Impact of Vedic Culture on Society

by Kaushik Acharya | 2020 | 120,081 words

This page relates ‘Mingling of Cultures (R): The Saindhavas’ 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 (R): The Saindhavas

The Saindhavas (also known as Jayadrathas) ruled as a small kingdom in western Saurāṣṭra in Gujarat with its capital at Ghumalī during c. 735 CE to c. 920 CE. The first three rulers were contemporary to the Maitrakas. So, the early years they were probably in alliance with the Maitrakas, whereas the posts Saindhava rullers appear to have been the vassals of the Gurjara -P ratihāra s of Bhillamāla and afterwards of Kanauj.

The nine copper plate grants issued by them, but the earliest reference among them was Navasāri copperplate. We may now experience the strong impact of vedic culture in some Sanskrit inscriptions issued by the kings of Saindhava dynasty in northern India. Grant of the time of Saindhava King Agguka II (c. 832 CE)[1] records a grant of a village made in the reign of the Saindhava King Agguka II. The actual grantor was Jāīka, the uncle of the ruling king, who was a minor when the grant was made. This order stated that Mahāsāmanta Jāika, for the increase of the religious merit of his parents and himself, granted the village Ḍhaṅkatīrtha and one-tenth of the village of Gulamikā, to Brāhmaṇa Mādhava, a Caturveda-sāmānya, who was a gvedin (Bahvṛcha). The purpose was to keep up the daily sacrificial rites, bali, caru, vaiśvadeva, Agnihotra, and other Brahmanical ceremonies.

Another inscription of the dynasty “Grant of Saindhava King Agguka III” (c. 886-887 CE)[2] issued by the King Agguka III records the grant of a village Harisheṇāṇaka to two brothers, Rudra and Sāgara, sons of Guheśvara. They were yajurvedīya brāhmaṇas (Vāji-Mādhyandina sabrahmacāri). This grant was made for the increase in the religious merit and glory of the donor King Agguka III.

Again, Grant of King Jaika II (c. 915 CE)[3] issued by the King Jāika II, the last one of the six Saindhava copper-plate grants from Ghumli, which registers the assignment by the Saindhava King Jāika II of the revenues of a village to an educational institution. According to J. M. Nanabhati, the temples constructed in this period follow the contemporary traditions of Maitrakas.[4] They appeared to have built several śaiva temples. Their notable constructions are Hindu monastery (mathika) at Ghumlī and temples dedicated to Sūrya, Śiva, and Śakti (goddess) at Sūvarnamanjari.

Nevertheless, the inscriptions referring to temples are unattainable. Though the inscriptions we discussed above prove the supremacy of the Vedas at that time without any doubt.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid., vol. VI, pp. 161-175.

[2]:

Ibid., pp. 317-322.

[3]:

Ibid., vol. VII, pp. 32-38.

[4]:

J.M. Nanabhati, and Madhusudan A. Dhaky, The Maitraka and the Saindhava Temples of Gujarat, pp. 10 ff.

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