In the third century AD, when the power of the Satavahanas of the south was destroyed, many small kingdoms were established there. The Vakatakas seem to have been one of the minor powers that arose after the decline and disintegration of the mighty Satavahana kingdom in the middle of the third century. In fact, of all the dynasties that ruled in the Dakshinapatha from the 3rd century AD to the 6th century AD, Vakatak dynasty (about 300 to 510 AD) Most respected and cultured. Contemporary of the Chakravarti Gupta dynasty of Magadha, this dynasty ruled in central India and the upper part of South India and made a historical contribution to the cultural construction of India. His original abode was in Berar (Vidarbha).
historical source
The history-making of the Vakataka dynasty is helped by both literary and archaeological sources. The Vakataka dynasty is also mentioned along with other dynasties in the Puranas. The Puranas mention Pravarasena, the ruler of this dynasty as 'Pravir ' as one who performed the four Ashwamedha Yagyas and ruled for sixty years.
Archaeological sources include the Poona copperplate inscription of Prabhavatigupta, the Riddhapur copperplate inscription and Chamak Prashasti of Pravarasena II and the Ajanta cavernous inscription of Harishena are useful in the historiography of this dynasty. The Poona and Siddhapur copperplate inscriptions throw light on the Vakataka-Gupta relationship. The Ajanta cave inscription gives knowledge of the achievements of the rulers of this dynasty and it is known that the founder of this dynasty was a Brahmin of Vishnuvriddhi gotra.
place of origin
The name of the first ruler of the Vakataka dynasty in the Puranas Vindhyashakti is mentioned. Vindhya appears to be his title or title, which he must have received because of being a Vindhya resident. The name of this lineage is probably associated with a person or a region called Vatak. It appears from mythological evidence that Vindhyashakti consolidated his power in eastern Malwa in the third century, when the power of the Shaka Mahakshatrapas was declining and native powers like the Naga dynasty were rising in Vidisha. Vindhyashakti seems to have Vindhya Par expanded his power at the expense of the Satavahanas. Based on the writings and Puranas of the Vakataka rulers, it is said that the Vakataka rule began in the late third century and continued till the end of the fifth century.
Vindhyashakti (255-275 AD)
The founder of the Vakataka dynasty was Vindhyashakti (255-275 AD). Vindhyashakti in the inscription 'Vakatak Vanshketu' Having said. He 'Vishnu Vriddhi' He was a Brahmin of the gotra. According to the Ajanta inscription, he had expanded his power by winning great wars. Even the gods could not stop his anger. , He was as influential as Indra, who had conquered all the worlds by the strength of his arms (Swabahuviryarjit Sarvlokah).
According to some historians, his ancestors were the local rulers of Berar under the Satavahanas and Vindhyashakti declared its independence after the Satavahanas. He extended his ancestral kingdom north of Vindhya Parvat to eastern Malwa.
According to some historians, Vindhyashakti was initially a feudatory of the Nagas of the Bharsiva dynasty. Vindhyashakti, on the inspiration of the Bharsiva kings, annexed the Murund rulers from Pataliputra and included it under the kingdom of Kantipur. Vindhyashakti did not hold any royal title, which suggests that he was not duly coronated.
Pravarasen I (275-335 AD)
Vindhyashakti's son and successor was Pravarasena I (275-335 AD). Some copper plates of his time have been received, which reveal some important events of his reign. It is known from the family inscriptions that he was the only Vakataka ruler who had 'Emperor' held the title. He performed 'Ashwamedha Yagya' four times by winning Digvijay in all the four directions. And by performing Vajasaneya Yagya, attained the glorious position of the emperor.
Altekar is estimated to have performed each Yagya at the end of each military campaign. In the first campaign, he conquered the eastern and north-eastern part of the Central Provinces. In the second military campaign, he conquered southern Berar and north-western Andhra Pradesh. In the remaining campaigns, Pravarasena defeated the Mahakshatrapas of Gujarat and Kathiawar. This was the most important event of his reign. Thus, during the period of Pravarasena, the expansion of the Vakataka kingdom started from Bundelkhand and spread to Hyderabad in the south.
Partition of the Vakataka Empire
Pravarsen's four sons are mentioned in the Puranas, but there is evidence of ruling by his two sons. After Pravarasena I, the Vakataka kingdom was clearly divided into two branches - the Pradhan branch and the Basim (Vatsgulma) branch.
Gautamiputra died during the period of Pravarasena, so his grandson and Gautamiputra's son Rudrasen became the ruler of the first principal branch (Nandivardhana). The existence of this branch of Vakatakas continued from 335 AD to 480 AD. The second son Sarvasena established a second branch at Basim (Vatsgulma) which ruled till 525 AD. Now both the branches started ruling parallelly.
head branch
Rudrasen I (335-360 AD)
The first ruler of the principal branch of the Vakatakas was Rudrasena I (335-360 AD), the grandson of Pravarasena and the son of Gautamiputra. Pravarasena's son Gautamiputra was married to the only daughter of Bhavnag, the Bharshiva Naga ruler of Padmavati (Gwalior), from whom the son Rudrasen was born. Rudrasen had to face external and internal calamities during his early reign. His uncle Sarvasena was his staunch opponent and declared his independence in Basim. It is known from the Champak copper plate that his maternal grandfather Bharshiv, Maharaj Bhavnag had helped him a lot. With the help of his maternal grandfather Bhavnag, Rudrasen was successful in keeping his empire intact. Bhavnag had no son, so after the death of Bhavnaag, his Dauhitra Rudrasen was also appointed as the successor of the vast empire of his maternal grandfather Bharshiva And the kingdoms of Bharashiva and Vakataka were united.
At this time the Vakataka kingdom included the territories of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Dakshinapatha, Gujarat and Kathiawar. In the last years of Rudrasen's reign, the rule of the Shaka-Mahakshatrapas was again established in Gujarat and Kathiawar. Some historians identify Rudrasen with Rudradev of Prayag-Prasasti, who was defeated by Samudragupta in the battle of Aryavarta, but this equation is not correct because Rudradev was the ruler of North India and Rudrasen was the king of South. Rudrasen was a devotee of Shiva. In Vakataka writings he is called 'Mahabhairava' Worshiper of.
Prithvishan I (360-385 AD)
After Rudrasena, Prithvishena (360-385 AD) was the king of the Vakataka dynasty. In the Vakataka writings, he has been called holy and victorious. Vindhyasena was ruling in the Basim branch during the time of Prithvishena. Prithvishena conquered Kuntal kingdom with the help of Vindhyasena. Kuntal region was at this time ruled by the Kadambas and the ruler there was probably Kangvarman. With this victory, the Vakatakas got the right over southern Maharashtra. Two inscriptions have been found from Nachna and Ganj of Baghelkhand region of a ruler named Vyaghradev who calls himself a feudatory of Maharaja Prithvishena. Probably this ruler is Prithvishena I. Thus the influence of the Vakatakas spread to Baghelkhand, which increased the power and prestige of the Vakatakas.
Prithvishena Chandragupta II was a contemporary of Vikramaditya and the Gupta emperors wanted to end the rule of the Shaka-Mahakshatraps from Gujarat-Kathiawad. The Vakataka rulers could have been his assistant in this work, as the boundaries of his kingdom coincided with the kingdom of the Shaka-Mahakshatrapas. In order to get the help of the Vakatakas against the Shakas, the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II married his daughter Prabhavatigupta with Rudrasena II, the son of Prithvishena, which established a relationship of friendship between the two kingdoms.
According to the Poona copperplate article, this marriage probably took place in AD 380. This marriage relationship increased the pride and honor of the Vakatakas. Prithvishena died after five years of marriage.
Rudrasen II (385-390 AD)
Rudrasena II (385-390 AD), son of Prithvishena I, succeeded the Vakataka dynasty. He was married to Prabhavatigupta, the daughter of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II. Rudrasen II was a follower of Shaivism, but after marriage Rudrasen also became Vaishnava. After his short reign, Rudrasena II died in 390 AD and his two sons- Divakarsen and Damodarsen were five years old and two years old (minor) respectively, so his wife Prabhavatigupta herself started administering the rule-sutra.
Preservation Period of Prabhavati Gupta
Prabhavati Gupta ruled skillfully as the guardian of her minor sons under the direction of her father Chandragupta II, on her personal merit and in spite of practical difficulties and no experience of governance. did. He helped his father in every possible way against the Shakas of Gujarat-Kathiawad, which made it possible to eradicate the Shakas from western India. At this time the Vakataka dynasty was later under the emperor Gupta dynasty. This is the reason why Prabhavatigupta has mentioned the gotra and lineage of her father instead of mentioning her husband's gotra and lineage in his inscriptions.
Elder son Divakarasen died during the patronage of Prabhavatigupta, so the younger son Damodarsen ascended the throne in 410 AD, assuming the title of Pravarasena.
Prabhavatigupta lived for about twenty five years during the reign of her son. She was of religious nature and a devotee of Ramchandra's footwear established at Ramgiri near his capital Nandivardhana Was. His donation letters have been received from Poona and Riddhapur, in which the mention of his donation is found.
Pravarasena II (410-440 AD)
Pravarasena II (410-440 AD) ascended the throne at the age of twenty. Many of his copper plates have been received, but none of his military victories are mentioned. It seems that he did not make any effort to expand the empire.
Vakatak King Pravarasen II He was also interested in literature. He 'Setubandh' (Ravanavahou) A Prakrit poetic book called, was composed, in which the details of Rama's victory over Lanka are preserved. Not only this, he built a new capital named 'Pravarpur' in place of Nandivardhana (Ramtek, Nagpur). established. Pravarasena's son Narendrasen is married to a princess of Kadamba dynasty Ajitbhattarika who was probably the daughter of Kakutasthavarman, the king of Kadamba, and whose other daughter was also married in the Gupta clan.
Narendrasen (440-460 AD)
Narendrasen (440-460 AD), son of Pravarasena II, succeeded him. In its time, the Nalvanshi ruler of Bastar, Bhavadattavarman attacked the Vakataka kingdom and occupied Nandivardhana. But after the death of Bhavadattavarman, Narendrasen, by consolidating his position and possibly with the help of the Kadambas, not only subdued Nandivardhana, but also defeated the successor of Bhavadattavarman by attacking the kingdom of Bastar and thus destroying the power of the taps. given.
In the Vakataka writings Narendrasen has been referred to as the ruler of Kosala, Mekal and Malwa. These territories were earlier ruled by the Guptas. Taking advantage of the chaos of the Gupta Empire, Narendrasen seems to have captured these territories of the Guptas as well. But his authority over Malwa could not last long and Skandagupta soon reconquered these areas.
Prithvishan II (460-480 AD)
Prithvishena II (460-480 AD) ascended the throne after Narendrasen. His Balaghat inscription shows that he twice revived the lost Lakshmi of the Vakataka dynasty. From this it seems that he protected the Vakataka kingdom from the Nal and Trakutaka dynasty (southern Gujarat) kings. Probably Prithvisen had made 'Parampur' as his capital. He was the last king of this main branch of the Vakatakas. After this his kingdom went into the hands of Harishena of Basim branch.
Vatsgulm (Baseem) or the main branch
Servsen (330-350 AD)
The founder of the Vatsagulma or Amaa branch of the Vakatakas was Sarvasena (330–350 AD), the son of Pravarasena I. He established an independent Vakataka kingdom with Vatsagulma as his capital. वत्सगुल्म महाराष्ट्र के अकोला जिले में आधुनिक बासीम में स्थित था। इस शाखा के एक शासक विंध्यशक्ति द्वितीय का एक ताम्रपत्र भी बासीम से प्राप्त हुआ है। सर्वसेन के संबंध में अधिक ज्ञात नहीं है। उसने ‘धर्ममहाराज’ की उपाधि धारण की और संभवतः प्राकृत ग्रंथ ‘हरिविजय’ एवं ‘गाथासप्तशती’ के कुछ अंशों की रचना did.
विंध्यसेन द्वितीय (350-400 ई.)
सर्वसेन का उत्तराधिकारी विंध्यसेन द्वितीय (350-400 ई.) हुआ जिसने ‘धर्म महाराज’ की उपाधि धारण की। उसका एक दानपत्र बासीम से प्राप्त हुआ है, जिससे पता चलता है कि उसने नांदीकट (नादर, हैदराबाद) क्षेत्र में एक गाँव दान में दिया था। लगता है कि उसने कुंतल राज्य को विजित कर उसे अपने राज्य में मिला लिया था। इस प्रकार उसके राज्य में दक्षिणी बरार, उत्तरी हैदराबाद, नासिक, पूना और सतारा के जिले सम्मिलित थे।
प्रवरसेन द्वितीय (400-415 ई.)
विंध्यशक्ति द्वितीय का पुत्र प्रवरसेन द्वितीय (400-415 ई.) एक उदार शासक था। प्रवरसेन द्वितीय की मृत्यु के बाद उसका पुत्र अवयस्क था, जिसका नाम अज्ञात है। अल्तेकर के अनुसार उसके समय में मुख्य शाखा के प्रवरसेन ने संरक्षक का कार्य किया और भतीजे के वयस्क होने पर उसका राज्य सौंप दिया। इस अज्ञात शासक का पुत्र देवसेन शासक हुआ। देवसेन ने संभवतः 455 ई. से 475 ई. तक शासन किया। अजंता लेख में उसके मंत्री हस्तिभोज का उल्लेख मिलता है। देवसेन के बाद हरिषेण राजा हुआ।
हरिषेण (475-510 ई.)
हरिषेण बासीम शाखा का सर्वाधिक शक्तिशाली शासक था। उसके राज्यारोहण के समय प्रधान शाखा के पृथ्वीसेन द्वितीय की मृत्यु हो गई। पृथ्वीसेन के कोई पुत्र नहीं था, इसलिए मुख्य शाखा का शासन भी हरिषेण के हाथों में आ गया। अजंता गुहालेख से पता चलता है कि उसके समय में कुंतल, अवंति, कलिंग, कोसल, त्रिकूट, लाट, आंध्र आदि क्षेत्रों पर उसका प्रभाव था। इससे लगता है कि उसके राज्य की सीमाएँ उत्तर में मालवा से दक्षिण में कुंतल तक एवं पूरब में बंगाल की खाड़ी से पश्चिम में अरब सागर तक फैली हुई थीं। वाकाटक साम्राज्य इस समय अपने चरमोत्कर्ष पर था।
हरिषेण वाकाटक वंश का अंतिम शासक था। इसकी मृत्यु के बाद (510 ई.) वाकाटक वंश का इतिहास अंधकार में है। संभवतः कलचुरी वंश के द्वारा वाकाटक वंश का अंत किया गया। लगता है कि हरिषेण के उत्तराधिकारियों के काल में कदंबों, कलचुरियों एवं बस्तर के नल शासकों ने वाकाटक राज्य के अधिकांश क्षेत्रों पर अधिकार कर लिया और चालुक्य नरेशों ने इन सभी शक्तियों को पराजित कर दक्षिण में अपना विशाल साम्राज्य स्थापित किया।
वाकाटकों की सांस्कृतिक उपलब्धियाँ (Cultural Achievements of the Vakataks)
वाकाटक शासकों ने लगभग तीन शताब्दियों तक दक्षिण में शासन किया। वाकाटक नरेशों के शासनकाल में संस्कृति, कला और साहित्य की उल्लेखनीय प्रगति हुई। लगता है कि सातवाहन शासकों के आदर्श पर वाकाटकों ने भी प्राकृत भाषाओं को अधिक प्रश्रय दिया। प्रवरसेन द्वितीय स्वयमेव कलाकार और काव्यानुरागी था। उसने महाराष्ट्रीय लिपि में ‘सेतुबंध’ (‘रावणवहौ) महाकाव्य की रचना की, जो उसकी काव्यदक्षता और लोकभाषानुराग का परिचायक है। गद्यकार दंडी ने इस महाकव्य को ‘सागरः सूक्ति रत्नानाम्’ कहकर बड़ी प्रशंसा की है। सर्वसेन ने ‘हरिविजय’ नामक प्राकृत काव्य-ग्रंथ लिखा।
संस्कृत की वैदर्भी शैली का विकास भी वाकाटक राजाओं के काल में हुआ। कुछ विद्वानों के अनुसार कालीदास ने कुछ समय तक वाकाटक नरेश प्रवरसेन द्वितीय की राज्यसभा में निवास किया था, सेतुबंध में संशोधन किया था और वैदर्भी शैली में अपने ग्रंथ ‘मेघदूत’ की रचना did.
वाकाटक वंश के शासक शिव एवं विष्णु के उपासक थे। वैदिक आचारों के अनुयायी वाकाटक राजाओं ने अनेक अश्वमेध तथा वाजपेय यज्ञों का संपादन किया था। इनकी उपाधियाँ ‘परममाहेश्वर’ तथा ‘परमभागवत’ थीं।
वाकाटक शासक कलाप्रिय और कलाओं के संरक्षक थे। उनके काल में सातवाहनों के परंपरागत कला-विकास का तारतम्य पूर्ववत् बना रहा। उनके संरक्षण में वास्तु, मूर्ति और चित्रकला, इन तीनों कलाओं की प्रगति हुई। भवन-निर्माण कला एवं मूर्तिकला की दृष्टि से विदर्भ का तिगवा (जबलपुर, मध्य प्रदेश) एवं नचना (पन्ना, मध्य प्रदेश) का मंदिर महत्त्वपूर्ण है जिसका निर्माण पृथ्वीसेन के सामंत व्याघ्रदेव ने करवाया था। तिगवा मंदिर में गंगा, यमुना की मूर्तियाँ स्थापित हैं। इसके अतिरिक्त उदयगिरि, देवगढ़ और अजंता के भव्य मंदिरों एवं वहाँ की मूर्तियों में तत्कालीन स्थापत्य और मूर्तिकला का प्रौढ़ रूप प्रकाश में आया। चित्रकला के विश्वविख्यात कला-केंद्र अजंता की गुफा संख्या 16, 17 के गुहा-विहार एवं गुफा संख्या 19 के गुहा-चैत्य का निर्माण वाकाटकों के ही समय में हुआ था। गुफा संख्या 16 का निर्माण हरिषेण के योग्य मंत्री वराहदेव ने करवाया था। फर्ग्युसन महोदय ने गुफा संख्या 19 को भारतीय बौद्धकला का सर्वश्रेष्ठ उदाहरण बताया है। इस प्रकार ‘अपने तीन सौ वर्षों के शासनकाल में वाकाटकों ने राजसी वैभव की अपेक्षा आचारनिष्ठ सामाजिक जीवन और सांस्कृतिक उत्थान की दिशा में विशेष योगदान दिया।’