Tribes in Ancient India c71: Chapter LXIX. The Ramaṭhas
Tribes in Ancient India c71
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Chapter LXIX. The Ramaṭhas
c71.2
The Ramaṭhas seem also to have been a northern people living not far from the Kulūṭas. The *Vāyupurāṇa* mentions a people named Ramaṭas (XLV, 117), while the *Matsyapurāṇa* refers to a people named Rāmaṭhas (CXIII, 42), both no doubt meaning the one and the same people, the Ramaṭhas. The *Kūrmapurāṇa* (XLVII, 41) reads Rāmas instead and the *Mārkaṇḍeya* Mātharas (LVII, 37). The *Bṛhatsaṃhitā* places them in the western division of India along with the Pañcanadas, while the *Vāyupurāṇa* in the reference cited above locates them in northern division along with the Kulindas.
c71.3
The *Bṛhatsaṃhitā* contention that the Ramaṭhas were a western people is upheld by the *Mahābhārata* (*Sabhāparvan*, XXXI, 1195; *Vanaparvan*, LI, 1991; *Śāntiparvan*, LXV, 2430). The *Bhīṣmaparvan* mentions a people called Ramaṇas who also may be the same people as the Ramaṭhas (IX, 374).
c71.4
In the same context of the introduction of the *Bālabhārata* or *Pracaṇḍapāṇḍava* of Rājaśekhara where we find Mahipāla of the Pratihāra dynasty is credited with having inflicted a defeat on the Kulūṭas, we find also the Ramaṭhas having shared the same fate at the hands of the Pratihāra king. This will be evident from the following passage:—
c71.5
*‘Namita-Murala-mauliḥ pākalo Mēkalānāṃ*
*raṇa-Kalita-Kaliṅgaḥ keli-taṭ Kēral-ēndoh.*
*Ajani-jita-Kulūṭaḥ Kuntalānām, kuthāraḥ,*
*haṭha-hṛta-Ramaṭha Śrīḥ Śrī Mahīpāladevaḥ*
*Tena ca Raghuvamśa-muktāmaṇinā-*
*Āryāvartamahārājādhirājena. Śrī-*
*Nirbhayanarendra-nandunenādhikṛtāḥ*
*Sabhāsadaḥ sarvān . . . etc.’*
(Nirṇayasāgar Press Ed., I, 7-8.)
Linked texts (7)
- Vāyupurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit
- Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit
- Kūrmapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit
- Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit
- Bṛhatsaṃhitā — Varāhamihira, Sanskrit
- Mahābhārata — Vyāsa, Sanskrit
- Bālabhārata — Amaracandrasūri, Sanskrit