1922.] Madra. 267 
situated about 14 or 15 Ji to the north-east of the old capital 
Sakala. Sakala was then in a decayed —_— its walls 
being throwndown. The pilgrim, however, saw a little town 
about 6 or 7 li in circuit within the old walls of . city, the 
people of which were rich and prosperous. The capital was 
probably removed from Sakala after the defeat of Mihirakula. 
Hiuen Tsang provides us with an account of the Hina kingdom. 
e informs us that the 
“soil is suitable for rice and produces much late sown 
corn. It also produces gold, silver and stone called teow, 
copper and iron. The climate is very warm and the land is 
subject to hurricanes The people are quick and violent, their 
language coarse and uncultivated. For clothing they wear a 
very shining white fabric eis they call kiau- anges ions 4 
silk), and also morning re loth (chau hia) and other kinds. 
Few of them believe in Sade many sacrifice to tig caven. 
ly spirits (Devas and Spirits). There are 10 Sangharamas and 
some hundreds of temples. There were formerly in this country 
many houses of charity goodness or happiness (Punyusalas) for 
keeping the poor and the unfortunate. They provided for them 
medicine and food, clothing and necessaries, so that travellers 
were never badly o 
uring the last quarter of the 6th century the Madras 
seem to have come in contact with the rising Chalukya power 
of Badami. The Mahakita Pillar Inscription of Mangalesa 
inal to Kirtivarman I wide conquests including Anga, 
anga, Kalinga, Magadha, Madraka, Kerala ete.,? In the first 
half of the 8th century Madra probably often felt the weight 
of arms of the Kashmirian kings of the Karkota dynasty 
specially of Muktapida and Jayapida. In the inscriptions of 
the Palas of Bengal Madra appears in connection with the 
installation of Chakrayudha on the throne of Kanauj with the 
assent of the neighbouring powers enumerated as the Bhoja, 
Matsya, Madra, Kuru, Yadu, Yavana, Avanti, Gandhara and 
Kira kings.’ It is possible that Dharmapala in his bid for 
the overlordship of Northern India came in contact with these 
kings and by defeating them succeeded in forcing his nominee 
on them.* After Dharmapala the Pratihara power saw 
palmy nail pee under Bhoja (Mihira ; 840-90 A.D.) extended 
its power even to the gates of Kashmir. We read in Kaihana’s 
Rajalarangint that king Sankara varman (c. 855-83 A.D.) caused 
- the sovereign power which the adhiraja Bhoja had seized, to 


eal, Buddhist Records, Vol. 1, pp. 165-166. Also Watters’ 
Puan Chwan, p. Vol. I, 4g 
3 5 Sen as her dited by A. K. Maitreya, p. 
e , 
tk. D. Henson a: The Palas of Bengal, Pa SB. Vol. V, p. 51. 
It is curious that Mr. Bannerjee is of opinion that Madra ‘meant some 
part of Afghanistan.’ 
