Nagas: The Tribe and the Cult

by R.K.Sharma

Nagas, the snake-worshipping communities of Ancient Indian occupy an important place in Indian history. To a student of Indian history and the common man alike, it appears as if there lay a complete veneer of belief in the divinity of the Nagas and of the Naga racial blood over the length and breadth of Indian. From Kashmir, Tibet, or Nepal to the Malabar coast in the South; from Gujarat to Bengal and Assam; from Sri Lanka to Java, Sumatra and Cambodia, there are very few places indeed where we do not meet frequently with individual or local names of which the word “Naga” forms a part, or where the ruling dynasty is not believed sometimes to have been associated with Naga clan.

The subject is interesting, for, on deeper investigation, it is found that intricacies associated with the Naga problem in Indian History, particularly as a tribe and as a cult, are too many. A critical history of the Nagas based on reliable evidences and presented in a chronological order is the need of the hour and the present book is an attempt to fulfill this need. All efforts have been made to draw attention on each controversial issue with a view to enable the reader to form his own opinion. The work is limited within the time frame of the earliest times to c 15th century AD.

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• Abbreviations
• List of Illustrations
• Nagas: The Tribe and the cult
• Traditional History
• The Nagas of Magadha
• The Nagas of Vidisha, Padmavati, Kantipuri, Mathura and other Naga dynasties
• The Bharasiva Nagas
• Nagas in the History of Kashmir
• The Chhindaka Nagas of Chakrakuta, Nagas of Kawardha and Bhatgaon
• Naga Association with Sri Lanka, South India, Deccan, East India and Greater India
• Conclusion
• Select Bibliography
• Index.

About the Author:

Prof. R.K. Sharma (b 1932) Professor and Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Jabalpur retired in 1992. His contributions to the cause of Indian Archaeology in General and Archaeology of Madhya Pradesh in particular are widely acclaimed. A series of other publications are in process.