Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c29.155

c29.155

The Haihayas grew in power, and comprised five leading groups, the Vītihotras,⁷ Śāryātas,⁸ Bhojas,⁹ Avantis and Tuṇḍikeras, all of whom were Tālajaṅghas (p. 102). Their dominion stretched from the Gulf of Cambay to the Ganges-Jumna doab and thence to Benares.¹⁰ They continued their raids and there is no suggestion that they founded new kingdoms in the countries they overran. The Kānyakubja kingdom soon fell, for the dynasty ends with Aṣṭaka’s son Lauhi. The kingdom of Ayodhyā was open to assault, and the Haihayas attacked it with the co-operation of Śakas, Yavanas, Kāmbojas, Pāradas and Pahlavas from the north-west,¹ and this fact shows that all the kingdoms between the north-west and Ayodhyā must have been overthrown. In fact, the long-continued Haihaya devastations left North India a tempting prey to the hardy races of that frontier. Bāhu ² king of Ayodhyā was driven from his throne, took refuge in the forest and died near the hermitage of Aurva Bhārgava, whose personal name was Agni.³ His queen gave birth to a son Sagara there and Aurva educated him.