4 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. [N.S., XV, 1919.] 
(1) The present name “‘ Nagram ”’ of the 
(2) The mention of Tagarapura, etc., in the “huesigiaans 
of the sixth and seventh centuries, A .D. 
(1) Nagram is the Telugu form of Sanskrit nagar which 
means a city. It is absurd to dub a small hamlet of 100 or 150 
huts a city Without any prefix to denote the name of the 
founder or something about its foundation as is generally the 
case. How came an obscure village like Nagram to be called 
a city—pure and simple? This question can be solved in one 
way only. It is a remnant of its ancient greatness. The col- 
loquial appellation has remained to signify its past existence. 
I will explain my idea from two modern examples. 
e people of the territory around Hyderabad call it 
simply ‘ Shahar ’ = city or Patnam (in Telugu) = city. In private 
correspondence also it is mentioned as such. In ages to come 
Hyderabad will remain in the common parlance of ‘the country 
as ‘ shahar’ or ‘ Patnam’ and no more. 
Pataliputra is the ancient name of Patna. Patna means a 
city. People of the surrounding country called it Patna in the 
days of its greatness and glory, and the same common appella- 
tion remained attached to it even after it fell and was lost to 
history. 
(2) Tagara was the first capital of the first historical dynasty 
ofthe Deccan. Naturally it came to be regarded as the seat and 
embodiment of political power and greatness by the people, and 
a halo of past splendour and glory grew round it as centuries 
rolled on even after it had ceased to be a metropolis. This 
sentiment must have gained support also from the great shrine 
of Kalishwar that is separated from Nagram by the river 
— and which is an important place of Hindu pilgrimage. 
a characteristic of Indians that they attach importance 
“ay rusian to every thing ancient and enveloped in legend- 
ary mist and try to connect themselves with it in some way or 
other. You will find every Sardar of the Maratha country try- 
ing to trace his descent from the followers of aes and every 
respectable Muhammadan family in the U.P. and Deccan claim- 
ing hereditary connections with the dignitaries of the Great Mo- 
hals. Similarly every subsequent dynasty in the Deccan 
attempted to show themselves off as the successors of = great 
dynasty, hence the expression “ Lord of Tagara ura,’ 
the grounds and reasons ee above I Fieatity the 
modern Nagram with the ancient Tagar. 
NO eae 
