Indian Antiquary Vol 15

SR No.: 032507
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 446
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 285

SEPTEMBER, 1886.]
THE HISTORY AND DATE OF MIHIRAKULA.
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had it put to the test; but no woman was in large numbers, in copper, from the neighbourfound who could prevail against the rock, until hood of Rawalpindi and from Kasmir, suffice to & potter's wife, named Chandravati, touched remove it. I have had the advantage of exait and displaced it. Whereapon, filled with mining those in General Cunningham's collecanger, he caused three crores of women to be tion, and I found them to give two varieties of slain, with their husbands and brothers and his name, Mihirakula, and Mihiragula; out of sons (IL. 323-328).-In short, he behaved al- twenty-two of the best specimens, ten gave the together in such a way, that it was only the termination as gula. What the termination power of the gods, who cansed him to do kul or gul may mean, I must leave Persian such things, that prevented his subjects from scholars to decide. But there can be no doubt rising of one accord and slaying him (1. 329).- that his name, as preserved by Hinen Tsiang, When at length he was destroyed, a cortain and in the Rájatararangini and the inscripson of his, named Vaka (1. 334), of good tions, is simply the Sansksitised form of a behaviour, was anointed king by the people. foreign word mihrkul, which, in the sense of a He, though born from one who had griey. certain kind of cotton cloth, actually does ously afflicted them, gave them happiness ; | occur in the Ain-i-Akbari. Further, on his and then religion returned, as if from the coins, his name as Mihirakula is coupled with other world, and security came back, as if the Hindu title Sri; whereas the other form, from exile in the depths of the forests Mihiragula, is coupled with the purely foreig (11. 330-333).
name or title of Shahi." And this not only In addition to the introduction of G & n- stamps him decisively as a foreigner, but also dhåra Brahmaņs into Kasmir, which is amply enables us to determine precisely the tribe to supported by Hinen Tsiang's account of the which he belonged. In the first place, this invasion of the Gândhâra country by Mihira- title directly connects him with Vâsudeva, kula, we have, in the above narrative of the who also used it in earlier times; e.g. in his Rajatarashgini, the reminiscence of two dis- inscription of the year 87. And Vasudeva, tinctly historical occurrences.-The first is again, is directly connected with Kanishka contained in the statement that Mihira and Huvishka by, amongst other things, his kula's accession to the throne of Kasmir use, in his inscription" of the year 44 (P), of was at a time when the country was overrun the title of Devapatra or Daivaputra, which by a Miêchchha or foreign tribe. Mihira is also used by Huvishka in his inscripkula's name itself is sufficient to shew that he tions" of the years 39 and 47. Mihirakula, was a foreigner, not a Hindu. I lay no stress and his father Tôramana, therefore, belonged upon the fact that the first component of it, to this same race, which, whether best mihira, the sun,' is a word imported into the and most properly known as Indo-Scythians, Sanskrit from a Persian source. But the Sakas, Hanas, Turushkas, Shahis, or Daiva. second component, kula, if taken as a Sang- putras,-had established themselves in the krit word in its meaning of a family,' makes Pañjab at an early date, and continued in up altogether a name, which, -though it might power down to at least the time of Samudra. be accepted as a perfectly good Sanskrit ap- gapta, as is evidenced by the record, in the pellation for a tribe, family, or dynasty, as AllahAbad pillar inscription, that in the north meaning "the family of the Sun, or of the he overthrow, amongst others, the Daivapatras, Mihiras," - is an impossible proper dame of an ShAhis, and ShAhånushAhis. And this explains individual." This is a point which, I think, why we find Sakala, in the Pañjáb, given by Hiuen must be clear to any one. But, if any doubt Tsiang as Mihirakula's capital. The statement, should be felt, Mihirakula's ooing, which come therefore, of the Rajataranging that Mihirakula's "And equally so the names of Hiranyakula and Muka.
coin of Hirawya, has to be applied to No. 8 of the coins la or Vasakula.
published by Dr. Hoernle in the Jour. Beng, Ae. Soc. #Blochmann's translation, Vol. I. pp. 95, 817.
Vol. LIV. Put I. p. 48. * Only the second syllable, hi, actually falls within Archwol. Suru. Ind. Vol. III. p. 86, and Pl. xv. the edges of the specimens examined by me. Bat other
No. 18. coins at the Kasmir series give the complete word shami,
* id. p. 82, and Pl. xv. No. 8. and leave no doubt that this was the title on the Mihir gula dies. The same explanation, and not that it is
1 !
91 id. pp. 89, 88, and Pl. ziv. Nos. 9 and 12.