Traikutaka dynasty

Last updated
Traikutaka dynasty
c. 388 CE–c. 456 CE
Dharasena, Traikutaka Dynasty.jpg
Silver coin of king Dahrasena.
Obv: Bust of king.
Rev: Chaitya and star.Brahmi inscription:
Dharasena coin legend, Traikutaka Dynasty.jpg
"The glorious king Dahrasena, foremost follower of Vishnu, and son of king Indradatta". [2]
Map of ancient India during Gupta emperor Kumaragupta I's reign.jpg
Map of the territory of the Traikutakas (in yellow), along with their contemporaries, especially the Kadambas, the Vakatakas and the Gupta Empire.
Common languages Sanskrit
Prakrit
Religion
Hinduism
History 
 Established
c. 388 CE
 Disestablished
c. 456 CE
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Blank.png Western Satraps
Maitraka dynasty Blank.png
Kalachuri dynasty Blank.png

The Traikutakas were a dynasty of Indian kings who ruled between 388 and 456. The name "Traikutakas" seems to be derived from the words for a three-peaked mountain ("Tri-kuta"). The Traikutakas are mentioned in Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa, in which they are located in the area of northern Konkan. The dominions of the Traikutakas further included Aparanta and northern Maharashtra. [3]

Contents

The coins of the Traikutaras are found extensively in southern Gujarat, and southern Maharashtra beyond the Ghats. Their design is very close to that of the Western Satraps, from which they probably inherited some territories, and traces of the obverse legend with Greek letters can still be seen. [4]

Traikuta rule of Aparanta or Konkan begins in A.D. 248 (Traikuta era) exactly the time of Abhira Ishwarsena rule, hence Traikutas are identified with the dynasty of Abhiras. [5]

The Traikutakas reckoned in a specific era, known as the Traikutaka era, or usually the Kalachuri or Chedi era, starting in 249.

History

It is generally supposed that Traikutakas were a different dynasty of Abhira, [6] [7] [8] and hence are sometimes called Abhira-Traikutakas . [9] Indradutta, Dahrasena & Vyaghrasena were well known kings from this dynasty. [10] King Dahrasena expanded his realm, which soon bordered the Vakataka realm. This led to conflict and the Vakataka king Narendrasena, who with the help of his son & crown prince Prithivishena, probably defeated the Traikutikas, as later king Prithivishena's inscriptions refer to him twice rescuing the "sunken fortunes of his family". [11]

Traikutikas were known for their Vaishnava faith, who claimed to be Yadav of Haiheya branch. [12] [13] and Dharasena performed Ashvamedha Yajna too. [6] [14] During the reign of Maharaja Madhyamasena, the kingdom was invaded by the Vakataka king Harishena. [6] [15] The dynasty ended around AD 550, when Vikramasena, the last known king died. [15] The Traikutakas were probably reduced to a vassal status under the Vishnukundins and had to accept Madhavavarman I's authority. [15]

Traikutaka rulers

The following Traikuta rulers are known from the coins and inscriptions of Gupta period-

Coinage of Vyaghrasena, circa 480 AD, Traikutaka dynasty. Vyaghrasena coinage, Traikutaka dynasty.jpg
Coinage of Vyaghrasena, circa 480 AD, Traikutaka dynasty.

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandragupta II</span> Ruler of Gupta Empire from c. 376 to c. 415

Chandragupta II, also known by his title Vikramaditya, as well as Chandragupta Vikramaditya, was the third ruler of the Gupta Empire in India. Modern scholars generally identify him with King Chandra of the Delhi iron pillar inscription.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chutu dynasty</span> Indian dynasty (1st century BCE–3rd century CE)

The Chutu dynasty ruled parts of the Deccan region of South India between first and third centuries CE, with its capital at Banavasi in present-day Karnataka state. The Chutus probably rose to power as Satavahanas feudatories, and assumed sovereignty after the decline of the Satavahana power. Except for the edicts of Asoka, the inscriptions of the Chutu dynasty are the oldest documents found in the northern part of Karnataka State, India.

The Western Satraps, or Western Kshatrapas were Indo-Scythian (Saka) rulers of the western and central parts of India, between 35 and 415 CE. The Western Satraps were contemporaneous with the Kushans who ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, and were possibly vassals of the Kushans. They were also contemporaneous with the Satavahana (Andhra) who ruled in Central India. They are called "Western Satraps" in modern historiography in order to differentiate them from the "Northern Satraps", who ruled in Punjab and Mathura until the 2nd century CE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vakataka dynasty</span> Early 1st-millennium Indian dynasty

The Vakataka dynasty was an ancient Indian Mahratta dynasty that originated from the Deccan in the mid-3rd century CE. Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the west to the edges of Chhattisgarh in the east. They were the most important successors of the Satavahanas in the Deccan and contemporaneous with the Guptas in northern India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudradaman I</span> 2nd century Western Kshatrapas Śaka ruler

Rudradāman I was a Śaka ruler from the Western Kshatrapas dynasty. He was the grandson of the king Caṣṭana. Rudradāman I was instrumental in the decline of the Sātavāhana Empire. Rudradāman I took up the title of Maha-kshtrapa, after he became the king and then strengthened his kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhumaka</span> Early 2nd century Indo-Scythian Western Kshatrapa ruler

Bhumaka was a Western Kshatrapa ruler of the early 2nd century CE. He was the father of the great ruler Nahapana, according to one of the latter's coins. He was preceded by Abhiraka (Aubhirakes), of whom a few coins are known. some scholars identify him with Ysamotika, the father of Chashtana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudrasimha III</span> Western Satrap

Rudrasimha III was the last ruler of the Western Satraps in India, in the 4th century AD. Rudrasimha III succeeded Rudrasena IV as the leader of the Indo-Scythians in India. Both were the sons of the Saka ruler Satyasimha, making them at least half-brothers, if not first-degree relatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liaka Kusulaka</span> Indo-Scythian satrap of the area of Chukhsa, west of Taxila, in the 1st-century BCE

Liaka Kusulaka was an Indo-Scythian satrap of the area of Chukhsa in northwestern India during the 1st century BCE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jivadaman</span> 2nd century Saka ruler of the Western Kshatrapas

Jivadaman was a Saka ruler of the Western Kshatrapas in northwestern India from during the 2nd century CE. He was the son of Damajadasri I (170–175), and the brother of Satyadaman.

This article details the history of Raigad district. Raigad District is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The Kulaba district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha ruler Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The fort is surrounded by dense forest in the interior regions of the district, on a west-facing spur of the Western Ghats of Sahyadri range. The name was changed during the regime of Chief Minister A. R. Antulay on 1 January 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudrasimha I</span> Indian Western Kshatrapa ruler from c.178 to c.197

Rudrasimha I was a Western Kshatrapa ruler, who reigned from 178 to 197 CE. He was son of Rudradaman I, grandson of Jayadaman, and grand-grandson of Chashtana. During his reign, the Abhiras became increasingly important. Some of them were even serving as generals. Ashvini Agrawal thinks that the Abhira king Isvardatta was a general in the service of Rudrasimha I who deposed his master in 188 A.D and ascended the throne. Ashvini Agrawal further says that Rudrasimha I soon deposed him and regained the throne in 190 A.D.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ishwarsena</span> Rajan

Ishwarsena was the founder of the Abhira dynasty and he started an era which later became known as the Kalchuri-Chedi era. He and his descendants whose names do not occur in the Puranas seem to have ruled over a large territory comprising Gujarat, Konkan and Western Maharashtra. His descendants ruled for nine generations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. J. Rapson</span> British numismatist, philologist and historian (1861–1937)

Edward James Rapson FBA was a British numismatist, philologist and professor of Sanskrit at the University of Cambridge. He was a fellow of St. John's College. Rapson died following a sudden collapse at dinner at St. John's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudrasimha II</span> Indian ruler of the Western Satraps from 304 to 348

Rudrasimha II (304–348) was a ruler of the Western Satraps He declared on his coins to be the son of a Lord (Svami) named Jivadaman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yasodaman II</span> Western Satrap king

Yasodhaman II (317–332) was a son and probably sub-king of king Rudrasimha II of the Western Satraps. He declared on his coins to be the son of Rudrasimha II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damasena</span> Western Kshatrapa ruler from 223 to 232

Damasena was a Western Kshatrapa ruler, who reigned from 223 to 232 CE. From the reign of Rudrasimha I, the date of minting of each coin, reckoned in the Saka era, is usually written on the obverse behind the king's head in Brahmi numerals, allowing for the quite precise dating of the rule of each king. This is a rather uncommon case in Indian numismatics. Some, such as the numismatist R.C Senior considered that these dates might correspond to the much earlier Azes era instead.

Śanakanika Maharaja was a feudatory of Chandragupta II or Vikramaditya of the Gupta Dynasty. Śanakanika Maharaja is known from his record on his gift on a Vaishnavism cave temple at Udayagiri, which is dated 82.

The Sanakanikas were a tribe, who were subjugated by the powerful Gupta emperor Samudragupta along with other numerous tribes and clans. The Sanakanikas possibly lived in the neighbourhood of Bhilsa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abhira dynasty</span> Third-century empire in India

The Abhira dynasty was a dynasty that ruled over the western Deccan, where it perhaps succeeded the Satavahana dynasty. From 203 CE to roughly 270 or 370, this dynasty formed a vast kingdom. The Abhiras had an extensive empire comprising Maharashtra, Konkan, Gujarat and some part of South Madhya Pradesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dharasena (ruler)</span> Traikutaka ruler

Dharasena was a Traikutaka ruler of the Konkan coast. He was the son of the Traikutaka ruler Indradatta and succeeded him as king. He is known to have performed an ashwamedha horse sacrifice and was succeeded by his son Vyaghrasena.

References

  1. Rapson, E. J. (Edward James) (1908). Catalogue of the coins of the Andhra dynasty, the Western Ksatrapas, the Traikutaka dynasty, and the "Bodhi" dynasty. London : Printed by order of the Trustees. p. 198.
  2. Rapson, E. J. (Edward James) (1908). Catalogue of the coins of the Andhra dynasty, the Western Ksatrapas, the Traikutaka dynasty, and the "Bodhi" dynasty. London : Printed by order of the Trustees. p. 198.
  3. Rapson p.clxxxv.
  4. Rapson, p.cixxiv.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Mookerji, Radhakumud (2007). The gupta empire (5th ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN   9788120804401 . Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Radhakumud Mookerji (1997). The Gupta Empire (Paperback). Motilal Banarsidass. p. 38. ISBN   9788120804401.
  7. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay By Asiatic Society of Bombay, p. 66
  8. Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (1968). The Age of imperial unity. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 223. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  9. Asiatic Society of Bombay (1935). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay. The Society. pp. 66–67. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  10. Lionel D. Barnett (October 1994). Antiquities of India: An Account of the History and Culture of Ancient Hindustan. Asian Educational Services. pp. 49–50. ISBN   978-81-206-0530-5 . Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  11. Singh, Upinder (2016). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson India Education Services. p. 483. ISBN   9788131716779.
  12. Vaidya, Chintaman Vinayak (1921). History of Mediæval Hindu India: Circa 600-800 A.D. Oriental Book Supplying Agency. It is clear that the rule previous to that of the Gurjaras was that of the Traikutakas who claimed to be Haihayas by descent and whose capital Trikuta not yet well identified is mentioned even in the Rāmāyaṇa and in Kalidasa's Raghuvansha.
  13. Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency ..., Volume 1, Part 1 By Bombay (India : State), p. 58
  14. Sailendra Nath Sen (1 January 1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. pp. 426–. ISBN   978-81-224-1198-0 . Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Vanina, Eugenia, ed. (1988). Indian History (Audiobook). Allied Publishers. p. 409. ISBN   9788184245684.
  16. Rapson, E. J. (Edward James) (1908). Catalogue of the coins of the Andhra dynasty, the Western Ksatrapas, the Traikutaka dynasty, and the "Bodhi" dynasty. London : Printed by order of the Trustees. p. 202.

References