vakatakas

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In the third century, the

Kushanas and western Ksatrapas have lost

their erstwhile political prowess and were ousted from UP and eastern Punjab to Maghas, Nagas, Kunindas and Yaudheyas., who

reestablished their independence. The

rise of Sassanians in Iran also

contributed to this decline.

 

 

 

 

 

The Yaudheyas have raised head

and started revolting and the task of crushing them was entrusted to Saka Mahakshatrapa

Raudra daman I and he proudly proclaims

in his Junagadh record that he forcibly overthrew the Yaudheyas who had become

insubordinate owing to their pride due to their valour being respected by all

Ksatriyas. However, Yaudheyas were successful in their venture after a few

decades of this, in freeing their homeland and ousting Kushanas beyond the Sutlej., as per numismatic evidence. In all probability,

Yaudheyas must have received valuable support and cooperation in this endeavour

from Kunindas, their northern neighbours. Kunindas were occupying the region

between the upper courses of Sutlej and Beas.

They were also, like Yaudheyas, an independent republic earlier and were brought

under the hegemony of Kushanas . while we find some coins of Kurindas , with their ruler Chhatresavara bearing the titles Mahatman and

Bhagavata, there were no further coinage of them. They also do not figure in

the list of republics mentioned by the Allahabad

inscription of Samuda gupta. Thus, they must have eventually coalesced with

Yaudheyas, as they are much smaller state compared to Yaudheyas.

 

 

 

 

 

The Arjuneyas, another republic

ruling over Agra

jaipur area , also have sought and gained their freedom during the same period

from Kushanas. They were later subjugated by

Samudra gupta. However, there is no coinage by Arjuneyas also in the post Kushana period. Probably, they must have used the coins issued

by Yaudheyas. (marked by so far unexplained legends on the Yaudheya coins : dwi

, tri etc)

 

 

 

 

 

The decline of Kushanas' power in

western India was marked by the death of Rudra daman I (170 CE) At this time, sakas were the masters of n.

Maharashtra, kathiawar, Gujarat, Malwa, Sindh and a great portion of Rajasthan.

However, the satavahanas reasserted

themselves and re conquered m. M'rashtra

during the reign of Gautama putra Yajnasri Satakarni.

 

 

 

 

 

Later, Rajputana revolted under the leadership

of Malavas (225 CE). The rise of

Vakatakas under emperor Pravara sena I (275 – 330 CE) has seen further decline

of Sakas. However, the rise of Rudra sena III was not explained but the Guptas

had finally vanquished them towards the close of 4th C. CE.

 

 

 

 

 

Vakatakas were a major power

during this time.

 

 

 

 

 

Almost nothing is known about

Vindhya sakti, the founder of Vakatakas. He was a Brahmins and said to have

ruled for 96 years. He was placed

variously at south Deccan, Madhya Pradesh and

Malwa. Jeyswal attributes Bawat in the district of Jhansi as the home of

Vakatakas. An Amaravati inscription

refers to a Vakataka and his two wives making a gift. This Vakataka, a

householder, must be the ancestor of Vidhyasakti, 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 MP etc Puranas

ascribe Vindhya sakti to be ruler of

Vidisha (MP). He was described as the "banner of Vakataka family' in an Ajanta inscription.(Cave XVI) This inscription says that

he fought great battles. He had large cavalry

However, there is no regal title fixed before his name in the inscription.

 

 

 

 

 

Pravara sena, his son, (270 – 330

AD)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 ruled by a king called

Sisuka. In any case, he certainly ruled

from Bundelkhand in the north(though Dr Mirashi does not accept that he has

crossed R. Narmada) to the present

Andhra Pradesh in the south. He is, as per Dr Mirashi, is unlikely to made any

conquest in N. Maharashtra, Gujarat or Konkan but he might have conquered North

Kuntala ie Kolhapur, Satara and sholapur districts of M/S. In the east, he

carried his arms to Dakshina Kosala, Kalinga and Andhra. He was a great Hindu king, performing several

Yajnas (Agnishtoma, Aptoryama, Ukthya, Shodasin, Atiratra, Vajapeya,

Brihaspatisava, Sadyaskra and four aswamedhas). He heavily donated to Brahmins during

the Vajapeya , as per Puranas. He called himself Samrat, Dharama Maharaja. He

called himself as Hariti Putra. His prime minister was Deva, a pious and

learned Brahmin. He married his son Gautami putra to a daughter of King Bhavanaga of the powerful

Bharsive family, which might have proved to be helpful. The puranas assign him

a reign of 60 years.

 

 

 

 

 

However, Gautamiputra pre

deceased him and while he had three other sons, details of only his second son(Sarva

sena) are known, who has setup his capital at Vatsagulma (modern Basim) in the

Akola dist of Vidarbha (M.S), after the death of his father.

 

 

 

 

 

Not much is known about Rudra

sena I, the son of Gautami putra , who ruled from Nandivardhana, near Ramtek

hill, about 30 kms from Nagpur

..

 

 

 

 

 

There is a mention of Rudra deva

in the Allahabad

pillar inscription, bundled along with the other rulers of Aryavart. The

scholars do not agree that Rudra Deva is Rudra sena I, since conquering

Vakatakas,. who are much more powerful than guptas, must be an important event and it would have

been mentioned more prominently.. And in any case, they do not really belong to

the Aryavart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Ancient India

 

 

By R.C.

Majumdar

 

 

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=XNxiN5tzKOgC & pg=PA270 & dq=VAKATAKA+MAJUMDAR+samudra+gupta & as_brr=3 & ei=Ouw4SLTLCoaKsgOr_bC4Cw & sig=wktUhmAFfLA6cYckp80DekKw0Hc#PPA271,M1

 

 

 

 

 

2. Ancient India by V D

Majumdar

 

 

 

 

 

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=piM_6VnSSd0C & pg=PA587 & dq=VAKATAKA+MAJUMDAR+samudra+gupta & as_brr=3 & ei=Ouw4SLTLCoaKsgOr_bC4Cw & sig=zhFrAQ60DVmYW1zInjmV7C5eA30#PPA588,M1

 

 

 

 

 

3. Vakataka Gupta Age

 

 

By Ramesh

Chandra Majumdar, Anant Sadashiv

http://books.google.co.in/books?id=OswUZtL1_CUC & pg=PR8 & dq=VAKATAKA+MAJUMDAR+samudra+gupta & as_brr=3 & ei=Ouw4SLTLCoaKsgOr_bC4Cw & sig=ZUb1bK-QMJ0N09h0fJcMkeTqOPY