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The advent of the Karkotas in the Valley of Kashmir and the subsequent history of that part of the country is significant for several obvious reasons. While the rest of the huge sub-continent witnessed the rise and fall of several Rajput clans to wit, the Gurjara Pratiharas, Chandellas, Palas, Kal churis, Chalukyas, Chahamanas and Gahadavalas, the Valley was under the suzerain sway of their synchronous Karkotas for several centuries. Secondly, we are on firmer grounds in so far as the political history of that part of the country is concerned. Thirdly, and by far the most significantly, the downfall of Hindu India coincided with the eclipse of the Karkotas, the later rulers of that dynasty being unable to withstand the Turkish onslaught for many reasons, as shall be subsequently seen.

65 The primary source of our information for the study of the history of the Karkotas is the Rajatarangini itself. Kalhana is obviously on surer grounds in detailing the events of several centuries, the exaggeration and embelishments being excusable on poetic grounds. His account, when substantiated by other sources, viz., the epigraphic and numismatic and other literary compositions as well as foreign accounts (of the Chinese and Arabs), enables us to reconstruct the history of several centuries during which the Karkotas reigned supreme in the Valley. The name of Karkota the Prior to any attempted historical account of the dynasty, and connotation 'Karkota' appended to it deserves our attention. It is interesting to note that the word 'Karkota' ocers in the Rigveda itself and if Vogel's suggestion is accepted, it finds mention in the Atharvaveda also as Sarkota. It should, however, be noted that, even during the Rigvedic period, the legend of the Karkota Naga was very well known, though terminologically the word can be explained away as referring to a number of plants as 1. Rigveda, Khalikani Sukta, p. 530 (14, 8); Atharvaveda, vii, 56 5 and 7; Vogel, J.Ph., Indian Serpent Lore, p. 214.

- 66 well. There are several references to Karkota in 3 the Mahabharata wherein it has been used to denote a non-Aryan tribe, and a Naga of that name (Karkota) at many places in several Parvas. It is interesting to note that many of the Puranas and the Kathasaritsagar mention a Naga of that name in different contexts. The Matsya Purana, however, mentions a tirtha of that name on the banks of the Narpada river. The Kathasarit, sagara refers to a city of that name while the Nilamata Purana lists Karkota Naga of Kashmir with other outstanding Nagas (Nila, Vasuki and Takshaka). Again, a Karkota Naga ia associated with a 6 4 legend concerning dessication of a lake in Nepal, where it is worshipped even today. All these legendary (and literary) references unimpeachably establish some 1. Vogel, J.Ph., Indian Serpent Lore, p. 214. 2. Mahabharata, I, 35, 1550, I, 123, 4828; II, 9, 316; III, 66, 2611, III, 72, 2828, III, 79, 3072; XVI, 4, 119; VIII, 44, 2066, of. S. Sorensen, An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, p. 384. 70, 3. Bhagavata Purana, xii, II, 42; Matsya, 6, 18, 29, 33, 39, etc., Vayu, 17, 26, 52, 69, 94; Vishnu, I, 221, 22, II, 14, 22; Brahmanda II, 17, 23, III, 7, 34, IV, 20, 33, 36, 50 Twaney, C.H., Ocean of Stories, Vol. II, pp. 67, 73, 78; iv, pp. 245, 46, 48, 50. 4. Matsya Purana, 36, 196. 5. Twaney, C.H., Ocean of Stories, II, 67, 73, 78. Further, dealing with the story of Nala, Karkota Naga has been mentioned. IV, 345-46, 48, 50; Nilamata Purana, 901, Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, 111, 490. Stein's note. 6. Vogel, J.Ph., Indian Serpent Lore, p. 215.

67 connection of the Karkota dynasty with the Nagas and possibly, with Naga worshippers. Incidentally, the entire Rajatarangini is full of references to Nagas and their supernatural powers who, from time to time, have both been munificient when pleased and caused harm when annoyed. That Karkota Naga commanded an eminent place amongst the Naga worshippers all over northern India is apparent from the fact that a shrine dedicated to him at Barha Kutra in Banda (U.P.) exists even to this day. 1 These early notices, it should also be noted, refer to Naga Karkota and not Karkota, and this peculiarity has not received sufficient attention from scholars. Grammatically, it is possible to suggest that, according to the latter form, i.e., Karkota, some descendant of Karkota is meant, and not the Rigvedic serpent. Very possibly the Valley developed a legend of its own around the name of a descendant of Karkota and not the Vedic serpent himself. On the strength of these literary notices, it is apparent that, with the growth of legends around the Naga Karkota, the name had achieved considerable importance and was associated with this dynasty in the Valley. 1. Vogel, J.Ph., Indian Serpent Lore, p. 215.