I am currently looking at two Sanskrit authors probably from the Saurāṣṭra region: Samarasiṃha (possibly 13th century, and in any event prior to ->) and Tejaḥsiṃha (fl. 1337 CE). Both emphasize belonging to the Prāgvaṭa community, and both claim a family connection as ministers/advisors to Caulukya rulers.

I confess an almost complete ignorance of the Prāgvaṭas, although a quick web search tells me that they are commonly known today as Porwad or Porwal and comprise both Hindus and Jains. Later authors claim Samarasiṃha as a Brahmin, and so my first question is whether this is correct for a self-proclaimed Prāgvaṭa -- or rather, if it would have been correct in 13th-century Saurāṣṭra. Were the Prāgvaṭas/Porwads at that time and place Hindus (= non-Jains), and if so, were they considered Brahmins?

I also wonder what the suffix -siṃha might have implied in this historical context. Several ancestors of these two authors had names ending in it as well: Caṇḍasiṃha, Kumārasiṃha, Vijayasiṃha. Does this tell us anything of their origins, status or affiliations?

With many thanks in advance, as always, for any light that list members may be able to shed on this,

Martin Gansten


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