Jainism in North India

SR No.: 011067
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Chimanlal J Shah
Publisher: Longmans Green and Compny London
Publication Year: 1932
Total Pages: 66
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 3 MB

Page 260

STATE OF JAINISM DURING THE GUPTA PERIOD portance both from the standpoint of the Jaina community in the north and of Indian history in general. The King Toramana, or Toraraya, referred to in the third strophe, is none else but the powerful leader of the Hunas,' who is known to have led the Huna hordes which had burst through the north-western passes and spread in a destructive flood all over Northern India. There is no historical fallacy committed in taking this Toraraya for the Huna chieftain Toramana, because there is only one yeluia Toramana wie Toramana enjoying the sovereignty of this earth-in all Indian history. He seems to be one of the very important figures of his time, because, as just remarked, it was he who was at the back of the Huna invasion and the consequent break-up of the Gupta Empire Leaving Central Asia he and his followers poured into India, and having conquered the Punjab and Delhi came down as far inland as the country of Malwa in Central India. To quote Vincent Smith: "The leader in this invasion of India, which, no doubt, continued for years, was a chieftain named Toramana, who is known to have been established as ruler of Malwa in Central India prior to A D. 500 He assumed the style and titles of an Indian sovereign of Maharajas'; and Bhanugupta, as well as the king of Vallabhi and many other local princes, must have been his tributaries" 2 Naturally this Hunadhipatr, the leader of the Aryans of Central Asia, must have brought about a great revolution in the political, religious and social conditions of India. No doubt the period of his domination was rather short, but when he died-in the first decade of the sixth century AD.--the Indian kingdom which he had acquired was consolidated sufficiently to pass to his son and successor, Mahavira Mahirakula. Anyhow it is not yet known for certain to antiquarians what was bus capital. From various sources we know this much-that Sakala, the modern Sialkot in the Punjab, was the metropolis of his successor, Mihirakula. However, according to the Kuvalayamala tradition, Toramana's headquarters was 1 The Hunas Tere a tribe of Aryans in Central Asin They shattered the Gupta Empire, and dominated a large part of it for a short period The dominion of the Hunas did not long sure the defent ond death of Mihirakula, the son and successor of Tommina, and this can be put down approximately in the middle of the sixth century AD For further information about the Hunas sce Ojhs, History of Rajputana, 1, pp 33 II, 126 IT : Smith, op cit, p 333 Cf Bernett, op al. 49 * Smith, op and loc al , Ojla, op cit, P 128 * Smith, op and loc cit Ojla, op at, 120, Baractt, op al, p 50 211