| Religious
literature of Shaivism is reminiscent of the early importance of Somanatha. The Karle and
the Nasik inscriptions show that the Scythian conqueror Nahapana worshipped at Prabhasa
Tirtha.2 Some of the Bactrian Greek Kshatrapas and
the Bharashiva and Vakataka rulers were devotees of Shiva. It is, however, surprising that
there is no epigraphic record of Prabhasa or Somanatha during the Gupta period (A.D.
320-500). Saurashtra was almost forbidden land for law-abiding Indians of the Madhyadesha,
and under the Gupta emperors who were all devoted to Vishnu, this shrine was, perhaps,
under an eclipse.
2 EI. VII, p. 57; El VIII, 78. |
