Indian Antiquary Vol 62

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

Page 234

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ NOVEMBER, 1933
we shall look forward to the publication of the gap with the dynasty of the Bharasivas (Nava comploto material collected, of which this paper Någas) of the (Yadava) stock of the Nagas, who ruled contains but samples. Dr. Fabri would emphasiso at Padmavati (Padam Pavâya in the Gwalior State), two conclusions, firstly, that a long connexion be. Kantipuri (Kantit, Mirzâpur dist.) and Mathuri, tween Indian and Western Asian art must necessarily and the early Vakatakas, Vindhyasakti, Pravarasens be supposed, and, secondly, that "it is not Porsia,
I and Rudrasena I. Ho contends that it was the or at least not only Persia from which Western
Bhârasivas, who had ten afvamedhas to their credit, elements of Indian art are borrowed, but both
who freed the Ganges valley and northern India Persian and Indian art have borrowed from com. from the anti-Brahmanical Kuşadas, re-establishing mon source, mainly independently from each other :
Hindu escondancy and Brahmanical culturo on and this accounts for the partial similarities as well orthodox lines, and that the Vakatakas, who were as the great differences of Persian and Indian art Brâhman, but connected by marriage ties with the alluded to by recent authors."
Någas (the son of Pravarasena I being married to In another paper M. René Grousset points to
the daughter of the Bharaśiva Bhava Naga) succood. corrospondences between the Pala and Sena art of
ed to their heritage and maintained it, until Samudra India and that of which examples are found in
Gupta, by dofoating and killing Rudrasona I, supCoylon, Java, etc. Consideration of the analogies
prossed the dynasty, which, however, regained presented leads him to envisage & diffusion of tho
importance afterwards in the time of the later lator ("Bengali ") art of the Påla and Sens periods
Vâkâtakas. He is also of opinion that the Imperial not loss important than that recognised in tho cases
Guptas took over and carried on the administrative of Gandhåran and Gupta art. It would be intorest.
and cultural system of the Vakatakas. ing, ho adds, if historians of Indian art, instead of The Bharasivas appear to have had capitals 'at considoring the art of India proper, of Central Asia Mathurâ and Campavati (which latter placo Mr. and of Insulinde each soparately, were to deal with Jayaswal equates with Bhagalpur). The dynastic all three simultaneously, showing for cach of the title Vâkâţaka Mr. Jayaswal takes to mean simply schools (Gandhâra, Mathura, Gupta, Pala and Sonn) 'of Vakata'; and this place, Vakåta, he finds in the how their influences had spread to the shores of ancient Brahman village now known as Bågåt, in Turther India.
the north of the Orchha State, some 6 miles east of M. J. Hackin gives a very brief survey, illustrated
Chirgaon in the Jhansi district. by 12 plates, of the more recent discoveries made by
Among the numerous fresh ideas presonted in this tho French archeological mission to Afghanistan at
valuable monograph should be mentioned that of Kakrak and Bâmiân. M. Jean Przyluski discusses
rocognising the era of 248-49 A.D. (commencing the symbolism of the animals sculpturod between
5 Sopt. 218), sometimes called the Traikutaka or the tho whools on the capital of tho Asokan column at
Chedi Era, as the Vakataka Era, established Sarnath with his wonted fertility of suggestion.
probably by Pravarasena I to commomorato the riso The sculptures at Mamallapuram have inspired two
to power of the founder of the dynasty, his father short papers, one by Dr. Vogel suggesting a remini.
Vindhyasakti. scence of classical art, and the other by M. JouveauDubreuil on the "Descent of the Gangos."
This bold, and in many respocts brilliant, essay to C. E. A. W.O. elucidato one of the most puzzling periods of Indian
history will be welcomed by all Indian scholars
interested in the history of their country, as explain. JOURNAL OF THE BIHAR AND ORISSA RESEARCH ing many difficulties that have hitherto defied soluSOCIETY, vol. XIX, 1933.
tion, and as forming a basis for further research, to In the current year's volume of this journal wo be confirmed, modified or amplified as may be found find a most important contribution by Mr. K. P. necessary; and whether the main conclusions be Jayaswal to the history of India during what has accepted or not, rocognition must be expressed of the been described as the dark period,' viz., roughly, wide research and remarkablo aptitude for collating from 150 to 350 A.D., or the period intervening and interpreting scattered items of evidenco shown between the breaking up of the Kuşâna ascendancy by the author. As an example of this may be cited in the north and of the Andhra dynasty in the south the contents of Appendix D, in which is discussed and the consolidation of tho empire of the Imperial the evidential value of the exploration and finds at Guptns. Ly skilfully piecing together and intor. Bhita, the important site to which attention was preting in the light of numismatic, epigraphical and first directed-as in so many cases--by Sir Alexander other evidence the scanty references to be found in Cunningham. certain Purâņas, Mr. Jayaswal now fills this wido
C.E. A. W.O.