|
Rajatarangini
''Rajatarangini'' ("The River of Kings") is a metrical legendary and historical chronicle of the north-western part of India, particularly the kings of Kashmir. It was written in Sanskrit by Kashmiri historian Kalhana in the 12th century CE. The work consists of 7826 verses, which are divided between eight books called ''tarangas'' ("waves"). The ''Rajataringini'' provides the earliest source on Kashmir that can be labeled as a "historical" text on this region. Although inaccurate in its chronology, the book still provides an invaluable source of information about early Kashmir and its neighbors in the north western parts of the Indian subcontinent, and has been widely referenced by later historians and ethnographers. Context Little is known about the author Kalhana (c. 12th century CE), apart from what is written in the book. His father Champaka was the minister (Lord of the Gate) in the court of Harsha of Kashmir. In the first ''Taranga'' (book) of ''Rajatarangini'', Kalhan ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ashoka (Gonandiya)
King Ashoka, of the Gonandiya dynasty, was a king of the region of Kashmir according to Kalhana, the 12th century CE historian who wrote the ''Rajatarangini''. According to the ''Rajatarangini'', Ashoka was the great-grandson of Shakuni and son of Shachinara's first cousin. He is said to have built a great city called Srinagara (near but not same as the modern-day Srinagar). In his days, the mlechchhas (foreigners) overran the country, and he took sannyasa. According to Kalhana's account, this Ashoka was the 48th king of the Gonandiya dynasty (''Rajatarangini'' I102). By Kalhana's calculations, he would have ruled in the 2nd millennium BCE. Kalhana's chronology is widely seen as defective, as he places kings such as Kanishka and Mihirakula respectively 1100 years and 1200 years before their actual reigns. Kalhana also states (''Rajatarangini'' I102) that this king had adopted the doctrine of Jina, and constructed stupas. Despite the discrepancies, multiple scholars ident ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
