08-24-2010, 03:56 AM
Dhilli according to the Pasanacariu
by Ishwa
A. Introduction
There is one important pre-Sultanate work, which gives us a picture of Delhi during the rule of Tomara kings, just a few decades before they became the Samantas of the Chauhanas. This work is known as Pasanacariu. In this Digambara Jaina work, we have the oldest attested reference to the toponym 'Dhilli'.
For people unfamiliar with the Pasanacariu, Cohen gives a good introductory quote to the author, his work, time and the language: ââ¬ÅThe Pasanacariu is a hagiography of the twenty-third Jaina tirthankara, Parshvanatha. It was written in Delhi in A.D. 1132 by the Agravala Digambara poet, Shridhara, for a patron, a wealthy, influential merchant, Nattala Sahu. The text is composed in a stylized literary form of western Apabhramsha, often used during this period by Digambara Jainas.ââ¬Â (Cohen, p. 513)
Most scholars equate Dhilli only with Yoginipura, Mehrauli. This city has its ancient fort, called Lal Kot, with it larger extention together called Kot Rai Pithora, or Qilah Rai Pithora by the Muslims.
In this writing, I argue for another, much larger picture, based upon the purposely systematic description of the poet Shridhara.
Some notes on the language: The feature of this Apabhramsha is its cerebralization of most of its natural dentals. Of the first two I have added the count of the syllables to the verses.
The diacritical transcription is adapted to my transliteration, the translation is adopted from Cohen.
I have cut the uninterrupted sequence of versus into a twofold grouping: the whole sequence is split into four groupings, which is explained below; and I have split the sequence into doublets, which I have given a subject title.
B. Description
The poet Vibudha Shridhara, in my opinion, gives a description of the size of Dhilli, in a very systematic, (topo)graphical way. I have cut the topographical references into these four functional sections: 1. He first starts with the general topographical information, with a large Delhi as the capital city of the densely populated Haryana region; 2. he moves on with the description of an immense fortress, its lake and surroundings; 3. then he describes the immense commercial centra; 4. and finally, he mentions Dhilli's famous founder.
1. General information
Shridhara first describes the general topography and the extent of Dhilli.
1.2.14 hariyANae dese asankha-gAme | gAmiyaNa-jaNiya-aNavaraya-kAme || (24 syllables)
1.2.15 para-cakka-vihaTTaNu siri-sanghaTTaNu jo suravaiNA parigaNiuM | (24 syllables)
riu-ruhir'AvaTTaNu paviulu paTTaNu DhillI-NAmeNa ji bhaNiuM || (24 syllables)
In the region of Hariyana(ka) which has numerous villages, and whose inhabitants are ever happy,
there is the large city called Dhilli, favored by Indra, destroying hostile armies, a mass of wealth, boiling the blood of the enemy.
Of this verse 'Siri-sanghaTTaNu' translated as 'a mass of wealth' is central to the core character of Dhilli, that it is a PaTTana or commercial capital city. And it is huge (paviliu).
Perhaps this 'Siri = wealth' is a hint of its location and name towards the city under this name, known from Sultanate references. The word 'sanghaTTanu' here is used by Cohen in the sense of piling wealth. But the word having as core 'sangha' rather points to a conglomerate character of places full with people for a central purpose (in this case commerce).
2. Immense Fortress
Then, Shridhara moves on to Dhilli's large(st) fortress complex.
Fortifications
1.3.1 jahiM gayaNa-maNDal'Alaggu sAlu | raNamaNDava-parimandiu visAlu ||
1.3.2 goura-siri-kalas'Ahaya-payangu | jala-pUriya-parih'Alingiyangu ||
The immense fort, adorned all around with bastions and encircled by a water-filled moat, touches the vault of the sky, the radiant pinnacle of its city-gate brighter than the sun.ââ¬Â
This fort (sAlu) is an immense (visAlu) one, encircled (parimaNDiu) with bastions (raNamaNDava).
Inside and outside
1.3.3 jahiM jaNa-maNa-NayaN'AnandirAiM | maNiyara-gaNa-maNDiyA-mandirAim ||
1.3.4 jahiM caudisu sohahiM ghaNa-vaNAim | NAyara-Nara-khayara-suhAvanaIM ||
The buildings, studded with gems, delight the minds and eyes of the public.
Dense forests, which beautify the entire area, are a source of pleasure to the birds and city-dwellers.
Fauna
1.3.5 jahiM samaya-karaDi ghaDaghaDahaDanti | paDisaddeM disi vidisi viphuDanti ||
1.3.6 jahiM pavaNa-gamaNa-dhAvira-turanga | NaM vArirAsi-bhangura-taranga ||
Here rutting elephants loudly clash, splitting the air with their noises, and galloping horses, swift as the wind, are like ocean waves about to break.
Wide lake
1.3.7 paviliu ananga-saru jahiM vihAiM | rayaNAyaru saiM avavariu NAiM ||
1.3.8 jahiM tiya-payaNeura-rau suNevi / hariseM sihi Nacca-i taNu dhuNevi ||
The wide Ananga Lake resembles the ocean; the peacock, its body trembling, dances with delight, hearing the tinkling sound of women's anklets.
Here we have a wide, ocean-resembling Ananga Saras. Thus it was a vast lake.
3. Immense commercial town centra
Then, Shridhara moves to an immense commercial town(s?) of the city.
General layout
1.3.9 jahi maNaharu rehai haTTamaggu | NIsesa-vatthu-sanciya-samaggu ||
1.3,10 kAtantaM piva panjI-samiddhu | Nava-kAmiNi-jovvaNam'iva saNiddhu ||
The fascinating marketplace glitters with a collection of every commodity.
Like the Katantra grammar, it abounds in panjis and is friendly like the youthfulness of a young girl.
Panjis: balls of cotton from which a threat is spun, denoting here main commercial centers or companies having several subcenters spread everywhere, all interconnected.
Commodities
1.3.1 1 suraramaNiyaNu va varaNetta-vattu | pekkhaNayaram'ivav ahu-vesavantu ||
1.3.12 vAyaraNu va sAhiya-vara-suvaNNu | NADaya-pekkhaNayaM piva sapaNNu ||
It possesses precious cloth like goddesses, numerous guises like a public spectacle, eloquent speech like a grammar and connoisseurs like the performance of a drama.
It possesses the best betelnut as a general has the advantage of superior troops.
High standards
1.3.13 cakkavai va vara-pUapphalillu | saccuNNu NAiM saddaMsaNillu ||
1.3.14 dapp'ubbhaDa-bhaDa-toNu va kaNillu | savinaya-sIsu va vahu-gorasillu ||
It possesses an honest appearance as one full of truth possesses the six systems of philosophy.
It is filled with grain as the quiver of a proud, excellent warrior is filled with arrows, and many milk prepara-tions as the well-trained student with the sweetness of eloquent speech.
Immense size
1.3.15 pArAvAru va vitthariya-sankhu | tihuaNava-i guNa-Niyaru va asankhu ||
1.3.16 NayaNam'iva satAra-u saruva-sahAra-u paura-mANu kAmiNiyaNu va |
sangaru va saNAya-u nahu va sarAyati Nihaya-kansu NArAyaNu va ||
Like the ocean, its size is vast, immeasurable like the multitude of virtues of a Lord of the Three Worlds.
It is radiant like the eyes, enchanting like a lake, very capricious like a woman in love, full of elephants like a battle, colorful like the sky, and has struck Kansa like Narayana.
This commercial center is as immeasurably vast as an ocean, so it must have been of a huge size. The word 'tihuanava-i' of which the Sanskrit rendering is Tribhuvanapati, is not only a hint to the (almost) contemporary Tomara ruler, as discussed in Cohen's paper. But it is also a hint towards the double character of the size of the city: one, that it was part of three larger centers, and two, it was part of a conglomerate triple city.
4. King Anangapala
Finally, Shridhara comes to the Tomara ruler, Anangapala. It is not important for this writing who this ruler was and in which time he ruled. The importance of this 4th section is that we clearly are in Yoginipura area.
Towards enemies
1.4.1 jahiM asivara-toDiya-riu-kavAlu | NaraNAhu pasiddhu aNangavAlu ||
1.4.2 Nirudala-vaTTiya-hammiravIru | vandiyana-vinda-paviiNNa-cIru ||
[Here is] where the famed King Anangapala [ruled]. He cut off the head of the enemy with his excellent sword, crushed and destroyed the Hammira warrior, and distributed cloth to the groups of bards.
Towards the wicked
1.4.3 dujjaNa-hiyay'AvaNi-dalaNa-sIru | duNNaya-NIraya-NirasaNa-samIru ||
1.4.4 valabhara-kampAviya-nAyarAu | mANiNiyaNa-maNa-sanjaniya-rAu ||
As the plowshare breaks the ground, so he broke the heart of the wicked.
He was the wind driving away the cloud of evil conduct. The weight of his pillar caused the Lord of the Snakes to tremble.
This last verse is a clear reference to Yoginipura and its heavy Pillar. (Vala = post, pillar) The causative ppp of kamp 'to tremble'. This reference is perhaps the first hint and origin of the (folk)etymology of the name Dhilli metropolis, in that part, as being connected with the meaning of 'loose'. If so, the time of the etymology goes back to the period of this description. The name Dhilli itself is older.
Anangapala II lived in the middle of the 11th century, and Shridhara around 1132. His royal patron can not have been Vijayapala, father of Madanapala, who both came later. It is plausible that there was another Anangapala III in the early 12th century, just preceding Vijayapala. Of this Anangapala there are several coins, with the legend of Samantadeva, thus having a subordinate role. His tribhuvana-pati character hints at his governership (pati) over three cities (tribhuvana). Remember that a governor of one city is called a Pura-pati!
The Muslim Hammira is Bairam Shah Ghaznavi, his Lahore governor raided the India from there 'see Firishta and Barni), but was unsuccessful with the Delhi ruler.
C. Deduction
After giving a general topographical picture, Shridhara then moves from the east to the west, and gives this sequence of the Delhi metropolis, which in my opinion should be these locations with these functions: Tughluqabad (military center) > Siri-Jahanpanah (commercial center) > Yoginipura (religious center). And all centers are well fortified.
Siri-Jahanpanah tower as the commercial center, even though Tughluqabad had its own large commercial town. Yoginipura was not a commercial town, even though it may have had its own small market town. The hint towards Siri is given in the first doublet as 'siri-sanghaTTanu'. The oval-shaped (vrttAnta) Siri functioned as the outer, military stronghold of the conglomerate cities, with Jahanpanah area in the middle as the commercial center proper, with its sahasrasthuna Vijayamandala palace as royal residence. And in the west Yoginipura served as a stronghold of particularly religious edifices. This is the triple function of the conglomerate cities.
There are quite a few reasons that a much larger area is meant by Shridhara's total description than Yoginipura, but which all scholars have overlooked. The consequence is that we have to include other cities of Delhi close to Yoginipura. The reasons or arguments for a much larger geographical picture of Delhi are these:
1. immense fort character: Even though the older Tomara fort is impressive, it is a dwarf as compared to the extended fort of Prithviraja Chauhana. But the Chauhana overlords had yet to come. This immense fortress complex, with the same huge batallions as Lal Kot, (amidst dense forests) applies better to Tughluqabad than that of Yoginipura.
2. ocean-like lake: Considering the immense size of its Lake, as compared to Ananga Tal close to Lal Kot, which last is classed as a tank (Upinder Singh, p.570, ASI review 1991-1992) or baoli by some, but not as a lake! I believe that, being an Agravala, he certainly knew the differense between a Saras and a Tala or Baoli. While Ananga Tala retained its name, Ananga Saras lost it together with the city with its original name.
3. immense market character: Cohen admits that ââ¬ÅNothing of the market's architectural design is given, nor do any remains of the area seem to exist today.ââ¬Â He has Yoginipura in mind with this description. But, it perfectly applies to Siri-Jahanpanah.
4. triple centers: Shridhara gives two hints at the vast character of the city. First, through the word 'tihuanava-i' or Tribhuvana-pati, indicating the rule over three residential abodes, either in a geographical conglomerate or in a functional sense.
5. description sequence: Shridhara clearly starts from the east and the most remote area, then moves to the center, and finally arrives at his residential and sacred city.
Based upon the testimony of Badaoni, that Tughluqabad and its lofty edifices was rebuilt in a short time span by Ghiyathuddin, and based upon the research of the Shokoohy's that the builders of the walls and the gates show different hands at the joints, we may ascribe Tughluqabad to an older period. As both Siri and Jahanpanah were also built in a very short time span, these included also repairing projects of the early Sultans, which is indirectly indicated by the repairing projects of seven fortifications of Old Delhi by Firuz Shah Tughluq. (See my previous posting on Tughluqabad)
This huge city size of Tomara period is again described in the time of Tughluqs by Ibn Batuta, based upon two indigenous sources, stressing the continuity of the size: The core of Delhi metropolis consisted of 4 fortified cities, of which Qilah Rai Pithora(Yoginipura)-Jahanpanah-Siri formed a conglomerate.
But, the area of this Delhi was known for more fortified cities, in this case of Indarpat metropolis, which in Tomara times were not part of Dhilli, but certainly was part of their kingdom. But somehow it was counted as part of (the kingdom of) Delhi. (see my previous posting on Tughluqabad)
D. Conclusion
Dhilli was the name of one of the cities of Delhi, which gaves its name to the other. Shridhara, when giving topographical information, he first describes Haryana and its capital, he moves on to a vast fortress, then he moves to huge commercial centra, and finally arrives at Yoginipura with its Pillar.
Giving this both geographical and functional forms, this leads to this. Geographically, Shridhara moves from east to west: Tughluqabad fits the description of the fortcomplex with its immense lake, Siri-Jahanpanah fits the description of the immense markets, and Yoginipura/Kot Rai Pithora that of the city of the Pillar. Functionally we have three centers: a military one in the west of Dhilli, a commercial one in the middle, and a religious one in the east.
Cities which were thought to have been founded in Sultanate period, may have been older than previously thought. Perhaps due to destructions during the later Lahori Ghaznavid and Ghurid raids these cities needed repairings, especially wth the Mongol incursions.
With this outcome, outlining the systematic logic behind Shridhara's description, it makes sense to connect this with topography. The consequence is that Dhilli was much larger in the early and pre-Sultanate period than previously admitted.
Anyway, Delhi seems to have been not only larger, but this larger character was already achieved in Tomara times! With this, a gap in the topographical history can be filled.
I hope that more Jaina Apabhramsa and perhaps Shaiva Agama or other works will see the light of publication in English. It may enhance our understanding of Delhi in pre-Sultanate period with the continuity of its main character in Sultanate period.
Sources
1.An Early Attestation of the Toponym á¸Åhillë. Author(s): Richard J. Cohen. Source: Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 109, No. 4 (Oct. - Dec., 1989), pp. 513-519. Published by: American Oriental Society. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/604073. Accessed: 23/08/2010 08:53
2. Upinder Singh: A History of Ancient and Medieval India; From the Stone Ahe to the 12th century. Delhi, 2008. Dorling Kindersley Pvt. Ltd.
3.ASI review 1991-1992, URL: http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20...Review.pdf
by Ishwa
A. Introduction
There is one important pre-Sultanate work, which gives us a picture of Delhi during the rule of Tomara kings, just a few decades before they became the Samantas of the Chauhanas. This work is known as Pasanacariu. In this Digambara Jaina work, we have the oldest attested reference to the toponym 'Dhilli'.
For people unfamiliar with the Pasanacariu, Cohen gives a good introductory quote to the author, his work, time and the language: ââ¬ÅThe Pasanacariu is a hagiography of the twenty-third Jaina tirthankara, Parshvanatha. It was written in Delhi in A.D. 1132 by the Agravala Digambara poet, Shridhara, for a patron, a wealthy, influential merchant, Nattala Sahu. The text is composed in a stylized literary form of western Apabhramsha, often used during this period by Digambara Jainas.ââ¬Â (Cohen, p. 513)
Most scholars equate Dhilli only with Yoginipura, Mehrauli. This city has its ancient fort, called Lal Kot, with it larger extention together called Kot Rai Pithora, or Qilah Rai Pithora by the Muslims.
In this writing, I argue for another, much larger picture, based upon the purposely systematic description of the poet Shridhara.
Some notes on the language: The feature of this Apabhramsha is its cerebralization of most of its natural dentals. Of the first two I have added the count of the syllables to the verses.
The diacritical transcription is adapted to my transliteration, the translation is adopted from Cohen.
I have cut the uninterrupted sequence of versus into a twofold grouping: the whole sequence is split into four groupings, which is explained below; and I have split the sequence into doublets, which I have given a subject title.
B. Description
The poet Vibudha Shridhara, in my opinion, gives a description of the size of Dhilli, in a very systematic, (topo)graphical way. I have cut the topographical references into these four functional sections: 1. He first starts with the general topographical information, with a large Delhi as the capital city of the densely populated Haryana region; 2. he moves on with the description of an immense fortress, its lake and surroundings; 3. then he describes the immense commercial centra; 4. and finally, he mentions Dhilli's famous founder.
1. General information
Shridhara first describes the general topography and the extent of Dhilli.
1.2.14 hariyANae dese asankha-gAme | gAmiyaNa-jaNiya-aNavaraya-kAme || (24 syllables)
1.2.15 para-cakka-vihaTTaNu siri-sanghaTTaNu jo suravaiNA parigaNiuM | (24 syllables)
riu-ruhir'AvaTTaNu paviulu paTTaNu DhillI-NAmeNa ji bhaNiuM || (24 syllables)
In the region of Hariyana(ka) which has numerous villages, and whose inhabitants are ever happy,
there is the large city called Dhilli, favored by Indra, destroying hostile armies, a mass of wealth, boiling the blood of the enemy.
Of this verse 'Siri-sanghaTTaNu' translated as 'a mass of wealth' is central to the core character of Dhilli, that it is a PaTTana or commercial capital city. And it is huge (paviliu).
Perhaps this 'Siri = wealth' is a hint of its location and name towards the city under this name, known from Sultanate references. The word 'sanghaTTanu' here is used by Cohen in the sense of piling wealth. But the word having as core 'sangha' rather points to a conglomerate character of places full with people for a central purpose (in this case commerce).
2. Immense Fortress
Then, Shridhara moves on to Dhilli's large(st) fortress complex.
Fortifications
1.3.1 jahiM gayaNa-maNDal'Alaggu sAlu | raNamaNDava-parimandiu visAlu ||
1.3.2 goura-siri-kalas'Ahaya-payangu | jala-pUriya-parih'Alingiyangu ||
The immense fort, adorned all around with bastions and encircled by a water-filled moat, touches the vault of the sky, the radiant pinnacle of its city-gate brighter than the sun.ââ¬Â
This fort (sAlu) is an immense (visAlu) one, encircled (parimaNDiu) with bastions (raNamaNDava).
Inside and outside
1.3.3 jahiM jaNa-maNa-NayaN'AnandirAiM | maNiyara-gaNa-maNDiyA-mandirAim ||
1.3.4 jahiM caudisu sohahiM ghaNa-vaNAim | NAyara-Nara-khayara-suhAvanaIM ||
The buildings, studded with gems, delight the minds and eyes of the public.
Dense forests, which beautify the entire area, are a source of pleasure to the birds and city-dwellers.
Fauna
1.3.5 jahiM samaya-karaDi ghaDaghaDahaDanti | paDisaddeM disi vidisi viphuDanti ||
1.3.6 jahiM pavaNa-gamaNa-dhAvira-turanga | NaM vArirAsi-bhangura-taranga ||
Here rutting elephants loudly clash, splitting the air with their noises, and galloping horses, swift as the wind, are like ocean waves about to break.
Wide lake
1.3.7 paviliu ananga-saru jahiM vihAiM | rayaNAyaru saiM avavariu NAiM ||
1.3.8 jahiM tiya-payaNeura-rau suNevi / hariseM sihi Nacca-i taNu dhuNevi ||
The wide Ananga Lake resembles the ocean; the peacock, its body trembling, dances with delight, hearing the tinkling sound of women's anklets.
Here we have a wide, ocean-resembling Ananga Saras. Thus it was a vast lake.
3. Immense commercial town centra
Then, Shridhara moves to an immense commercial town(s?) of the city.
General layout
1.3.9 jahi maNaharu rehai haTTamaggu | NIsesa-vatthu-sanciya-samaggu ||
1.3,10 kAtantaM piva panjI-samiddhu | Nava-kAmiNi-jovvaNam'iva saNiddhu ||
The fascinating marketplace glitters with a collection of every commodity.
Like the Katantra grammar, it abounds in panjis and is friendly like the youthfulness of a young girl.
Panjis: balls of cotton from which a threat is spun, denoting here main commercial centers or companies having several subcenters spread everywhere, all interconnected.
Commodities
1.3.1 1 suraramaNiyaNu va varaNetta-vattu | pekkhaNayaram'ivav ahu-vesavantu ||
1.3.12 vAyaraNu va sAhiya-vara-suvaNNu | NADaya-pekkhaNayaM piva sapaNNu ||
It possesses precious cloth like goddesses, numerous guises like a public spectacle, eloquent speech like a grammar and connoisseurs like the performance of a drama.
It possesses the best betelnut as a general has the advantage of superior troops.
High standards
1.3.13 cakkavai va vara-pUapphalillu | saccuNNu NAiM saddaMsaNillu ||
1.3.14 dapp'ubbhaDa-bhaDa-toNu va kaNillu | savinaya-sIsu va vahu-gorasillu ||
It possesses an honest appearance as one full of truth possesses the six systems of philosophy.
It is filled with grain as the quiver of a proud, excellent warrior is filled with arrows, and many milk prepara-tions as the well-trained student with the sweetness of eloquent speech.
Immense size
1.3.15 pArAvAru va vitthariya-sankhu | tihuaNava-i guNa-Niyaru va asankhu ||
1.3.16 NayaNam'iva satAra-u saruva-sahAra-u paura-mANu kAmiNiyaNu va |
sangaru va saNAya-u nahu va sarAyati Nihaya-kansu NArAyaNu va ||
Like the ocean, its size is vast, immeasurable like the multitude of virtues of a Lord of the Three Worlds.
It is radiant like the eyes, enchanting like a lake, very capricious like a woman in love, full of elephants like a battle, colorful like the sky, and has struck Kansa like Narayana.
This commercial center is as immeasurably vast as an ocean, so it must have been of a huge size. The word 'tihuanava-i' of which the Sanskrit rendering is Tribhuvanapati, is not only a hint to the (almost) contemporary Tomara ruler, as discussed in Cohen's paper. But it is also a hint towards the double character of the size of the city: one, that it was part of three larger centers, and two, it was part of a conglomerate triple city.
4. King Anangapala
Finally, Shridhara comes to the Tomara ruler, Anangapala. It is not important for this writing who this ruler was and in which time he ruled. The importance of this 4th section is that we clearly are in Yoginipura area.
Towards enemies
1.4.1 jahiM asivara-toDiya-riu-kavAlu | NaraNAhu pasiddhu aNangavAlu ||
1.4.2 Nirudala-vaTTiya-hammiravIru | vandiyana-vinda-paviiNNa-cIru ||
[Here is] where the famed King Anangapala [ruled]. He cut off the head of the enemy with his excellent sword, crushed and destroyed the Hammira warrior, and distributed cloth to the groups of bards.
Towards the wicked
1.4.3 dujjaNa-hiyay'AvaNi-dalaNa-sIru | duNNaya-NIraya-NirasaNa-samIru ||
1.4.4 valabhara-kampAviya-nAyarAu | mANiNiyaNa-maNa-sanjaniya-rAu ||
As the plowshare breaks the ground, so he broke the heart of the wicked.
He was the wind driving away the cloud of evil conduct. The weight of his pillar caused the Lord of the Snakes to tremble.
This last verse is a clear reference to Yoginipura and its heavy Pillar. (Vala = post, pillar) The causative ppp of kamp 'to tremble'. This reference is perhaps the first hint and origin of the (folk)etymology of the name Dhilli metropolis, in that part, as being connected with the meaning of 'loose'. If so, the time of the etymology goes back to the period of this description. The name Dhilli itself is older.
Anangapala II lived in the middle of the 11th century, and Shridhara around 1132. His royal patron can not have been Vijayapala, father of Madanapala, who both came later. It is plausible that there was another Anangapala III in the early 12th century, just preceding Vijayapala. Of this Anangapala there are several coins, with the legend of Samantadeva, thus having a subordinate role. His tribhuvana-pati character hints at his governership (pati) over three cities (tribhuvana). Remember that a governor of one city is called a Pura-pati!
The Muslim Hammira is Bairam Shah Ghaznavi, his Lahore governor raided the India from there 'see Firishta and Barni), but was unsuccessful with the Delhi ruler.
C. Deduction
After giving a general topographical picture, Shridhara then moves from the east to the west, and gives this sequence of the Delhi metropolis, which in my opinion should be these locations with these functions: Tughluqabad (military center) > Siri-Jahanpanah (commercial center) > Yoginipura (religious center). And all centers are well fortified.
Siri-Jahanpanah tower as the commercial center, even though Tughluqabad had its own large commercial town. Yoginipura was not a commercial town, even though it may have had its own small market town. The hint towards Siri is given in the first doublet as 'siri-sanghaTTanu'. The oval-shaped (vrttAnta) Siri functioned as the outer, military stronghold of the conglomerate cities, with Jahanpanah area in the middle as the commercial center proper, with its sahasrasthuna Vijayamandala palace as royal residence. And in the west Yoginipura served as a stronghold of particularly religious edifices. This is the triple function of the conglomerate cities.
There are quite a few reasons that a much larger area is meant by Shridhara's total description than Yoginipura, but which all scholars have overlooked. The consequence is that we have to include other cities of Delhi close to Yoginipura. The reasons or arguments for a much larger geographical picture of Delhi are these:
1. immense fort character: Even though the older Tomara fort is impressive, it is a dwarf as compared to the extended fort of Prithviraja Chauhana. But the Chauhana overlords had yet to come. This immense fortress complex, with the same huge batallions as Lal Kot, (amidst dense forests) applies better to Tughluqabad than that of Yoginipura.
2. ocean-like lake: Considering the immense size of its Lake, as compared to Ananga Tal close to Lal Kot, which last is classed as a tank (Upinder Singh, p.570, ASI review 1991-1992) or baoli by some, but not as a lake! I believe that, being an Agravala, he certainly knew the differense between a Saras and a Tala or Baoli. While Ananga Tala retained its name, Ananga Saras lost it together with the city with its original name.
3. immense market character: Cohen admits that ââ¬ÅNothing of the market's architectural design is given, nor do any remains of the area seem to exist today.ââ¬Â He has Yoginipura in mind with this description. But, it perfectly applies to Siri-Jahanpanah.
4. triple centers: Shridhara gives two hints at the vast character of the city. First, through the word 'tihuanava-i' or Tribhuvana-pati, indicating the rule over three residential abodes, either in a geographical conglomerate or in a functional sense.
5. description sequence: Shridhara clearly starts from the east and the most remote area, then moves to the center, and finally arrives at his residential and sacred city.
Based upon the testimony of Badaoni, that Tughluqabad and its lofty edifices was rebuilt in a short time span by Ghiyathuddin, and based upon the research of the Shokoohy's that the builders of the walls and the gates show different hands at the joints, we may ascribe Tughluqabad to an older period. As both Siri and Jahanpanah were also built in a very short time span, these included also repairing projects of the early Sultans, which is indirectly indicated by the repairing projects of seven fortifications of Old Delhi by Firuz Shah Tughluq. (See my previous posting on Tughluqabad)
This huge city size of Tomara period is again described in the time of Tughluqs by Ibn Batuta, based upon two indigenous sources, stressing the continuity of the size: The core of Delhi metropolis consisted of 4 fortified cities, of which Qilah Rai Pithora(Yoginipura)-Jahanpanah-Siri formed a conglomerate.
But, the area of this Delhi was known for more fortified cities, in this case of Indarpat metropolis, which in Tomara times were not part of Dhilli, but certainly was part of their kingdom. But somehow it was counted as part of (the kingdom of) Delhi. (see my previous posting on Tughluqabad)
D. Conclusion
Dhilli was the name of one of the cities of Delhi, which gaves its name to the other. Shridhara, when giving topographical information, he first describes Haryana and its capital, he moves on to a vast fortress, then he moves to huge commercial centra, and finally arrives at Yoginipura with its Pillar.
Giving this both geographical and functional forms, this leads to this. Geographically, Shridhara moves from east to west: Tughluqabad fits the description of the fortcomplex with its immense lake, Siri-Jahanpanah fits the description of the immense markets, and Yoginipura/Kot Rai Pithora that of the city of the Pillar. Functionally we have three centers: a military one in the west of Dhilli, a commercial one in the middle, and a religious one in the east.
Cities which were thought to have been founded in Sultanate period, may have been older than previously thought. Perhaps due to destructions during the later Lahori Ghaznavid and Ghurid raids these cities needed repairings, especially wth the Mongol incursions.
With this outcome, outlining the systematic logic behind Shridhara's description, it makes sense to connect this with topography. The consequence is that Dhilli was much larger in the early and pre-Sultanate period than previously admitted.
Anyway, Delhi seems to have been not only larger, but this larger character was already achieved in Tomara times! With this, a gap in the topographical history can be filled.
I hope that more Jaina Apabhramsa and perhaps Shaiva Agama or other works will see the light of publication in English. It may enhance our understanding of Delhi in pre-Sultanate period with the continuity of its main character in Sultanate period.
Sources
1.An Early Attestation of the Toponym á¸Åhillë. Author(s): Richard J. Cohen. Source: Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 109, No. 4 (Oct. - Dec., 1989), pp. 513-519. Published by: American Oriental Society. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/604073. Accessed: 23/08/2010 08:53
2. Upinder Singh: A History of Ancient and Medieval India; From the Stone Ahe to the 12th century. Delhi, 2008. Dorling Kindersley Pvt. Ltd.
3.ASI review 1991-1992, URL: http://asi.nic.in/nmma_reviews/Indian%20...Review.pdf