Impact of Vedic Culture on Society

by Kaushik Acharya | 2020 | 120,081 words

This page relates ‘Mingling of Cultures (V): The Somavamshins’ of the study on the Impact of Vedic Culture on Society as Reflected in Select Sanskrit Inscriptions found in Northern India (4th Century CE to 12th Century CE). These pages discuss the ancient Indian tradition of Dana (making gifts, donation). They further study the migration, rituals and religious activities of Brahmanas and reveal how kings of northern India granted lands for the purpose of austerities and Vedic education.

Mingling of Cultures (V): The Somavaṃśins

The titles of Parama-Maheśvara and Parama-Vaiṣṇava used by the Somavaṃśin rulers indicate their personal faith about the sects, Śaivism and Vaiṣṇavism. The Somavaṃsis though devout worshippers of Lord Śiva, had shown reverence to Lord Viṣṇu as well. The King Tivārādeva[1] and his son Nānnarāja[2] used to call themselves Parama-Vaiṣṇava and other most of the Somavaṃśin rulers were known as ParamaMāheśvara. Some scholars called the Somavṃasīs as Kośalaguptas[3] or Somaguptas.[4] Some of the princes and kings of this dynasty decorated their names with the title of Kesarī. [5] Thus the Somavaṃśin dynasty is usually known as the Kesarī dynasty of Odisha. Whatever it is, there are many inscriptions in their time where they are donating a lot of land to vedic brāhmaṇas for vedic sacrifices and among others. However, they were tolerant of other religions.

Mahāsivagupta Bālārjuna was prominent among the Somavaṃśin kings who patronized Buddhism.[6] Though he was a Śaivite by faith, yet he was a great patron of Buddhism. The Sirpur stone inscription[7] of Bālārjuna praises the lotus feet of the Saugata (Buddha) and records the construction of a monastery by a Buddhist monk Bhikṣu Ānanda Prabhā. The inscription further records the establishment of a Sattra (free kitchen) for the monks.

Cuttack grant issued by Mahāśivagupta records a donation[8] of a village to a vedic Brāhmaṇa Sankhapāṇi who was living in Śilabhanjapati in odradeśa (ancient name of Odisha), having formally emigrated from Srivalla-grāma in Madhyadeśa.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

CII, vol. III, p. 295.

[2]:

EI, vol. XXXI, p. 221.

[3]:

B.C. Majumdar, Orissa in the Making, p. 154.

[4]:

S.P. Dash, op. cit., p. 163.

[5]:

EI, vol. XI, p. 191.

[6]:

Ibid., vol. XXXVI, pp.197-198.

[7]:

Loc. cit.

[8]:

Ibid., vol. III. p. 353.

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