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HISTORY
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EARLY HISTORY
[The Section on Early History was contributed by Dr. M. D. Paradkar, M.A., Ph.D., Head of the Sanskrit Department, M. M. College of Arts, Bombay-57.
The Sections from Muslim Rule onwards were contributed by Prof. R. V. Oturkar, M.A., Poona.]
THE OLDEST KNOWN PLACE IN THE SATARA DISTRICT IS PROBABLY KARAD, styled as Karhakada in the inscriptions of about 200 B.C. These inscriptions have recorded gifts of pillars by Karad pilgrims at the Bharhut Stupa near Jabalpur in the Madhya Pradesh [Cunningham's Stupa of Bharhut, 135, 138, 139. Karad gives its names to
the Karada Brahmins found in large numbers even now in the district.]. This is confirmed by a group of Buddhist caves found at a distance of about three miles south-west of Karad, one of which is associated with an inscription dating about the first century after Christ [Fergusson and Burgess' Cave Temple, 211-217; Archæological Survey of Western India IV 60.]. Caves at Shirval and Wai in Javli also indicate Buddhist settlements [Besides these caves, there are groups of eaves and cells of Buddhist or Brahmanical origin at Bhosa in Tasgaon, at Malavadi and Kundal in Khanapur, at Patan in
Patan, and at Pateshwal in Satara; Dr. Burgess' Antiquarian list 58-59.]. Wai is locally believed to be Viratanagari where Pandavas lived in the thirteenth year of their exile [Mahabharata Sabhaparva 70-9 "nagarim Sanjayantimca pasandam
Karahatakam".]. From early times Mahabaleshvar at the source of Krsna is known as a holy place [Journal of Bombay Branch Royal Asiatic Society, X, 1, 18.].
It is true that the countries of the Deccan are mentioned in the Cylonese Chronicle Mahavamsa of the missions sent after the third Buddhist in 16th year of Ashoka's reign for the propagation of Dhamma in different countries. Here one Maharakkhita [The missionary who was sent to Maharashtra was called Mahadharmarakshita (The Age of Imperial Unity, p. 54).] is reported to have been sent to the Maratha country (Dakshinapath) which can be safely inferred as forming a part of Ashokan empire. As ancient Buddhist caves at Karad are found, the Maratha country referred to above appears to have included Satara district in it.
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