Hindu Polity: A Constitutional History of India in Hindu Times c13.3

c13.3

¹ This date is based on political data in Pāṇini which may be discussed in detail in a separate paper. Here, however, attention may be drawn to the fact that Pāṇini knew the Order of Makkhali Wanderers (=*Maskarin*, VI. 1. 154; M.V., p. 256, ‘*Maskarin*’; see the remark of Patañjali on the word). The Makkhalis merged into the Ājīvakas in the time of Makkhali Gosāla, contemporary of the Buddha, from whose time they acquired the latter designation. Aṅga had evidently ceased to be a separate kingdom, while Kosala was still independent (IV. 1. 170-175). Again, Pāṇini knew *Saṁgha*, as discussed above, only in the sense of a republic. The mention of the script of the *Yavanas* can now be easily explained, in view of their identification proposed here below with the Hellenic City State of Nysa, on the Kabul river, which had existed long before Alexander. See also Greek letters on Persian coins struck in India, Rapson, IC., pl. I.