78 HISTORY OF THE RAJPUT TRIBES
This is the period of the last Buddha, or Mahavira, whose era is four hundred and seventy-seven years before Vikrama, or five hundred and thirty-three before Christ.
The successor of Odin in Scandinavia was Gotama; and Gautama was the successor of the last Buddha, Mahavira,[1] who as Gotama, or Gaudama, is still adored from the Straits of Malacca to the Caspian Sea.
"Other antiquaries," says Pinkerton, "assert another Odin, who was put as the supreme deity one thousand years before Christ" [65].
Mallet admits two Odins, but Mr. Pinkerton wishes he had abided by that of Torfaeus, in 500 a.c.
It is a singular fact that the periods of both the Scandinavian Odins should assimilate with the twenty-second Buddha [Jain Tirthakara], Neminath, and twenty-fourth and last, Mahavira; the first the contemporary of Krishna, about 1000 or 1100 years, the last 533, before Christ. The Asii, Getae, etc., of Europe worshipped Mercury as founder of their line, as did the Eastern Asi, Takshaks, and Getae. The Chinese and Tatar historians also say Buddha, or Fo, appeared 1027 years before Christ. "The Yuchi, established in Bactria and along the Jihun, eventually bore the name of Jeta or Yetan,[2] that is to say, Getae. Their empire subsisted a long time in this part of Asia, and extended even into India. These are the people whom the Greeks knew under the name of Indo-Scythes. Their manners are the same as those of the Turks.[3] Revolutions occurred in the very heart of the East, whose consequences were felt afar."[4]
The period allowed by all these authorities for the migration of these Scythic hordes into Europe is also that for their entry into India.
The sixth century is that calculated for the Takshak from Sheshnagdesa; and it is on this event and reign that the Puranas declare, that from this period "no prince of pure blood would be
- ↑ The great (maha) warrior (vir). [Buddha lived 567-487 b.c.: Mahāvīra, founder of Jainism, died about 527 b.c.]
- ↑ Yeutland was the name given to the whole Cimbric Chersonese, or Jutland (Pinkerton, On the Goths).
- ↑ Turk, Turushka, Takshak, or 'Taunak, fils de Turc' (Abulghazi, History of the Tatars).
- ↑ Histoire des Huns, vol. i. p. 42.
