A Note on the Vastrapatha‑Mahatmya of the Skanda Purāṇa
By Hem Chandra Raychaudhuri
Summary
The Vastrapatha-mahatmya section of the Skanda Purana's Prabhasa-khanda describes sacred sites in Vastrapatha (Girnar/Surdstra) and includes a legend about King Bhoja of Kanyakubja (Kanauj). The narrative recounts Bhoja's encounter with a deer-maiden at Mount Raivataka, his subsequent abdication in favor of his son to pilgrimage to Surastra, and the spiritual significance of the Suvarpa-rekha river. While the story contains mythical elements, three key points are historically significant: (1) Bhoja's reign at Kanauj, corroborated by inscriptions from Barah, Daulatpura, Deogadh, Gwalior, and Ahar; (2) political ties between Surastra and Kanauj, evidenced by military campaigns and feudatory relations with the Pratihara dynasty; and (3) Bhoja's alleged abdication, which scholars debate due to conflicting inscriptions dated to 893-905 CE. The legend gains historical relevance when contextualized within the political dynamics of the Gurjara-Pratihara period, including Nagabhata II's influence and the Haddila plates' connections. While the abdication remains uncertain, parallels with other royal abdications in the text suggest possible historical basis. The study underscores the Vastrapatha-mahatmya's value as a source for post-Gupta history, bridging myth and political reality.
Conclusion
This analysis of the Vastrapatha-mahatmya section within the Skanda Purana offers a unique lens into post-Gupta historical traditions, challenging the conventional focus on prophetic narratives in Puranic literature. By examining the legend of King Bhoja and its corroboration with epigraphic evidence, the study demonstrates how these texts can provide tangible insights into dynastic histories and regional political dynamics of later periods. The identification of Bhoja's connections to Surastra and the Pratihara dynasty through multiple sources underscores the text's value in reconstructing feudal relationships and territorial influences. The analysis also highlights the narrative's dual nature—preserving mythological embellishments while embedding verifiable historical allusions. This contribution shifts scholarly attention toward understudied sections of the Puranas, revealing their potential as composite records that blend religious lore with socio-political realities of their time.