Indian Antiquary Vol 58

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

Page 251

DECEMBER, 1929)
BOOK-NOTICES
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history and several scholars have attempted to projocts from the oxtrome southern flank of the compose a connected account of the dynasty. This Vindhyas, overlooking the sacred Narmada, it evidence may be classified under three inain heads, commands a magnificent view #ross the broad namely (1) epigraphical, under which fall the Pr&krit valley of that river to the forest-olad Satpuras and the Sanskrit charters and the Sanskrit and
some thirty to forty miles away to the south. Tamil records and inscriptions, (2) monumental, Around the top of the hill, about 2,000 ft. above sea. and (3) literary. Mr. Gopalan reviews in an imper- level, runs a battlemented wall nearly 23 miles in tial spirit the evidence available up to date under
circuit, enclosing an area of some 18 square miles, each of these heads, as well as the many theories a large part of which bears remains of great beauty advanced by different scholars. On the much de- and architectural interest, the careful preservation bated subject of the origin, whether foreign or indi. of which we owe largely to the impression which genous, of the Pallavas he expresses the view that visit to the site made upon the late Lord Curzon and in the present state of research " definite conclusions
in great measure to the enlightened policy of the on the question seem unattainable." He emphasises,
rulers of Dhar. Though not as old a site ag Kålar. howover, two significant facts, namely, that the re- jara, situated on the northern flank of the Vindhyas cords show that they are different from the southorn
and looking down upon the Gangetic plains, from Tamil rulers, and hailed from the north "as repre.
ita coinmanding situation and natural strength sentatives of Aryan or Sanskrit culture and that
and its proximity to a fertile region, it must have in the charters they specifically claim to be of tho
been itsed for purposes of refuge and defence from Bharadvaja gotra. After touching lightly upon the
the earliest times. We find no mention of it in thi previous history of Kanchipura, he deals at greater
ancient texts, as we do of Kalanjara ; and epigraphi length with the Pallava kings, dividing them into
cal references to the site, which seems to have beon three more or less definite periods---(1) the age of
known as Mandapapura, are rare. It is a remarkthe kings of the Prakrit charters, c. 200-350 A.D.,
able fact, as Sir John Malcolm noticed a hundred (2) the early Pallavas of the Sanskrit records,
years ago, that while we first hear of the hill fortress c. 350-575 A.D., and (3) the 'Greet Pallavas' or the
As subject to the famous Paramaras of Dhar and Dynasty of Simhavishnu,' c. 575-900 A.D.; but, ne
Malwa (ninth to thirteenth centuries), after some 4% will be apparent from the narrative, these limits are
centuries of Muhammadan dominion, it again camo somewhat fluid. In fact there are very few dates
into the possession of mombers of the same race in tho for reigns of these kings that can be fixed with pre
middle of tho eighteenth century and it has remained cision. While Mr. Gopalan is content with giving
with them ever since.We know little definite about reasons for rojecting the suggestion of a 'Chola inter
Mandů till we hear of its capture from ita Hindu king regnum ' in the fourth and fifth centuries the period
in 1305 by 'Ainu'l-mulk, deputed for the purpose by of the Sanskrit charters, the learned editor in his
'Alau'd-din Khalji. Thereafter it appears to have Introduction makes a definite suggestion as to the
been held by successive Muhammadan governors cause of the confusion apparent in this period. Argu
till the disruption of the Delhi Sultanate following ing from the information contained in the record of the Velvikudi plates, he formulates a theory, which
Timur's invasion ; but no connected history of he has further elaborated in an interesting paper com.
the place is available till Dilawar Khan assumed municated to the 17th Congress of Orientalists held
independence in 1401. Of its history from this at Oxford last year, that these disturbed conditions
time onwards Mr. Yazdani gives a very appropriato were due to the Kalabhra incursion from the north.
survoy in Chapter II. The outstanding figures on One of the most interesting chapters in this little
the canvas are the bravo and adventurous Hoshong book is that (Chap. X) which gives a brief survey of
Shah (1405-32), the warlike Mahmad Khalji(1436-69), the information that may be gathered from the
the philogynist GhiyAşu'd-din (1469-1500), and charters and inscriptions regarding the systems of Baz Bahadur (1555-62), now perhaps most widely administration and taxation, the village organization
remonbered for his romantic attachment to the and the functions of the eabhda, a subject in itself
fair and accomplished Rúpamati of Sårangpur. well worth special research and detailed treatment.
Baz Bahadur was the son of Shuja. Khan, an officer Appendix A contains a useful chronological index of and relative of the great Sher Shah, who with his Pallava inscriptions. The map is intended only to
koon eye for strategic positions, seized Mandu and, show the distribution of the Pallava cave temples;
us Jahangir tells us in his T'azak, took the occasion
Jane but a few of the places shown, e.g., Vatapi, Darsi, Tala
to have the tomb of the parricide N&piru 'd-din kad and Kumari, have not been accurately marked.
narked beaten with sticks. Of the Mughal emperors,
C.E.A.W.O. Humayun scaled the walls of the fort in 1534 ; MANDU, THE CITY OF Joy, by G. YAZDANI, M.A., Di.
Akbar paid it four visits between 1573 and 1601; rector of Archaeology in H.E.H. the Nizam's Domi. Jahangir spent nearly eight months there in 1617, Sir nions, oto. 77 x 44 in.; pp. xii+131 ; 50 illustrations T. Roe being in attendance at his court for the whole and a map. Oxford University Press, 1929.
period; and ShAhjahân visited it twice. No other Among the many picturesque old hill fortresses! Vindhyan hill-top can claim such record as this. of Central India Mand stands in several respects The greater part of the volume (Chapter III) is unique. Situated on level-topped spar that devoted to detailed description of the numerous