Indian Antiquary Vol 56

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 199

SEPTEMBER, 1927]
THE GUHILA KINGS OF MEWAR
173
obtained relief in the stronghold of Gorab.14 Tod gives the date of the sack of Valabhi as A.D. 524; so, according to this date, the death of Siladitya VI. of Valabhipur and the subsequent retreat of his queen Pushpavati to Mewâr, where Goha or Guhadatta was born, took place before Noshirwan Adil sat on the throne of Persia How could then " the period of the invasion of Saurashtra by Noshishad correspond with the sack of Valabhi in A.D. 524." In fact, the actual period of the fall of Valabhi in A.D. 776, as already shown, neither corresponds with the foundation of the Guhila dynasty in Mewâr, nor with the accession of Nôshîrwan, Yazdegird, etc., on the throne of Persia.
Let us now consider the inscriptions-(1) In the Atapur inscription of Samvat 1034 (A.D. 977), Guhadatta, the founder of the Guhila dynasty, is called a Brahmana (Mahidevah).
(2) In the Chitor inscription, 16 dated Samvat 1331 (A.D. 1274) of the time of RÂwal Samarasimha of Mewar, Bâpå, a scion of the Guhila family and (eighth) in descent from Guhadatta, is said to be a Vipra' (Brâhmana).
(3) The inscription, 17 dated Samvat 1545 (A.D. 1488) of the time of Mahårâna Kumbha. karna's son Rêyamala, also speaks of Bâpå as a 'dvija' (Brahmana); and so also does the Ēkalinga Mahatmya, also called Ekalinga Purdra, of his time.
Now, as regards No. (1), we notice that in the sixth verse of the same inscription, king Naraváhana, a descendant of Guhadatta, is spoken of as Kshatrakshetra,' 18 i.e., a place of origin of the Kshatriyas.
Regarding No. (2), it is found that the same Nâgara Brâhmana Vedaśarma, who comt posod this record, says in another inscription, 19 dated s. 1342 (A.D. 1285) that Bappaka (Båpå) obtained from Hârîtarishi the qualifications of a Kshatriya (regal qualifications) after he had bestowed on the sage those of a Brahmana (priestly qualifications), and that the princes, who were born in his race shone like the regal duties in bodily form.
From the version of this inscription, it appears that the predecessors of Bâpå performed the duties of a Brâhmana (priestly duties) and that it was Bâpå, who first renounced that practice. This is in accordance with Muhaot Nainsy's story written at the end ; the difference only lies in the fact that B&på was the eighth in descent, and not tenth from Gôha or Guhadatta (Guhila).
In respect of No. (3), we have to state that in an inscription,20 dated Saṁvat 1557 (not 1597, as wrongly printed), of the time o ne ame Mahârânâ Râyamala, Gubidatta (Guhadatta), Bappaka (Bapa), Khumân, etc. are illed Suryavansiya.
Besides these, there are many other inscrptions which show the princes of the Guhila family to be Súryavamši Kshatriyas. Among them. the following may be noted :(a) In the inscription, 21 dated Samvat 1028 (A.D. 971), of the time of king Naraváhana
of Mewar, the priests of the temple of Ekalingaji are spoken of as having diffused 14 The Historians' History of the World, edited by Henry Williams, LL.D., vol. VIII, pp. 88-98. Also, History of the Parsis, by Dosabhai Framji Karaka, C.S.I., vol. I, pp. 9-22. "बानंदपुरविनिर्गतविप्रकुलानंदनो महीदेवः । जयति श्रीगुहदत्तः प्रभवः श्रीगुहिलवंशस्य ।।
Ind. Ant., vol. XXXIX, p. 191. "बस्मादागस्य विपश्चतहाधिमहीवेदिनिसिमबूपो ! बप्पाख्यो वीतरागश्चरणयुगमुपासीत (सीष्ट) हारीतराशेः ।।
Bhavnagar Inscriptions, p. 76. 11 श्रीमेश्पाटभुवि नागर पुरेवाप्पो विजः शिवपणार्चितचित्तवृत्तिः ।
Bhavnagar Inscriptions, p. 118. अविकलकलाधारो धीरः स्फुखरजसस्करी विजयवसत्तिः भचक्षेत्र भताहसिसंहतिः । ............... 19H
T OI TIET: Il
Ind. Ant., vol. XXXIX, p. 191. 19 हारीमास्किल बप्पकोऽहिवनवम्बाजेन लेने महः भात्र धाइनिभाद्वितीब मुनबे माझं स्वसेवाच्छनात् एतेऽयापि महीभुजः क्षितितले तांशसंभूतयः शोभंते सुतरामुपात्तवपुषःक्षात्रा हि धर्मा इव ॥ ११॥
Ind. Ant., vol. XVI, p. 347. 30 Bhavnagar inscriptions, p. 141.
31 BBRAS., vol. 22, p. 167, vv. 14-15. See also R. B.G..H. Ojha's 'article on B&på Ramal ki adne ke sikkA' (Ndgari Prachdrip Patrikd, vol. I, pt. III, p. 258).