DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2371#0081
KATAK CAVES.
59
it is nearly impossible to say. The name may originally have been
applied to Greeks or Romans, but it afterwards was certainly
understood as designating all who, from an Indian point of view,
could be considered as foreigners or outside barbarians, and so it
must be understood in the present instance.
The account of these Yavana invasions in the Puri Chronicle
looks at first sight so strange and improbable that one might almost
be inclined to reject the whole as fabulous, were it not that the last
of them, that under Rekta Bahu, which Stirling looked upon as so
extraordinary and incomprehensible,1 has by the publication by
Tumour of the Daladawansa,2 been elevated to the dignity of an
established historical fact,3 and there seems no difficulty in believing
that the others may be equally authenticated when more materials
are accumulated for the purpose.
It is of course impossible to form an opinion as to what reliance
B.C. 421-306. Narsingh Deva.—Another chief from the far north invaded the country
during this reign, but he was defeated, and the Orissa prince reduced a great part
of the Delhi kingdom.
306-184. Mankrishna Deva.—Yavanas from Kashmir invaded the country, but were
driven back after many battles.
184-57. Bhoj Deva.—A great prince who drove back a Yavana invasion, and is said
to have subdued all India.
Here follows the usual account of Vicramaditya and Salivahana, and we hear no
more of the Yavanas till—
a.i>. 319-323. Sobhan Deva.—During this reign of four years, the maritime invasion
and conquest of Orissa by the Yavanas under Rekta Bahu, the Bed-armed, took
place. The king fled with the sacred image of Jagannath (the Brahmanical
synonym for the tooth relic), and with those of his brother and sister Balbhadra
and Subhadra, and buried them in a cave at Sonpur. The lawful prince perished
in the jungles, and the Yavanas ruled in his stead.
323-328. Chandra Deva, who, however, was only a nominal king, as the Yavanas
were completely masters of the country. They put him to death 328 a.d.
328-474. Yavana occupation of Orissa 146 years. According to Stirling these
Yavanas were Buddhists.
474-526. Yayati Kesari expelled the Yavanas and founded the Kesari or Lion
dynasty. This prince brought back the image of Jagannath to Puri, and com-
menced building the Temple City to Siva at Bhuvaneswar.
After this we hear no more of Yavanas or Buddhists in Orissa. The Brahmanical
religion was firmly established there, and was not afterwards disturbed till the invasion
of the Mahomedan Yavanas from Delhi, repeated the old story in 1510 a.i>.
1 Asiatic Researches, vol. xv. p. 263.
2 J. A. S. B., vol. vi. p. 856 et seq.
3 Journal R. A. S., New Series, vol. iii. p. 149 et seq.
59
it is nearly impossible to say. The name may originally have been
applied to Greeks or Romans, but it afterwards was certainly
understood as designating all who, from an Indian point of view,
could be considered as foreigners or outside barbarians, and so it
must be understood in the present instance.
The account of these Yavana invasions in the Puri Chronicle
looks at first sight so strange and improbable that one might almost
be inclined to reject the whole as fabulous, were it not that the last
of them, that under Rekta Bahu, which Stirling looked upon as so
extraordinary and incomprehensible,1 has by the publication by
Tumour of the Daladawansa,2 been elevated to the dignity of an
established historical fact,3 and there seems no difficulty in believing
that the others may be equally authenticated when more materials
are accumulated for the purpose.
It is of course impossible to form an opinion as to what reliance
B.C. 421-306. Narsingh Deva.—Another chief from the far north invaded the country
during this reign, but he was defeated, and the Orissa prince reduced a great part
of the Delhi kingdom.
306-184. Mankrishna Deva.—Yavanas from Kashmir invaded the country, but were
driven back after many battles.
184-57. Bhoj Deva.—A great prince who drove back a Yavana invasion, and is said
to have subdued all India.
Here follows the usual account of Vicramaditya and Salivahana, and we hear no
more of the Yavanas till—
a.i>. 319-323. Sobhan Deva.—During this reign of four years, the maritime invasion
and conquest of Orissa by the Yavanas under Rekta Bahu, the Bed-armed, took
place. The king fled with the sacred image of Jagannath (the Brahmanical
synonym for the tooth relic), and with those of his brother and sister Balbhadra
and Subhadra, and buried them in a cave at Sonpur. The lawful prince perished
in the jungles, and the Yavanas ruled in his stead.
323-328. Chandra Deva, who, however, was only a nominal king, as the Yavanas
were completely masters of the country. They put him to death 328 a.d.
328-474. Yavana occupation of Orissa 146 years. According to Stirling these
Yavanas were Buddhists.
474-526. Yayati Kesari expelled the Yavanas and founded the Kesari or Lion
dynasty. This prince brought back the image of Jagannath to Puri, and com-
menced building the Temple City to Siva at Bhuvaneswar.
After this we hear no more of Yavanas or Buddhists in Orissa. The Brahmanical
religion was firmly established there, and was not afterwards disturbed till the invasion
of the Mahomedan Yavanas from Delhi, repeated the old story in 1510 a.i>.
1 Asiatic Researches, vol. xv. p. 263.
2 J. A. S. B., vol. vi. p. 856 et seq.
3 Journal R. A. S., New Series, vol. iii. p. 149 et seq.