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 265

JAINISM IN NORTH INDIA From the form and shape of the letters, and from the comparison of the name given on it, it is believed by those interested m numismatics that the coin must have been struck by some king of the Gupta dynasty. However, it is not possible to trace the relations of this Harigupta with any of the Gupta kings. On epigraphic grounds it seems that he must have existed in the middle of the sixth century of the Vikrama era. Thus from the standpoints of the date and the place where it was found the description of the coin meets with that of the Jaina Harigupta. The latter comes from the district of Punjab, and being the contemporary of Toramana he also belongs to the middle of the sixth century of the Vikrama era. Thus, considering the similarity of the date, the placename and the dynasty, there is nothing wrong of the Harigupta of the coin and that of the Jaina tradition are one and the same person. Coming to Devagupta we are faced with a similar difficulty. Nevertheless from Bana's Harshacarita, which is considered to be "a very early attempt at an historical romance," 3 we know that on the throne of Malwa sat a king, a contemporary of the great king of Kanauy and Thanesar, who was defeated by Harshavardhana's elder brother, Rajyavardhana, because the Malwa kang was declared the enemy of Grahavarman, the king of Kanyakubja, who was married to the sister of Harshavardhana. This king of Malta has been identified by Dr Buhler with the Devagupta of the Madhuban inscription. Here arises the question whether it is possible to identify Devagupta of the Jaina tradition with the king of Malwa spoken of in the Harshacarita The difficulty that comes 1 Cf Cunningham, op cit, pp 18-10 " The form of the letter 'H' us peculiar to the Guptas "-Ibid, p 19 "Coin of Harigupta seems to belong to the ofth century, from its epigraphy Alian, op al, PCV * Cowell and Thomas, Harsacania, Int , p vir Cf Ind, Int , pp X1-2.11 the illustrious Rajyavardhana, by whom, playing his wlup in the battle, the Kings Devegupta and others who resembled waoked horses were all subdued with averted faces"-Bubler, EI,1,p 74 C Barnett, op cit, p 5, Mooker (Radhakumud), Harska, pp 16-19, 59 Assuming the correctness of Bana's account it may be suggested that we gupta was the name of the Malava king The latter certainly was the chief foe, and the conquest of his kingdom is attested by the further statement of Bana that Blondin, wale had accompanied Riyya vardhana, brought the booty from Mala va to Harsha WC latter had reached the territory of Kumara-Bhaskaravarman on his expedition of revenge Against the King Gauda I may add that the word Malava necd not teler here of other passages of the Sriharshacarita to the Malava in Central India There was another MAlave in the Punjab, much nearer to Thanesar, which may be meant "-Buller, op ? p 70 Cf Mookerji (Radhakumud), op cit, pp 25, 50 ff 214