History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c16.s5.9

v1.c16.s5.9

The Prakrit inscription of the Kadambas on the Malavalli pillar especially leaves no doubt that Mahārāshtri must have been spoken so far south as the northern part of the present state of Mysore. On this inscription Mr. Rice at page 6 of his introduction to the Ep. Karna. Vol. VII observes: "From the script, style and situation of this inscription and the relationship of the donee, it is evidently not removed very far in time from the first inscription of Sātakarṇi which precedes it. I have therefore marked its date as 250 A. D. The Prakrit employed is the Mahārāshtarī form, and Dr. Buhler considered the inscription as evidence that this was already at that time a cultivated language in the south." Thus inscriptions indubitably prove that the Mahārāshtri in a cultivated form was spoken in the country now the home of Kanarese. This is not to be wondered at as this part of the country was ruled by Mahārathis in the days of the Sātakarṇis and the Kadambas. Even coins bearing the legend in Prakrit सडकण कळळाय महारठिस have been found in the west of Chitaldurg Mysore State. Not only this, tradition as recorded in the Harivamśa shows that the kingdom of Banavāsi was originally founded by a son of Yadu from a Nāga wife and Banavasi is described in the Harivamśa as situated in a forest with red soil about it Banavasi is plainly the modern Kanarese country. Thus the country was settled by Mahārathis and was ruled by Mahārathis down to the days of Kadambas. It seems probable that after their rule the language changed into Kanarese under the rule of the Gangas.