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, is the author of the manual, which is called the Yoga Sutras. ,5. The Vai'seshika. This system classifies all phenomena under logical categories, and attributes the origin of the world to atoms. The author of the manual, which is known as the Vai'seshika Sutras, is remembered by the nickname Kanada, ' atom-eater '. 6. The Nydya accepts the metaphysic of the Vaiseshika, and adds a very detailed and acute exposition of formal logic. The \ manual, which is by Gautama, is called the Nydya Sutras. INCARNATION 97 18. Buddhas, Incarnations, and Tirthakaras Buddhas Mythical : — Dipamkara Kondanna Mahgala Sum anas Revata Sobhita Anomadassin Pad u ma Narada Padumuttara Sumedha Sujata Piyadassin Atthadassin Dhammadassin Siddhattha Tissa Puss a Vipassin Sikhin Vessabhu Kakusandha Konagamana Kassapa Historical : — Gautama Future : — Maitreya Avataras of Vishnu *Matsya1 : *Kurma : *Varaha : *Xarasimha *Vamrma : *Parasu-Karna *Rama * Krishna Vyasa Prithu Hari Ilamsa Mnnvantara Yajna Rishabha Hayagriva Dhruva Dhanvantari Nara and Narayana Dattatreya Kapila Sanaka *Buddha 2 *Kalki the Fish the Tortoise the Boar the Man-lion the Dwaif Tirthakaras Rishabhadeva Ajitanatha Sambhavanatha Abhinandana Sumatinatha Padmaprabha Suparsvanatha Chandraprabha Suvidhinatha bitalanatha Sreyamsanatha Vasupujya Vimalanatha Anantanatha Dharmanatha Santinatha Kunthunatha Aranatha Mallinatlia Munisuvrata Naminatha Neminatha Parsvanatha Mahavlra 1 The ten avataras of Vishnu which are usually met with are marked with asterisks. 2 The Buddha avatara of Vishnu is really Gautama, the historical Buddha. One of the many means employed by Hindus to overcome Buddhism was to recognize the Buddha as a Hindu incarnation. CHAPTER VIII PERIOD OF DECADENCE THE GUPTAS : THE PURANAS From the Rise of the Guptas to the Fall of Harsha's Empire. A.D. 320-650 66. History. Our period opens with the rise of the great dynasty of the Guptas, who during the earlier part of their rule reigned at Patna, but later moved up to Ayodhya. Under their empire North India enjoyed a period of really good government, worthy of comparison with the time of Asoka. The two greatest kings of the dynasty were Samu- dragupta and Chandragupta II Vikramaditya. The latter king conquered Malwa and probably lived from time to time in Ujjain ; so that he may be the reality behind all the mythical tales told about the great Vikramaditya of Ujjain. 67. This dynasty went down before the attacks of the Huns. These Mongol invaders behaved with monstrous cruelty and violence during the fifty years they were in India. They destroyed Patna. They sacked Buddhist NOTE. — The text at the top of the page is a couplet IN PRAISE OF SIVA : ' Adoration to Sambhu,radorned with the chowrie-like moon on his lofty brow, main pillar in the building of the city of the three worlds \ ' First couplet of Bana's Harshacharita, DECADENCE 99 monasteries, massacred the monks, and even killed the Patriarch. They were driven out, however, in A. D. 528; and from that time onward until the invasions of Mahmiid of Ghaznf about A. D. 1000, India was comparatively free from foreign attack. 68. About A. D. 550 a powerful dynasty known as the Chalukyas arose at Badami in Dharwar and played a great 18. THK TRIMUKTI The Hindu Triad, representing Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva as one. A most powerful piece of sculpture, cut in the solid rock of the cave of Elephanta, near Bombay, dating from about A. D. 800. (Photograph by Clifton & Co., Bombay.) part in South Indian politics and civilization for two cen turies ; while on the other coast at Kanchi, now Conjeeveram, the Pallavas ruled the surrounding country. 69. During the seventh century another brilliant figure appears in North India, the famous Harsha of Kanauj. He spent many years in conquest, and finally was the acknowledged sovereign of the whole of North India from o 2 IOO OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY the Himalayas to the Nerbudda. He was fortunate in having at his court a distinguished literary man named Bana, who wrote an historical romance setting forth the great deeds of his patron. We also hear a good deal about him from the Chinese traveller Hiouen Tsang, who was greatly honoured by him. Our period closes with his empire. 70. Religion. Hinduism during this period is chiefly 19. THE MARRIAGE OF SIVA AND PARVATI A very fine piece of work, but badly damaged. Also at Elephanta. (Photograph by Clifton & Co., Bombay.) marked by a coarse noisy sectarianism with little dignity or morality in it. The follower of Siva or of Vishnu uses the most extravagant language in praising his own God and curses the devotees of the other heartily. An attempt was made to reconcile all sectaries by the doctrine of the three fold manifestation of the Supreme in Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva : but the concept never truly laid hold of the Hindu DECADENCE 101 people. The Triad is frequently mentioned, and it is now and then represented in sculpture ; but it was £iva and Vishnu that drew the reverence of men. The mythology of the time is wild and extravagant, and there is but little serious ness in the teaching. The Puranas (see section 72) are full of bombast and pretentiousness. In this period the myths about Krishna underwent con siderable embellishment. The story of his childhood was told in great detail, several points being borrowed, as it seems, from Christian sources. His cowherd exploits also took form at this time and captured the masses. All this fresh mythology had its centre in Mathura and Vrindavana. Clearly the cult of Krishna was carried on there with great fervour. Hinduism and Buddhism drew nearer and nearer to each other during those centuries, each borrow ing from the other, both becoming steadily coarser, but Hinduism con tinuously gaining in popularity. It was a period of marked decadence ; but Hinduism had by far the stronger constitution. 71. This period saw a very great expansion of Buddhism in other lands. It became supreme in China ; and through out the period numerous Indian scholars went to China to teach the faith, while many Chinese pilgrims found their way to India. The translation of Buddhist texts into Chinese went on apace, both Indians and Chinese doing large service in this way. From China the religion passed into Korea and Japan. Devoted missionaries carried it to Burma, Siam, and Java, and won the populations of those 20. BUDDHIST IMAGE From Java. In Cal cutta Museum, the great halo. Note 102 OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY lands. Its influence spread far and wide over the whole of Central and Eastern Asia. India was its home, and there its most famous scholars studied and taught. The greatest University of Buddhism, Nalanda in Bihar, was founded during the sixth century, and was adorned by a long succession of great scholars for at least two centuries thereafter. The philosophy of Buddhism at this time shows a great approxima tion to Hindu thought. 72. Literature, &c. The Guptas were great patrons of literature. The earliest existing Puranas, which embody the sectarian reli gion of the period, seem to date from their time ; and every branch of secular literature rose to splendour under their fostering care, the Drama, Kavya poetry, Rhetoric, Grammar, Astro nomy, Romance. The word 21. ROCK-CUT SHRINK. At Mahavellipore. A reference to fig. i will show that the design is copied from a hut. But the interest of the form is this, that it seems to be the origin of the curvilinear tower of the Indo-Aryan style. Imagine the centre of the roof raised, and the lines of the Indo-Aryan tower are at once realized. (See figs. 22 and 28.) Purana means archaeo- logica, and was first used of old-world myths and tales about the origin of things. The existing Puranas, however, are sectarian pamphlets in Sanskrit verse, written to catch the popular ear and secure worshippers for Vishnu, Siva, or Brahma. Each begins with an account of the origin of the world, but soon becomes a panegyric of the favourite divinity. Men of DECADENCE 103 any caste, and women too, are allowed to read the Puranas. Buddhist literature at this time consisted mostly of philo sophic works produced by the scholars of Nalanda.'J The Svetambara Jain canon received its final form in A. D. 454. 73. During this period architecture was cultivated with zeal and success by Buddhists, Jains, and Hindus. A great deal ot the finest cave-work dates from this time.