History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v2.c29.s1.6

v2.c29.s1.6

We may at once say that the second part of this theory is absurd and based on the usual fallacies and prejudices. In beginning this part of his theory, Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar himself admits that he is not quite on *terra firma*. He argues that the names of certain Nāgar Brahmin donees in the Alīna inscription end in Mitra. On this he cannot resist the temptation to hold that Mitra was the name by which Nāgar Brahmins were distinguished from other sub-caste Brahmins. Now the Valabhī kings in their inscriptions are called Maitrakas. " We thus see that the Nāgar Brahmins and the Valabhī kings belonged to the same ethnic stock viz., " Maitra " (P. 184.) ! As Mitra and Mihira are names of the same sun, " there seems reason to identify the Maitrakas with Mihiras the well-known tribe of Mehers or Mers." And further this rise of the Maitraka (Valabhī) power took place about 500 A. D., the period when the Huns came to and conquered India. " This seems to show that the Maitrakas were like Gujars a tribe allied with Hūṇas and entered India with them " !! And finally " Now we see that Nāgar Brahmins were Maitrakas and the Maitrakas were like Gujars a foreign race. When a stranger tribe settled in India the priests of the foreign tribe became Brahmins and the warriors became Kshatriyas." Thus the Nāgar Brahmins who were Mitras and consequently Mers are foreigners and the Guhilots who are descended from Nāgar Brahmins are also Mers and foreigners by race. Even if they were descended from the Maitraka kings of Valabhī, they belonged, according to Dr. D. R. Bhandarkar, to the same ethnic stock *viz.*, Mers and are allied to Gujars and Huns *i. e.*, are foreigners and Mers by race ! !