Tribes In Ancient India

Author(s): Bimla Charn Law
Publisher: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute

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TRIBES IN ANCIENT INDIA southern Pañcāla country. In the Adikānda of the Rāmāyana (Sarga 33) we are told that King Brahmadatta used to live in the city of Kāmpilya. Cunningham identifies Kāmpilya with Kampil, on the old Ganges between Budaon and Farokhabad.1 According to N. L. Dey, it was situated at a distance of 28 miles north-east of Fatgarh in the Farokhabad district. It was the scene of the svayamvara of Drupada's daughter, Krsņā or Draupadi, who became the wife of the five sons of Pāņdu. Drupada's palace is pointed out as the most easterly of the isolated mounds on the bank of the Bur-Gangā.3
Ahicchatra, where Droņa established his capital, as we have seen, was another notable town of the Pañcālas. When the Kuru army was marshalled on the field, it is stated that their rear extended as far as the city of Ahicchatra *; so that northern Pañcāla was contiguous with the Kuru land, and not very far from the Kuruksetra battle-field. According to Cunningham, the history of Ahicchatra goes back to 1430 B.C. The name is written Ahiksetra, as well as Ahi-cchatra, but the local legend of the Adi-Rājā and the Nāga suggests that Ahi-cchatra is the correct form, for Ahicchatra means 'Serpent Umbrella'. This grand old fort is said to have been built by Rājā Ādi, an Ahir, whose future elevation to sovereignty was foretold by Droņa, when he found him sleeping under the guardianship of a serpent with expanded hood. The fort is also called Adikot, but the more common name is Ahicchatra. The form of the name in Ptolemy by a slight alteration becomes Adisadra, which has been satisfactorily identified with Ahicchatra. According to V. A. Smith, Ahicchatra City is the modern Rāmnagar in the Bareilly district. It was still a considerable town when visited by Hsuan Tsang in the seventh century. The name of the city, it appears, was extended to the whole of the country of Uttara-Pañcāla, for we find the Chinese pilgrim giving a description of the country' of Ahicchatra. He observes that it was about 3,000 li in circuit and the capital about 17 or 18 li. It was naturally strong, being flanked by mountain crags. It produced wheat, and there were many woods and fountains. The climate was agreeable and the people sincere and truthful. They loved religion, and applied themselves to learn
1 Cunningham, Ancient Geography, p. 360; Uvāsagadasão, Vol. II, p. 106. 2 Geographical Dictionary, p. 33. 3 N. L. Dey, op. cit., p. 33. See also Mahābhārata, Ādiparvan, Chap. 94,
pp. 181-2.
4 Mahābhārata, V, Chap. 19. 5 Cunningham, Ancient Geography, p. 360. 6 McCrindle, Ancient India as described by Ptolemy, p. 133. 7 Smith, Early History of India, 4th Ed., pp. 391-392.
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