Thread by @BhandarkarI

The Ancient History of the City of Mumbai
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A thread based on the excerpts from the book "Bombay - Story of the Island City". This book, written by A.D. Pusalkar and V.G. Dighe, was published by @BhandarkarI in 1949.

"The modern island of Bombay was a cluster of seven islands in ocean, when man first made his appearance here.

That he was still in the Stone Age is seen from the discovery of flint tools along the shores of Back Bay and in the Kolaba district along with line of the harbour."

"In traditional history as recorded in the Puranas and Mahabharata, the western coast of India, which included Bombay, was known as Aparanta ... in the narrowest connotation, Aparanta means Northern Konkan with its capital at Surparaka (modern Sopara)"

"It appears that there were Elephants in Aparanta at the time of Mahabharata, and the Arthashastra mentions the Aparanta elephants as second in the order of classification."

"the current view is the connect the word Bombay (Mumbai) with the goddess Mumba-devi, who was the patron deity of the Kolis".

"The earliest ruler of Aparanta in historical times appears to be Asoka the Great ... rock edicts show that he sent Dharmamahamatras (Buddhist ministers) to Rastikas, Petanikas and Aparantas."

"After the Mauryans, Aparanta and Maharashtra passed into the hands of Satavahanas as would appear from the Hathigumha of Kharvela and the Naneghat inscriptions of Naganika"

After a brief interruption by Kshatrapas Gautamiputra Satakarni reestablished the pre-eminence of Satavahanas in the region, as he defeated Sakas, Yavanas and Pahlavas. After the decline of Satavahanas, Abhiras controlled the region.

The story of Bombay from Krishnaraja to the end of the 5th century which witnessed the disruption of the Gupta Empire .. and Traikutakas in Bombay and surrounding country is shrouded in Mystery"

"It appears that rulers of Bombay after Traikutakas were princes of the Maurya family"

The above excerpts are from a book written by A.D. Pusalkar and V.G. Dighe.

The book, "Bombay - Story of Island City" was published by the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in 1949, and reprinted in 2019. It is available for purchase online at: bori-india.stores.instamojo.com/product/186524…