History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c17.16

v1.c17.16

The Kesari line rule thus lasted from about 500 to 1132 A. D. a period of about 600 years which is very long indeed. But we have said that in outlying territories such long-lived dynasties are not uncommon as for instance in Assam. The palm-leaf records of Jagannath are, however, not wholly reliable and there are other records which contradict them as shown by Sir William Hunter himself. According to the palm-leaf records the Kesari line consisted of 44 kings from 500 A. D. to 1132 A. D. ( not an improbable period viz. 600 years for 44 kings) when it gave place to the Ganga line of kings. But the other records place a sun-worshipping line between the Kesari line and the Ganga line. These other records according to Hunter are not quite reliable ; but the fact cannot be denied that there must have been a sun-worshipping line of kings sometime before the introduction of the Vishnu worship of Jagannath. For we have in Orissa the most beautiful temple of the sun that exists in India or anywhere else and also a monolith pillar still standing which is almost a wonder of the world. This history of the sun-worshippers too we reserve to our second volume.