DDK HistoryF.p65 - CSIR

9.6 ] TRIBAL ORIGINS ; IMPORTED BRAHMINS 327
stanzas 7-13. He was of the Kadamba family’, the name being derived
from a Kadamba tree (that grew near some hermitage) which his
ancestors served, and with which they ‘ had a similar nature (sadharmaya)
Young Mayurasarman left his totem tree to go to the city of the Pallavas
(Kafid) with his brahmin teacher VIrasarman, to enter some sort of a
foundation (ghatika). One day, he had a quarrel with some Pallava
cavalry officer, and in a rage took to the sword with the desire to
conquer the world. How effectively he wielded the sword has already
been described. The totemic origin is certain, for even late Kadamba
records (Ep. Cam. 7. Sk. 117 ; 11. Dg. 35) say that the ‘ ancestor’
Kadamba, father of Maynravarman, sprong up under a Kadamba
tree ‘from a drop of sweat* that fell on the ground from the forehead of
Siva; this ancestor was three-eyed and four-armed in the brahmin
tradition. An alternative given is that Mayurvarman was himself born
three-eyed, under the auspicious Kadamba tree. The change of
termination from the brahmin — sarman to the ksatriya — varman
shows normal flexibility of the caste system outside settled villages.
The saga of MayuraSarman gains in significance 12 from a
statement in the Sahyadri-khanda section of the late medieval Skandapurana,
which states that he imported brahmins from the north to settle
his domains in Goa. The Habbus of Kanara have a similar tradition
(Ent. 2.252), but they are so few in number and Mayura&rman so
much earlier than the 8th century in which they claim their
immigration, that this is likely to be another case of local ‘brahmins’
claiming the superiority of a northern origin. The existence of
innumerable local groups is attested by the last census in which caste
was entered (1941). Bombay State census figures show that brahmins
every time your drum beats, but you shall not know where I am once a month. I will
give your army battle, but it must be when I please, and not when you choose,”
(FOM. 2.300-1). The promise was faithfully kept. When Haidar finally attacked, the
exhaustion and the surprise were so effective that Wood’s entire force would have
been wiped out, but for unexpected reinforcements in the very nick of time. Rapid
movement and avoidance of pitched battles except when the terrain was favourable
and surprise attacks feasible, characterised the most successful Maratha warfare.