Nala dynasty
Nalas of Pushkari | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6th century–6th century | |||||||||||
Status | Kingdom | ||||||||||
Capital | Pushkari (modern day Garhdhanora in Bastar district) | ||||||||||
Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
• Established | 6th century | ||||||||||
• Disestablished | 6th century | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Today part of | India |
The Nalas were an Indian dynasty that ruled parts of present-day
History
Inscriptions of three kings mention them as members of the Nala family: Arthapati, Bhavadatta and Skandavarman. Some gold coins suggest the existence of three other Nala rulers – Varaharaja, Nandanaraja, and Stambha. Although these coins do not mention the name of their dynasty, they bear the bull-and-crescent dynastic emblem of the Nala kings, and weigh same as the known Nala coins. Also, the name of the issuer is written in "box-headed" script of 6th century on all the coins, and they have all been discovered in the former Nala territory. The coins of Varaharaja have been discovered along with those of Arthapati and Bhavadatta. All these evidences indicate that Varaharaja, Nandanaraja and Stambha were all Nala kings too.[2]
Varaharaja
Arthapati
Arthapati is known from a copper-plate inscription and coins. His only known inscription was issued from Pushkari, which may have been the capital of the Nala kings. The inscription suggests that the king was a devotee of Maheshvara (Shiva) and Mahasena (Kartikeya). The inscription mentions that he was from the family of Nala. According to one theory, this is a reference to the legendary king Nala of Nishadha Kingdom. However, there is no concrete proof for this interpretation.[3]
Bhavadatta
The next known king of the dynasty is Bhavadatta, whose copper-plate inscription was found at Rithpur (also Rithapur or Ridhapur) in
The find spot of Bhavadatta's inscription suggests that he extended the Nala territory to the present-day
During his last years, Bhavadatta seems to have suffered reverses against the Vakatakas and the
Skandavarman
The last known king of the dynasty is Skandavarman, whose Podagada inscription mentions him as a son of Bhavadattavarman. The inscription states that Skandavarman retrieved the lost glory of the Nala family, and re-populated the deserted city of Pushkari. It also records the construction of a Vishnu shrine by the king.[8]
Possible successors
Nothing is known about the immediate successors of Skandavarman. But the Nalas were probably supplanted by the Panduvamshi dynasty. The Sharabhapuriya dynasty may have also contributed to the decline of the Nalas. The coins of the Sharabhapuriyas are similar to that of the Nalas, which suggests that the two dynasties were contemporaries. Epigraphic and numismatic evidence indicates that the Sharabhapuriyas were the northern neighbours of the Nalas.[9]
A dynasty claiming descent from the legendary Nala is known to have ruled a small area in present-day Chhattisgarh sometime later. The undated Rajim inscription of this dynasty can be assigned to either 7th or 8th century CE. This dynasty was probably a branch of the Nalas of Bastar. Its known members include Prithviraja, Viruparaja and Vilasatunga.[10]
Capital
The dynasty's capital was probably Pushkari, which is mentioned as the place of issue in an inscription of Arthapati. Earlier, Pushkari was believed to be the present-day Podagada in Koraput district, where an inscription of Skandavarman has been found.[3] Later research has led to the identification of Garhdhanora in Bastar district as Pushkari. The excavations carried out by Madhya Pradesh's Directorate of Archaeology and Museums has resulted in discovery of several ruined temples and sculptures at Garhdhanora.[11]
Religion
The
Inscriptions
The following inscriptions of the Nala kings have been discovered:[13]
Find spot
|
Issued by | Issued from | Regnal year | Purpose | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kesarabera | Arthapati | Pushkari | 7 | Grant of Keselaka (or Kesalaka) village to the Brahmanas of Kautsa gotra. The village was earlier identified with Kesarabera (or Kesaribeda), but is now identified with Keskal | [3][11] |
Ridhapur (or Rithpur), Amravati district | Bhavadattavarman | Nandivardhana | 11 | Grant of Kadambagiri village to a Brahmana of Parashara gotra and his 8 sons. | [5] |
Podagada (Podagadh) | Skandavarman | 12 | Construction of a Vishnu temple | [14] | |
Rajim | Vilasatunga | Undated (c. 7th century CE) | Construction of a Vishnu temple (Rajivalocahana temple) | [15] |
List of rulers
The following rulers of the dynasty are known from their coins and inscriptions:[16]
- Varaha-raja (coins)
- Arthapati-Bhattaraka (coins and inscriptions)
- Bhavadatta-varman (coins and inscriptions)
- Skanda-varman (inscriptions)
Two other rulers are known from coins, but they cannot be placed in chronology based on the available information.[2]
- Stambha
- Nandana-raja
Descendants
The descendants of the Nala dynasty later established the Khidisingi mandala in modern
References
- ISBN 0-226-74221-0.
- ^ a b c Snigdha Tripathy 1997, p. 37.
- ^ a b c Snigdha Tripathy 1997, p. 38.
- ^ Om Prakash Misra 2003, p. 8.
- ^ a b Snigdha Tripathy 1997, p. 39.
- ^ a b Snigdha Tripathy 1997, p. 41.
- ^ Snigdha Tripathy 1997, p. 43.
- ^ Snigdha Tripathy 1997, p. 40.
- ^ Snigdha Tripathy 1997, pp. 42–43.
- ^ Snigdha Tripathy 1997, p. 42.
- ^ a b Hans Bakker 1997, p. 54.
- ^ Chandra Bhanu Patel 1990, p. 194.
- ^ Snigdha Tripathy 1997, p. xii.
- ^ Snigdha Tripathy 1997, pp. 39–40.
- ^ Snigdha Tripathy 1997, pp. 165–167.
- ^ Snigdha Tripathy 1997, pp. 37–41.
- ^ Nakul L Seth (1 January 2018), Place name reflected in the inscriptions of Nala dynasty of Odisha (PDF), IJCRT
- ^ The Orissa Historical Research Journal Volume 6, Prajatantra Press, 1957
- ^ ODISHA DISTRICT GAZETTEERS KANDHAMAL (PDF), GAD, Govt of Odisha, 2007
- ^ ODISHA DISTRICT GAZETTEERS GANJAM (PDF), GAD, Govt of Odisha, 1992
Bibliography
- Chandra Bhanu Patel (1990). Dynastic history of Nalas. Punthi Pustak. ISBN 978-81-85094-27-4.
- Hans Bakker (1997). The Vākāṭakas: An Essay in Hindu Iconology. E. Forsten. ISBN 978-90-6980-100-1.
- Om Prakash Misra (2003). Archaeological Excavations in Central India: Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Mittal Publications. ISBN 978-81-7099-874-7.
- Snigdha Tripathy (1997). Inscriptions of Orissa. Vol. I – Circa 5th-8th centuries A.D. ISBN 978-81-208-1077-8.