Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism

Author(s): S N Shrivastava
Publisher: Rekha Publication Gorakhpur

Page 74

A Study in the Origins and Development of Jainism
61
Pargiter takes Aila race, which began in a small principality at Allahabad and in course of time, dominated the whole of north India with the exception of Ayodhya, Videha and Vaiśāli, as the Aryan race by equating Aila with Arya on the one hand, and, the expansion of Ailas with the expansion of Aryans on the other. In his opinion the Manavas were Dravidians1. In support of his contention Pargiter refers to the evidence of language as set out by G. Grierson. It is very difficult to agree with Pargiter's contention that the descendants of Manu, at least the Ikshavākus, were Dravidians. Hehimself admits that "in the geneological accounts the post of honour in being described first is always given to the Solar or Manava race"5, Moveover, the high esteem which has been accorded to the legendary figures like Sagar, Mãndhātā, Rāma etc. in tradition could not have been possible if they had any affiliation with Dravidian race. The conception of Rama being God incarnate and saviour of Aryan faith and culture also contradicts such a conclusion. In fact, when Pargiter was writing there was no conception that there was an Aryan settlement in eastern regions simultaneous with or prior to the settlement of the Rigvedic Aryans in the northwest and the upper Gangetic valley. Though he himself rejects the theory of Aryan migration from North-west and pleads for the immigration of the Ailas from the middle Himalayan region.
The presence of Aryans in this region is indicated by archaeological as well as literacy sources. Recently G. R. Sharma has drawn the attention of scholars to the discovery of horse bone from Koldihawã dating 6th millennium B. C. Referring to Aluar he says that the tradition of horse-taming had reached south India by fourth millenium B. C. Aryans's association with horse is well-known and it is one of the grounds on the basis of which attempts have been made to determine their original homeland. Moveover, the tradition of horse-sacrifice was established in India in very early times.
In this context the evidence of the vratyas known from the xvth chapter of Atharva Veda, Pañchavimśa Brāhmaṇa and Dharm Sūtras