2023-02-26 04:07:20 by ambuda-bot
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INTRODUCTION
in a temple (guhālaya) and sees a picture of Guha playing
near his parents¹ (Somäskanda), and a son is born to her by
the grace
of the God. Rājasimha is described in his inscrip-
tions as having taken birth from Parameśvara as 'Guha from
Siva'. The representation of Somāskanda is found on the
walls of the temples built by Rājasimha. Dandin mentions
one Bāṇadeva, son of a feudatory, as holding the royal
umbrella over Rajahamsa; and the Bana chieftains of the
south were, many of them, feaudatories of the Pallava kings.
These and other parallel details which could not be attributed
to sheer chance, suggest that Dandin, a court-poet of Pallava
kings, was strongly influenced by the events of contemporary
history.
ix
The work contains descriptions of ancient dynasties
corresponding to the accounts given in the Matsya, Vayu and
other Puranas. There are, however, a few points of difference
which deserve mention. Unlike the Purāṇas, Dandin calls
the dynasty that succeeded the Brhadrathas, Putikas. Putika,
(Pulika or Punika according to the Purāṇas), was a king of
Avanti; he killed Vitihotra, who succeeded Ripuñjaya, and
anointed his son Pradyota as king in the realm.³ Pradyota
was a harsh ruler, the people called him Canda and his harem
contained 16,000 ladies.4 The Purāṇas are unanimous
in saying that Kautalya uprooted the eight sons of Mahāpadma
and placed Candragupta on the throne; and Dandin is alone in
saying that Aryaka the minister uprooted the eight sons one
after another, when the high-minded Cāṇakya, whose anger
was roused, established Candragupta Maurya on the throne.5
The minister Sakaṭāra who figures prominently in the legends
is conspicuous by his absence from Dandin. Again Puşyamitra
Sunga, the commander, says Daṇḍin, killed Müladeva in
1. Av. pp. 156-7., and Av. Sära, III. 37, 38.
2. S.I.I., Vol. I, p. 12. No. 24; and I.A. XLVIII (1918),
p. 231.
3. In the light of Dandin's version, the passage, 'महाकालमद्दे
…¶Ù‚и¶ ÎÌÎÂÍ §', in the Harșacarita, may be read as
'महाकालमहे ..
.. प्रद्योतस्य पौनिकस्य कुमारम्' । (N. S. Edn. p. 199.)
.......
4. In his Svapnavāsavadatta, Bhāsa says that Pradyota's antaḥ-
pura consisted of sixteen women षोडशान्त: पुरज्येष्ठा ( TSS. p. 68.).
5. Av. p. 183.
B
in a temple (guhālaya) and sees a picture of Guha playing
near his parents¹ (Somäskanda), and a son is born to her by
the grace
of the God. Rājasimha is described in his inscrip-
tions as having taken birth from Parameśvara as 'Guha from
Siva'. The representation of Somāskanda is found on the
walls of the temples built by Rājasimha. Dandin mentions
one Bāṇadeva, son of a feudatory, as holding the royal
umbrella over Rajahamsa; and the Bana chieftains of the
south were, many of them, feaudatories of the Pallava kings.
These and other parallel details which could not be attributed
to sheer chance, suggest that Dandin, a court-poet of Pallava
kings, was strongly influenced by the events of contemporary
history.
ix
The work contains descriptions of ancient dynasties
corresponding to the accounts given in the Matsya, Vayu and
other Puranas. There are, however, a few points of difference
which deserve mention. Unlike the Purāṇas, Dandin calls
the dynasty that succeeded the Brhadrathas, Putikas. Putika,
(Pulika or Punika according to the Purāṇas), was a king of
Avanti; he killed Vitihotra, who succeeded Ripuñjaya, and
anointed his son Pradyota as king in the realm.³ Pradyota
was a harsh ruler, the people called him Canda and his harem
contained 16,000 ladies.4 The Purāṇas are unanimous
in saying that Kautalya uprooted the eight sons of Mahāpadma
and placed Candragupta on the throne; and Dandin is alone in
saying that Aryaka the minister uprooted the eight sons one
after another, when the high-minded Cāṇakya, whose anger
was roused, established Candragupta Maurya on the throne.5
The minister Sakaṭāra who figures prominently in the legends
is conspicuous by his absence from Dandin. Again Puşyamitra
Sunga, the commander, says Daṇḍin, killed Müladeva in
1. Av. pp. 156-7., and Av. Sära, III. 37, 38.
2. S.I.I., Vol. I, p. 12. No. 24; and I.A. XLVIII (1918),
p. 231.
3. In the light of Dandin's version, the passage, 'महाकालमद्दे
…¶Ù‚и¶ ÎÌÎÂÍ §', in the Harșacarita, may be read as
'महाकालमहे ..
.. प्रद्योतस्य पौनिकस्य कुमारम्' । (N. S. Edn. p. 199.)
.......
4. In his Svapnavāsavadatta, Bhāsa says that Pradyota's antaḥ-
pura consisted of sixteen women षोडशान्त: पुरज्येष्ठा ( TSS. p. 68.).
5. Av. p. 183.
B