Studies in the Geography of Ancient and Medieval India c23.13

c23.13

According to traditions, the Kuṣāṇa emperor Kaniṣka, who ruled over extensive regions in India and Central Asia, had his capital at the city of Puruṣapura (modern Peshawar) in the Gandhāra country. Al-Bīrūnī¹ says that Kanik (*i.e.* Kaniṣka) belonged to a dynasty of Hindu kings called Śāhis who were Turks of Tibetan origin and at first began to reign in Kabul. The last king of this house was Laga Tūrmān (*i.e.* Toramāṇa) who was overthrown by his Brāhmaṇa minister Kallar, a predecessor of Jayapāla. Scholars have suggested the identification of Al-Bīrūnī’s Kallar with the great Lalliya Śāhi mentioned in the *Rājatarangiṇī*. It is, however, interesting to note that Kalhaṇa represents the Śāhis as Kṣatriyas. It has also to be remembered that the Kashmiri author does not make any distinction between the early Śāhis and the Brāhmaṇa Śāhis who, according to Al-Bīrūnī, succeeded them. We are told² that, even before the