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GEOGRAPHICAL PLACES, PEOPLES AND TRIBES
553
There are historical evidences to show that some dynasties bore animal names. The Nagal dynasty is said to have ruled at Mathurā and Padmāvati during the 3rd and 4th century A.D. Even in the medieval times many Nāga kings ruled at Bhogavati (Ramtek) from 11th to 14th century A. D. and they had snake as the 'ensign of their banner.2 Figure of monkey also was adopted by a dynasty, King Kandara of Ananda dynasty had his banner ensigned with the figure of Golangūla (a species of monkeys).
The VR for the first time depicts the Vanaras as having tails. Scholars explain it as follows : There was a custom in some royal families that at the time of coronation a tail was attached. There is still a tribe in the Andaman islands, whose people wear tails.
All these evidences prove that the Vanaras were an ancient tribe. Mr. S. N. Vyasa considers them as a Vanavāsī people-forest tribe and they were called Vanaras because of their fickle nature (capalata?'. Such nick names are not strange. The Russians ridiculed the Japanese by calling them "yellow monkeys 8. That the Vānaras were an ancient people, is corroborated by the Vasudevahindi also. It mentions that Vasudeva married many girls belonging to Vanaravāmśa'.
1. VGA, p. 33. 2. See Nayakumāracariu, p. XXXV. 3. VGA, p. 66. 4. Bengali Rāmāyaṇa, D. S. Sen. p. 52. 5. V. D. Savarkara-Rāmāyana Samālocană. 6. RKS7, p. 71. 7. Ibid, p. 72. 8. RR. p. 96. 9. VH, (Gujarati), Int. p. 4. fn.l.
