Indian Antiquary Vol 60

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

Page 131

Jusu, 1931) DATE OF COMPILATION OF KAUTALYA'S ARTHA-SASTRA (484-510 A.D.) 109
laborious researches, arrived at the conclusion that " we have as good testimony that Apostle Thomas died in India as that Apostle Peter died in Rome." (Christian Researches (1814), p. 130.) Bishop Heber, who died in South India, was even more sure about it. "It may be as readily believed," wrote he," that St. Thomas was slain in Meilapur as that St. Paul was beheaded in Rome or that Leonidas fell at Thermopylae." (Indian Journal, II, 178.)
Vincent Smith, the famous historian, was at first sceptical about the Apostle's journey to South India but later, when he came into closer contact with the authorities, he wrote as follows:-"I am now satisfied that the Christian Church of Southern India is extremely ancient, whether it was founded by St. Thomas in person or not, and that its existence may be traced back to the third century with a high degree of probability. Mr. Milne Rae carried his Boeptism too far when he attributed the establishment of the Christian congregations to missionaries from the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates in the fifth and sixth centuries." Early History of India (1924), p. 250. Elsewhere he says "My personal impression, formed after much examination of the evidence is that the story of the martyrdom in Southern India is the better supported of the two versions of the Saint's Death." Oxford History of India (1923), p. 126. Had Smith been able to examine the testimony of Syriao fathers, now available in English, and had he studied Malabar tradition at closer quarters, it is possible that he would have gone much further in his affirmation of St. Thomas' connection with India.
The reason why many scholars are so sceptical about the matter seems to be (1) the ioonoclastic attitude towards traditions introduced by the modern Prussian School of historians; (2) the imperfeot acquaintanoe with sources which are not available in the European languages and a general disbelief in them; and perhaps (3) a natural disinclination to believe how India, which lay outside the Roman empire and is identified with Hinduism, should possess the tomb of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, a privilege which only one place in Europe and no other place in the world can claim. One wonders how many events in the history of the first century A.D. in India or elsewhere are better attested than the preaching of St. Thomas in South India.
THE DATE OF THE COMPILATION OF KAUTALYA'S ARTHA-SASTRA (484-510 A.D.)
BY PRAN NATH, D.8o., PE.D. One of the most difficult questions in ancient Indian history is that of the date of the Kaufaliya artha-eastra. Controversy on the subject continues, no convincing or satisfactory solution having been arrived at. Most European scholars think the work was compiled in the Gupta period, while Indians generally hold that its author was Canakya, a contemporary of Candragupta Maurya. In A study in the Economic Condition of Ancient India I took it as representing the earlier Gupta period. Further study of the Artha-odstra makes me think that it was probably composed between 484 and 510 A.D. The reasons for this conclusion are the following:
1. The author of the Artha-sastra lived somewhere near the seacoast. A careful perusal of the Artha-odstra shows that the author has selected a small territory, called janapada, approaching in area nearly to a modern tahsil. The first chapter of the second part deals with its colonization (janapada-nivesa); the second with the distribution of land (bhumic-chidra-vidhana); the third with its protection by the erection of forts (durgavidhana); the fourth with the buildings, roads, ditches, gardens, store-houses, and so forth, within the forts; and the remaining chapters with the administration of the janapada and durga.
Note-The following abbreviations have been used :Kautalya's Artha-hástra, Samakta text, Mysore, 2nd edn.=K.8. Trivandrum odn., 1024-25, edited with a commentary by Ganapati Sastrin=Ganapati. The Early History of India by V. A. Smith, 4th edn. (1924)=Smith. English Translation of the Artha-idatra by Dr. R. Shamasastry, Ist odn. =E. T. German Translation by J.J. Meyer=Meyer.