Chronology of Gujarat

Author(s): M R Majumdar
Publisher: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda

Page 97

IN DO-GREEK PERIOD
45
B.C.
C. 10
himself according to the custom of his country. This epitaph is on his tomb (Strabo, III, 119.) at Athens. Allusions to this embassy are made by Horace in his Odes':-( Strabo, XV, i. 73).
Orosius of Tarragona speaks of an Indian and a Scythian embassy reaching Caesar in Spain, B.C. 27. These various notices apparently refer to one and the same embassy, probably sent by some petty Indian king at the instigation, and in the interests of Greek traders.
Veņi-vatsarāja, a devotee of Lord Buddha according to a late Jaina tradition, got built in a city of Gujarat a temple of Tarā-devi. This city, therefore, came to be known as Tārāura (Sk. Täräpura )'. Later on, this very king who became a Jaina, on being enlightened by Arya Khapuța Sūri got built here a temple of Siddhāyikā, the Sāsanā-devi of Lord Mahāvira. Since then, this city became a Jaina tirtha?.
1. This city is identified with Taranga of Gujarat; Vide, JTSS (Vol. I, pt. I, p. 146). * Kumaravalapadiboha, pp. 442-443.
Pādalipta Sūri? (c. V. S. 80 ) had once gone to Dhankapuri (Dhānka) during his pilgrimage. There he met Nāgārjuna. This Nāgārjuna became his pupil, and in honour of his guru, he populated a city in the taleți (foot) of mount Śatrunjaya, and named it Pādaliptapura (modern Palitana). This Nāgārjuna got built a temple on the mount and installed therein an image of Lord Mahāvira and that of Padalipta Sūri. (For Jaina sculptures from Dhankagiri or modern Dhānk, see H.D. Sankalia : Archaeology of Gujarat, PP. 167, 234)
This Pādalipta Sūri had been to Murunda, king of Pāțalīputra. He is the author of Tarangavai etc. According to Visesanisiha-cunni (pt. IV, p. 872) Pādalipta Sūri succeeded in removing pain in the head of King Murunda, which he was suffering from since a long time, by a mantra ( incantation).
From Bhāsa" (v. 8915) on Kappa we learn that this Sūri prepared an image ( yantra-pratima) of the sister of Murunda, exactly resembling her. This image which was kept standing had a fan in the hand, and it was winking. 5
Bhimarāja of Omkārapura in Lāța, was a devotee of Padalipta Sūri. 1 For his life, see Avassaya-cunni (pt. I, p. 554), Nisihaviseh a-cunni (pt. IV, p. 872), Bhasa (v. 49-51 ) on Kappa etc. 2 Prabhavakacarita (V. 247-306).
3 In Malayagiri Suri's Com. (pt. 141-142) Pratisthanpura is mentioned. This seems to be a slip; for this Suri in the Com., (pp. 524-5) on Avassaya and in the com., (p. 162-a) on Nandi has mentioned Pataliputra.
• See Kappa (pt. V, p. 1315). 0 In the com. (pt. V, p. 1315-6) it is said that 'female' forms were constructed in plenty in the 'Yavana' country,
6 JPI (pt. I, p. 240).