Indian Antiquary Vol 26

SR No.: 032518
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 235

SEPTEMBER, 1897.]
THE CASTLE OF LOHARA.
229
them the approach to the Firozpur Pass or to any of the other passes leading over the rountains to N. W. of the Tosmaidin, is closed by the enemy stationed at Sarambara. This place I identify with the large village of Chembar situated about 5 miles above Mandi in the Gågri Valley.31
There remains thus for their escape only the route through the side valley which opens to the S. W. at the village of Palóra, some three miles above Mandi on the way to Lohrin. A difficult path, marked on the larger Survey map, leads through this valley, past the village of Van to an alp called Kuliyan from which a valley leading down to Suran is gained. From the latter place the Kaśmir force might have retired in safety over the Pir Pantsål Pass.
Van I identify with Kalhana's Vanikavasa2 and Kuliyan with Kalenaka. The dangerous defile through which Jayasimha's troops retreat to Vanikåvåsa, is clearly the narrow gorge of the Loherin River which must be passed before reaching Palêra. For about two miles the road leads there high above the river along precipitous clitfs, and in many places it appears to have been artificially cut into the face of the latter.
$ 11. The conclusive evidence furnished by the above narrative as to the position of Lohara permits us to note more briefly the remaining references in the Chronicle. A temporary absence of Lothana from Lohara gave an opportunity to another pretender, Mallarjuna, to take possession of the stronghold33 and the territory attached to it. Lothana turned out of the
Kottarájya' harassed his rival from Attalika and other places, 34 bat made subsequently peace with him and proceeded to invade Kaśmir with the help of powerful allies among the rebellious Damaras. He crossed the mountains and took up a position at Karkoçadranga, i. e, the modern Drang below the Tôsmaidån plateau.35 Eventually Lohara was reoccupied by Jayasimha's troops and Mallárjana forced to flee 36 On the way he was plandered of the treasures carried away from Lohara and ultimately captured at the village of Savarnika. The latter is distinctly designated as belonging to the territory of Lohara and can hence be identified with the village of Sûran in the Toht Valley already mentioned.37 Finally Kalhaņa relates to us the installation of Gulhaņa, Jayasimha's eldest son, as ruler of Lohara during the life-time of his father. 38
The references to Lohara in the later Chronicles are few and do not add to our knowledge regarding to its situation.39 As a stronghold it had evidently retained its importance for Kasmir only as long as the dynasty which had its home there, remained in power. That trade continued to pass through Lohara, can, however, be concluded from an allusion to the customs revenue levied there in the reign of Muhammad Shah about A. D. 1530.40
$ 12. Of far greater interest and importance are the references to the fortress of Lohara which we meet in Alböruni's Indica. We owe them indirectly to the unsuccessful expedition which Mahmud of Ghazna had led against Kasmir. Alberünt at the close of his account of Kaśnir geographyfi mentions to the south of the capital the high peak 'Kularjak' resembling by its copula shape the mountain Dunbîvand (Demavand). "The snow there never melts. It
51 Analogies in the phonetic conversion of other Kasmir local names which have been discussed by me in Dots i 100. viii. 176 and permit us to trace back the modern name Chambar to Sarambara through *(a) rumbara > *Srambar. Initial Skr. $ which otherwise is regularly replaced in Kaemiri by h, is preserved, as or ch, in ersey where this initial consonant was protected by immediate contact with a following consonant; comp., 6. 4., Ks. Chirath < skr. Srirashtra.
32 In Vanikapliga we have probably the simple name Vanika with the addition of Gyása 'habitation,' see note viii. 1877. Van is the ks. form of the name which on the map is marked. Ban'nccording to the Pub&ri pronunciation.
33 Comp. viii. 1941 sqq. - Lohara is designated here and elsewhere (6.9., viii, 1631, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1994, 2008, 2022, 20:29) by the simple term Kotta, castle,' an abreviation for Lohara kofta.
54 Comp. viii. 1989 sqq. 35 Cop. viii. 1993 sqq., 1910, and above note 7. 56 viii. 2022. 07 See viii. 2275 sqq. with note viii, 2277.
viii. 3301, 3372. > Seo Jonardja, 454 sqq.; Srivara, iii. 482 ; iv. 137; Fourth Chronicle, 131, 394 sqq. 4. See Fourth Chron. 294 sqq.
11 Comp. Albêrûni's Indic... Vol. i. p. 207 81.