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The '''Pahlavas''' are a people mentioned in ancient Indian texts like the ], various ]s, the ], the ], and the Brhatsamhita. | ||
| In some texts the Pahlavas are synonymous with the ]s, a dynasty of Southern India: While the Vayu Purana distinguishes between ''Pahlava'' and ''Pahnava'', the Vamana Purana and Matsya Purana refer to both as ''Pallava''. The | |||
| ⚫ | According to P. Carnegy, the Pahlava are probably those people who spoke Paluvi or Pehlvi, that is the ]. Buhler similarly suggests Pahlava is an Indic form of ''Parthava'' meaning ']n'. In a 4th century BCE, Vartika of ] mentions the ''Sakah-Parthavah'' demonstrating an awareness of these |
||
| Brahmanda Purana and Markendeya Purana refer to both as ''Pahlava'' or ''Pallava''. ''Bhishama Parava'' 6.11.66 of the ] also does not distinguish between the Pahlavas and Pallavas. | |||
| ⚫ | The Pahlavas are said to be same as the ], that is, the ]s, a people of Central Asia that also includes portions of ]. According to P. Carnegy{{cn}}, the Pahlava are probably those people who spoke Paluvi or Pehlvi, that is the ]. Buhler{{cn}} similarly suggests Pahlava is an Indic form of ''Parthava'' meaning ']n'. In a 4th century BCE, Vartika of ] mentions the ''Sakah-Parthavah'' demonstrating an awareness of these Saka-Parthians, probably by way of commerce. | ||
| ⚫ | == |
||
| ==Literary references== | |||
| ⚫ | ===In Puranic texts=== | ||
| Pahlavas are referenced in various Puranic texts like Vayu Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Markendeya Purana, Matsya Purana, Vamana Purana etc. | Pahlavas are referenced in various Puranic texts like Vayu Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Markendeya Purana, Matsya Purana, Vamana Purana etc. | ||
| ⚫ | ]'s list of ] countries of the ''Bhuvanakosha'' locates the Pahlavas along with the ], ], Angalaukikas, Barbaras, ]s, ], Bahlikas and other countries of the Udichya division of ancient India. e.g: | ||
| ===Geographical location of Pahlavas=== | |||
| ⚫ | ]'s list of ] countries of the ''Bhuvanakosha'' locates the Pahlavas along with the ], ], Angalaukikas, |
||
| :''ete desha udichyastu | :''ete desha udichyastu | ||
| Line 16: | Line 19: | ||
| :''(From Kirfel's Text of Bhuvanakosha )'' | :''(From Kirfel's Text of Bhuvanakosha )'' | ||
| Vayu Purana, Brahamanda Purana and several other Puranas mention the Pahlavas with the tribes of Uttarapatha or north-west. The sixth century text Markendeya Purana (57.35) lists the Pahlavas, Kambojas, Daradas, Bahlikas, Barbaras, Tusharas, Daradas, Paradas, Chinas, Lampakas etc as the countries of Udichya division i.e Uttarapatha, but 58th chapter of the Markendeya Purana also refers to yet other settlements of the Pahlavas and the Kambojas and locates them both specifically in the south-west of India as neighbors to the ], ] and Anarta (north ]) countries. Further the sixth century CE Brhatsamhita of Varaha Mihira also locates the Pahlavas and ] ]s in south-west India i.e around ]/Saurashtra (See also: Geographical Data in the Early Puranas, 1972, p 134-135, Dr M. R. Singh). | The Vayu Purana, Brahamanda Purana and several other Puranas mention the Pahlavas with the tribes of Uttarapatha or north-west. The sixth century text Markendeya Purana (57.35) lists the Pahlavas, Kambojas, Daradas, Bahlikas, Barbaras, Tusharas, Daradas, Paradas, Chinas, Lampakas etc as the countries of Udichya division i.e Uttarapatha, but 58th chapter of the Markendeya Purana also refers to yet other settlements of the Pahlavas and the Kambojas and locates them both specifically in the south-west of India as neighbors to the ], ] and Anarta (north ]) countries. Further the sixth century CE Brhatsamhita of Varaha Mihira also locates the Pahlavas and ] ]s in south-west India i.e around ]/Saurashtra (See also: Geographical Data in the Early Puranas, 1972, p 134-135, Dr M. R. Singh). | ||
| Puranas like Vayu also state that the ] including the Pahlavas, Paradas, Gandharas, Sakas, Yavanas, Tusharas, Kambojas, Khasas, Lampakas, Madhyadesis, Vindhyas, Aprantas, Dakshinatyas, Dravidas, Pulindas, Simhalas etc would be proceeded against and annihilated by Kalki in ]. And they are stated to have been annihilated by king Pramiti at the end of Kali age as per ] evidence. | Puranas like Vayu also state that the ] including the Pahlavas, Paradas, Gandharas, Sakas, Yavanas, Tusharas, Kambojas, Khasas, Lampakas, Madhyadesis, Vindhyas, Aprantas, Dakshinatyas, Dravidas, Pulindas, Simhalas etc would be proceeded against and annihilated by Kalki in ]. And they are stated to have been annihilated by king Pramiti at the end of Kali age as per ] evidence. | ||
| According to Vayu Purana and Matsya Purana, river Chakshu (] or ]) flowed through the countries of Pahlavas, ], Lampakas, ]s and the ] etc (Vayu Purana I.58.78-83). | According to Vayu Purana and Matsya Purana, river Chakshu (] or ]) flowed through the countries of Pahlavas, ], Lampakas, ]s and the ] etc (Vayu Purana I.58.78-83). | ||
| ===Pānca Ganahas or Five Hordes=== | ====Pānca Ganahas or Five Hordes==== | ||
| Puranas associate the Pahlavas with the Kambojas, Sakas, Yavanas and ] and brands them together as ''Panca-ganah'' (fiver-hordes). These five hordes were military allies of the Haihaya and Taljunga Kshatriyas of ] line and were chiefly responsible for dethroning king Bahu of Kosala. Later, king Sagara, son of king Bahu, was able to defeat the Haihayas and Taljungas together with these five-hordes. According to Puranic accounts, king Sagara had divested the Paradas and other members of the well-known Pānca-gana (i.e. the Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas and Pahlavas) of their Kshatriyahood and turned them into the Mlechchas. Before their defeat at the hands of king Sagara, these five-hordes were called Kshatriya-pungava (i.e. ''foremost among the Kshatriyas''). | Puranas associate the Pahlavas with the Kambojas, Sakas, Yavanas and ] and brands them together as ''Panca-ganah'' (fiver-hordes). These five hordes were military allies of the Haihaya and Taljunga Kshatriyas of ] line and were chiefly responsible for dethroning king Bahu of Kosala. Later, king Sagara, son of king Bahu, was able to defeat the Haihayas and Taljungas together with these five-hordes. According to Puranic accounts, king Sagara had divested the Paradas and other members of the well-known Pānca-gana (i.e. the Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas and Pahlavas) of their Kshatriyahood and turned them into the Mlechchas. Before their defeat at the hands of king Sagara, these five-hordes were called Kshatriya-pungava (i.e. ''foremost among the Kshatriyas''). | ||
| === |
===In the Valmiki Ramayana=== | ||
| ⚫ | The Balakanda of the ] groups the Pahlavas with the Sakas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Mlechhas and the ] and refers to them as military allies of ] ] against Vedic king ] (55/2-3). | ||
| Many Puranic texts refer to the ]s and Pahlavas indistinguishably, thus attesting that the ] of southern India are also derived from the ]ian Pahlavas. While Vayu Purana mention ''Pahlava'' and ''Pahnava'', the Brahmanda Purana and Markendeya Purana etc refer to them both as ''Pahlava'' as well as ''Pallava'' and the Vamana Purana and Matsya Purana etc note them as ''Pallava''. | |||
| ''Bhishama Parava'' of ] too references the Pahlavas as Pallavas: | |||
| :''Khashikashcha TukharAshcha '''Pallava''' girigahvarah'' ||66|| | |||
| : (MBH Bhishama Parava 6.11.66) | |||
| ==Pahlavas in Valmiki Ramayana== | |||
| ⚫ | The Balakanda of the ] groups the Pahlavas with the |
||
| The Kiskindha Kanda of ] associates the Pahlavas with the ]s, ], ]s, ]s (Varadas), ] and the ]s etc and locates them all in the trans-] territories i.e. in the Sakadvipa (Ramayana Kisk. Kanda, 43-12). | The Kiskindha Kanda of ] associates the Pahlavas with the ]s, ], ]s, ]s (Varadas), ] and the ]s etc and locates them all in the trans-] territories i.e. in the Sakadvipa (Ramayana Kisk. Kanda, 43-12). | ||
| == |
===In the Mahabharata=== | ||
| === |
====In the Uttarapatha==== | ||
| ] attests that Pandava-putra ] had defeated the Pahlavas in the course of his western expedition. The kings of Pahlava were also present at the ] sacrifice of king ]. | ] attests that Pandava-putra ] had defeated the Pahlavas in the course of his western expedition. The kings of Pahlava were also present at the ] sacrifice of king ]. | ||
| The |
The Mahabharata also associates the Pahlavas with the ], ], ]s, ], ], Sabaras, Barbaras, etc. and addresses them all as the barbaric tribes of ]. | ||
| === |
====In the Udyoga-Parva==== | ||
| But the Udyoga-Parva of |
But the Udyoga-Parva of Mahabharata groups the Pahlavas with the ], ]s and the ]-] and locates them all in/around Anupa region in western India. | ||
| ⚫ | Mahabharata 5.4.15 reads: These kings of the Shakas, Pahlavas and Daradas (i.e. the Paradas<!-- The Daradas in this passage appears to be a copyist's mistake since it is the Paradas and not the Daradas who are a member of the well known Puranic ''Panca-gana'' or five-hordes.-->) and the Kamboja Rshikas, these are in the western riverine (Anupa) area. | ||
| :Shakanam Pahlavanan cha Daradanam cha ye nripah.| | |||
| :Kambojarishika ye cha pashchimanupakashcha ye 15.|| | |||
| :: (MBH 5.4.15) | |||
| :Translation: | |||
| ⚫ | These kings of the Shakas, Pahlavas and Daradas ( |
||
| This epic refence implies that sections of the Pahlavas, |
This epic refence implies that sections of the Pahlavas, Sakas, Paradas, Kambojas were also located in western India near ]/]. | ||
| == |
===In the Manusmriti=== | ||
| ] (X.43-44) states that the '''Pahlavas''' and several other tribes like the ]s, ]s, ], ]s, ], ]s, ]s etc were originally noble Kshatriyas, but later, due to their non-observance of sacred ] codes and neglect of the priestly class, they had gradually sunken to the status of Mlechchas. | ] (X.43-44) states that the '''Pahlavas''' and several other tribes like the ]s, ]s, ], ]s, ], ]s, ]s etc were originally noble Kshatriyas, but later, due to their non-observance of sacred ] codes and neglect of the priestly class, they had gradually sunken to the status of Mlechchas. | ||
| == |
===In the Mudrarakshas Drama=== | ||
| The ] drama Mudrarakshas by Visakhadutta and the ]a works Parisishtaparvan refer to ]'s alliance with ] king Parvatka. This Himalayan alliance gave Chandragupta a powerful composite army made up of the frontier martial tribes of the ], ], ], Parasikas (Pahlavas), Bahlikas etc (predominantly an Iranian army) which he utilised to defeat the ] successors of ] and the Nanda rulers of Magadha, and thus establishing his ] in northern India (See: Mudrarakshas, II). | The ] drama Mudrarakshas by Visakhadutta and the ]a works Parisishtaparvan refer to ]'s alliance with ] king Parvatka. This Himalayan alliance gave Chandragupta a powerful composite army made up of the frontier martial tribes of the ], ], ], Parasikas (Pahlavas), Bahlikas etc (predominantly an Iranian army) which he utilised to defeat the ] successors of ] and the Nanda rulers of Magadha, and thus establishing his ] in northern India (See: Mudrarakshas, II). | ||
| == |
===In the Brihat-Katha-Manjari=== | ||
| The Brihat-Katha-Manjari of the Kshmendra (10/1/285-86) relates that around 400 AD, the Gupta king Vikramaditya (]) had "unburdened the sacred earth of the barbarians" like the Shakas, Mlecchas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Tusharas, Parasikas |
The Brihat-Katha-Manjari of the Kshmendra (10/1/285-86) relates that around 400 AD, the Gupta king Vikramaditya (]) had "unburdened the sacred earth of the barbarians" like the Shakas, Mlecchas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Tusharas, Parasikas, Hunas, etc. by annihilating these "sinners" completely. | ||
| == |
===In the Kavyamimamsa=== | ||
| The 10th century Kavyamimamsa (Ch. 17) of Pt Raj Shekhar still lists the Sakas, Tusharas, Vokanas, Hunas, Kambojas, Bahlikas, Pahlavas, Tangana, Turukshas, etc. together and states them as the tribes located in the Uttarapatha division. | The 10th century Kavyamimamsa (Ch. 17) of Pt Raj Shekhar still lists the Sakas, Tusharas, Vokanas, Hunas, Kambojas, Bahlikas, Pahlavas, Tangana, Turukshas, etc. together and states them as the tribes located in the Uttarapatha division. | ||
| ==Migration of Pahlavas== | ==Migration of Pahlavas== | ||
| ⚫ | According to Dr Jouveau Dubreuil, "the Pallavas were immigrants from north, or properly speaking from Konkan and Anarta into Deccan. They came into south India through Kuntala or Vanvasa..." (Jouveau Dubreuil).'' | ||
| As noted above, the Pahlavas settlements have been noted both in the north/north-west as well as in the western and south-west India in post ] times. This shows that the Pahlavas had moved to western region around ] times. This movement of the Pahlavas appears to have been associated with the well known ] movements of several ] tribes like the Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Tusharas, Rishikas, Paradas etc which had occurred around second century prior to ] era. Allied with the Sakas, Kambojas etc, the Pahlavas are believed to have entered India through ]. The Pahlavas had set up a dynasty under Venones in Balochistan and ]. The Pahlava rule in ], ] and ] was supplanted by that of ]s. | |||
| Venkayya similarly suggests the Pallavas of Kāñcīpuram must originally have come from west of the Indus, "though the interval of time which must have elapsed since they left Persia ]<nowiki>]</nowiki> must be several centuries." (Venkayya, 1907:219-220) | |||
| According to Dr Jouveau Dubreuil, the Pahlavs migrated from ] to India and founded the ] dynasty of Kanchi. They first occupied Anarta and Konkan and later entered southern India via Kuntala or Vanavasa. | |||
| ⚫ | V. A. Smith notes: "It is possible that the Pallavas were not one distinct tribe or class but a mixed population composed partly of foreigners and partly of the Indian population but different in race from Tamils and taking their name from the title of an intruding foreign dynasty (Pahlava) which obtained control over them and welded them into an aggressive political power" (Early History of India, 1924, Dr V. A. Smith). | ||
| ⚫ | |||
| Venkayya notes: | |||
| :''"The Pallavas of Kāñcīpuram must have come originally from Persia, though the interval of time which must have elapsed since they left Persia must be several centuries. As the ]s are generally known to (p.220) Indian poets under the name Pārasīka, the term Pahlava or Pallava must denote the Arsacidan ]ns, as stated by Professor Weber." (Venkayya 1907, p.219-220)'' | |||
| Dr V. A. Smith says: | |||
| ⚫ | : |
||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| *] | *] | ||
| *] | *] | ||
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The Pahlavas are a people mentioned in ancient Indian texts like the Manu Smriti, various Puranas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Brhatsamhita.
In some texts the Pahlavas are synonymous with the Pallavas, a dynasty of Southern India: While the Vayu Purana distinguishes between Pahlava and Pahnava, the Vamana Purana and Matsya Purana refer to both as Pallava. The Brahmanda Purana and Markendeya Purana refer to both as Pahlava or Pallava. Bhishama Parava 6.11.66 of the Mahabharata also does not distinguish between the Pahlavas and Pallavas.
The Pahlavas are said to be same as the Parasikas, that is, the Sakas, a people of Central Asia that also includes portions of Parthia. According to P. Carnegy, the Pahlava are probably those people who spoke Paluvi or Pehlvi, that is the Parthian language. Buhler similarly suggests Pahlava is an Indic form of Parthava meaning 'Parthian'. In a 4th century BCE, Vartika of Katyayana mentions the Sakah-Parthavah demonstrating an awareness of these Saka-Parthians, probably by way of commerce.
Literary references
In Puranic texts
Pahlavas are referenced in various Puranic texts like Vayu Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Markendeya Purana, Matsya Purana, Vamana Purana etc.
Kirfel's list of Uttarapatha countries of the Bhuvanakosha locates the Pahlavas along with the Tusharas, Chinas, Angalaukikas, Barbaras, Kambojas, Daradas, Bahlikas and other countries of the Udichya division of ancient India. e.g:
- ete desha udichyastu
- Kambojashchaiva Dardashchaiva Barbarashcha Angaukikah ||
- Chinashchaiva Tusharashcha Pahlavadhayata narah ||
- ........................................................................................
- (From Kirfel's Text of Bhuvanakosha )
The Vayu Purana, Brahamanda Purana and several other Puranas mention the Pahlavas with the tribes of Uttarapatha or north-west. The sixth century text Markendeya Purana (57.35) lists the Pahlavas, Kambojas, Daradas, Bahlikas, Barbaras, Tusharas, Daradas, Paradas, Chinas, Lampakas etc as the countries of Udichya division i.e Uttarapatha, but 58th chapter of the Markendeya Purana also refers to yet other settlements of the Pahlavas and the Kambojas and locates them both specifically in the south-west of India as neighbors to the Sindhu, Sauvira and Anarta (north Saurashtra) countries. Further the sixth century CE Brhatsamhita of Varaha Mihira also locates the Pahlavas and Kamboja kingdoms in south-west India i.e around Gujarat/Saurashtra (See also: Geographical Data in the Early Puranas, 1972, p 134-135, Dr M. R. Singh).
Puranas like Vayu also state that the Udichyas including the Pahlavas, Paradas, Gandharas, Sakas, Yavanas, Tusharas, Kambojas, Khasas, Lampakas, Madhyadesis, Vindhyas, Aprantas, Dakshinatyas, Dravidas, Pulindas, Simhalas etc would be proceeded against and annihilated by Kalki in Kaliyuga. And they are stated to have been annihilated by king Pramiti at the end of Kali age as per Puranic evidence.
According to Vayu Purana and Matsya Purana, river Chakshu (Oxus or Amu Darya) flowed through the countries of Pahlavas, Tusharas, Lampakas, Paradas and the Sakas etc (Vayu Purana I.58.78-83).
Pānca Ganahas or Five Hordes
Puranas associate the Pahlavas with the Kambojas, Sakas, Yavanas and Paradas and brands them together as Panca-ganah (fiver-hordes). These five hordes were military allies of the Haihaya and Taljunga Kshatriyas of Yadava line and were chiefly responsible for dethroning king Bahu of Kosala. Later, king Sagara, son of king Bahu, was able to defeat the Haihayas and Taljungas together with these five-hordes. According to Puranic accounts, king Sagara had divested the Paradas and other members of the well-known Pānca-gana (i.e. the Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas and Pahlavas) of their Kshatriyahood and turned them into the Mlechchas. Before their defeat at the hands of king Sagara, these five-hordes were called Kshatriya-pungava (i.e. foremost among the Kshatriyas).
In the Valmiki Ramayana
The Balakanda of the Ramayana groups the Pahlavas with the Sakas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Mlechhas and the Kiratas and refers to them as military allies of sage Vasishtha against Vedic king Vishwamitra (55/2-3).
The Kiskindha Kanda of Ramayana associates the Pahlavas with the Yavanas, Shakas, Kambojas, Paradas (Varadas), Rishikas and the Uttarakurus etc and locates them all in the trans-Himalayan territories i.e. in the Sakadvipa (Ramayana Kisk. Kanda, 43-12).
In the Mahabharata
In the Uttarapatha
Mahabharata attests that Pandava-putra Nakula had defeated the Pahlavas in the course of his western expedition. The kings of Pahlava were also present at the Rajasuya sacrifice of king Yudhishtra.
The Mahabharata also associates the Pahlavas with the Sakas, Yavanas, Gandharas, Kambojas, Tusharas, Sabaras, Barbaras, etc. and addresses them all as the barbaric tribes of Uttarapatha.
In the Udyoga-Parva
But the Udyoga-Parva of Mahabharata groups the Pahlavas with the Sakas, Paradas and the Kambojas-Rishikas and locates them all in/around Anupa region in western India.
Mahabharata 5.4.15 reads: These kings of the Shakas, Pahlavas and Daradas (i.e. the Paradas) and the Kamboja Rshikas, these are in the western riverine (Anupa) area.
This epic refence implies that sections of the Pahlavas, Sakas, Paradas, Kambojas were also located in western India near Saurashtra/Maharashtra.
In the Manusmriti
Manusmriti (X.43-44) states that the Pahlavas and several other tribes like the Sakas, Yavanas, Kambojas, Paradas, Daradas, Khasas, Dravidas etc were originally noble Kshatriyas, but later, due to their non-observance of sacred Brahmanical codes and neglect of the priestly class, they had gradually sunken to the status of Mlechchas.
In the Mudrarakshas Drama
The Buddhist drama Mudrarakshas by Visakhadutta and the Jaina works Parisishtaparvan refer to Chandragupta's alliance with Himalayan king Parvatka. This Himalayan alliance gave Chandragupta a powerful composite army made up of the frontier martial tribes of the Shakas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Parasikas (Pahlavas), Bahlikas etc (predominantly an Iranian army) which he utilised to defeat the Greek successors of Alexander and the Nanda rulers of Magadha, and thus establishing his Mauryan Empire in northern India (See: Mudrarakshas, II).
In the Brihat-Katha-Manjari
The Brihat-Katha-Manjari of the Kshmendra (10/1/285-86) relates that around 400 AD, the Gupta king Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) had "unburdened the sacred earth of the barbarians" like the Shakas, Mlecchas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Tusharas, Parasikas, Hunas, etc. by annihilating these "sinners" completely.
In the Kavyamimamsa
The 10th century Kavyamimamsa (Ch. 17) of Pt Raj Shekhar still lists the Sakas, Tusharas, Vokanas, Hunas, Kambojas, Bahlikas, Pahlavas, Tangana, Turukshas, etc. together and states them as the tribes located in the Uttarapatha division.
Migration of Pahlavas
According to Dr Jouveau Dubreuil, "the Pallavas were immigrants from north, or properly speaking from Konkan and Anarta into Deccan. They came into south India through Kuntala or Vanvasa..." (Jouveau Dubreuil).
Venkayya similarly suggests the Pallavas of Kāñcīpuram must originally have come from west of the Indus, "though the interval of time which must have elapsed since they left Persia must be several centuries." (Venkayya, 1907:219-220)
V. A. Smith notes: "It is possible that the Pallavas were not one distinct tribe or class but a mixed population composed partly of foreigners and partly of the Indian population but different in race from Tamils and taking their name from the title of an intruding foreign dynasty (Pahlava) which obtained control over them and welded them into an aggressive political power" (Early History of India, 1924, Dr V. A. Smith).