Indian Antiquary Vol 40

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 23

JANUARY, 1911.) FOREIGN ELEMENTS IN THE HINDU POPULATION.
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maņas are also reported to be existing in Khandesh, Gujarat and Rajputând20. The Ahirs were such an important tribe that they gave rise to a separate dialect. Thus in Khandesh their dialect is known as Abirâņi, which, though on the whole resembling the Marathi of that district, has peculiarities of its own to such an extent as to be recognised as a separate dialect. The Ahirs of Kathiâwâd and Kachh also have their own Gujarati dialect. In olden times also the dialect of the Åbhiras was not unknown, and it is distinctly referred to by Dandin in his Kávyddarsa.
After the Sakas, the Kushanas wielded imperial power over northern India. The first prince of this dynasty was Kujula-Kadphises. In the legends of his coins he is styled sacha-dhamma-thita, i, e., satya-dharma-sthita. He thus appears to have been a Buddhist30. His successor was Wema-Kadphises, who was, without doubt, a follower of the Brahmanic religion, and, in particular, a devotee of Siva. The legend on the reverse of his coins is maharajasa rajadirajasa sarvaLoga-isvarasa mahisvarasa Wima-Kathphisasa tratarsal. Here the word mahiśvarasa may possibly stand for the Sanskrit mdhesvarasya, i. e., " of a devotee of Maheśvara (Siva)." But that he was a Saiva is placed beyond all doubt by the fact that the reverses of his coins bear the image of Nandin, sometimes accompanied by a figure holding a trident and a tiger skin, i, e., doubtless Siva. He was succeeded by Kanishka, Huvishka and Vasudeva, though perhaps not of his lineage. And though on their coins the figures of the Greek and Iranian deities are found, those of the Hindu divinities are not wanting. Thus the coins of Kanishka bear the figure of the Baddha, both in the sitting and standing posture. And, in fact, it is on his coins only that we for the first time find the Buddha actually figured. This may be regarded as evidence of the truth of what the northern Buddhists assert as to Kanishka being their patron. During his regime and under his auspices & conference of monks was convened to settle the Buddhist canon again, and it was at this time that the Mahayana school of Buddhism assumed a definite form. On the coins of his successors occur the figures of "Skando" (Skanda), “Mahaseno" (Mahasena)," Komaro" (Kumâra), “Bizago" (Visi kha) and “ Oesho" (Siva), all from the Brahmanic pantheon. That these Kushana kings are foreigners is indisputable. The names Kajala-Kadphises, Wema-Kadpbises, Kanishka and Havishka by no means sound Indian. The numismatists are at one in saying that the costume of these kings, as determined from their coins, is Turki and their features Mongolian. And yet we find them doing homage to the Hindu divinities!
The well-known Maga or Sakadvipi Brahmanags must be assigned to about this period. An inscription stone of Saka 1059=1137-38 A.D. has been found at Govindpur33 in the Nawada sub-division of the Gaya District, Bengal, which begins with the following stanza, descriptive of this community :
देवो जीवात्रिलोकीमणिरयमरुणो यन्निवासेन पुण्यः शाकहीपस्स दुग्धाम्बुनिधिवलयितो यत्र विना मगाख्याः। वंशस्तत्र द्विजानां भ्रमिलिखिततनोभोस्वतः स्वानमुक्तः शाम्बी यानानिनाय स्वयमिह महितास्ते जगत्यां जयन्ति ।।
Translation, Hail to that gem of the three world, the divine Aruņa, whose presence sanctifies the milkocean-encircled Sakadvipa, where the Brâhmaņas are named Magas! There a race of twice-born (sprang) from the sun's own body, grazed by the lathe, whom Samba himself brought hitherGlorious are they, honoured in the world! » Wilson's Indian Caste, Vol. II., PP. 26, 120, 177.
* Ante, Vol. XXXII, p. 429. 1 Smith's Catalogue of the coins in the Indian M em, Calcutta, p. 68.
* The late Profesor Weber has written a learned paper on Magme, but I am sorry to say that it has been sozled book to me, as I do not know German and could not induce anybody to translate it for me.
# Ep. Ind., Vol. II, p. 830 ff.
M Compare bhrami-likhita.fanor of the text with sukadvipo bhramit keritud rupan nirvartitam mama of the Bhavishya-purdna, Brahmaparvan, Cap. 129, v. 13.