The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s3.213

c8.s3.213

It is not possible to ascertain the names of all the towns in the inland country that were in a flourishing condition during the time we have been speaking of. Besides Paithan and Tagara there was Nâsik, which is mentioned in an inscription in one of the caves at the place and also at Bedsa. The district about the town was called Govardhana. Junnar was another flourishing town, as is attested by the number of cave-temples at the place. But what its name was we do not know. The name Junnar, Junanara, Jûrna-nagara, or Jîrnanagara, which means the old town, must have been given to it after it had lost its importance. I have already expressed my belief that it was the capital of Nahapâna. Pulumâyi, who overthrew the dynasty of Nahapâna, is in one of the Nâsik inscriptions styled "lord of Navanara," meant probably for Navanagara or the new town. That he reigned at Paithan we know from Ptolemy, and also from the many traditions about Sâlivâhana which locate the person or persons bearing that name at that city. The Navanara, then, of the inscription was probably another name given to the town when Pulumâyi re-established his dynasty, and, in contrast with it, Nahapâna's capital was called the "Old Town." Or perhaps Pulumâyi widened the old town of Paithan and called the new extension Navanara. What town existed near the group of caves at Kârli and the adjoining places, we do not know. But the place spoken of in connection with the monastic establishment is in an inscription named Valuraka,³ and the district in which it was situated is called Mâmalâhâra,⁴ or the district of Mâmala, the modern Mâval. Further south there was the town of Karahâtaka, the modern Karhâd, which is mentioned in an inscription at Kuden⁵ and also in the Mahâbhârata.⁶ Kolhâpur also must have been a flourishing town in those days, since a Buddhistic stûpa containing the coins Section VIII. we have already noticed and other remains of antiquity have been found there. The old name of the place is unknown. Either Karhâd or Kolhâpur must be the Hippocura of Ptolemy in which he locates Baleocuros whom we have identified with the Viḷivâyakura of the Kolhâpur coins.