Written by London swaminathan
Date: 1 May 2017
Time uploaded in London: -12-21
Post No. 3869
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Kalhana, the 12th century historian and author of Rajatarangni mentioned DRAVIDIAN in three places. There is a very interesting story about a Dravidian magician in his book Rajatarangini (River of Kings).
It is a true story according to Kalhana and it happened during the reign of Jayapida (751 CE).
From Fourth Taranga (Chapter) of Rajatarangini:
On one occasion, to the king who had acquired glory in all directions a certain person of divine figure spoke in a dream with folded hands:
“O King! in your realm I have been residing in comfort with my relatives; I am the Lord of the Nagas called Mahapadma, I come to you for asylum.
‘A certain Dravidian spell-monger is trying to draw me away from here in order to sell me for money in the Territory of Maru (desert) which yearns for water.
If you save me from him, I shall show in your country, a hill which produces god ore. The king having heard it in the dream, despatched spies in all directions the very next day. King’s spies found him and brought him before the king (Jayapida).
Ulur Lake Near Sri Nagar, Kashmir, India (also known as Wular)
When he confessed his intention, the king pardoned him. The king asked the Dravidian spell-monger (magician):
“How is it possible for you to draw out this Naga, who excels in spiritual power, from the interior of the lake which extends for several Yojanas?”
Dravidian magician said to the king, “O, King! Inconceivable are the powers of the spell (mantra). If you desire to see it, come and see the marvel.
The king followed the magician to the lake. The Dravidian muttered incantations and then shot some arrows. The lake became dry. Then the king could see a snake (Naga) about a span in size with a human face, which was wriggling in the mud surrounded by several small snakes.
O King! I am going to catch him now. But the king ordered him not to catch the snake. At once the Dravidian spell monger (magician) withdrew the power of his spell and the lake became full. (The Vulur/Wular lake was called the Mahapadma lake after this naga who was supposed to live in it).
King disposed the magician by paying him some money.
The king was expecting the Naga to show him the Hill of Gold ore. But it did not happen. When the king asked him about it Mahapadma Naga said, “I asked for asylum; you did not give me asylum; but you drove away the spell-monger. So I will show you the hill of copper. When the king got the directions to it, he excavated copper from Kramarajya Hill and struck a hundred crores of Dinnaras (coins)”.
Dravidian Brahmins
In another chapter Kalhana referred to Dravids (Dravidian Brahmins in Kashmir). Until Max Muller and Caldwell gave the wrong connotations for the words Dravidian and Aryan, the words meant only A South Indian (Dravida) , A cultured person or ascetics of Himalayas ( aryan) in Indian literature.
Following is the reference found in Eighth Taranga (chapter)
“The daughter’s son of the chief of Karapatha settled in this place (Simhapura). Brahmans born in Indus region as well as Dravid Brahmans who formerly lived in the centre of siddhacchatra.”
Translator R S Pandit adds a footnote: As late as the 12th century Dravid Brahmans are mentioned as students in Kashmir.
My old articles on Kalhana’s Rajatarangini and Kashmir
1.Who are Dravidians? | Tamil and Vedas
https://tamilandvedas.com/2013/07/17/who-are-dravidians/
17 Jul 2013 – He says ‘Pancha Dravida‘ means the Brahmins of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Here again the word …
2.Ramayana cures Curses! Rajatarangini Episode! (Post No.3754); Date: 24 March 2017
3.Kaliyuga Calculation: Kalhana’s Blunder!
Post No: 1574: Dated 14th January 2015
4.Nehru on Rajatarangini; Article No.1465; Dated 7th December 2014.
5.Kashmiri King who attacked Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka; Article No.1468; Dated 8th December 2014.
(6). 106 Kings of Hindu Kashmir!; Post No: 1577: Dated 15th January 2015
7.Beautiful Names of Ancient Kashmiri Women!; Article No 1583; Dated 17th January 2015.
8.Sanskrit in Mahmud of Ghazni Coins!; Article No 1579; Dated 16th January 2015
–SUBHAM–
Tamil and Vedas 