The Ancient and Medieval Architecture of India: A Study of Indo-Aryan Civilisation c16.3

c16.3

It was not mere racial vanity, perhaps, but an ardent patriotic hope which made the head of the historic Indo-Aryan clan choose this proud name for his son. History was repeating itself in more ways than one. Alexander’s famous raid in the fourth century B.C. had roused the clans to the necessity of combination for national defence. In the fourth century of the Christian era, Aryâvarta, the holy land of the Aryans, was again threatened by dangers both from within and without. The existence of a foreign dynasty on the north-west frontier was a constant menace to Aryan India, even though these foreigners partially adopted Aryan institutions and the Aryan religion. Fresh hordes of semi-civilised tribes were pressing towards the Indus Valley from the highlands of Central Asia. The Kushan power was weakening and seemed unlikely to keep them at bay for long.