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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(AUGUST, 1908.
Besides, as would appear from Dr. Bhandarkar's Dekhan, the name Satakarnin was that of a dynasty and not of only one ruler. The name Satakarni alone appears in the early part of the list and the date is 40 B.C. to 16 A. D. (see 166, Bombay Gazelleur, Vol. I., Part II.) The word itself could be taken to mean "keen-eared" (rather than handred-eared), figuratively. It is hard to understand how a contemporary could have rendered it with the number attached not to the ears but to men, Besides, these were raling in Southern India, although Magadh was included in their dominions. So then, even if the hundred karnas" meant Satakarnin, the particular sovereign might have been Yajña Sri who ruled from 154--174 A.D. in the Maharashtra, and 172--202 A. D. in Telingana. If this be so, we have also a Vijaya, mentioned in all the puranas, who was in Telingana from 202–208 A. D., bat as against this, there is the objection that Sengattuvan crossed the Ganges and fought with Vijaya and bis brother on the northern bank of Ganges. This notwithstanding, that Sengattavan must have flourished about this time, could be inferred from the fact that Senguttavan's father, Pandyan Nedumcheliyan and Karikala all claim victory over the Aryan forces. It is very likely that the Tamil forces helped in the overthrow of the foreigners by Gôtamiputra Satakarnits and the direct mention of gifts to Karikala by the Râjas of Bundelkhand [ Vajranada ], Magadba aud Mâļava ( Avanti ] could not be altogether a Aginent of the imagination, since it is so very definite. All ciroumstances attending point to the 2nd century A. D. as the era of Denguttavan; and the era of the greatest literary activity may be taken to be the 2nd and 3rd centuries after Christ.
Buddhism was introduced into South India during the last quarter of the 3rd century B.C. It must have taken some time to strike root, and in those days must have been somewhat slow in spreading. Judging from the exposition of it, as shown in the 'Jewel-Belt,' we might take it that it wus as yet so free from any element of corruption as to evoke the admiration of even Cbristian scholars, like the learned translator of the Ceylonese chronicles. The early centaries after Christ may, therefore, be regarded as the age of Buddhistic ascendency in South India. When Fa Hian was travelling in India, there was already the early signs of revalsion, and Brabmanism returned to the fray. In the next two or three centuries Buddhism was swept off the country and the restoration of Brahmanism was completed when Hiuen Tbsang came to India, chiefly through the agency in the Tamil country of the earlier Saiva devotees and some among the Vaishnava. From this time the struggle is not so much between Buddhism and Brahmanism, ar between the latter and Jainism.
In the first centuries of the Christian era then, we find India south of the Tangabhadra tbas politically divided. If we start at the source of the Kaveri and follow its course till it meets the Amaravati near Karûr, and then go up the latter river continding our journey till we reach the Palnis and the Western Ghauts, we shall bave marked the land-boundary of the Chera sphere of influence. If we take a straight south-easterly line from Karûr till we reach the sea, east of the Zamindari of Sivaganga and south of the old Chola town of Tondi, the south of this line would be the Pandya, and north of it the Chola sphere of influence. It must not be understood that the territory allotted to each power was always directly under it. The frontier regions were always of doubtful allegiance, as could be seen from the care with which rulers in those days fortified and strengthened frontier towns. So far as the Cholas were concerned, they had always prominently before them the stratégical advantages of Uraigür on the west and Kancht on the north, although their chief city was Puhår on the sea coast. Karür was the meeting place of the three powers and it was in its neighbourhood that many
This is the more likely, the Baka Nahapans and of his stooosor, Rishabadata, ruled over the Mab Arlehtra. with Junnar for their capital, aud their territory extended up to Malapar. This dynasty, together with that of Chahtans in Malva, wus overthrown by Gotamiputra Satalarni and his son, Palimayi, among whose possessions we find the regions of the Malaya and the Sahya." These Andbrabhrityas came from Dhanakataks near Gantur, and driving back the usurpers, recovered their adoestral dominions. (Introduction to Literary Remains of Dr. Bhax Dhaji, pago 25, And Dr. Bhandarkar'a Dekhan, Soca. iv, 1, and vi).
