Lauhitya Kingdom
Lauhitya (Lohity, Lohitya etc. as variations) was the easternmost country (it is also the name of a river) known to the people of the epic-age (Treta Yuga or Dvapara Yuga). Parshuram is believed to have visited this place. The Pandava Bhima also visited this kingdom during his eastern military campaign to collect tribute for Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice. A Naga king Lohita also ruled a territory close to Kashmira. It is not known if the Nagas in Kashmir.
History[edit]
Kautilya Arthashastra, Mandasor Pillar Inscriptions of Yasodharman and the Aphsad inscription of Ādityasena mentioned the name Lauhitya as easternmost kingdom.[1] During the 5th to 2nd century BCE, historical records mention the existence of the small kingdom of Lauhitya instead of Kamrupa, suggesting a potential absence of Brahmanical influence during that period.[2] Lauhitya being Eastern boundary of Gauda.[3] Baladitya II to launch on his eastern campaigns, and extended his territories as far as the Lauhitya.[4] The Kamrupa word first appeared in the Samudragupta allahabad Edict before that there is no mention of existence of this word, there is a possible existence of Lauhitya in it's possible region.[5]
References in Mahabharata[edit]
Naga King Lohita of the North[edit]
A Naga named Lohita was mentioned at (2,9) along with other prominent Naga kings like Vasuki, Takshaka and Airavata.
Naga King Lohita ruled a territory close to the Kasmira. Arjuna has visited this kingdom during his military campaign to the north, to collect tribute for Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice. Arjuna then defeated the brave Kshatriyas of Kashmira and also king Lohita along with ten minor chiefs. (2,26)
Lohitya, the easternmost territory[edit]
Bhima, during his military campaign to the east, to collect tribute for Yudhishthira's Rajasuya sacrifice, subjugated in battle Paundraka-Vasudeva, the king of Pundra and king Mahaujah who reigned in Kausika-kachchha, and then attacked the king of Vanga viz Samudrasena and king Chandrasena and Tamralipta, and also the king of the Karvatas and the ruler of the Suhmas, as also the kings that dwelt on the sea-shore, and all Mlechchha tribes. He then advanced towards Lohity. Bhima then caused all the Mlechchha kings dwelling in the marshy regions on the sea-coast, to pay tributes and various kinds of wealth. (2,29).
Lohitya River[edit]
Lohitya is mentioned as a river along with many other rivers like Ananga, Pushpaveni, Utpalavati, Karatoya, Vrishasabhya, Kumari and Rishikullya as the rivers of ancient India (Bharata Varsha) at (6,9). Lohitya is mentioned as a great river at (13,165). Here it is mentioned along with Sarayu and Gandaki and other big rivers. A holy place named Urvasi (named after the Apsara Urvasi) is said to be situated in river Lohitya (13,25). Parshuram is mentioned to have Created a pilgrim center at Lauhitya (3,85).
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa, translated to English by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
- ^ Manik De (2009-07-07). Inscriptions Of Ancient Assam M M Sharma [ Gauhati University, 1978]c. pp. 4 & 107.
- ^ Nagen Saikia. Assam And The Assamese Mind 2nd Edition. 1980. pp. 12–13.
- ^ K P Jayaswal. An Imperial History Of India. p. 11.
Lauhitya being Eastern boundary of Gauda.
- ^ R_N_Dandekar (2005). A_History_Of_The_Guptas. BR AMBEDKAR, Digital Library Of India. Oriental_Book_Agency. p. 163.
- ^ Neog, Dimbeswar (1947). Introduction To Assam. p. 18.