gods combined
together, as well as of the composite god &iva-Vishnu, are found in
Java and Kambuja. As a matter of fact the entire Puranic pantheon
was known in these countries, and we come across images of Hindu
gods and goddesses in their innumerable names and forms as known
in India. The mystic philosophy of the Upanishads, and even later
outgrowths such as Tantrik rites, can also be traced. Indeed Hindu
religion in all its aspects, both canonical and popular, appears in
such fullness in these colonies, that to describe it in detail would be
to recount at length the religious conditions in India.
The study of Indian religious literature was a special feature of
the religious life. In Java the period under review saw the begin¬
nings of that extensive Javanese religious literature, based on
Indian texts, which will be noticed in the next volume. The inscrip¬
tions of Kambuja frequently refer to Brahmanas versed in Veda,
Vedahga, Samaveda, and Buddhist scriptures, and kings and minis¬
ters- possessing a profound knowledge of the Dharmasastra.
Arrangements were also made for the daily recitation of R&mayana,
Mahahkarata, and the Puranas, and it was considered a pious act to
present copies of these texts to temples.
Buddhism was also popular, particularly in Suvarna-dvipa, i.e.
East Indies. Although the Hlnayana form was prevalent in the
seventh century, it was almost ousted in the eighth by Mahavana,
which had a triumphal career in Java and Sumatra during the
period of ^ailendra supremacy. It has left undying memorials in
the famous stupa of Barabudur and several magnificent temples.
As noted above,10 Buddhist teachers from Bengal exerted consider¬
able influence in Java, and the ^ailendras were in close contact with
the Pa la kings and such famous Buddhist centres in India as Nalanda.
As in the case of Puranic religion, almost the entire hierarchy of
the Mahayanist gods make their appearance in Java, not only in
identical forms and names, but also with the familiar postures called
mudrd. We possess also an interesting work Sang hyang Kamaka-
yanikan, a somewhat free Javanese version of a Sanskrit original
interspersed with a number of original Sanskrit verses, which gives
an exposition of the sacred principles of Mahayana.
Buddhism had also prevailed in Champa. Even as early as
A.D. 605 a victorious Chinese general carried away 1350 Buddhist
books from this country. From the eighth century A.D. we hear
of many kings constructing Buddhist temples and monasteries and
installing Buddhist images. The site of Dong Duong indicates the
436
COLONIAL AND CULTURAL EXPANSION
great hold of Buddhism in this country. For its ruins contain the
remains of a Buddhist temple far greater in dimensions than the
largest Brahmanical temple in Champa, and a fine standing image
of Buddha, which is regarded as the most artistic representation of
a god so far found in that country.
paid reverence to all religious sects. The same king endowed both
Saiva and Buddhist religious establishments or installed images of
different sectarian gods. In this respect the Indian colonists main¬
tained the best traditions of their motherland.
3. Art
Art in Java, as in India and her other colonies, was the hand¬
maid of religion. The religious structures in Java are known by
the general name Charidi, and most of them are temples, built on a
more or less uniform plan with variations in details. Each temple
consists of three distinct parts, viz. (1) a high decorated basement,
(2) the square body of the temple with a vestibule in front and pro¬
jections on all other sides, and (3) the roof consisting of a series of
gradually diminishing storeys each of which is a minor replica of
the main temple with four turrets at four corners of the same design.
The interior of the temple is a plain square chamber, whose vertical
walls support a series of projecting horizontal courses of stone which
form an inverted pyramid of steps and is terminated by a high and
pointed hollow cone.
The primitive art began from the age of Fu-nan, and was developed
by natural stages of evolution to the classical art. But as most of
the monuments of Fu-nan were made of perishable materials like
wood or brick, there are not enough remains to enable us to recon¬
struct the history of its art. The brick temples, roughly resembling
those of Java, show some affinity with Gupta art, which is even
more evident in some of the sculptures discovered both in Siam
and Cambodia. It may be safely presumed, therefore, that the pri¬
mitive art of Kambuja and Siam was directly derived from India.
Some scholars are even of opinion that the artists and craftsmen
who built the temples and made the images of gods came from
India. But be that as it may, there is no doubt that the primitive
art of Kambuja was purely Indian, and from Fu-nan this Indian
art of the Gupta age spread over a wide territory in Indo-China
along with other phases of Indian culture.
There are also a large number of temples in Champa. In addi¬
tion to many isolated examples there are three important groups
of temples, viz. those of Myson, Dong Duong, and Po-Nagar, the
second being Buddhist and the other two Saivite. These temples
are generally built of brick and belong to one standard type. Their
most characteristic feature is the roof which has three different
forms. The first or the normal form consists of a series of four
receding storeys crowned by a curvilinear pyramidal slab. The
second form consists of two storeys, the upper one having the shape
of an elongated arched vault with ogival ends. The third form con¬
sists of a curvilinear pyramidal dome, springing directly from the
walls of the sanctuary and surmounted by an dmalaka such as we
find in the iikharas of Northern India. All these forms or types are
found in the rock-cut temples at Mamailapuram in Madras, and
there can hardly be any doubt that the architectural style of
Champa was derived from India.
Although neither Champa nor Kambuja produced during this
period any structure that can even make a remote approach to
what we find in Java, there was a fair amount of artistic activity
in vboth, full of future promise. In Champa, due perhaps to the
political conditions, these promises never materialised. But in
Kambuja the art developed in rapid strides after tenth century A.D.
and produced some remarkable monuments which almost rivalled
those of Java.
4. Literature
The Sanskrit inscriptions discovered in Kambuja, Champa,
Malaya Peninsula, and Java leave no doubt that Sanskrit literature,
442
COLONIAL AND CULTURAL EXPANSION
in ail its branches, was highly cultivated in all the Indian colonies-
As we have seen above, 13we can trace its beginning to a much earlier
period. But the large number of Sanskrit inscriptions—about 30
in Champa and 70 in Kambuja—during the period under review,
indicate very great progress in the study of Sanskrit. Reference
has already been made above to religious literature, but even in
secular literature the achievements were remarkable. Inscriptions,
earlier than the ninth century A.D., refer to many of its branches
such as grammar and philology, philosophy, political science (Artha-
sastra), and Kavya. The literary accomplishments of king Indra-
varman III of Champa and Yaso-varman of Kambuj a have been
mentioned above. Yaso-varman’s minister was an expert in astro¬
logy. All these throw interesting light on the zeal and enthusiasm
with which all classes of peopk igh and low, took to the study
of Sanskrit.
The cultivation of Sanskrit language and literature reached its
highest development in Kambuj a during the ninth and tenth cen¬
turies A.D. This may be easily deduced from a careful study of
the large number of Sanskrit inscriptions composed in beautiful
and almost flawless Kavya style. Many of these run to great
lengths. Four inscriptions of Yaso-varman contain respectively 50
75, 93, and 108 verses each, and two inscriptions of Raj endra-varman
contain respectively 218 and 298 verses. The authors of these in¬
scriptions give clear evidence of a thorough knowledge of alrhost all
the Sanskrit metres and the most abstruse rules of Sanskrit rhetoric
and prosody, intimate acquaintance with various branches of lite¬
rature such as Veda, Vedanta, Purana, Dharmasastra, Buddhist and
Jain literature, different schools of philosophy, and Vyakarana, spe¬
cially the works of Panin! and Patahjali. Specific reference is made
to Vatsyayana and Viialaksha as the authors respectively of Kama-
sutra and a book on polity, to Manu-smriti, from which a verse is
actually quoted, and to the famous medical treatise of Susruta.
Both the form and contents of the inscriptions indicate a mastery
of Sanskrit Kavya. An inscription of Eajendra-varman contains
four verses which are evidently copied from Raghuvamsa with slight
modifications. Some inscriptions of Yaso-varman refer to Pravara-
sena and Mayura as the authors of Setubandha and Suryasataka,, and
to Gunadhya as a writer in Prakrit with an allusion to the legend
about him contained in the KathdsariUsdgara. The inscriptions
themselves are sometimes writtten in such a fine Kavya style as would
do honour to a reputable Sanskrit poet of India. They certainly
excel in literary merits the Sanskrit inscriptions so far discovered
in India. As to the legends and mythology, derived chiefly from the
Puranas and the epics, and the allusion, alliteration, and simile etc.
443
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
VII. CHINA a
all the kings of Central Asia and Northern India to help them with
guides. These monks were sometimes asked to carry out certain
religious duties in India, on behalf of the Emperor.
Five of these Chinese pilgrims have left short inscriptions at the
sacred site of Bodh-Gaya. One of them records the visit of the monk
Che-yi in A.D. 950- Three others, dated A.D. 1022, refer to the con¬
struction of stone stupas by three Chinese monks. The last inscrip¬
tion is more interesting. It is dated in A.D. 1033 and records the
construction of a stupa in honour of Emperor T’ai-tsong by the
Emperor and the Dowager Empress of the great Song dynasty. We
are told that the Emperor and the Empress “respectfully charged
the monk Huai-wen with the task of going to the country of Magadha
in order to erect a stupa by the side of the Vajrasana dedicated to
Emperor T’ai-tsong.” This inscription still remains as the last
monument of the Chinese pilgrimage to India which began about
a thousand years ago.
The last Chinese piligrim left India shortly after A.D. 1033. and
a group of nine Indian monks went to China in A.D. 1036. Only a
single Indian monk is known to have visited China after that date, in
A.D. 1053, and the official chronicle terminates its notice on India
from A.D. 1036. This date, therefore, marks the close of the long
and intimate cultural intercourse between India and China. The
cause of this sudden end is not easy to determine, and it naturally
led to a decline in the popularity of Buddhism. “The number of
Buddhist monks and nuns in China in A.D. 1021 were respectively
3,97,615 and 61,240; in 1034, 3,85,520 and 48,740; but in 1068, only
2,20,660 and 34,030.”16
There was political relation between South India and China
during the Song period. A Chola embassy visited the Imperial
Court in A.D. 1015. Details of their journey are given in Chinese
annals which show that it took, in all, 1150 days, though they were
actually under sail for only 247 days. The Chola king is said to
have sent as presents, among other things, 21,000 ounces of pearls,
60 elephants’ tusks, and 60 catties of frankincense. The envoy added
6600 ounces of pearls and 3300 catties of perfumes. In A.D. 1033
and 1077 the Chola king sent two more embassies to China.
The sea-borne trade between India and China continued through¬
out this period, but it is difficult to say how far the Indians took
any share in it. The Song Annals do not include India among the
countries whose merchants traded at Canton in A.D. 971. Chou
Ku-fei, writing in 1178, refers to Quilon as an important centre of
trade with China, but does not mention India among the countries
445
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
engaged in that trade. It may be argued from these that the Arabs
were gradually ousting the Indians from the Chinese trade.16 But
the discovery of 15 coins in Tanj ore District, representing practically
the entire Song period, may be cited as an evidence that the com¬
mercial relations between South India and China, which flourished
in the Tang period,17 probably continued uninterrupted through¬
out the Song period.18
Yin. TIBET
Shortly after this the king of Tibet fell into the hands of an
enemy and died in captivity. Before his death he sent a message
which so touched the heart of. Dipahkara that he decided to visit
Tibet.
Atlsa was received with high honours at the frontier of Tibet.
Four generals, with one hundred horsemen, received him and he
was escorted in a procession carrying flags and playing various musi¬
cal instruments. His journey through the country was in the nature
of a royal tour, and he was everywhere hailed by all classes of
people. The king arranged a grand ovation for him in the capital.
Dipahkara spent the remaining 13 years of his life in Tibet, preach¬
ing the pure doctrines of Buddhism and writing sacred texts. He
reformed Buddhism in Tibet by eliminating Tantrik elements, and
wrote about two hundred books. He was the spiritual guide and
teacher of Bromton, the founder of the first grand hierarchy of
Tibet. He died in A.D. 1053, and is even now remembered with
deep veneration all over upper Asia or wherever the Buddhism of
the Tibet variety prevails.
Throughout the Pala period Tibet was in close touch with
India, particularly with the great Universities of Nalanda and Vik-
ramasila. She adopted many traits of Indian culture along with
religion, such as the 60 years’ cycle system. Many Indian monks
visited Tibet and preached the new developments of Buddhism. In
particular the mystic schools of Buddhism like Vajrayana and Saha-
jayana found great favour there. The vast literature of this reli¬
gion, now lost in India, has been preserved in Tibetan translations,
in the two voluminous collections known as Bstan-hgyur and Bkah-
hgyur. We possess only a bare knowledge of the names and gene¬
ral contents of the texts included in them, as most of them have
not yet been studied in detail. But the systematic catalogue pre¬
pared by Csoma de Coros and Cordier, and works of several other
scholars show that these works are very large in number and varied
in nature. They furnish positive testimony to the intimate connec¬
tion between the two countries and the profound influence exer¬
cised by India upon the development of religious thought and lite¬
rature, as well as many other aspects of culture in Tibet.
458
LIST OF BIBLIOGRAPHIES
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chapter I
Chapter II
>»
Chapter XIV
454
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
I. ORIGINAL SOURCES: Literary:
Texts and Translations,
(1) Indian Sources:
(A) BRAHMANICAL:
(i) EPICS:
Mahabhdrata (Bom. Ed.), with the comm, of Nilakantha.
Edited by R. Kinjawadekar. Poona, 1929-33.
(CaL Ed.) Edited by N. Siromani and others.
BI. Calcutta, 1834-39.
(Kumbhakonam Ed.) Ed. by T. R. Krishna-
charya and T. R. Vyasacharya. Bombay,
1905-10.
(Southern Recension) Ed. by P. P. S. Sastri.
Madras, 1931 jff.
(Critical Edition) I. Adiparvan. Ed. by V. S.
Sukthankar Poona, 1927-33.
II. Sabhaparvan. Ed. by F. Edgerton. Poona,
1943-44.
III, IV. Aranyakaparvan. Ed. by V. S.
Sukthankar. Poona, 1941-42.
V. Virataparvan. Ed. by Raghu Vira. Poona,
1936. '
VI. Udyogaparvan. Ed. by S. K. De. Poona,
1937-40.
VII. Bhishmaparvan. Ed. by S. K. Belvaikar.
Poona, 1945-47.
VIII. Dronaparvan. Fasc. 25. Ed. by S. K.
De. Poona, 1953 (in progress).
IX. Karnaparvan. Ed. by P. L. Vaidya.
Poona 1950-54
XIII-XVI. 6antiparvan. Ed. by S. K. Bel-
valkar. Poona, 1949-54 (in progress).
Eng. trans. by K. M. Ganguly. Published by
P- C, Roy. Calcutta, 1884-96; New Ed. Cal¬
cutta, 1926-32.
Eng. trans. by M. N. Dutt. Calcutta, 1895-1905.
JRamdyana (Bengal Recension) Ed. by G. Gorresio. Turin,
1843-67.
(North-Western India) Ed- by Pandit Rama
Labhaya and others. Lahore, 1923 ff.
(North and South) Bombay, 1902.
(South) Madras, 1933.
(Critical Ed.) Ed- by Raghu Vira. First Fasc.
Lahore, 1938.
Eng. trans. by M. N. Dutt. Calcutta. 1892-94.
Trans, into English verse, by R. T, H- Griffith.
Benares, 1915.
455
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
(ii) PURANAS:
Agni Purdna Ed. by R. Mitra. BI. Calcutta, 1873-79.
Ed. ASS. Poona, 1900.
Eng. trans. M. N. Dutt. Calcutta, 1901.
Bhdgavata Pur ana Ed, with French trans. by E. Burnouf, and con¬
tinued by Hauvette-Besnault and Roussel*
5 Vols. Paris, 1840-98.
Ed. by V. L. Pansikar. Bombay, 1920.
Eng. trans. M. N- Dutt. Calcutta, 1895.
Eng. trans. bv Swami Vijnanananda. SBH.
Allahabad, 1921-23.
Eng. trans. by S- Subba Rao. Tirupati, 1928.
Eng. trans. by J. M. Sanyal. Calcutta, 1930-34.
Bhavishya Pur ana Pub. Venkatesvara Press. Bombay, 1910.
Brahma Purdna ASS. Poona, 1895-
Birahmarlda
• • Purdna
• Pub. Venkatesvara Press. Bombay, 1913.
Brihanndradiya
Purdna Ed. P. Hrishikesha Sastri. BI. Calcutta, 1891.
Garuda Purdna Bombay, 1906.
Eng. trans. M- N. Dutt. Calcutta, 1908.
Harivamsa Ed. R. Kinjawadekar. Poona, 1936.
Kurma Purdna
•
Ed. Nilamani Mukhopadhyaya. BI. Calcutta,
1890.
Linga Purdna Ed. J. Vidyasagara- BI. Calcutta, 1885.
Markandeya Purdna Ed. K. M. Banerjea. BI. Calcutta, 1862.
Eng. trans. by F. E- Pargiter. Calcutta, 1904.
Matsya Purdna ASS. Poona. 1907.
Eng. trans. by a Taluqdar of Oudh. SBH. 2
Vols. Allahabad, 1916-17.
Padma Purdna Ed- V. N. Mandlik. ASS. 4 Vols. Poona.
1893-94.
Pub. Venkatesvara Press. Bombay, 1895.
Siva Purdna Pub. Venkatesvara Press. Bombay.
Vardha Purdna Ed. P. Hrishikesa Sastri. BI. Calcutta, 1893.
Vdyu Purdna Ed. R. Mitra. 2 Vols. BI. Calcutta, 1880-88.
ASS. Poona, 1905.
Vishnu Purdna Bombay, 1889.
Eng. trans. by H. H. Wilson. 5 vols. London,
1864-70.
Eng. trans. by M- N. Dutt. Calcutta, 1894.
V ishnudharmot-
tara Purdna Pub. Venkatesvara Press. Bombay, 1912.
(iii) PHILOSOPHY:
(1) Mimdmsd:
Nyayakanika of Vachaspati
See below under “Vidhiviveka”.
Prakaranapanchikd of 6alikanatha
Benares, 1904.
Slokavdrttika of Kumarila Bhatta
Ed. in Chowkhamba SS. Benares, 1898-9.
Ed. in Pandit, NS, Vols. 3-4.
Eng. trans. by G. Jha. BI. Calcutta, 1900 ff.
456
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
(J) Vedanta:
Bhdmati of Vachaspati
Ed. BI. Calcutta, 1876-1880.
Ed. by Bala Sastri. Benares, 1880.
Ed. by Jivananda Vidyasagara. Calcutta, 1891.
Ed. with notes by Dhundiraj Sastri Nyayo-
padhyaya. Benares, 1935-37.
(Chatussutri) Ed. with Eng. trans. by S. S.
Suryanarayana Sastri and C- Kunhan Raja.
Madras, 1933.
Brahmasiddhi of Mandanamisra
• 9
(6) Yoga:
E^jarnartanda of Bhoja
Ed. and trans. by R. Mitra. BL Calcutta, 1883.
Yogasutras with Rdj arnartanda and other
comms. Ed. by Dhundiraj Sastri. Benares,
1930.
Tattvavaisdradi of Vachaspati
Yogasutras with the comm, of Vyasa and the
gloss of Vachaspati. Ed. by R. Bodas. BSS.
Bombay, 1892; 2nd Ed. 1917.
Ed. by Gosvami Damodara Sastri. Benares,
1935.
Eng. trans. by J. H. Woods. HOS. Cambridge
Mass., 1914.
Eng. trans. by Ramaprasada. SBH. Allaha¬
bad, 1910.
458
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
(iv) DH ARMA&ASTR A:
Bdlakridd, of Visvarupa
Ydjnavalkya-smriti with the comm, of Vis-
varupa. TSS. Trivandrum, 1922-24.
Dharmas&stra-samigraha
Ed. by J. Vidyasagara. 2 Vols. Calcutta, 1876.
Manuhhdshya of Medhatithi
Manu-smriti with the comm, of Medhatithi.
Ed- by G. Jha. BI. Calcutta, 1932-39.
Ed. by V. N. Mandlik. Bombay, 1886.
Ed. by J. R. Gharpure. Bombay, 1920.
Eng. trans. by G. Jha. Calcutta, 1922-29.
Smntlndm Samuehchaya
Ed. in ASS. Poona, 1905.
Smriti-sandarbhah
* *
Vols. I-IIL Guruman^ala-granthamala. Cal¬
cutta, 1952.
(vi) POLITY:
Nitisara of Kamandaka
Ed. by R. Mitra. BI. Calcutta, 1884.
Ed. with the comm, of 6ankararya, by T. Gana-
pati Sastri. TSS. Trivandrum, 1912.
JVttisdra of Sukra
Ed. by G. Oppert- Madras, 1882.
Eng. trans- by M. N. Dutt. Calcutta, 1896.
Eng. trans. by B. K. Sarkar. 2nd Ed. Allaha^
bad, 1923.
Nitivakydmrita of Somesvara
Bombay, 1887-88.
Pub, MDJG Series, Bombay.
459
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
(vii) LEXICONS:
Bhanvantari See below under “Medicine”.
Halayudha Abhidhdnaratnamdld. Ed. by Th. AufrechL
London, 1861.
Kesava Kalpadrukosa. Ed. by Ramavatara Carina.
GOS. 2 vols. Baroda, 1928, 1932.
(viii) GRAMMAR:
Kdtantra With the comm, of Durgasimha. Ed. by J.
Eggeling. BI- Calcutta, 1874-78.
Sabddnusdsana of Sakatayana, with Prakriydsamgraha of
Abhayachandra. Pub. by Jestharam Mu-
kundji. Bombay, 1907.
(ix) ASTRONOMY, ASTROLOGY AND
MATHEMATICS:
Bhattotpala See below under “Varahamihira”.
Mahavlrachary a Ganitasdrasamgraha. Ed. with Eng. trans. and
notes by M. Rangacharya. Madras, 1912-
Sridharaeharya Ganitasdra or Trisatu Ed. by M. Ramanuja-
charya and G. R. Kaye. Leipzig, 1913.
Varahamihira Brihaj-jdtaka. With Bhattotpala’s comm. Ed.
by Sita Ram Jha> Benares, 1934.
(x) MEDICINE:
Bhanvantari Dhanvantariya Nighantu. ASS, No. 33. Poona.
1896.
Indu Comm, on Ashtanga-samgraha. Ed. by Rudra
Parasara. Trichur, 1913-24.
Madhava Rugvinischaya or Madhavanidana. Ed. with
comm, by Kaviraj S. C. Sen- 2nd Ed.
Benares, 1932.
Ed. with comms. by J. T. Acharya. Bombay,
1920.
Vrinda Siddhiyoga. ASS, No. 27. Poona, 1894.
(xi) POETICS DRAMATURGY, AND
METRICS:
Abhinavagupta Lochana. KM, 25. Bombay, 1911.
German trans. by H. Jacobi. ZDMG, LVI and
LVII.
Lochana (VI). Ed. by S. K. De. Calcutta, 1923
(JDL,_IX. 15-42).
Anandavardhana Dhvanydloka, with the comm. Lochana of
Abhinavagupta. See above under “Abhi¬
navagupta”.
Dhananjaya Dasarupa. Ed. with the comm- of Dhanika.
by F. E, Hall. BI. Calcutta, 1865.
Eng. trans. G. C- O. Haas. New York, 1912.
Jayaddman (Comprising Jayadevachchhandah, Chhan-
donusdsanam of Jayaklrti and of Hemachan-
dra, and Vrittaratndkarah of Kedara). Ed.
with intr., iist and index of Sanskrit metres,
etc. by H. D. Velankar. Bombay, 1949.
460
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bauddha-stotra-samgraha
Vol- I, consisting of Sragdhard-stotra of Sar-
vajnamitra. Ed. by S. C. Vidyabhushaaja.
BI. Calcutta, 1908.
Guhyasamuja Tantra or Tathdgataguhyaka
Ed. by B. Bhattacharyya. GOS, 53. Baroda,
1931.
Jndnasiddhi of Indrabhuti
vSee “V ajraydnagranthadvayam” below-
Kaulajndnanirnaya Ed. by P. C. Bagchi. Calcutta, 1934.
Maftpisrl-Mdlakalpa See “Arya-manjusri-mulakalpa” above.
Prajnopayavinischqyasiddhi of Anangavajra
See ‘‘Vajraydnagranthadvayam” below.
Sddhanarnald Ed. by B. Bhattacharyya. GOS, 26, 41. Baro¬
da, 1925, 1928.
Saktisangama Tantra Ed- by B. Bhattacharyya. GOS, 61, 91, 104.
Baroda, 1932, 1941, 1947.
Sragdhard-stotra See “Bauddha-stotra-samgraha” above.
Tathdgataguhyaka See (‘Guhyasamaja Tantra” above,
Tattva^samgraha of Santarakshita with the comm, of Kamala-
sila. Ed. by E. Krishnamacharya with a
Foreword by B. Bhattacharyya. GOS, 30,
31. Baroda, 1926.
Eng. trans- by G. Jha. GOS, 80, 83. Baroda,
1937, 1939.
V ajraydnagran- comprising Prajnopayavinischayasiddhi of
thadvayam Anangavajra and Jndnasiddhi of Indrabhuti.
Ed. by B. Bhattacharyya. GOS, 44. Baroda,
1929.
(C) JAIN:
(Only important authors and works in Sanskrit and Prakrit are listed
here. For full details reference may be made to Wintemitz, His¬
tory of Indian Literature, Vol. II, and Velankar, Jinaratnakosa
Poona, 1944.)
Asaga V ardhamdna-charita or Mahdwra-charita.
Pub. with Marathi trans. Sholapur, 1931.
Dhanapala Paiyalachchhl. Pub. Bhavnagar, V. S. 1973.
Ed. by G. Biihler in Beitrage zur Kunde der
Indoger. Sprachen, IV. 70 ff.
Tilakamahjati-kathd. NSP. Bombay, 1903.
Dhanahjaya Rdghava-Pandaviya or Dvisandhdna. Ed.
with comm, by Sivadatta and K. P. Parab-
KM. Bombay, 1895.
Dharmadasa Upadesamald (Prakrit). Pub. JDPS. Bhav¬
nagar, 1915; Uvaesamala. Ed- by L. P. Tessi-
tori. GSAIy 25 (1912). 162-297.
Gunabhadra Uttarapurana (See under Jinasena I).
Haribhadra Dhurtdkhyana (Prakrit). Ed. by A. N. Upa-
dhye. SJS. Bombay, 1944-
Samaruichchakahd. Ed. by H. Jacobi. BI.
Calcutta. 1926.
464
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
(D) MUSLIM:
Ashkdl ul-Bildd of ibn Hauqal
Extracts trans. HIED, I. 31-40,
Chach-rwma of Muhammad ‘All i. Hamid i. Abu Bakr Kufi
Trans, by Mirza Kalich Beg Fredunbeg. Two
vols. Karachi, 1900.
Extracts trans. HIED, I. 131-211.
Habib-us-Siyar of Khond Mir
Bombay, 1857.
Jdmi ‘ul-Hikdyat of Muhammad ‘Aufi
Extracts trans. HIED, II. 155-203.
Kitdb Futuh al Buldan of Ahmad ibn Yahya ibn-Jabir al-Baladhuri
Eng. trans. by P. K. Hitti and F. C. Murgotten.
Kitdb vl-Aqdlim of Ishtakhri
Extracts trans- HIED, I. 26-30.
Kitdb-uLHind and Athdr-al-Bdquia of al-Biruni
Eng. trans. (Alberuni’s Indie.; by E. C. Sachau..
London, 1914.
466
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Mur&j-ul-Zahab of al-Mas’udi
Text and French trans. by Barbicr de Mcynard.
Paris, 1861.
Extracts trans. HIED, I. 18-25.
Rauzat-us-Safa of Mir Khond
SVsiiat ut-Taurtrlkh of Sulayman
Extracts trans- HIED, I. 1-7.
Tabaqat-i-Akbarl of Nizamuddln
Trans, by B. Dey. BI. Calcutta, 1913.
Tabaqdt-i-Nlsin of Minhaj-ud-dln
Trans, by H. G. Raverty. London, 1881.
Taj-i:.l-Mansir of Hasan Nizami
Ta'rikk4-Firi$hta Lucknow, 1905. Eng. trans- (Rise of the
Mahomedan Power in India) by J. Briggs.
Vols. MV. London, 1829.
Ta'rtkh-i-Yanrini of Al-Utbl
Ed. by Ali.
Trans, by J. Reynolds. London-
Extracts trans. HIED, II. 14-52.
Tarkhan-ndma of Saiyid Jamal
Extracts trans. HIED, I. 300 ff.
Ta ' rihh-i-T dhiri Extracts trans. HIED, I. 253-281.
Td'rikh-i-Ma'sumi Extracts trans- HIED, I. 212-252.
Elliot, Sir H.M. and History of India as told by its own Historians.
Dovrsox. John. 8 Vols., London, 1866-77... .Vol. H. Re¬
printed with Introduction by Mohammad
Habib, Commentary by S. H. Hodiwala, and
Supplement by Khaliq Ahmad Nizami.
Aligarh, 1952.
HomvAU. S. II. Studies in Indo-MusUm History. Bombay,
1939.
(A) ARABIC:
Buzurg ibn Shahriyar
Kitdb €Ajdyab-ul-Hind or Livre des Merveilles
de L’Inde, Texte Arabe par P. A. Van der
Lith; traduction Franchise par L- Mareel
Devic. Leide, 1883-86.
Eng. trans. (The Book of the Marvels of India)
by L. Marcel t)evic. London, 1928.
* » • *
(B) TIBETAN:
Tabanatha German trans. by F. A. von Schiefner (Geschi-
chte des Buddhismus in Indien). St. Peters¬
burg, 1869,
Eng. trans. (History of Buddhism in India) by
U. N. Ghoshal and N- Dutt. 1HQ, III. 60-68;
508-9; 803-7; IV. 530-3; V. 715-21; VI. 334-
44; VII. 150-60; VIII. 247-52; X. 551-7;
XXVII. 239-49; XXVIII. 41-50.
Extracts trans. into English by W. L- Heeley.
IA IV. 101-4; “Taranatha’s Account of the
Magadha Kings” by E. Lyall. I A, IV. 361-7.
(2) COINS:
Allan, J. Catalogue of the Coins of Ancient India (in the
British Museum). London, 1936.
Banerji, R. D. Prachina M.udrd (Bengali). Calcutta, 1322 B.S.
Brown, C. J. Coins of India. Calcutta^ 1922.
Cunningham, A. Coins of Mediaeval India from the seventh
century down to the Muhammadan Conquest.
London, 1894.
Elliot, W. Coins of Southern India. London, 1896.
Rapson, E. J. Indian Coins. Strassburg,, 1897.
Singhal, C. R. Bibliography of Indian Coins. Bombav, 1950*
Smith, V. A. Catalogue of the Coins in the Indian Museum,
Calcutta, including the Cabinet of the Asiatic
Society of Bengal. Vol. I. Oxford, 1906.
468
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER I
THE RASHTRAKUTA EMPIRE
I. Original Sources:
(i) LITERARY:
Kalhana See above, under “Historical Works”
Nagavarma Karnd$akabhashabhushana. Ed- by L. Rice
Bangalore, 1884.
Nripatunga Kavirdjamdrga. Ed. by K. B. Pathak.
Pampa V ikramdrjuna Vi jay a or Pampa Bhdrata. Ed.
by L. Rice. Bangalore, 1898.
Somadeva See above, under “Chamou”.
(ii) INSCRIPTIONS:
Bhandarkar. T>. R. A List of the Inscriptions of Northern India
roritten in Brahmi and its derivative scripts
from about A.C. 300. Appendix to El, XIX-
XXIII.
Fleet,, J. F. The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the
Bombay Presidency. BG, I, ii. Bombay,
1896.
“Sanskrit and Old-Canarese Inscriptions” (deal¬
ing with the Rashfrakutas). IA, XI. 108-115;
124-127; 156-163; XII.* 156-165; 215-225;
247-258.
470
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
(ii) INSCRIPTIONS:
LIST OF IMPORTANT INSCRIPTIONS,
(See above, p. 40)
II. MODERN WORKS
Aiyangar, S.Krishna- “The Bappa Bhatti Charita and the Early His¬
swami. tory of the Gurjara Empire”. JBBRAS, NS,
IV. 101-133.
Ganguly, D. C. “The “Gurjaras” in the Rashtrakuta Inscrip¬
tions”. PIHC, III. 513-5.
“The Pratiharas and the Gujaras”. JBORS.
XIV. 221-230.
Haldeb, R. R. “Who were the Imperial Pratiharas?” IALVII.
j 181-4.
Jain, H. L. “The Chief Political Divisions of India during
the Eighth Century.” 1C, XI. 161-170.
Majumdab, R. C. “The Gurjara Pratiharas.” JDL, X. 1-76.
“Some Problems concerning Gurjara-Prati-
haras.” Munshi Diamond Jubilee Vol.,
Part II (BV, X), 1-18.
(Both these articles give full references to
earlier literature on the subject).
Munshi, K. M. The Glory that was Gurjaradesa, Part III:
The Imperial Gurjaras. Bombay. 1944.
Ray, N. R. “A Note on the Chronology of the Later Prati¬
haras.” IA, LVII. 230-4.
Raychaudhubi, H.C. “A note on the Emperor Mahlpala of the Prati-
hara Dynasty.” PIHC, IV. 153-5.
Sastbi, K. A. Nila- “Mahlpala of the, Chandakausika.” JOR, VI.
kanta. 191-2.
Sen, B. C. “Nagabhata II’s Operations against Dharma-
pala and Chakrayudha.” PIHC, XL 141-7.
Sarma, Dasaratha. “The Imperial Pratiharas—A Revised Study.”
JIH, XXII. 93-105.
“Chronology of the Reign of the Imperial Pra-
tihara Nagabhata II.” IHQ, XX; 72-75.
“A Supplementary Note on Vatsaraja Pratl-
hara.” IHQ, XXIII. 43-4.
Smith, V. A. “The Gurjaras of Raj put ana and Kanauj.”
JRAS, 1909- 53 ff; 247 ff.
Tripathi, R. S. See above, under “Histories of the Period”.
V ENKATARAM AN A Y Y A, “The Rashtrakuta king Krishna II and Gurjara
N. Pratiharas of Kanauj.” PIHC, VI. 163-70.
CHAPTER m
THE PALAS
I. Original Sources:
(i) LITERARY:
Brihat-Svayambhu Purdna
Ed. by H. P. Sastri. BI. Calcutta, 1894-1900,
Rdmacharita of Sandhyakara Nandi
See above, in “General Bibliography” under
“Historical Works”.
473
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
21 48(?) Imadpur-I ft
7A,XIV. 165
(f.n.17).
JRASBL,VII. 218;
XVI. 247.
22 15 Gaya-S Nayapala Pdlas of Bengal, 78.
23 15 ft ft
JPASB,LXIX. 190.
23a 11 Belwa-CP Vigrahapala III E7,XXIX.9.
24 12 Amgachi-CP ft
E7,XV.293.
25 17 Bangaon-CP ft E7,XXIX,48.
26 3 Tetrawan-I Ramapala JASB,1V. 109.
JRASBL,IV. 390.
27 42 Chandimau-I ft Pdlas of' Bengal, 93.
28 8 Manahali-CP Madanapala JPASB,LXIX Part 1,68.
29 14 Jaynagar-I ft
ASC,III.125;
JRASBL,VII. 216.
474
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
H. MODERN WORKS:
In English:
Banbrji, R. D. The Palos of Bengal. MASB. V. 3. Calcutta,
1915.
“Bala Chronology.” JBORS, XIV. 489.
Beattacharya, D C. “A Chronology of the Pala Dynasty of Ben¬
gal.” L4., XLIX, 189.
“Pala Chronology (A reply to Prof. Banerji).”
IRQ, VI. 153.
Ghosh, J. C. “Caste and Chronology of the Pala kings of
Bengal.” IRQ, IX. 479.
Majumdar, R. C. History of Bengal, Vol. I. Dacca, 1943.
“Pala Chronology.” JBORS, XV. 643.
“The Chronology of the Pala kings.” JASB,
NS, XVII. 1.
Paul, P. L. The Early History of Bengal. 2 vols. Cal¬
cutta, 1939, 1940.
Raychoudhuri, H.C, “Pala Expansion in the Far South of India.”
POC, VIII. 537.
Sastrx, K. A. Nilfv “Rajendra Chola I and Mahlpala of Bengal.”
kanta. 7HQ, XIII. 149-52.
“The Battle of Venbai”. India Antiqua (Ley¬
den, 1947), 254-256.
Sen, B. C. Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of
Bengal. Calcutta, 1942.
Sharma, Dasarathft. “The two white umbrellas secured by Dhruva,”
IHQ, XX. 84-5.
In Bengali:
Banerji,R. D. Bahgldr Itihdsa (3rd Edition).
Chanda, R. P. Gandarijamald (B.S. 1319).
Majumdar, R. C. Bdngladeser Itihdsa (2nd Ed,, B.S- 1356).
Roy, N, R. Bahgdlir Itihdsa (B.S. 1356).
475
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
CHAPTER IV
EASTERN INDIA DURING THE PALA PERIOD
(1) NEPAL:
Original Sources:
Bendall, C. Catalogue of Buddhist Sanskrit MSS at Cam¬
bridge. Cambridge, 1883.
Historical Introduction to H. P. Sastri’s “Cata¬
logue of Palm-leaf and Selected Paper MSS
belonging to the Durbar Library, Nepal ”
Calcutta, 1905.
Journey in Nepal and Northern India. Cam¬
bridge, 1886-
“On Some Nepalese Coins in the Library of
the German Oriental Society.,, ZDMGr
XXXVI. 651-2.
Bhagvanlal, Indraji. “Inscriptions from Nepal.” IA, IX. 163-194.
Levi, S. “Anciennes Inscriptions du Nepal.” JA, 1907r
IX. 49-114.
Sastri, H. P. Catalogue of Palm-leaf and selected Paper
MSS belonging to the Durbar Library
Nepal. Calcutta, 1905.
Walsh, E. H. “The Coinage of Nepal.” JRAS, 1908• 669-
759; 1132-36.
Wright, D. History of Nepal (translated from the Par-
batiya). Cambridge, 1877.
Modem Works
Buhler, G. “Bhagwanlal Indraji’s Some Considerations
on the History of Nepal.” IA, XIII. 411-28.
Fleet, J. F. “Chronology of the Early Rulers of Nepal.”
IA, XIV. 342-351.
Kirkapatrick, Col. An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal. London,
1811.
Lahdon, Percival. Nepal. 2 Vols. London, 1928.
Levi, S. “Note sur la Chronologie du Nepal.” JA, 1894r
IV. 55-72.
Le Nepal, Vols. I-III. Paris, 1905-1908.
Majumdar, R. C. “Chronology of the Early kings of Nepal.” B. C.
Law Volume, I- 626-41.
Ray, H. C. DHNI, I, Ch. 4.
Taranatha See above, in “General Bibliography” under
“Tibetan”.
(2) KAMARUPA:
(i) Original Sources: Inscriptions
Bhattacharya, Kamarupasdsandvali (in Bengali). Rangpur,
Padmanatha. 1931.
List of important inscriptions has been given on p. 61.
476
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER V
CENTRAL AND WESTERN INDIA
Original Sources
(i) INSCRIPTIONS
(Note: No lists of inscriptions have been attached to this chapter
in view of the facts that they are few in number and that
complete lists of inscriptions will be attached to the chapter
in Vol. V, which is in continuation of this chapter.)
(1)
THE CHANDELLAS:
Original Sources
(i) LITERARY
Prabodhcchandrodaya of Krishnamisra
Pub. NSP. Bombay, 1924-
Eng. trans. by J. Taylor. London, 1862.
478
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Modem Works
CUNNINGHAM, A. Archaeological Survey Reports, X.
Ganguly, D. C. History of the Paramara Dynasty. Dacca, 1933,
Mttra, S. K. “A Note on the Status of the Early Chandella
Rulers ” 1HQ, XXIX. 304-309.
Majumdar, R. C. “The Gurjara Pratiharas”. JDL, X. 1-7R
Ray, H. C. DHN1, II, Ch. 11.
Smith, V. A “Contributions to the History of Bundel-
khand.” JASB, 1881, Vol. I. pt. 1, pp. 1-53-
‘‘The History and Coinage of the Chandel
(Chandella) Dynasty of Bundelkhand.” IA..
XXXVII. 114-148.
(2) THE KALACHURIS:
Original Sources:
LITERARY
Prahandhachint&mani of Merutuhga
Ed. Ramachandra Dinanatha. Bombay, 1888-
Ed. Muni Jinavijaya. SJS. Santiniketan, 1933.
Eng. trans. by C. H. Tawney- Bl. Calcutta,
1901.
Modern Works
Banbrji, R. D. The Haihayas of Tripuri and their Monuments-
MASI. Calcutta, 1931.
Cunningham, A. Archaeological Survey Reports, IX.
Hibalal. See above, in Ch. 1*
“The Kalachuris of Tripuri.” ABOR1, IX.
280-295.
Ganguly, D. C. “The Early History of the Kalachuris of Chedi.”
IHQ, XIII. 482-7.
Eastern Chdlukyas. Benares, 1937.
History of the Paramara Dynasty. Dacca, 1933-
Kielhorn, F. “Kalachuris of Tripuri.” El, II. 300-305.
Majumdar, R. C. “The Gurjara Pratiharas.” JDL, X. 1-76.
“The Kalachuri king Kokkalla I.” PlHCr
XII. 123-126.
Mirashi, V. V. “Yuvarajadeva I of Tripuri ” ABORl, XI. 361-
373.
Ray, H. C. DHNI, H, Ch. 12.
Vaidya, C. V. History of Medieval Hindu India. III. 187-192.
Poona, 1926.
(3) THE PARAMARAS:
Original Sources
LITERARY
Auchityavichara of Kshemendra
Ed. KM, I. 115 if.
Extracts JBBRAS, XVI- 167-179 (Peterson).
Navas&hasarikacharita of Padmagupta
Ed. by Vaman Sastri Islampurkar. BSS. Bom¬
bay, 1895. Extract Eng. trans. JBBRAS,
XXVI. 153 f.
479
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Puiyalachchhi of Dhanapala
£d. G. Biihler- Gottingen, 1879.
Prabandhachintdmani of Merutunga
See above, under “Kalachuris.”
Modem Works
Ayyangab, P. T. S. Bhojardja. Madras, 1931.
Buhler, G. and “"Crber das Navasahasankacharita des Padma-
Zachariae, Th. gupta oder Parimala.” Kaiserliche Akade-
mie der Wissenschaften, CXVI. 583-630.
Ganguly, D. C. History of the Paramdra Dynasty, Dacca, 1933.
Lu^rd, C. E. and Paramaras of Dhar and Malwa- Dhar State
Lele, K. K. Gazetteer. Reprint, Bombay, 1908.
Mirashi, V. V. ‘‘Historical Data in Padmagupta’s Navasaha-
sankacharita.” IA, LII. 101-107.
“New Light on the History of the Paramara
Dynasty/’ PIHC, V. 256-260.
Ray, H. C. DHN1, II, Ch. 14.
Tod, J. Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan> Ed- by
W. Crooke. Oxford, 1920.
(6)
THE GUHILAS
Modem Works
Bhandarkab, D. B. “Guhilots,” JPASB, 1909. 167 ff.
Gahguly, D. G “Al-Biranfs Gujarat.” Islamic Culture, XXL
“A Forgotten Moslem Invasion.” IHQ, XIV.
813=816.
“Gurjaras in the Rishfrakuta Inscriptions”.
P1HC, III. 513-515.
“History of the Gurjara Country,” IHQ, X.
613-623,
History of the Paramdra Dynasty. Dacca, 1933.
Balder, B. B. .“The Guhila kings of Mewar.” LA, 1927. 169 ff.
Mathub, M. L. “Early Rulers of Mewar and their Fights with
the Arabs.” IHQ, XXIX. 315-331; XXX
31-37.
481
A.I.K.—81
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
KASHMIR:
Original Sources
R&jatarangini of Kalhana
See above, under “Historical Works” in “Gene¬
ral Bibliography.”
Tabaqtit-i-Akbari of Nizamuddln
See above; under “Muslim” in “General Bib¬
liography.”
Ta>rtkh-i-Firishta
See above, under “Muslim” in “General Bib¬
liography.”
482
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Modern Works
Cunningham, A. Ancient Coinage of Kashmir. London, 1843.
Ghoshal, U. N. “Dynastic Chronicles of Kashmir.” 1HQ,
XVIII. 195-207; 302-341; XIX. 27-38; 158-72.
Ray, H, C. DHNI, I, Ch. 3.
Stein, M. A. “Notes on the Monetary System of Ancient
Kashmir.” Num. Chr., XIX. 125-74.
(9) CHAMBA:
Hutchinson, J. and “History of Chamba State”. Journal of the
Vogel, J, Ph. Panjah Historical Society, X. ii- 5-70.
Vogel, J. Ph. Antiquities of the Chamba State. Part I. ASL
N1S, 36. Calcutta, 1911.
CHAPTER VI
THE DECCAN
Original Sources:
Inscriptions
Rakgaohakya, V. Inscriptions of the Madras Presidency. 3 Vols.
Madras, 1919.
Sbwsll, R. Historical Ins-cripiions of Southern India.
Madras, 1932.
CHAPTER Vn
SOUTHERN INDIA
Original Sources
(i) INSCRIPTIONS
Ayyar, V. V. South Indian Inscriptions. Vol. XII. Madras,
1943.
Rangacharya, V. See above, under Ch. VI.
Sewell, R. See above, under Ch. VI.
South Indian Inscriptions.
(1) IMPORTANT INSCRIPTIONS OF THE PALLAVAS:
1. Velur Palayam Plates of Nandivarman III. SII II, Part V,
No. 98.
2. Triplicane inscription of Dantivarman. V. Venkappa, El, VIII,
No. 29.
3. Tiruvallarai ins. of Dantivarman. K. V. S. Iyer. El, XI. 156.
4. Tillaisthanam ins. of Vijayanandi-Vikramavarman. Ins. No. 52 of
1895.
5. Sendalai Pillar ins. of Nandi-Pottaraiyar. Ins. No. 11 of 1899.
6. Tiruvallam ins. of Vijayanandi-Vikramavarman. SII, III. 93.
7. Ulagalanda Perumal Temple (Kahehl) ins. of Nandippottarasar
who was victorious at Tellaru. Ins. 12 of 1895; V. Venkayya,
M.C.C. Magazine, VIII. 102. "
8. Tiruppalaitturai ins. Nandippottaraiyar, the victor at Tellaru.
Ins. No. 180 of 1907.
486
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
Modem Works
Aiyahgab, S. Krish¬ Some Contributions of South India to Indian
na swami. Culture. Calcutta, 1923. 2nd Ed. Calcutta,
1942.
Aiyer, K. V. Subrah- Historical Sketches of Ancient Deccan. Mad¬
manya. ras, 1917.
Abokiaswamx, K. The Early History of the Velldr Basin. Mad¬
ras, 1954.
B.Ch. and
Pith abba, See above, under Ch. VI.
Rao, N. L.
Dikshitak, V. R. R. Studies in Tamil Literature and History. Lon¬
don, 1930.
Gopabab, R. History of the Pallavas of Kanchi. Madras,
1928.
Hebas, H. Studies in Pallava History. Madras, 1933.
Jquveaij-Dtibrkuxl, Ancient History of the Deccan (translated
G. from the French by V. S. Swaminadha Dik-
shitar). Pondicherry, 1920.
Pallavas (translated from the French by V. S.
Swaminadha Dikshitar). Pondicherry, 1917.
Mahaiangam, T. V. The Bdnas in South Indian History. Madras,
1952.
Minakshi, C. Administrative and Social Life under the
Pallavas. Madras, 1938.
Mobaes, G. M. The Kadamba Kula. Bombay, 1931.
Paihjarathar, T. V. Pirhalach-Cholar-Charittiram. Part I (in Ta¬
Sadasiva. mil). Annamalainagar, 1949.
Pdn^iydr Varaldru (in Tamil). Madras, 1950.
Rajamakikkam, M. Pailavar Varaldru (In Tamil). Madras, 1952.
Rao, R. V. Krishna. A History of the Early Dynasties of Andhra-
desa. Madras, 1942.
Rao, G. V. Srinivasa. South Indian Inscriptions. VOL XIII. Madras,
1953.
Rao, M.V. Krishna. The Gangas of Talkad. Madras, 1936.
Rao, N. L. “Some New Facts about Chola History.” JORr
XIX. 148-151.
Rice, B. L. See above, under “Inscriptions” in “General
Bibliography”
Saletorb, B. A. Ancient Karndfaka. Vol. I. Poona, 1936-
489
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
CHAPTER VIII
CEYLON
Original Sources
(i) PALI:
(See Dipavamsa and Mahdvamsa in General Bibliography)
Dathd-vatfisa Ed. and trans. by B. C. Law. Lahore, 1925.
Hatthavanagalla-
vihdra-vamsa Ed. by James d’Alwis.
(ii) SIMHALESE:
Attangalu-vamsa Ed. by M. Kumaranatuhga. Colombo, B. E.
2466.
Daladapujavaliya Ed. by K. M. Perera. Colombo, 1893.
Daladdtirita Ed. by E. S. Rajasekhara. Colombo, 1920.
Nikdya Sahgraha Ed. by D.M. de Z. Wickramasinghe. Colombo,
1890. Trans, by C. M. Fernando with an intr.
by W. F. Gunawardhana- Colombo, 1908.
Puj&valiya, Ch. 34 Ed. by M. Medhankara Thera. Eng. trans. by
B. Gunasekara (A Contribution to the His¬
tory of Ceylon). Colombo, 1895.
Rajaratnakaraya Ed. by Simon de Silva- Colombo, 1907.
R&jdvaltya Ed. by B. Gunasekara. Colombo, 1911. Eng.
trans. by the same. Colombo, 1900.
Modem Works
Codrinoton, H. W. History of Ceylon. London, 1926.
COOMARASWAMY, A. History of Indian and Indonesian Art- London,
K. 1927.
Geiger, W. Ceylon. Wiesbaden, 1898.
GoPALAN, R. The Pallavas of Kanchi. Madras, 1928.
Hultzsch, E. “Contributions to Singhalese Chronology.’’
JRAS, 1913, pp. 517 ft.
Mendis, G 0. Early History of Ceylon. 9th Ed. Calcutta,
1948.
Muller, E. Ancient Inscriptions in Ceylon. London, 1883.
Parker, H. Ancient Ceylon. London, 1909.
Pbxdham, C. Historical, Political and Statistical Account of
Ceylon and its Dependencies. 2 Vols. Lon¬
don, 1849.
Sewell, E. Historical Inscriptions of Southern India.
Madras, 1932.
490
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER IX
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
(A) SANSKRIT, PALI, PRAKRIT, AND APABHRAM&A:
{Note: A select list of important texts in Sanskrit, Pali, Prakrit
and Apabhramsa has been given in General Bibliography.
Further accounts of individual texts and full bibliographical
material will be found in the works of Das Gupta and De,
Keith, Krishnamachariar, Wintemitz, Geiger, Law, and
others mentioned under ‘‘Histories of Literature,, in General
Bibliography above).
Alsdorf, A. Apabhrariisa-Studien. Leipzig, 1937.
Ayyar, A. S. Rama- “Nalodaya and its author.” QJMS, XIV, 302-
natha 311.
Bagcki, P. C. (Ed.). Dohdkosa. Calcutta, 1938 (JDL, XXVIII).
Bklyalkar, S. K. Systems of Sanskrit Grammar. Poona, 1915.
Bhandarkar, R. G. Collected Works. Vols. I-IV. Poona, 1927-1933.
Bhattacharyya , D. “Date of Vachaspati Misra and Udayana-
C. charya.” JGJRI, II.* 349-356.
Bhattanatha Svami “Mayuraja.” IA, XLI. 139-143.
Bdhler, G. “The Indian Inscriptions and the Antiquity of
Indian Artificial Poetry.” (Eng. trans. by
V. S. Ghate) IA, XLH- 29-32; 137-148; 172-
179; 188-193; 230-234; 243-249.
Chitrav, S. V. Madhyayugina Charitra-Kosa (Dictionary of
Biography in Medieval India) (in Marathi).
Poona, 1937.
De, S. K. History of Sanskrit Poetics. 2 vols. London,
1923, 1925.
“Bhamaha’s Views on Guna.” Pathak Comm.
Vol. 353-358-
“Mahanataka.” IHQ, VII. 629-643 (709-723).
“The Problem of the Mahanataka.” IHQ,
VII. 537-627.
“Sanskrit Literature under the Pala Kings of
Bengal.” NIA, II (Ross Comm. Vol.) 263-
282*
“Visakhadatta.” B. C. Law Volume, I. 50-57.
Devasthau, G. V. Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit and PrdkHt
Manuscripts in the Library of the University
of Bombay. Bombay, 1944.
Introduction to the Study of Visakhadatta and
his Mudra-Rdkshasa. Poona, 1948.
491
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
49$
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER X
POLITICAL THEORY, ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION,
LAW AND LEGAL INSTITUTIONS
Original Sources
(i) LITERARY
Balaknda of Visvarapa
See above, under “Dharma&astra” in “Gene¬
ral Bibliography”.
Brihaddharma Purdna
Ed. by. H. P. Sastri, BI. Calcutta, 1887-1897.
Mahdbhdrata See above, under “General Bibliography”.
Manubhdshya of Medhlatithi
See above, under “Dharmasastra” in “Gene¬
ral Bibliography”.
Nxtivdkydmrita of Somesvara
See above, under “Polity” in “General Bib¬
liography”.
Puragas See above, under “General Bibliography”.
Rajatarafiginl of Kalhana
See above under “Historical Works” in “Gene¬
ral Bibliography”.
(ii) INSCRIPTIONS
Bhanjdarkar, D. R. List of Inscriptions (See above, under “Inscrip¬
tions” in “General Bibliography”)
HlKALAL. See above, under Ch. I.
Maitreya, A. K. Gaudalekhamald. Rajshahi, 1319 B.S.
Sewell, R. See above, under Ch. VI.
Modem Works
Aiyangar, S. Krishna - Hindu Administrative Institutions in South
swami India. Madras, 1931.
494
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER XI
RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY
Original Sources:
(See Epics, Puranas, Philosophy, Dharma-sastra, Buddhist, Jain
under Original Sources and Religion and Philosophy under Modern
Works in General Bibliography.)
(A) GENERAL:
Modern Works
Barnett, L. D. Hindu Gods and Heroes. London, 1923.
Barth, A. The Religions of India (Authorised Eng. trans.
by J. Wood. London, 1882).
Bhandarkar, R. G. Vaishnavism, gaivism and Minor Religious
Systems. Strassburg, 1913; Indian Edition,
Poona, 1928.
Cultural Heritage of India
Published by the Ramakrishna Mission Insti¬
tute of Culture, Calcutta 1937, 1953 etc.
Eliot, Sir Charles. Hindtuism and Buddhism. 3 Vols. London.
1921. New Edition, 1953.
Farquhar, J. N. Outline of the Religious Literature of India.
Oxford, 1920.
Hopkins, E. W. The Religions of India. Boston, 1895.
495
TOE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
(B) BUDDHISM:
Original Sources
(See “Buddhist” under “Original Sources”, and “Religion and
Philosophy” under “Modem Works” in “General Bibliography”.)
Bunyiu Nanjio. The Chinese Buddhist Tripifaka. Oxford, 1883.
Modem Works
Avalon, Arthur See below, under “Woodroffe, Sir John”.
Bagohi, P. C. Studies in the Tantras. Calcutta, 1939.
Rhattacharyya, B. Indian Buddhist Iconography. Oxford, 1924.
“Glimpses of Vajrayana.” POC, III. 133ff.
“Origin and Development of Vajrayana.” IHQ,
1927. 733-746.
Boss, P. N. Indian Teachers of Buddhist Universities.
Madras, 1923.
Bu-stoh. History of Buddhism. Trans, by E. Obermiller.
Heidelberg, 1932.
Goomaraswamy, A.K. Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism. London,
1928.
Living Thoughts of Gotama the Buddha,
London, 1948.
Dahlke, P. Buddhism and its Place in the Mental Life of
Mankind. London, 1927.
Dasgupta, S. B. Introduction to Tantric Buddhism. Calcutta,
1950.
Davxd-Nkel, Ale¬ Le Buddhisme, ses Doctrines et ses Methodes.
xandra. Eng. trans. Buddhism, its doctrines and
methods, by H. N. M. Hardy and Bernard
Miall. London, 1939.
Durr, N. Aspects of Mahaydna Buddhism and Its Rela¬
tion to Hinaydna. London, 1930.
Early Monastic Buddhism. 2 Vols. Calcutta.
Gbunwedel, A. See below, under “Taranatha: Edelsteinmine.”
Keith, A. B. Buddhist Philosophy in India and Ceylon.
Oxford, 1923.
Kern, H. Manual of Indian Buddhism. Strassburg, 1896.
Histoire du Bouddhisme dans U-Inde. Paris,
1901.
Mitra, R. I. Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal. Cal¬
cutta, 1882.
Obkkmiller, E. See above, under “Bu-ston.” ' .
Poussin, L. de la Bouddhisme. Paris, 1930.
Valine “Tantrism (Buddhist).” ERE, Xn. 193 f.
Rhys Davids, Mrs. Buddhism: Its Birth and Dispersal. London,
C. A. F. 1934.
496
GENERAL. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rhys Davids, T. W.
History of Indian Buddhism. London, 1897.
Early Buddhism. London, 1908.
Buddhism: Its History and Literature. New
Ed. London, 1926.
BcRIEFNER, A. See below, under “Taranatha: Geschichte.”
Sen, B. 0. Some Historical Aspects of the Inscriptions of
Bengal. Calcutta, 1942.
Sumpa Mkilan Po Pag-sam-jon-zang. Ed. by S. C. Das. Calcutta,
1908.
Suzuki, B. L. Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism. London,
1907.
Mahay ana Buddhism. London, 1938.
Takakusu, J. Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy. Plonolulu,
1947.
Taranatha. Edelsteinmine, das Buch von den Vermittlern
der siehen Inspirationen. A us dem Tibeti-
schen libers, v. A. Griinwedel. Petrograd,
1914. Trans, into English (Mystic Tales
of Lama Taranatha) by B. N. Datta. Cal¬
cutta, 1944.
Geschichte des Buddhismus in Indian. Aus
dem Tibetischen libers, v. F.A. von Schief-
ner. St. Petersburg, 1869.
Waddell, L. A. The Buddhism of Tibet or Lamaism. London,
1895.
Woodroffe, Sir John Introduction to Tantra Shastra. 2nd Ed. Mad¬
ras, 1952.
Principles of Tantra. 2nd Ed. Madras, 1952.
Shakti and Shakta. 4th Ed. Madras, 1951.
[Cl BibHographie Bouddhique published by Adrian Maisonneuve.
Paris, 1937.]
(C) JAINISM:
(See “Jain” under “Original Sources” and “Religion and Philosophy”
under “Modem Works” in “General Bibliography”.)
Modern Works
Aiyanoar, S. Krishna- “Jainism in South India.” Atmananda Cen¬
swami. tenary Comm. Vol., 1936.
Altekar, A. S. R&shtrakutas and their times. Poona, 1934.
Ayyangar, M. S. Studies in South Indian Jainism, Madras
Ramaswami and 1922.
Rao, B. Seshgiri
Barodia, U. D. History and Literature of Jainism. Bombay,
1909,
Buhler, G. Vber die indische Secte der Jainas. Vienna,
1887. Eng. trans. (The Indian Sect of the
Jainas) by J. Burgess. London, 1903.
Desai, M. Jaina Sdhityano Samkshipta Itihdsa (in Guja¬
rati) (“Short History of Jain Literature”).
Bombay, 1933.
497
A.I.K.—81
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Modern Works
AiyangaB, S. Krishna- Some Contributions of South India to Indian
swami Culture. Calcutta, 1923. 2nd Ed. 1942.
Ayyab, C. V. Nara- Origin and Early History of Saivisyn in South
yana India. Madras, 1936.
Chattkkjee, J. C. Kashmir Saivism. Srinagar, 1914.
Kingsbury, P. and Hymns of the Tamil Saivite Saints. Calcutta,
Phillips, G. E. 1921.
Pillai, S. Satchida- “The Saiva Saints of Southern India.” Cult.
nanda Her., II. 235-247.
Sastri, K. A. Nila- “A Historical Sketch of Saivism.” Cult. Her.,
kanta II. 18-34.
SUBRAMANIAN, K. R. Origin of Saivism and its History in the Tamil
Land. Madras, 1941.
(G) ICONOGRAPHY:
Modern Works
Benekfea, J. N. Development of Hindu Iconography. Calcutta,
1941.
“Vishnu and Surya—A Study in Cult Icons.”
JISOA, XXIL 55-129; XIV. 1-74; XVI. 47-
100.
Baherji, R. I). Eastern Indian School of Medieval Sculpture.
Delhi, 1933.
BHATT ACH ARY A, B. C. Indian Images: Vol. 1. Brahmanic Icono¬
graphy. Calcutta, 1931; Vol. II. Jain Icono¬
graphy. Lahore, 1939.
Bhattacharyya, B. Indian Buddhist Iconography. Oxford, 1924.
Ed. Sddhanamdla. GOS. Raroda, 1925, 1928.
Bhat^asaxa, N. K. See above, under “Minor Religious Sects”.
OOQMARASWAMY, A.K. Dance of £iva. With an introductory pre¬
face by R. Rolland. Botnbay, 1948.
Rougher, A. The Beginnings of Buddhist Art and other
Essays in Indian and Central-Asian Archae¬
ology. Revised by the author and trans.
by L.A. Thomas and F.W. Thomas. Paris,,
1917.
LTconographie boundhique de V Inde. 2 vols.
Paris, 1900, 1905.
Grunwedel, A. Buddhistische Kunst in Indien. Berlin, 1893
(Eng. trans. “Buddhist Art in India”, by
Agnes C.Gibson. Revised and enlarged by
J. Burgess. London, 1901).
Haveul, E. B. Indian Sculpture and Painting. London, 1908;
2nd Ed. London, 1928.
Jouveau-Bubreutl, Iconography of Southern India (Trans, from
G. the French by A.C. Martin). Paris, 1937.
Majumdar, R. C. History of Bengal. Vol. I. Dacca, 1943.
(Ed.).
Rao, T. A. Gopinatha Elements of Hindu Iconography. 2 vols.
Madras, 1914-1916.
Saras wati. S. K. “Early Sculptures of Bengal.” JDLy XXX.
1-85.
Sastri, H. Krishna. See above, under “Minor Religious Sects.”
(I) PARIS:
Kopiyala; S. H. “Jadi Raxxa and the Kissah-i-Sanj an.”
JBBRAS, XXIII. 349-370.
Studies in Par si History. Bombay, 1920.
Irani, M. S. “The Story of Sanjan.” POC, X. 68-85.
Taraporewala , I. J. “The Exact Date of the Arrival of the Parsis
S. in India.” Festschrift Kane, pp. 506-514.
(J) PHILOSOPHY:
Original Sources
(See under “Epics”, “Puranas” and “Philosophy” under “Original
Sources” and “Religion and Philosophy” under “Modem Works” in
“General Bibliography”.)
Modem Works
Bhattacharyya, H. The Philosophies. Cultural Heritage of India.
D. (Ed.). 2nd Ed. Vol. HI. Calcutta, 1953.
Chatterjee, J. C. Kashmir &aivism. Srinagar, 1914.
Das gotta, S. N. History of Indian Philosophy. 4 vols. Cam¬
bridge, 1932 ft
Deussen, P. Outline of the Vedanta System of Philosophy
according to Sankara. Eng. trans.- by J. H.
Woods and C.B. Runkle. 2nd Ed. Cam¬
bridge Mass. 1915.
Garbe, R. Philosophy of Ancient India. Chicago, 1897.
Ghate, V. S. The Vedanta. Poona, 1926.
GroOSSET, R. Le Philosophie Indiennes. Paris, 1931.
Jha, G. N. The Prabhakara School of Purva Mimamsd.
Allahabad, 1911.
Purva Mimamsd in its sources. Benares, 1942.
Keith, A. B. Indian Logic and Atomism. Oxford, 1921.
Masson-Oursel, P. Le Philosophie en Orient. Paris, 1938.
Max Muller, F. Six Systems of Indian Philosophy. London,
1889.
Radhakrishnan, S. Indian Philosophy. 2 vols. London, 1923, 1927.
Srinivasachari, P.N. The Philosophy of Bhedabheda. 2nd Ed.
Madras, 1950.
Strauss, Otto. Indische Philosophie. Munchen, 1925.
501
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
CHAPTERS XII-XIII
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE
Original Sources
(i) INDIAN:
(See (iii) Puranasand (iv) Dharmasastra; Kalhana in (v) Historical
Works; Halayudha in (vi) Lexicons; Kajasekhara in (xi) Poetics,
&c. and in (xiv) Belles-Lettres;—all under (A) Brahmanieal; Sid-
dharshi under (C) Jain; and Dhanapala under (D) Apabhramsa;—
in “General Bibliography” above.)
Brihadd harm a Purtina
Ed. by H.P. Sastri. BI. Calcutta, 1887-1897.
DharmakQ$d-Vyavahdrak&mda
Vol. I, Parts MIL Wai, 1937-39.
Krityakalpataru of Lakshmldhara
Vyavahdra-hdyda. Ed. by K.V.R. Aiyangar.
GOS. Baroda, 1953.
Kuftarvimata of Damodara
Ed. in KM, III. Bombay, 1899.
Ed. with comm, by T.M. Tripathi. Bombay,
1924.
Ed. by Madhusudan Kaul. Calcutta, 1944.
German trans. by J.J. Meyer. Leipzig, 1903.
Pardsara-nuddhaviya Para£ara-smriti with the comm, of Sayana
Madhavacharya. Critically Ed. by V. S.
Islampurkar. 3 vols. BSS. Bombay, 1893-
1919.
Parasara-smriti with the gloss of Madhavachar¬
ya. Ed. with notes by M. Chandrakanta Tar-
kalankara. 3 vols. BI. Calcutta, 1890-
1899.
Paribhdshdprak&sa (part of Viramitrodaya) of Mitramisra
Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series. Benares, 1906.
Ratirahasya of Kokkoka
Ed. by Devidatta Sarma. 1902.
Ed. with comm, and notes. Bombay, 1922.
SaihskdraprakdSa (part of Viramitrodaya) of Mitramisra
Chowkhamba Sanskrit Series. Benares, 1906.
Smritichandrikd of Devannabhatta
Ed. by L. Srinivasa chary a. 6 vols. Mysore,
1914-21.
Ed. by J.R. Gharpure. Bombay, 1918.
Eng. trans. by J.R. Gharpure. Bombay, 1948
ff.
Smrityartha$ara of Sridhara
Ed. by Ranganatha Sastri Vaidya. ASS-
Poona, 1912.
Ydjnavalkya-Smriti with the comm, of Apararka. ASS. Poona,
1903-04.
(ii) NON-INDIAN:
(See Ferrand, Relations &c (in General Bibliography, “Arabic”)
especially extracts from Abu’l Faraj Muhammad bin Ishak, Abu
502
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
CHAPTER XIV
COLONIAL AND CULTURAL EXPANSION
Modern Works
Bagchi, P C. India and China. Calcutta, 1944; 2nd Ed,
Bombay, 1950.
Le Canon Bouddhique en Chine. 2 vols. Paris,
1927 1938
“Sino-Indian Relations.” SIS, I. 65-84; 161-
166.
Bose, P. The Hindu Colony of Cambodia. Adyar, 1927,
The Indian Colony of Champa. Adyar, 1926.
Chatterji, B. R. Indian Cultural Influence in Cambodia. Cal¬
cutta, 1928.
India and Java. Calcutta, 1933.
Coedes, G. Les Etais Hindouises DTndochine et DTndo-
nesie, Paris, 1948.
Inscriptions du Cambodge. Vols, I-V. Paris.
Das, S. C. Indian Pandits in the Land of Snow. Ed. by
N. C. Das. Calcutta, 1893.
“Contributions on the Religion; History, &c. of
Tibet.” JASB, 1881, 187 ff; 1882, 1 ff; 87 ff.
De Boer, T. J. History of the Philosophy of Islam. London,
1903.
Francke, A. H. Antiquities of Indian Tibet. Calcutta, 1914-26.
Goldziher, I. Vorlesungen ilber den Islam. Heidelberg,
1910.
Grousset, R. The Civilisations of the East—-India (Eng.
trans.). London, 1932.
The Civilisations of the East—-China (Eng.
trans.). London, 1934.
Hitti, P. K. History of the Arabs. 1937.
Kouraiu, G F. Arab Seafaring in the Indian Ocean in ancient
and early Medieval Times (Princeton Univ.
Press, 1951).
Majumdar, R. C. Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East. Vol.
I: Champa. Lahore, 1927; Vol. II; Suvarna-
dvipa. Parts 1 and 2. Dacca, 193.7, 38.
Kambujadesa. Madras, 1944.
Hindu Colonies in the Far East. Calcutta,
1944.
Inscriptions of Kambuja (As. Soc. Monograph).
Calcutta, 1953.
Mukherji, P. K, Indian Literature in China and the Far East.
Calcutta, 1931.
Oakeshott, W. F. Commerce and Society. Oxford, 1936.
O’Leary de Laoy Arabia before Muhammad.
Petech, L. A Study of the Chronicles of Ladakh (Suppl.
to IHQ, XIIX-XIV). Calcutta, 1939.
Northern India according to the ShuuChing-
Chu. Rome, 1950.
Sarkar, H. B. Indian Induences on the Literature of Java and
Bali. Calcutta, 1934.
504
GENERAL BIBLIOGRAPHY
505
CHRONOLOGY
A.D.
559-567 Guhasena of Valabhi (p. 214).
605 A victorious Chinese General carries away 1356
Buddhist books from Champa (p. 436).
618-907* Tang dynasty in China (p. 444).
c.625 Rashtrakuta family immigrates from Lattalura
to Ellichpur in Berar (p. 1).
637 Defeat of Yazdagird III, the Sasanid king of
Iran, at Qadisiyya (p. 353).
641 Battle of Nahawand (p. 353).
662 Jaths of Kikanan resist the Arabs (p. 127).
678 Ravishena, author of Padmapurdna (p. 183).
704-774 Amoghavajra, Tantrik teacher (p. 263).
716 Settlement of the Iranians at Sanjan, acc. to
Dastur Aspalidiarji Kamdin (p. 354).
717 Kambuja sends an embassy to China (p. 410).
722 Kambuja helps an Annamese chief against
China (p. 416).
725 Jim aid (p. 39).
€.730 Rise of the Thai kingdom in Yunnan known as
Nan-chao (Mithila-rashtra) (p. 433).
c.730 Mithila-rashtra throws off the Chinese yoke (p.
422).
c. 730-756 Na gab hat a (Pratihara) (p. 20).
c.731-796 Nandivarman Pallavamalla (p. 168).
732 Sahjaya, successor of Sannaha in Central Java,
(p. 427), conquers Kambuja (p. 416).
c. 733 Accession of Dantidurga (p. 1).
c. 733-758 Dantidurga, Rashtrakuta (pp. 1, 3, 20).
c. 738 Battle near Navsari in which the Arabs were
worsted (p. 2).
c. 739 Arabs of Sindh invade the kingdom of the Sain-
dhavas (p. 99).
742-826 Cheraman Perumal, last of the Perumals of Ke¬
rala (p. 165).
c. 743 Dantidurga accompanies the Chalukysf suzerain
in his expedition against Kahchi (p. 2).
745 Vanaraja Chapa builds Anahilapataka (p. 103).
747 Death of Vikramaditya II (p. 2).
c. 747-752 Devendravarman II, E. Ganga (p. 140).
749 ‘Abbasids supplant the Caliphs of the Umayyad
dynasty (p. 125).
e. 750-c. 770 Gopala, Pala (p. 45).
-750-850 Tibetan kings exercise political domination in
parts of India, acc. to Tibetan.Chronicles (p..
446 k
c 752 Dantidurga overthrows the Chalukya emperor
fo. 1).
*The date 618-905 given on p. 60 should be corrected accordingly.
500
CHRONOLOGY
509
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
518
GENEALOGY
1. Rashtrakutas of Malkhed
Karkka I
Indra I 2. Krishna I
1. Indra
3. Dhruva I Dharavarsha
l
4. Akalavarsha
l
5. Dhruva II Govinda 6. Dantivarman
I
7. Krishnaraja.
519
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
3. The Pratlharas
X
t
i
1. Nagabhata I X
2. Kakkuka 3. Devaraja
4. Vatsaraja
13. Vinayakapala II
14. Mahlpala II
«
15. Vijayapala
♦
16. Rajyapala
17. Trilochanap&la
18 (?) Yasahpala.
(N.B.—For the different views about the relationship of kings
Nos. 13-15, cf. above, p. 37 f).
4. The Palas
Dayitavishnu
I
Vapyata
1. Gopala
l
. I
2. Dharmapala
l
Vakpala
I
3. Devapala Jayapala
I
4. Vigrahapala I
520
GENEALOGY
5. Narayanapala
6. Rajyapala
l
7. Gopala II
I
8. Vigrahapala II
l
9. Mahlpala I
5. Kamarupa
1. Salambha (or Pralambha)
2. Harjara-varman
l
3. Vanamala-varman
l
4. Jayamala (Viravahu)
I
5. Bala-varman
♦
(? Tyagasimha)
6. Nepal1
1. Raghavadeva
2. Jayadeva
3. Vikramadeva
4. Narendradeva
♦
*
5. Gunakamadeva I
*
*
6. Udayadeva
11. Tungas
Raja Jagattuhga
Salanatunga
Gayatfatunga
s
12. Mayuravamsa
Uditavaraha
Tejavaraha
Udayavaraha
l
3. Jayasakti (alias Jejjaka) 4. Vijayasakti (alias Vijjaka)
l I
(d. Natta=m. Kokkalla I) 5. Rahila
I
6. Harsha
l
7. Yasovarman (alias Lakshavarman)
8. Dhahga
I
9 Ganda
6. 6ahkaragana EC 7. Yuvaraja II
l
8. Kokkalla II
522
GENEALOGY
5. Ullabha 6. Bhamanadeva I
I
7. ^ankaragana II (alias Mugdhatunga)
I
8. Gunasagara II
I l
7. Munja (alias Utpala, 8- Sindh uraja (alias
alias Vakpatiraja) KuinaranSrayaja, alias
I ] Navasahaganka)
I 1 i (,
Arpoiaja Chandone #. Bhoja Dusala
528
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Dhanika
0
Kamka or Chachcha
Chancapa
20. Saindhavas of Saurashtra.
1. Pushyadeva
l
2. Krishna raj a I
'I
3. Agguka I
i
4. Kanaka I
i
! I
5. Krisknaraja II 7. Jaika
l ‘
6. Agguka II J
|
8. Chamundaraja 9. Agguka HI
I l
11. Agguka IV 10. Kanaka II
i !
12. Jaika II Yuvaraja Jaika
21. Chalukyas of Saurashtra.
X
Jayavarlha
23. Chapas of Vardhamana.
1. Vikramarka
2. Ad^aka
3. Pulakesi
4. Dhruvabhata 5. Dharanivaraha
524
GENEALOGY
27 . Chaulukyas of Lata
Barappa
i
Gongiraja
2. Samanta
l
3. Piimatalla
l'
4. Jay a raj a
l
5. Vigraharaja I
l
6. Chandra raj a I 7. Gopendraraja
l
8. Durlabharaja
525
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
i
11. Guvaka II
i
d. Kalavatl (m. king of Kanauj)
f
I
12. Chandana
13. Vakpatiraja
]
I
5. Asvapala Anahilla
2. Mahisharama
l
3. Chan^amahasena
2. Durlabharaja
2. Mattata
3. Bhariripatta I
4. Sixhha
!
5. Khommana II
l
6. Mahayaka
l
7. Khommana III
l
8. Bhariripatta II
l
9. Allata
i
10. Naravahana
l
11. §alivahana
I
12. Saktikumara
34. Tomaras
Jaula
1. Vajrata
!
2. Jajjuka
527
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Rudrena
2. Samanta
3. Toramana (alias Kamaluka)
4. Bhlma
Is ht a pa la
5. Jayapala
6. Anandapala
1. Lalitaditya Muktaplda
_!_
I I
2. Kuvalayapuja 3. Vajraditya Bappiyaka
i
4. Prithivyaplda I
‘ i
5. Samgramaplda I
I
l
6; 8 Jayaplda (alias Vinayaditya)
: I
7. Jajja (usurper)
_l
i i
9. Lalitaplda 10. Samgramapida (alias Prithivyaplda)
• •
*
11. Chippata Jayaplda (alias Brihaspati) son of 1)
■
12. Utpalaka and 4 others (maternal
uncles of 11)
16. Avantivarman
528
GENEALOGY
Sukhavarman
— ,
1. Avantivarman Suravarman
Ii I
i
2. Sankaravarman (^=5. Sugandha) Sukhavarman
_I__ l
3. Gopalavarman 4. Samkata 7; 8 Nirjitavarman (alias Pahgu)
i
r ■
I
6; 11 Partha
'
9, 12; 14 Chakravarman
i i
10. Suravarman I
I . i
15. Unmattavanti 13. Sambhuvardhana (usurper)
*
a
16. Suravarman II
17. Yasaskara
Prabhakaradeva
i
■I
1. Yasaskaradeva
II
2. Sarhgramadeva
3. Parvagupta
Abhinava
I
Sarhgramagupfca
1. Parvagupta
l
2. Kshemagupta (=7. Didda)
l
3. Abhimanyu
l
4. Nandigupta 5. Tribhuvana 6. Bhlmagupta
I
7. Didda (w. of No. 2)
529
A.I.K.—‘>L
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Khasa Nara
i
Naravahana
Phulla
i
Satavahana
l
Chanda
l
Chanduraja
1. Ajita-varman
2. Suvarna-varman
3. Lakshml-varman
4. Mushana-varman
5. Harhsa-varman
6. Sara-varman
7. Sena-varman
8. Sajjana-varman
8A. (? Mrityuhjaya-varman)
9. Sahilla-varman
!
10. Yugakara-varman
I
11. Vidagdha-varman
12. Dodaka-varman
»
Salavahana
I
Soma-varman
I
Asa^a
530
GENEALOGY
4. Dyutivarman
I
I
5. Vishnuvarman il
43. Kings of Kumaun and Garhwal
1. Nimbara (m. NasudevI)
I
i
2. PMP Ish^aganadeva (m. Vegadevl)
3. PMP Lalitasuradeva
l
4. Bhudevadeva
2. Ichchhatadeva
3. Desatadeva 4. Padmatadeva
l '
5. Subhiksharajadeva
44. Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi
1. Vijayaditya I
I
2. Vishnuvardhana IV
531
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
2. Rajendravarman I
!
8. Bhupendravarman Marasimha
I
9. Devendravarman IV
1. Gunamahamava
I
2. Vajrahasta
_!_
3. Gundama
I 4. Kamamava
i i
5. Vinayaditya
I
6. Vajrahasta-Aniyankabhlma
l
f I I
7. Kamamava •
8. Gundama
• •
9. Madhukamarnava •
1
2. Kamamava I 1
3. Danamava Gunarnava I i i ,,
Marasimha Vajrahastai
I
4. Kamamava II
!
5. Ranamava
l '
532
GENEALOGY
Jayavarman
Samantavarman
*
1. Mahmdravarmari
I
2. Prithvlvarman
__j_
i
3. Indravarman
I
4. Danarnava
K ailas a
i
Bhupendravarman
*
Devendravarman
Niyamava
l
Bhlmakhedi
I
Dharmakhedi
l
! I
Udayaditya Bhlmakhedi
6ivagupta
l
Janamejaya Mahabhavagup I
!
Yayati Mahasivagupta I
51. Pallavas7
1. Nandi-varman II Pallavamalla
i
2. Danti-varman
!
3. Nandi-varman III Tellarrerinda
l
4. Nripatunga-varman
5. Aparajita
583
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
2. Aditya I
!
i
3. Parantaka I
— I
Kannaradeva
l-1
Rajaditya
1
4. Gandaraditya Arikesari
—p—- - , _ _
Uttamasili 5. Arinjaya
53. Pandyas8
1. Maravarman Rajasimha I
l
2. Nedunjadaiyan (Parantaka, Ja^ila, or
Maranj adaiy an)
'I
'l
3. §rimara ^rivallabha
4. Varaguna II
7. Vira Pandya
M.JL.
(Collateral line)
.i.,
4. I^Itimarga I
_A_
! 1
5. Rajamalla II Butuga I
I
6. Nitimarga II
I
i ’
7. Narasimha
r
8. Rajamalla III
a
9. Bufiiga XI
_ l
i
10. Maruladeva
i
11. Marasirhha III
.
12. Rachamalia
l (or Rajamalla IV) 13. Rakkasa Gahga
584
GENEALOGY
Sivaimra
l " l
Marasimha Prithivlpati I
' !
Marasimha II
i
Prithivlpati II
• %■
56. Barias
Vijayaditya
«
e
Vikramaditya II
Vikramaditya III
57. Nolambas
Sihgapota
X
l
Polachora
l
Mahendra I
NItimarga II (Mahendrantaka)
\ |
X
I
X
I
Nanni Nolamba
58. Vaidumbas
Irigaya
Ganda Trinetra
'•
gandayan Tiruvayan I
585
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
59. Ceylon
1. Agrabodhi VI
2. Agrabodhi VII (brother of 1)
3. Mahendra II Silameghavarna (son of 1)
I
4. Udaya (or Dappula II)
8. Agrabodhi IX
9. Sena Silamegha (brother of 8)
10. Sena II (nephew of 9)
11. Udaya II (or I) Silameghavarna (brother of 10)
12. Kasyapa IV Srisanghabodhi (brother of 11)
13. Kasyapa V Abhaya Silameghavarna (son of 10)
14. Dappula III (or IV) (probably stepbrother of 13)
15. Dappula IV (or V) Silameghavarna (probably brother of 14)
16. Udaya HI (or II) (nephew of 10)
17. Sena III (probably brother of 16)
18. Udaya IV (or III)
19. Sena IV
20. Mahendra IV Srisanghabodhi (probably brother of 19)
21. Sena V
22. Mahendra V (brother of 21)
23. Vikramabahu
24. Kirti
25. Mahalanaklrti
l
26. Vikramapandya
27. Jagatlpala
♦
60. Kambuja
1. Jaya-varman II
!
2. Jaya-varman III
•
3. Indra-varman
I
I
4. Yaso-varman.
5. Harsha-varman I 6. Isana-varman II
8. Harsha-varman II
536
GENEALOGY
3. Indra-varman (brother of 2)
»
2. Jayasiihha-varman
I
3. Jayasakti-varman
4. Bhadra-varman III
I
5. Indra-varman III
6. Paramesvara-varman
7. Indra-varman IV
*
2. Sanjaya
c
m
3. Balitung (Dharmodaya Mahasambhu)
4. Dakshottama
5. Tulodong
6. Wawa
Dharmavamsa
537
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
NOTES ON GENEALOGY
2. According to Bh. List, p. 403, Vyasa (No. 12) was the son of Sankaragana III
No. 10) and step-brother of Bhima (No. 11).
3. Cf. DHNI, II. 1062, 1137. Contra, Bh. List, p. 381, where Purnatalla (No. 3) is
omitted, and Vindhyanripati is inserted between Nos. 13 and 14.
5. Cf. DHNI, II. 1208. Bh. List, pp. 390-1, shows no relationship between Nos. 2
and 3.
538
/
INDEX
’Abbasid Caliphs, 125, 126, 127, 128, 152. Advayavdda, 266.
Abboka, 205. Aeneid, 225.
Abhayadeva, 293. Afghanistan, 113, 115.
Abhayagirivihara, 175. Agama, 316, 317.
Abhayakaragupta, 273. Agamanta £aivism, 310.
Abhidhamma, 210, 211, 212. Agamapramanya, 206.
Abhidhana-ratnamala, 189, 376, 377, 384, Agamas, (Saiva), 308, 317, 324, 338, 349,
387, 389, 390, 400, 401, 405. 438.
Abhidharma, 274. Agamism, Tamil, 338.
Abhidhdvrttimatrika, 195. Agastya, 419, 428, 438.
Abhimanyu (k. of Kashmir), 114,120, 121. Agguka I, 99, 100.
Abhixianda, 183. Agguka II, 100.
Abhinanda (Gauda), 183, 184. Agguka III, 100.
Abhinava, 120. Agguka IV, 101.
Abhinavagupta, 179, 182, 183, 191, 192, Aghani, 452.
194, 195. 206, 231 (n), 301, 304, 363 (n). Aghata, 97, 109, 110.
Abkhas, 91, 101, 102/104 213, 214, 215. Aghora-murti, 308, 310.
Abliisamaydlankara, 271. Agni, 237, 331, 336, 363(n).
Abhisamaydlankaraloka, 274. Agnikula, 39.
Abhisamayavibhanga, 268. Agni Purdna, 203, 238, 254(n), 255(n),
Abhisarikdvanchitaka (or bandhitaka). 332, 372, 376, 389, 399 (n), 401, 402,
179. 409(n).
Abhisheka, 319. Agnita, 299.
Abhitvaramdna, 243. Agnivarman, 125.
Abu (Mount), 94, 97, 104, 108, 298. Agnivesa, 199.
Abu-al-Ala’al-ma’arri, 452. Agra, 111.
Abu Zaid Hasan, 403, 405, 413. 414. Agrabodhi VI, 169.
Achalapura, 135, 220. Agrabodhi VII, 169.
Acharyas, 258, 259, 311, 313, 334. Agrabodhi VIII, 169.
Addb ul Muluk wa Kijayat ul Mamluk, Agrabodhi IX, 169.
114. Ahar, 97, 110.
Adam’s Bridge—See also Setu, 1. Ahavamalla, 227, 377.
Addaka, 103. Ahirnsd, 258, 294.
A^danaka-desa, 103. Ahmadabad District, 105.
Adhdrakarikds, 207. Aihole caves, 329, 330, 332, 334.
Adhikdrins, 246. Airavata-mandala, 78.
Adhijakshas, 243. Airlangga, 432.
Aiyangar, S. K. Comm. Vol56(n).
Adi-Bhanja, 74.
Aja-EIkapada, 311.
Adi Buddha~See also primordial Buddha,
Ajanta (sculpture), 176, 177.
Adinatha, Vajra, 262, 263, 266, 267,
Ajapala, 148.
278.
Ajita, 210;
Adigamans (of Tagadur), 158, 164. Ajita Maitreyanatha, 271.
Adinatha—See also primordial Buddha,
Ajitanatha, 297.
Adi Buddha, Vajra, 262. Ajitaplda, 116.
Adinatha, Sri (Jain), 296. Ajita Purdna, 225, 291.
Adipurdna, 11, 183, 224. Ajita-Sdnti-stava, 210.
Adi-sakti, 310. Ajitasena, 290.
Adisesha, 207 , 231(n), 301. Ajita-varman, 122.
Aditya(s) (god), 335, 336, 350. Ajmere, 27, 87, 108, 313.
Aditya I (Chola k.), 12, 152, 153, 154, Aka^adeva (Chapa k.), 103.
159, 164, 165, 167. Akala-jalada, 180.
Aditya II, 157, 159. Akalarika, 288, 293, 354, 264(n).
Aditya Purdna, 366, 388, 409(n). Akalavarsha (Gujarat Rashfrakuta),
Adityagrihas, 334. 10.
Adivaraha (Pratlhara. Bhoja I), 32. Akala-varsha (Krishna I), 3.
Advaita-Vedanta, 302, 304, 313, 360. Akalavarsha (Krishna II), 11.
Advayasiddhi, 269. Akalavarsha (Krishna III), 14.
589
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
540
INDEX
541
i
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
542
INDEX
544
INDEX
A.I.K.—3
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
548
INDEX
551
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Govinda III, 5-8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 18(n), Gundama (brother of Fotahkusa), 143,
24, 26, 27. 30, 39, 41(n), 48, 51, 56 '145.
(n), 86. 94, 95, 110, 134. 151, 155, 166, Gundaya, 136.
168. Guntur, 136.
Govinda IV, 13-14, 18(n), 137, 138, Gupta dynasty, 44.
399 (n). Gupta empire, 39
Govindaraja (Chahamana of Par tab- Gupta sculpture, 176.
garh), 108. Guptas (Imperial), 71, 244, 245, 311, 314,
Govindaraja I (Chahamana k. of ^akam- Guptas, later, 182.
bhari), 106, 107, Gurgaj, 344.
Govindaraja (Rashtrakuta), 333. Gurgi, 90, 344,
Grahamatrika, 287. 1 Gurjara country, 92.
Graharipu. 91, 101, 102, 104. | Gurjara country (Punjab), 118.
Grahayaga, 351. I Gurjara Prat'iharas, 4, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12,
Grdmakutas, 246, 247, 255(n). 13, 16, 19~43, 45, 46, 47, 48; 50, 51,
Grama mahattar as, 255 (n). 53, 56, 57(n), 83, 84, 86, 87, 93, 95,
Grdmapati, 243. 101, 107, 108, 112, 127, 128, 129,
Great Temple, 337, 401. 130(n), 131 (n), 135, 189, 240, 241,
Greek/s, 450, 451. 273, 290, 328, 396(n), 404.
Grihastharaindkara, 398 (n)„ Gurjaratra (C. and E. Rajputana), 29,
Grihya-sutras, 371. 30.
Gudimallam, 166, 334. Gurjaras, 1, 11, 19-41, 48. 50, 52, 84, 91,
Gudjra, 404, 110, 112.
Guha (or Gab as), 63. Gurjaras of Nandipuri, 2, 19, 40(n).
Guhadeva-pataka, 63, 69. j Guru, 269.
Guhasena, 214. Guvaka I (Chahamana k. of {§akam-
Guhesvara-pataka, 63, 69. bhari), 27, 106, 109,
Guhila II. 31, 42(n), 111. Guvaka II (do.), 87, 108, 112.
Guhilas, 25, 30, 31, 36, 38, 43(n), 87, 97, Gwalior, 27, 28, 38, 43(h), 8Ss 86, 240,
109-111, 396(n). 242, 290.
Guhilas of Dhod, 110-111. Gwalior Inscription of Rhoja, 21, 22, 24,
Guhilas of Mewar, 109-110. 25, 40(n), 135.
Guhilots,—See Guhilas. Gwalior Inscription of Bhoja dt. v, 933,
Guhya, 265. 40(n), 56(n).
Guhyakas, 351, , Gwalior State, 331.
Guhyasamuja282, 263, 265-266, 267, 269, I
271, 361 (n). H
Guhyasidahi, 269.
Guilds, 251. Haddaia Copper Plate, 42(n).
Gujarat, 2, 7. 10, 21, 24, 31, 41(n), 89, 91; Hah, 114.
96. 99. 107, 134, 135, 162, 208, 245, Haidarabad (Smdh), 127.
246, 331, 332, 334, 336, 338, 342, 344, Haihaya monuments, 338, 341.
345, 401, 402, 403, 408. Haihaya Salve temples, 345.
Gujarat Chroniclers, 103, 105. Haihayas, 87, 133, 242,
Gujarat (Punjab), 117, 118. Haiyungathal CP., 61, 79(n).
Gumli, 338. , ITakam, 127.
Gunabhadra, 180, 183, 291, 294, Halayudha, 187, 189, 190.
Gunachandra, 179. Halebid, 295.
Gunadhya, 187, 443. Hamirpur District, 84.
Gunaka-Vijavaditya II (Eastern Cha- Hammira-Mahukdvya^ 131(n).
lukya k.), 88 Hamsa-varman, 122,
Gunakama, 59. Harhsesvara temple, 81 (n).
Gunakamadeva, 59. Hamvira, 86.
Gunakiranavall, 205. Handiqui, Dr., 363 (n).
Gunamahalnava, 141, 142, 143. Handrat, 114,
Gunambhodhideva (Kalachuri k. of 5a- Hansi Fort, 333.
rayupara), 31, 93. Hansot plates, 40(n).
Gunapriya-dharmapatni, 430, 435. Hanuman, 333.
Gunarnava (brother of Kamamava and Hanuman-nataka, 181.
son of Virasirhha), 142. Haraha Ins. 77.
Gunarnava (son of Kamamava), 143. Haras Stone Inscription. See Harsha
Gunasagara I (Kalachuri k, of Sarayu¬ Stone Inscription.
para ), 93. Haravarsha Yuvaraja, 183.
Gunasagara II (do.), 94, Haravijaya, 179, 183,
Gunavarma I, 224. Haribhadra (Buddhist author), 49, 271,
Gunijama (son of Vajrahasta), 142. 274,
552
INDEX
Harihhadra (Jain), 207. 208, 209s 219, 220, j Herambapala (Pratihara k.), 33, 34, 85,
288, 293, 296. I Heruka, 273, 274, 282, 283, 286, 287.
Hariehandra, 19. I Hetutattva-upadesa, 275,
Haridra-Ganapati, 345, ! Hevajra-tantra, 268, 268,
Hari-Hara, 258, 305, 330, 332, j Hillebrandt, 179,
Hariharalaya, 417, 418, j Himalaya, 7, 24, 26, 33, 41(n), 47, 50, 51.
Hari-Hara-Pitamaha, 313, 57(n), 90,, 93.
Hari-Hari-Harlvahanodbhava Lokesvara, j Himavat, 213,
279 1 HInayana Buddliism, 259. 264, 267, 273,
Harikela, 54, 88, 436.
Harinigamesi, 349, j Hind, 17,
Harischandra (legendary), 181. ! Hindagaie, 177.
Harischandra (writer), 216. \ Hindol, 68.
Harisena, 42(nj. ; Hindol plate, 64.
Harishena, 187, 220. | Hindu numerals, 450.
Harltl, 300, 342. ! Hindu Revenue System, 255(n).
Iiarivamsa, 182, 224, 316. Hindu Rites and Customs, Studies in the
Hari-varman, 418, 424. Puranic Records on, 230(n).
Harivamsa Pur ana, 217, 218, 219, 294. i Hiranyadama, 417, 438.
Harivilasa, 180. ! Hiranyagarbha (ceremony), 1, 2, 20.
Hariyadevi, 109. Hiranyakasipu, 311,
Hariyana, 111, 112. Hiranya-varman, 168,
Harjara (k. of Kamarupa), 53, 60, 61, Hisham, 99, 126.
79 (n), Hisham ibn 'Ami' at-Taghlibl, 115.
Harjara-varman, see Harjara, Hissar District, 333.
Harkand, 403. Historical Inscriptions of South India,
Harmikd, 175. 140, 165 (n).
Harpocrates, 313. History of Hindu Chemistry, 230(n).
Harsha (Haras) stone Inscription, 40(n). History of Hindu Mathematics, 453 (n).
Harsh a, ad versary of Kokkalla I, 130 (n). History of Medieval Hindu India, 363(n).
Harsha (Chandella k.), 36, 84, 111, History of the Arabs, 453.
130 (n), 179. History of the Philosophy of Islam,
Harsha tk. of Kamarupa), 60. 453(n).
Harsha (Siyaka II, Paramara), 95. Hitopadesa, 181.
Harsha-charita, 41 (n). Hitti, P. K., 453(n).
Harshadatta (father of Simhadatta), 148, Hiuen Tsang, 19, 125, 360(n).
Harshanath, village, 107. i Hoan, 424,
Harshanatha, temple of, 107, Hob son-Job son, 410(n).
Harsharaia (Guhila k.), 30, 31, 36, 87, Hodivala, 353, 354, 364(n), 395(n),
110, l30(n). 396(n), 397(n).
Harsha-vardhana, 4, 22, 23, 39, 182, 186, i Hoernle, 79(n).
217, ] Homa, 264,
Harsha-varman I, 421. : Hooghly District, 82 (n).
Harsha-varman II, 421, ! Hoysala, 164, 223,
Harsola grant, 94. | Hridayadarpana, 195,
Harun Al-Rashld, 127, 450, 451, 452. | Hridayasiva, 91.
Haruppesvara, 61. I Hridaya-sutra, 326.
Hasan district, 298. Huai-wen, 445,
Hastikundi, 97, 103. Hultzsch, 173, 177(n), 229(n),
Hastimaila, 155, 161, 180. Huna-mandala, 96, 97, 99, 101.
Hastinapura, 225, Hunas, 50,'51, 97, 109, 374.
Hataras kotuva, 175. Hunter, 76.
Hatha-yoga, 266, I Hushkapura, 119.
Ha veil, E. B,, 362(n), 363(n). Hyderabad State, 1, 3, 10, 133.
Hayagrlva, 279, 280, 283, Hyderabad Western, 221,
Hayagrlva avatdra (image), 313, 314,
364(n). I
Hayagrlva, Saptasatika, 282, 283.
Hazara, 118. I Ibn al-Faklh, 386, 3&9, 397(n), 404,
Hazra, R. C,, 230(n). 410(n), 413, 423.
Helios-Mithra, 333. i Ibn Haukal, 386, 401, 446, 452.
Hemachandra, 180, 192, 195, 198, 208, ’ Ibn Khaldun, 392.
215, 216, 293, ) Ibn Khordadbah, 391, 397(n), 398(n),
Hemadri, 339, 340, 343. 493 404 412 419
Henjeru (Hemavati), 164, | Ibn Rosteh, 397 (n), 398 (n), 403, 413, 419.
Heramba-Ganapati, 346, 349. s Ibn Said, 405,
558
A.I.K. -8G
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
554
INDEX
555
A.I.K.—37
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
556
INDEX
557
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
559
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
560
INDEX '
562
INDEX
563
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
564
INDEX
565
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
566
INDEX
567
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
Parak<ssari-^arman (title of Parantaka), Patanjali, 200, 204, 205, 213, 214, 231(n),
155. 293; 420, 443.
Parakesari Vijayalaya Clioladeva. 153. Patavidhana, 264.
Parakramapandya—See also Sri-val- Pathak Comm. Vol., 229 (n).
labha-madanara j a, 173. Patharghata, 49.
Paiamabrahmanya, 136. Pathari Pillar Ins., 41 (n).
Pardmappapaya.su, 216. Pathasukha, 81 (n).
Paramaras, 15, 36, 43(g), 111, 241, 290. Pathira Giriar, 228.
Paramaras of Malwa, 38, 39f 84, 92, 93, Patiala, 112.
94, 99/185, 242. Patisambhidamagga, 211.
Paramarthasdra, 208, 301, 363(n). Patna Museum, 280, 362(n).
Paramatman, 325. Patna State, 147.
Paramattha-dipa-~-See also Khemappa- Pattadakal, 334.
karana, 211. PattavardhinI (family), 139.
Parames vara-var man, 166, 426. Patfcinathar, 228.
Paramesvariya-hasta, 240. Pattin! Devi, 177.
Parananda, 78. Patuyas, 361 (n).
Parantaka. (another name for Neduh- Paiimachariu, 217, 218.
jacfaiyanj, 157, 158. Paumgsirt-chariu, 219.
Parantaka I (Chela k.), 12, 14, 154, 155, Pauranikas, 324.
156, 159, 161, 163, 164, 165, 167 170, Paurava Line of kings, 125.
171, 248, 249, 396(n), 397 (n), 408. Pauravas of Brahmapura, 124-5.
Parantaka II, 158, 157, 171. Pawars (See under Paramaras).
Parantaka Ylranarayana, 159. Pegu, 410(n).
Para-s&kti, 310. Peheva, 384.
Parasara, 387, 370, 378, 379. Pehowa, 111, 112.
Parasurama, 332, 333. Pembabbe, 292.
Parasuramesvara, 334. Pemiagadam, 158, 159.
Persia, 126, 128, 352, 405.
Paratrhfr&kavivarana, 134.
Persian wheels, 401.
Paravas, 158.
Perumais, 165.
Parbatiya. Plate, 79(n).
Perundevanar, i51.
Parbatsar, 107, 108,
Paribh&shaprahcLsa, 400, 409(n). Petech, 79(h), 80(n), 453(n).
Peterson, 229(n), 230(n).
Farichchhadi Pasupati rulers, 291.
Phalguna, 120, 121.
P&richchhedins, 137. Phnom Bakhen, 420.
Pariharas (Pratiharas), 38.
Phnom Kuien, 417.
Parl&kimedi, 143, 145.
Phuila (Khasa k.), 117.
Pamasavari, 284, 288. Piers Plowman, 228.
Pamotsa country, 121. ■Pindawara, 336.
Par si Prakasa, 364(n). Pihgala (iconography), 336.
Parsis—See also Zoroastrianism, 352-354. Pingala (Poet), 190, 217.
Parsv&bhyudaya-kavya, 182, 183. Pingald, 325.
Parsvanatha, 289, 297, 300. Pingala-Ganapati, 345, 346.
Pratabgarh, 108, 109, 110. Pirkalach-Cholar-'Charittiram, 165(n).
Partabgarh Inscription (S. Rajputana) Pischel, 181, 182, 229(n).
31, 32, 40(n), 42(n), 131(n). Pisharoti, 184
Partha (k. of Kashmir), 119. Plihapuram Ins., 57 (n), 89.
P&rthasarathi, 151, 365 (n). Pito, 268, 275.
Parvagtipta, 85, 113. Polalchora, 164.
Parvata, 100. Polonnaruva—See also Pulatthinagara,
Parvatakara, 125. 172, 174, 176, 177.
Parvatt, 184, 263, 306, 318, 318, 329, 330, Po Nagar, 421, 425, 426, 442.
335, 338, 344/347. Pondicherry, 3.52, 156, 369.
Pasa, 319. Ponduru grant, 143.
Pdsanaha-chariu or Pasapux&nu, 219. Forma, 224, 225, 292.
Paseiiaddesa, 403. Poona—See also Puniagiri, 233.
Pasut 319, 320. Porbandar, 99.
Pasupatas, 373. Porsha, 344.
Pasupatastra, 307. Potalaka, 262.
Pdsupaia-vrata, 203. Potahkusa (son of Gunarr^ava), 143.
Pasupati (City), 56(n). Po$tI Katyur, 123.
Pasupati (God), 60, 360. Prabandhachintamani, 188.
Pa$aHputra, 29, 49, Prabandhakosaf 106.
Patan (Gujarat), 91, 103. Prabandhas, the Jain, 289, 290.
Pa tan (Nepal), 60. Prabhachandra, 294, 354, 364(n),
568
INDEX
569
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
R I Rajasa, 319.
| Rajasekhara (Poet), 33, 35, 41, 42(n), 90,
Rabban, Joseph, 165. 91, 180, 181, 183, 192, 193, 195, 229(n),
Radha (goddess), 318. 368, 369, 382, 384, 385, 386, 388, 389,
Radha (place), 53, 66, 81(n), 86. 390, 394(n), 395(n), 396(n), 404.
Radhanpur grants, 133. Rajasiriiha II, 154, 158, 159.
Radhanpur plates of Govinda III, 18(n), Rajasimha period, (architecture), 329.
41(n). Rajasimhesvara temple, 369.
Ragacharya, 265. Rajasthdulyas, 241, 244, 255(n).
Rdgarati, 266. Rdjataranginx, 33, 58, 112, 114, 126, 244,
Raghavadeva (k. of Nepal), 59. 255(n), 363(n).
Raghavan, 230 (n). Rajauri (Hill State), 121.
Raghava-pandaviya—See also Dvi- Rdjavarttika, 294.
sand hana, 184. Rajendra, 144, 163, 167, 172, 173, 174, 312,
Raghu, 35, 130(n). 369.
Raghuvamsa, 186, 443. RajendradevI, 419.
Rahada (Kalachuri q.), 91. Rajendra-varman (of Kambuja), 421,
Rahappa, 3. 425, 438.
Rahila, 84. Rajendra-varman (another name for
Rahila-varma, 84. Manujendra-varman, 141.
Rahilya, 84. Rajendra-varman I, 140.
Rahilya-sagara, 84. Rajendra-varman II, 141.
Rahma, 404, 410(n). R'aji, 103.
Rahu, 352. Rajhi, 349.
Rahulabhadra, 81 (n), 272. Rajor Inscription, 37, 40(n).
Rahula Sankrityayana, 216. Rajorgarh, 37.
Raipur District, 146. Rajputana, 4, 7, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 30, 37,
Raja, C. K., Comm. Vol. 230(n), 45, 47, 87, 94, 97, 241, 296, 331, 313,
Rajabhanja, 75. 336, 337.
Raja-Bhima, 138. Rajputana, Eastern, 20.
Rdjadharma, 232, 236. Rajput Clans, 83, 111.
Rajadhiraja, 173, 174. Raishahi District, 49, 330, 332, 339, 351.
Rajadhiraja Vishnu, 412. Rajshahi Museum, 306, 314, 315, 334, 344,
Rajaditya (Chola crown-prince), 14, 155, 349, 364(n).
156, 162, 165. R'ajyapala (Kamboja k.), 54.
Rajagriha, 275, 276. Rajyapala (Pala k.), 53, 54, 57(n), 89.
Rajaguru, S., 81(n). Rajyapala (Pratihara k.), 38.
Rajakesari (Title), 153. Rajayapura (Rajor), 37.
R'ajalakshmi, 438. Rakka, 121.
Rajamahendra, 137, 139. Rakkasa Gahga, 162, 163.
Rajamahendrapura, 139. Rakshasa, 179.
RajamahendrI (City), 139. Rdkshasa (form of marriage), 17(n).
Rajamalla (k. of Gangava^i), 14, 162, Rdkshasakavya—See also Kavyarak-
163. skasa, 186.
Rajamalla (Naga chief), 67, 68. Rdkshasas, 261.
Rajamalla I (Vijayditya son), 161, 164, Ral-pa-can, 58, 79(n), 274, 446, 447.
165 (n). Rama (historical), 184.
Rajamalla IH, 161, 162. Rama (legendary), 180, 333.
Rajamartanda, 205. Ramabhadra (Pratihara k.). 28, 29, 38,
Rdjamartanxjia (Indra III), 13, 138. 51, 241.
Rdjamdtya, 243. Ramachandra, 179, 180, 184.
Rajamayya, 138. Ramachandran, T., 74.
Rajanaka Ratnakara, 183. Ramachariia, 45, 183, 395 (n).
Rdjanyas, 241. Rdmacharita-Manasa, 217.
Rajaona, 307. Ramajanardana, 237.
Rajapurl, 121, 122. Ramakantha, 301.
Rajaputra (author), 397(n). Ramanhadesa, 422.
Rajaputra (Kalachuri k. of Sarayu- Ramanuja, 206, 312, 323, 360.
p^ra) 93# Ramapala (Pala k.), 28, 55(n).
Rajaraja, 14o’ 141, 144, 150, 156, 157, 159, Ramasimha Muni, 216.
160, 172, 179,(n), 248, 397(n), 402, 409, Ramathas, 35.
409(n), 410(n). Ramatirtham, 291.
Rajarajanarendra, 291. Ramayana, 181, 217, 236, 436, 440.
Rajarajapuram, 172. Rambha, 347.
Rajarajesvarl, 344. Rameses, 162.
Rajarash^ra, 172, 173. Ramesvaram, 14, 15, 16, 51, 156.
570
t
INDEX
571
A.I.K.—88
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
672
INDEX
578
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
574
INDEX
575
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
576
INDEX
578
INDEX
579
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
580
INDEX
o
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
584
INDEX
585
'I
THE HISTORY AND CULTURE
OF THE
INDIAN PEOPLE
This is the first history of India, written
exclusively by her own people, bringing to bear on
the problems a detached and truly critical
appreciation. A team of over sixty scholars of
repute presents herein a comprehensive and up-to-
date account of the political, socio-economic and
cultural history of the Indian people.
VOLUME I
THE VEDIC AGE
(up to 600 B.C.)
VOLUME II
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL UNITY
(600 B.C. to 320 A.D.)
VOLUME III
THE CLASSICAL AGE
(320—750 A.D.)
VOLUME IV
THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
(750—1000 A.D.)
VOLUME V
THE STRUGGLE FOR EMPIRE
(1000—1300 A.D.)
VOLUME VI
THE DELHI SULTANATE
(1300—1526 A.D.)
VOLUME VII
THE MUGHAL EMPIRE
(1526—1707 A.D.)
VOLUME VIII
THE MARATHA SUPREMACY
(1707—1818 A.D.)
VOLUME IX
BRITISH PARAMOUNTCY AND INDIAN
RENAISSANCE (1818—1905 A.D.) PART I
VOLUME X
BRITISH PARAMOUNTCY AND INDIAN
RENAISSANCE (1818—1905 A.D.) PART II
VOLUME XI
STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM (1905—1947)
VOLUME I: THE VEDIC AGE
"This history unlike its predecessors is first and foremost a history of India and of
her people rather than a history of those who have from time to time invaded her.... The
standard, in a word, is very high...."
The Times Literary Supplement, London
"....Distinguished historians contribute and they are not only learned but also very
readable .... It contains much new information...."
The Manchester Guardian, Manchester
VOLUME II : THE AGE OF IMPERIAL UNITY
"....It is safe to say that these volumes will transform the study of Indian history in
our times; their authors are not only writing history, they themselves are making history, a
whole new history of knowledge and education...."
The Illustrated Weekly of India, Bombay
VOLUME III: THE CLASSICAL AGE
"....It maintains the leading trait of the series viz. to devote more attention to the
social and cultural aspects of the story than to the purely political side, and the narrative of
dynastic struggles and wars.... The political history is generally complete and up-to-date
and a great amount of authentic information on social and economic history has been
culled and presented systematically for the first time...."
K. A. Nilakanta Sastri in Journal of Indian History
VOLUME IV : THE AGE OF IMPERIAL KANAUJ
"....This is a magnificent piece of exact and unbiased scholarship.... Its pages are
alive with the spirit of the modern Indian Renaissance; freedom has animated Indian
learning and this is one of its finest achievements....this new Indian history is not
concerned merely, or even mainly, with war and politics. Two thirds of the book deal with
cultural and social matters...." The Statesman, Calcutta
VOLUME V : THE STRUGGLE FOR EMPIRE
"....Like all the preceding volumes its treatment.... is detailed and comprehensive
and is based upon the highest standards of scholarship. The contributors .... have made the
best use of all the available source material and the important previous works on the
subject....From every point of view it will be accepted as the standard and authoritative
work on the history of India in the age of transition from ancient to medieval times...."
The Hindustan Times, New Delhi
VOLUME VI : THE DELHI SULTANATE
"....Voluminous publication....piecing together all relevant material....easily stands
out as one of the most outstanding and comprehensive treatises so far brought out on this
period of Indian history....surpasses them all....being written....from an entirely new angle
of vision....is indeed a significant contribution....this comprehensive and detailed work is
really a very valuable addition to the existing literature on the subject...."
The Pioneer, Lucknow
VOLUME VII: THE MUGHUL EMPIRE
"....A comprehensive and balanced history of a momentous period; an exacting task
ably fulfilled....A notable volume in a notable series, the work is a finely integrated ar
well brought-out history of a remarkable time...." Nagpur Times, Nagp.
VOLUME VIII: THE MARATHA SUPREMACY
"....The editors have done a commendable job in bringing out this volume in which
the political history of the period has been dealt with in a scholarly manner...."
Tne National Herald, New Delhi
VOLUME IX : BRITISH PARAMOUNTCY AND
INDIAN RENAISSANCE, PART I
"....The volumeris an exhaustive study of the British rule....Its impact on the
cultural, social and educational life in the country....This is an important publication for
students of Indian history...." The Hitavada, Nagpur
VOLUME X : BRITISH PARAMOUNTCY AND
INDIAN RENAISSANCE, PART II
"....This volume, like its predecessors, is a mine of information and brings to light
numerous significant facts and developments in the last century....It maintains the high
standards set by the earlier volumes...." Sunday Standard, Bombay
VOLUME XI: STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM
"....The present volume covers the momentous period 1905-1947. It gives a detailed
account not only of political developments, but also of such other essential topics as
administration, education, art and literature...."
"Unique in the annals of modern Indian scholarship...."
Sunday Standard, Bombay
ISBN-978-81-7276-431-9