Vishnupalita Kambhoja - Historical Significance of The Inscriptions

Historical Significance of The Inscriptions

The estimated date for this inscription is the 2nd century CE. This demonstrates that the Kambojas from north-west had settled in Konkan region in Maharashtra prior to 100-150 BCE. The name of the prince i.e. Visnupalita Kanbhoja clearly indicates that, by this time the migrant Kambojas had totally acclimatised to the Indian culture. Also, the surname of the prince i.e. 'Kanbhoja' bears the impress of southern or southwestern Indian influence and is an apparent change from Kamboja which bears Iranianian or Paisachi influence.

The existence of Kamboja principality on west coast of India near Bombay as born out by inscriptional evidence above may further prove the fact that the Kambojas who had migrated to and colonized Sri Lanka and later, the Kambuja in Indo-China Peninsula, may have proceeded there via Gujarat/Bombay around this time. The above is just one example of Kamboja principalities. The evidence exists that there were more Kamboja principalities located in western, south-western/southern India.

Inscriptions or Charters belonging to the Bhoja rulers, dating to the 5th century, executed by Nidhivara and written by Buddhadasa of the Kamboja (Brahman) gotra have been found in Bandora, Goa.

Luders's inscriptions No 176 and 472 refer to the gift of a monk Kaboja (Kamboja) from Nandi-Nagara made at Sanchi Buddghist Stupa. According to IHQ: "The monk was a Kamboja of Nandi-Nagara which might have been a place in the neighborhood of Sanchi". But no evidence of any ancient place called Nandi-Nagara near Sanchi (in Malawa) is attested. Probably the Nandi Nagara of the Sanchi Inscriptions refers to modern Nandode (Rajpipli) in Gujarat which in earlier was known as Nandan Nagar or Nandi-puri.

The above pieces of evidence pieced together further support the presence of Kambojas in south-western India in the post-Christian times.

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