Early History of the Dekkan down to the Mahomedan Conquest c15.4

c15.4

Brâhmaṇism also flourished side by side with Buddhism In the inscription at Nâsik in which Ushavadâta dedicates the cave monastery excavated at his expense for the use of the itinerant "priests of the four quarters," he speaks, as we have seen, of his many charities to Brâhmans The same notions as regards these matters prevailed then as now Ushavadâta fed a hundred thousand Brâhmans as the Mahârâj Sindia did about thirty years ago It was considered highly meritorious to get Brâhmans married at one's expense then as now Gotamiputra also, in the same inscription which records a benefaction in favour of the Buddhists, is spoken of as the only protector of Brâhmaṇs, and as having like Ushavadâta [42] put them in the way of increasing their race Kings and princes thus appear to have patronized the followers of both the religions, and in none of the inscriptions is there an indication of an open hostility between them