Merutunga and Vikrama

SR No.: 269101
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: A K Warder
Publisher: ZZ_Anusandhan
Total Pages: 2
Language: English
Classification: Article & 0_not_categorized
File Size: 90 KB

Page 1

MERUTUNGA AND VIKRAMA
A.K.WARDER*
Merutunga, after introductory verses, begins his Prabandhacintamani (completed in 1306 A.D.) with Vikramarka or Vikrama or Vikramaditya (names used interchangeably). After a series of anecdotes, including his being consecrated king in Avanti, we read that the samvatsara era of Vikramaditya has prevailed in the world since his death (C. H. Tawney's translation p. 14). Merutunga then gives many dates in years of Vikramaditya, beginning with that of Vanarāja Capotkata (V.S. 802, Tawney p.18). (Šātavāhana, however, though his brief story is placed immediately after that of Vikramaditya, but not connected with it, is not given any date.) The apparently chronological arrangement, with many precise V.S. dates, continues until the end of chapter IV, on Vastupala, who is said to have begun a pilgrimage in V.S. 1277 (Tawney p. 157).
The last (fifth) chapter of Merutunga is a miscellaneous supplement of mostly undated anecdotes not in chronological order (unplaceable, evidently, in chapters I to IV). But one date does appear, that of the destruction of Valabhi by the mlecchas, after they killed King Śiladitya (sic). It is 375 years after Vikrama (Tawney p.176). This is most extraordinary, because it would correspond to about 316 A.D., long before the Arabs invaded Sindhu, let alone Saurāṣṭra (Merutunga probably did not place this story in his chronological narrative precisely because it did not seem to fit; he apparently took the story from Jinabhadra II ---Indian Kavya Literature Vol. VII §6918, from Jinavijaya). Tawney in a footnote on p. 175 notes the date from Miss Duff as 'probably 766 A.D.' for the overthrow of the Valabhi dynasty. Usually the event is