Page:Growth of Asamiya Language.pdf/204

 APPENDIX C ASUS AND DANAVAS (on DAITTAS). These names, often used synonymously, areas often perplexing. For instance, an Asura means a spirit wither good or evil, and does stand for Deitye, a demon, a son of Diti by Kakyapa or Disave, an issue by Danu and Kalyapa. In R.V., 4.V., M.BR., ete. they are always held to be implacable enemies of the Vedie gods called devas witl. whom they were in perpetual hostility And so are the Panis deseribed in R.V. Are we then to equate the demon known by the three names aforesaid with the Harappans with whom the Panis are already identified? Also in the R.V. Krona himself is mentioned as a demon in rivalry with Indra, the god of the Aryans. Did Krsna then belong to the race of the Panis or Harappans? The theosophy of the Upanigads, whence came the Gita, is attributed to that Mediterranean race So it is not difficult to explain the new civilisation of the Vedanta in that line. But we are warned that these demons known by those names must not be confounded with the Raksasas or imps who animate dead bodies and disturb sacrifices. Nor are they to be misunderstood as the un- civilired people still called Asuras in Central India. And we have to safeguard ourselves against still another anomaly. While the Asura epithet of Neraka s admitted in the above context, It is vexing that the old line of Mongolold rulers, whom the line of Naraka replaced, should also have had the same epithet Asura and Dinave. In absence of any proof of identity of the two lines, we leave it as a mere confusion. The establishment of the ancient kingdom of Pragiyotiya (later called Kamarupa) is ever associated with the names of Narnka and his s or successor Bhagadatta. But Noraka is in some sense an usurper who with the help of Srikan killed the reigning king Ghataka and matched the throne. Ghataka is said to have had his royal residence to the south of the Sarania hill in modern East Guihat, and to have succeeded his father Mahtrala (popularly called Mairiwan) who had his capital town at Beltala, a few miles to the south beyond the limits of the present city of Culhat. The hill of Marirähka at Beltall bears witness to this tradition. Mahiranta in his turn is said to have sub- ceeded his father Samber who had his throne at Ranglimiti, probably outside Guilhoti. Traditions about the line of Mahi-ranga differ.