History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v1.c13.18

v1.c13.18

It forms the boundary of the Nizam's State from Alampur near Karnul to Nandigama in the Nalgonda district. Its rise and particular sanctity are described in the *Uttara Khaṇḍa* of the *Padma-Purāṇa*.¹ The Mushikas are mentioned as a southern tribe in the Purāṇas. The Padma mentions them with the Draviḍas, Keralas, Karṇāṭakas and Kuntalas. Here they are divided into three parts :—(1) Mushika proper, (2) Bāla-Mushikas and (3) Vikandha Mushikas.² In the Vāyu they are mentioned among people of Southern India (*Dakṣiṇāpatha-vāsinaḥ*) such as the Pāṇḍyas, Keralas, Chaulyas, Setukas, and Vanavāsikas.³ In the *Ānandāśrama* Series Edition of the Matsya, the Mushikas are mentioned with the same people where the name was misread "*Sutika*" and the Vānavāsikas spelt "*Vājivāsika*."⁵ The Mahābhārata also mentions the Mushikas with the Vanavāsikas.⁶ In the Viṣṇu Purāṇa the Mushikas, appear with the *Strī-rajya*. Mr. Jayaswal is inclined to identify the Mushikas with the Mosalas but the Padma-Purāṇa distinctly mentions the Mosalas and the Mushikas separately. The identification of these two tribes, therefore, is untenable. From the Hathigumpha inscription it is abundantly clear that the Kaliṅgan army went due west from Kaliṅga and reached the river Kṛṣṇā at some place during its long and erratic course. It is more probable that Khāravela terrorized the Mushikas from the bank of the Kṛṣṇā. Mr. Jayaswal is of opinion that the [The provided image is blank.]