History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c19.22

c19.22

Harṣa’s deliberate pollution of the images was obviously inspired by some motive other than poverty. Stein, in a foot-note to his translation of this passage,² suggests that the king was influenced by Islām, and draws attention to two other verses in the poem in support. These are: “There was no temple in town or city which was not deprived of its images by Harṣarāja the Turk (*turuṣka*)”;³ and “He continually maintained with his wealth Turkish (*turuṣka*) captains of hundreds (and yet) the fool ate (the flesh of) village pigs until his death”.⁴