Vakataka dynasty

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Vakataka Empire
c. 250 CE – c. 500 CE
1500
Approximate extent of the Vakataka territories circa 350 CE.[1]
CapitalVatsagulma (Now Washim)
Common languagesSanskrit
Prakrit
Religion
Hinduism
Buddhism
Jainism
GovernmentMonarchy
Maharaja[2] 
• 250–270
Vindhyashakti
• 270–330
Pravarasena I
• 475–500
Harishena
Historical era
Classical India
• Established
c. 250 CE 
• Disestablished
 c. 500 CE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Western Satraps
Satavahana dynasty
Abhira dynasty
Kalachuri dynasty
Vishnukundina
Chalukya dynasty
Rajarsitulyakula
Today part ofIndia

The Vakataka dynasty (

Satavahanas in the Deccan and contemporaneous with the Guptas
in northern India.

Little is known about

UNESCO World Heritage Site) were built under the patronage of Vakataka emperor, Harishena
.

Vindhyashakti

The founder of the dynasty was

K.P. Jayaswal attributes Bagat, a village in the Jhansi district as the home of Vakatakas. But after refuting the theory regarding the northern home of the Vakatakas, V.V. Mirashi points out that the earliest mention of the name Vakataka occurs in an inscription found on a fragment of a pillar at Amravati which records the gift of a Grihapati (householder) Vakataka and his two wives. This Grihapati in all probability was the progenitor of Vidhyashakti. It appears from the Puranas that Vindhyasakti was a ruler of Vidisha (in the present day Madhya Pradesh state) but that is not considered to be correct.[4][unreliable source?
]

As per Dr Mirashi, who has rejected the identification of Rudra deva in the Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudra Gupta with Rudra sena I. He has also pointed out there are no coins of Vakataka and there are no inscriptions of them in the north of Vindhyas. Hence, a south home of Vakatakas is correct. However, it is true that they have ruled on some of these places, since the epigraphs were available in Madhya Pradesh.[citation needed]

Pravarasena I

The next ruler was Pravarasena I (270–330), who maintained the realm as a great power, he was the first Vakataka ruler, who called himself a Samrat (universal ruler) and conducted wars with the Naga kings. He has become an emperor in his own right, perhaps the only emperor in the dynasty, with his kingdom embracing a good portion of North India and whole of Deccan. He carried his arms to the Narmada in the north and annexed the kingdom of Purika which was being ruled by a king named Sisuka. In any case, he certainly ruled from Bundelkhand in the north (though Dr Mirashi does not accept that he has crossed the Narmada) to the present Andhra Pradesh in the south. The puranas assign him a reign of 60 years.

As per V.V. Mirashi, it is unlikely that he made any conquest in Northern Maharashtra, Gujarat or Konkan. But, he may have conquered parts of North Kuntala comprising Kolhapur, Satara and Solapur districts of

Sarvasena set up his capital at Vatsagulma (the present day Washim). Nothing is known about the dynasties set up by the other two sons.[5][6]

Branches of Vakataka dynasty

It is generally believed that the Vakataka ruling family was divided into four branches after Pravarasena I. Two branches are known and two are unknown. The known branches are the Pravarpura-Nandivardhana branch and the Vatsagulma branch.

Pravarapura-Nandivardhana branch

Ruins of Nandivardhana fort

The Pravarapura-Nandivardhana branch ruled from various sites like Pravarapura (Paunar) in Wardha district and Mansar and Nandivardhan (Nagardhan) in Nagpur district. This branch maintained matrimonial relations with the Imperial Guptas.

Rudrasena I

Not much is known about Rudrasena I, the son of Gautamiputra, who ruled from Nandivardhana, near Ramtek hill, about 30 km from Nagpur. There is a mention of Rudradeva in the Allahabad pillar inscription, bundled along with the other rulers of Aryavarta. A number of scholars, like A.S. Altekar do not agree that Rudradeva is Rudrasena I, since if Rudrasena I had been exterminated by Samudragupta, it is extremely unlikely that his son Prithivishena I would accept a Gupta princess (Prabhavatigupta) as his daughter-in-law. Secondly, no inscription of Rudrasena I has been found north of the Narmada. The only stone inscription of Rudrasena I's reign discovered so far was found at Deotek in the present-day Chandrapur district, so he can not be equated with Rudradeva of the Allahabad pillar inscription, who belonged to the Aryavarta.[7]

Prithivishena I

Rudrasena I was succeeded by his son named Prithivishena I (355–380), and Prithivishena I was succeeded by his son named Rudrasena II.

Rudrasena II, Divakarasena and Pravarasena II

Remains of the Pravareshvara Shiva temple built by Pravarasena II at Mansar

Rudrasena II (380–385) is said to have married Prabhavatigupta, the daughter of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375–413/15). This is now confirmed by the Kevala-Narasimha inscriptions of Ramtek, where it is announced that (Cā)mundā, a daughter of Queen Prabhavatigupta was given in marriage to the Prince Ghatotkachagupta (who was likely a son of Chandragupta II).[8]

Rudrasena II died fortuitously after a very short reign in 385 CE, following which Prabhavatigupta (385–405) ruled as a regent on behalf of her two sons, Divakarasena and Damodarasena (Pravarasena II) for 20 years. During this period the Vakataka realm was practically a part of the Gupta Empire. Many historians refer to this period as the Vakataka-Gupta age. While this has been widely accepted more than 30 years ago, this line of argument has no proper evidence. Prabhavati Gupta's inscription mentions about one "Deva Gupta" who is her father and the historians equated him with Chandra Gupta II. However, there is no other source to prove that Deva Gupta is really Chandra Gupta II. Pravarasena II composed the Setubandha in Maharashtri Prakrit. A few verses of the Gaha Sattasai are also attributed to him. He shifted the capital from Nandivardhana to Pravarapura, a new city of founded by him. He built a temple dedicated to Rama in his new capital.[9][unreliable source?]

The highest number of so far discovered copperplate inscriptions of the Vakataka dynasty (in all 17) pertain to Pravarasena II. He is perhaps the most recorded ruler of ancient India after

Ashoka the Great
. See: Shreenand L. Bapat, A Second Jamb (Khandvi) Copperplate Grant of Vakataka Ruler Pravarasena II (Shravana Shuddha 13, Regnal Year 21), Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Vol. 91, pp. 1–31

Narendrasena and Prithivishena II

Pravarasena II was succeeded by Narendrasena (440–460), under whom the Vakataka influence spread to some central Indian states. Prithivishena II, the last known king of the line, succeeded his father Narendrasena in c. 460. He was Defeated by Vishnukundina King Madhava Varma II, After his death in 480, his kingdom was probably annexed by Harishena of the Vatsagulma branch.

Vatsagulma branch

Ajanta Caves
The Ajanta Caves, built under the patronage of the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakataka rulers.
Bird's Eye View of Ajanta Caves.
Entrance of cave no. 9.
Lord Buddha statue at Ajanta.

The Vatsagulma branch was founded by Sarvasena, the second son of Pravarasena I after his death. King Sarvasena made Vatsagulma, the present day Washim in Washim district of Maharashtra his capital.[10][unreliable source?] The territory ruled by this branch was between the Sahydri Range and the Godavari River. They patronized some of the Buddhist caves at Ajanta.

Sarvasena

Sarvasena (c. 330–355) took the title of Dharmamaharaja. He is also known as the author of Harivijaya in Prakrit which is based on the story of bringing the parijata tree from heaven by Krishna. This work, praised by later writers is lost. He is also known as the author of many verses of the Prakrit Gaha Sattasai. One of his minister's name was Ravi. He was succeeded by his son Vindhyasena.[10][unreliable source?][11]

Vindhyasena

Vindhysena (c. 355–400) was also known as Vindhyashakti II. He is known from the well-known Washim plates which recorded the grant of a village situated in the northern marga (sub-division) of Nandikata (presently Nanded) in his 37th regnal year. The genealogical portion of the grant is written in Sanskrit and the formal portion in Prakrit. This is the first known land grant by any Vakataka ruler. He also took the title of Dharmamaharaja.[12][unreliable source?] Vindhyasena defeated the ruler of Kuntala, his southern neighbour. One of his minister's name was Pravara. He was succeeded by his son Pravarasena II.[10][unreliable source?]

Pravarasena II

Pravarasena II (c. 400–415) was the next ruler of whom very little is known except from the Cave XVI inscription of Ajanta, which says that he became exalted by his excellent, powerful and liberal rule. He died after a very short rule and succeeded by his minor son, who was only 8 years old when his father died. Name of this ruler is lost from the Cave XVI inscription.[12]

Devasena

Approximate extent of Vakataka territory and location of neighbouring polities c. 480 CE, at the end of Vakataka rule, during the reign of king Harishena, when most of the caves of Ajanta (red dot) were built.[13]

This unknown ruler was succeeded by his son Devasena (c. 450–475). His administration was actually run by his minister Hastibhoja.[10][unreliable source?] During his reign, one of his servant Svaminadeva excavated a tank named Sudarshana near Washim in c. 458–459.[12][unreliable source?]

Harishena

Harishena (c. 475–500) succeeded his father Devasena. He was a great patron of Buddhist architecture, art and culture. The World Heritage monument

vihara of Cave XVI of Ajanta.[10][unreliable source?] Three of the Buddhist caves at Ajanta, two viharas – caves XVI and XVII and a chaitya – cave XIX were excavated and decorated with painting and sculptures during the reign of Harishena.[12] According to an art historian, Walter M. Spink, all the rock-cut monuments of Ajanta excluding caves nos. 9,10,12,13 and 15A (Ref: Page No. 4, Ajanta-A Brief History and Guide – Walter M. Spink) were built during Harishena's reign.[15]

Harishena was succeeded by two rulers whose names are not known. The end of the dynasty is unknown. They were probably defeated by the Kalachuri of Mahismati.[10][unreliable source?]

Family tree

Alternative source for the dynasty's decline

Vakataka Dynasty if the 460–480 CE dating is retained (photograph and drawing).[16]

According to the eighth ucchvāsaḥ of the Dashakumaracharita of Dandin, which was written probably around 125 years after the fall of the Vakataka dynasty, Harishena's son, though intelligent and accomplished in all arts, neglected the study of the Dandaniti (Political Science) and gave himself up to the enjoyment of pleasures and indulged in all sorts of vices. His subjects also followed him and led a vicious and dissolute life. Finding this a suitable opportunity, the ruler of the neighbouring Ashmaka sent his minister's son to the court of the Vakatakas. The latter ingratiated himself with the king and egged him on in his dissolute life. He also decimated his forces by various means. Ultimately, when the country was thoroughly disorganised, the ruler of Ashmaka instigated the Kadamba ruler of Vanavasi (in the North Kanara district) to invade the Vakataka territory. The king called all his feudatories and decided to fight his enemy on the bank of the Varada (Wardha). While fighting with the forces of the enemy, he was treacherously attacked in the rear by some of his own feudatories and killed. The Vakataka dynasty ended with his death.[12] This fact is also corroborated by a set of three copper plates of the Davanagere record of the Kadamba king Ravivarma dated 519 CE which state as per historian D. C. Sircar that the king's suzerainty extended over the whole of South India as far as the Narmada river in the north to the Kaveri river near Talakad (the then Western Ganga capital) in the south and that the people of these lands sought his protection. This implies that the Kadambas conquered the entire Vakataka kingdom and annexed it to their territory during Ravivarma's rule (485–519 CE) probably sometime after 500 CE.[17][18]

Coinage

Although the Vakatakas replaced the Satavahanas, it does not seem that they continued their coin-minting tradition. As of today, no Vakataka coins have ever been identified.[19]

See also

Notes

  1. .
  2. . Pravarasena I was the only Vakataka king with the imperial title samrat; the others had the relatively modest title maharaja.
  3. ^ Ancient India, A History Textbook for Class XI, Ram Sharan Sharma, National Council of Educational Research and Training, India, pp 211
  4. , pp.587–8
  5. , p.588
  6. ^ The Vakataka Gupta age (Circa 200–550 A.D.) by Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra; Altekar, Anant Sadashiv, 1954
  7. ^ "History-Ancient Period, Chapter 3" (PDF). Government of Maharashtra website. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2011.
  8. S2CID 162838062
    .
  9. , p.589
  10. ^ , pp.590–91
  11. .
  12. ^ a b c d e f Nashik district e-gazetteer – History, ancient period Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  13. .
  14. ^ The Vakataka Gupta age (Circa 200–550 A.D.) by Majumdar, Ramesh Chandra; Altekar, Anant Sadashiv, 1954 – Page No. 110
  15. ^ Spink, Walter, M. (2009). Ajanta: Defining Features, in Indica, Vol.46, No.1, Mumbai: Heras Institute of Indian History and Culture, pp.3–38
  16. ^ The Buddhist Caves at Aurangabad: Transformations in Art and Religion, Pia Brancaccio, BRILL, 2010 p.82
  17. ^ Visaria, Anish. "Search, Seek, and Discover Jain Literature". JaineLibrary - jainqq.org. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  18. ^ Sircar, Dinesh Chandra (1959). Epigraphia Indica Vol.33. Archaeological Survey of India. pp. 134–140.
  19. ^ Vakataka – Gupta Age Circa 200–550 A.D.by Ramesh Chandra Majumdar p.301

References

External links