Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.1373

c4.1373

The Ṛgveda is a history of the Āryas. The march from Kubhātaṭa (Kubul) to the banks of Yamunā is depicted there. It was at Kubhātaṭa that the mantras were first made. When they reach the banks of the Gaṅgā the period of Ṛgveda ends. The crossing of the five rivers of Pañcanada is treated as a big event by the ṛṣis. When they saw the huge and deep river, Sindhu, they were amazed. The wonder is reflected in a lovely mantra. It was after crossing Sindhu that they had to oppose the ‘Dasyus’. The Ṛgveda itself records that the Dasyus were more cultured than the Āryas. Śambara, a Dasyu King, was the ruler of a hundred cities. Their fortresses were strong. They have been described in the Ṛgveda as Aśvamayī, Ayasī and Śatabhujī. The chief opponents of the Āryas were a tribe of people called Paṇis. From the Nirukta of Yāska we are given to understand that the Paṇis were mainly engaged in trade. The Ṛgveda names many Dasyu kings of which the following few were more daring and brave and the Āryas acknowledged their superior strength and courage: Dhuni, Cumuri, Vipru, Varcis and Śambara. Among the several divisions of the Dasyus, the Śimyus, Kikaṭas, Śigrus and Yakṣus ranked foremost in power. They are described as having black colour and flat noses and speaking a language different from that of the Āryas. We may surmise from these facts that they belonged to the Drāviḍa class of people. They never conducted yāga nor did they worship gods like Indra. They were idol worshippers for they have been abused as ‘Śiśnadevas’. Later the Āryas learnt from the Dasyus the worship of Śiva, Devī and Liṅga.