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RASTRAKUTA-PRATIHARA PERIOD
255
The interesting information is with regard to women in general, and to those who had conceived while in the Mleccha custody in particular. Women who were ravished became pure after the period of menstruation (7541), with a three days' fast; but those who had conceived could be reclaimed back to their original fold after the delivery of the child. The foetus in the womb of such women, according to Devala, is like a thorn (Salya) in her body, and when this foreign substance is removed, and she has had her courses, she becomes pure as gold:
विनिसृष्टे ततः शल्ये रजसो वाऽपि दर्शने ।
तदा (ततः ) सा शुध्यते नारी विमलं काञ्चनं यथा ।।-श्लो. ५१. The confirmation of this social phenomenon is available from the accounts of the Arab historians. Biladuri and Al-Biruni have mentioned this fact, and they suggest that attempts were made to reclaim back the Hindus who were lost to the alien faith. During the Caliphate of Hasham (723-43 A.D. ) Junaid, the governor of Sindh had sent expeditions into the interior of India and spread terror in Rajputana and Gujarat. His successors were Tamin and Hakim. “ While Hakim was the governor ", writes Biladuri," the people of Al-Hind apostatised and returned to idolatory excepting those of Kassa; and the Musalmans had no place of security in which they could live".-(Elliot and Dowson, Vol. I, p. 126).
The reclamation of the Hindus had become a regular feature till the time of Al-Biruni (Circa 1024 A.D.): "I have been repeated told”, says the Muslim historian, " that when Hindu Slaves ( in Muslim countries) escape and return to their country and religion, the Hindus order that they should fast by way of expiation, then they keep them in dung stale, and milk of cows for a certain number of days, till they give similar dirt to eat, and more of the like":-( Translation, Vol. II, p. 162 ).
The Devala Smrti mentions fasts, like those of Candrayana and Parāka, and Pädakycchra, and the use of cow urine (gomatra) and cow-dung ( gomaya ). (Verse 65). These two independent pieces of evidence, thus, corroborate each other.- Baij Nath Puri, The History of the Gurjara-Pralihāras, p. 116-118).
The indigenous ( Desi ) dance, music and musical instruments, as described by Sārņgadeva ( 12th century A.D.) based on old traditions (742 a t taraft: 1 Tahuet, steht I) are those that catch the popular ear and touch the very heart of the people of various lands and climes :
देशे देशे जनानां च यद् रुच्या हृद्रंजकम् ।
नृत्यं गीतं च वाद्यं च तद्देशीत्यभिधीयते ।। Such local tunes are consequently named after their place of original birth, for example, Gurjari, Mālavi, Mara, Khambhāyati, Bilâval (from Veraval), Varādi,
C. 900
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