Like the later Guptas, Maukhari was also a feudatory of the emperor Gupta dynasty and after the fall of the Guptas, he declared his independence. The Maukharis were originally residents of Gaya, who were feudalists like the post-Gupta dynasty Guptas during the time of the Emperor Gupta dynasty. Later, he established his kingdom in Kannauj and instead of Magadha, Kannauj became the center of the politics of North India. Sources reveal that the people of this dynasty were mostly spread over Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh and Barwa region of Rajasthan in the third century.
of Maukhari lineage Historical Sources of Maukhari Dynasty
The construction of the history of the Maukhari dynasty is aided by both literary and archaeological sources. Among the literary sources, the Harshacharita of Banabhatta is important. Although it mainly presents the history of the Vardhana dynasty, but incidentally, the Maukhari rulers are also mentioned. It describes the events of the reign of Avantivarma, Grahavarma etc. From this book the knowledge of Vardhana-Maukhari relationship and the killing of Grahavarma by Malav ruler Devagupta is obtained. Apart from this, Aryamanjushrimulkalp also sheds some light on the history of this dynasty. Records and seals are noteworthy in the archaeological sources which have been found from different places in India.
Every article: This article, obtained from a place called Harha in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, was discovered in 1915 by H.N. Shastri did it. This inscription was excavated by Suryavarma, son of Maukhari King Ishanvarma. In this, the events of the reign of four kings of this dynasty - Harivarma, Adityavarma, Ishwarvarma and Ishanvarma are mentioned.
Jaunpur article: This inscription is inscribed on the door of Atala Masjid in Jaunpur (U.P.). In this, the names of the first three rulers of this dynasty - Harivarma, Adityavarma and Ishwarvarma and their achievements are described.
Asirgarh inscription: A copper inscription of the reign of the fifth ruler of this dynasty, Sharvavarma, has been found from Asirgarh (Berar). On the basis of this mudra, some scholars try to prove the sphere of influence of Maukharis in South India as well.
Equals and Nagarajni's articles: Three inscriptions of Maukharis have been found from the Barabar and Nagarjuni hills of Gaya district. The names of three kings – Yagyavarma, Shardulvarma and Anantvarma are found in these. They were probably related to the Maukhari branch of Bihar.
Badwa Yagya-yup article: Some inscriptions inscribed on Yagya-yup have been found from a place called Barwa in Rajasthan, which shows that a branch of Maukharis existed in Rajasthan too.
Sohnag text: An inscription has also been received from a place called Sohnag (Deoria, Uttar Pradesh), which gives some information regarding Maukharis.
In addition to this, Nalanda inscriptions, Illiya village inscriptions from Varanasi, a Nepali inscription and Apsad inscriptions of the Uttar-Guptas also help in the historiography of the Maukharis.
P>currencies: A heap of Moukhari-currencies have been found from a place called Bhitaura in Faizabad. Dates are also inscribed with the names of kings on some coins, which are important from the point of view of date-setting.
Origin of Maukharis
There is no clear information regarding the early history and origin of the Maukharis. In ancient India many Maukhari clans were ruling in different parts of India. A branch of the Maukharis BC Used to live in the Gaya area in the second century AD. A seal from Gaya in the Brahmi script of Mauryan period read 'Mokhlinam The word has been found engraved. This not only proves the antiquity of the Maukharis, but it also shows that in the beginning Maukhari was also an autonomous republic. Another branch of them lived in the Rajputana region. A third branch of the Maukharis, of which the famous Ishwarvarma took place, apparently ruled in the Barabanki, Faizabad and Jaunpur regions of Uttar Pradesh. According to Harshacharita, Maukhari was associated with Kannauj.
Some historians believe that Kannauj was the capital of the Maukharis from the beginning. According to Dinesh Chandra Sarkar, initially the Maukharis used to fight on behalf of the Gupta emperors against the Gaur rulers, but by the middle of the sixth century the Gupta Empire collapsed and in this system the Maukharis established their dominance over vast areas of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. .
In oral articles and literary texts 'verbal ’ and ‘assertive The words are mentioned. In Harshacharit, he is called 'Mukharvansh ' and Kadambari in 'Maukharivansh' Having said. In Barabar Guha inscription, Ananthavarma called his clan 'Maukharinam Kulam' Said. In the Harha article, the Maukhari kings were called 'Mukhara:Kshitishah' Having said. The word 'vocal' is also mentioned in Patanjali's Mahabhashya. Kayyat, Vamana and Jayaditya made 'Maukhari Explaining the etymology of the word, it has been told that it is a patriarchal word. From this it seems that Maukhari was the child of a primitive man named Mukhar, hence he was called Maukhari. He has been described as Suryavanshi Kshatriya in the articles. According to the Haraha article 'Maukhari was one of the hundred sons of Ashwapati born from the boon of Vaivasvat' –
Sutshathambhe nrposhwapativaivasvatadyad gunoditam.
Tatprasuta Duritavritrudhe Mukharaah Kshitishah Kshatrayah.
Political History of Mokharis
Sources show that Uttar Pradesh during the Gupta period And in Bihar, two Maukhari clans were ruling as feudatories of the Guptas. Three inscriptions of the Maukhari branch of Bihar have been found from the hills of Barabar and Nagarjuni. In this, the names of three kings of this branch are found - Yagyavarma, Shardulvarma and Ananthavarma. Nothing is known about the events of his reign.
The Barwa Yagyayup inscription shows that in the 3rd century AD another branch of the Maukharis was ruling in Rajasthan as well. They were probably feudatories of the Shakas or Nagas.
A branch of the Maukharis was ruling in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, which is the most famous in history. In fact, the Maukharis originated from Magadha, where they were feudatories subordinate to the Gupta emperors. Taking advantage of the mutual discord and weakness of the Guptas, he established his own independent kingdom and made Kannauj his capital.
Early Mokhari Ruler
The first ruler of the Maukhari dynasty of Kanauj was Harivarma. It is known that Harivarma was ruling in 510 AD. Praising his power in the Haraha article, it has been said that 'his fame was spread to the four seas (Chatusamudratikrantkirtih ) and he was like a volcano to the enemies. But in the article his 'Maharaj' The title suggests that he was a feudatory of the emperor Gupta dynasty. Harivarma was the founder of the Varna system and the remover of the sufferings of the subjects. Adityavarma was the second king of this dynasty. According to the Asirgarh article, his mother's name Bhattarikadevi Jayaswamini was. His title in writings 'Maharaj ’ which is a sign of his feudal position. He was married to a post-Gupta dynasty princess Harshagupta.
Ishwaravarma was the third king of the Maukhari dynasty of Kannauj. He ruled in the second quarter of the sixth century AD. Praising him in the Jaunpur article, it has been said that he is like a lion among the kings (Kshitibhujan Singh ), who defeated Dhara (Malwa), Andhra and Raivatak. Ishwarvarma could not expand his kingdom much and his rule was confined to Kanauj only. Its also the title 'Maharaj ’ which is a sign of his feudal position. Possibly Princess Upgupta of North-Gupta dynasty with whom he married. Thus the friendly relations between the Maukharis and the Uttar-Guptas continued till the time of Ishwarvarma.
Ishanavarma
Ishanvarma (550-574 AD), the fourth ruler of the Maukhari dynasty of Kannauj, was undoubtedly a dominant ruler as he not only 'Maharajadhiraja' He assumed the title of, but also issued coins in his name. The title of Maharajadhiraj and the circulation of coins is a sign of his independent political position. In fact, after the fall of the Gupta Empire, this Maukhari ruler declared his independence as 'Maharajadhiraj took the title of '.
Ishanvarma himself standing on the ruins of the Gupta Empire was declared Maharaja. At the same time the Uttar-Guptas also declared their independence under the leadership of Kumaragupta. The two dynasties were equally ambitious, so the friendship between the Maukharis and the Uttar-Guptas for three generations turned into enmity. The fame, power, splendor of the Maukhari dynasty and the continuous increase in the boundaries of the state made the post-Gupta rulers apprehensive.
Haraha's article states that 'he conquered the Andhradhipati, whose army consisted of a thousand drunken elephants; Won his throne by defeating and forcing the Gaudas to take shelter of the sea in the future by freeing the relation of land-land' -
Jitwandhadhipatim Sahastraganitrodhaksharadvaranam,
Vyavalganniyutaatisankhyaturganbhaktva Raneshulikam.
Krita Charyatamuchitsthala Bhuvo Gondansmudrashrayan
Adhyashishta Natakshishcharan:Thronesham Yo Jiti.
Among these defeated powers, the Andhras are identified with the Vishnukundina dynasty of eastern Deccan. Hemachandra Raychaudhuri identifies the Andhra overlord with Vishnukundinvanshi Madhavavarman II, Rameshchandra Majumdar with Madhavavarma I. Ramashankar Tripathi believes that it was Indravarma or Vikramendravarma of the Andhra king Vishnukundin dynasty. The Shuliks have been identified by Raychaudhuri with the Chalukyas. According to Sudhakar Chattopadhyay, the Shuliks refer to the White Huns who were present in North-Western India at that time. Ramashankar Tripathi is of the view that the identity of the shulikas is 'shaulik of Brihatsamhita and Markandeya Purana. ', who lived in the south-west of Kalinga, Vidarbha and Chedi. The Shuliks were probably ruling on the coast of Bengal near the modern Midnapore district. The Gaurs lived on the coast of Bengal. The Haraha inscription reveals that this Maukhari king had forced the Gaudas to remain in their proper jurisdiction.
According to the Haraha article, Ishanvarma probably defeated the Hunas as well. The article reveals that 'he lifted up the broken boat of land and tied it around with hundreds of majestic ropes and saved it from sinking at a time when he was shaken by the storm of Kalikal and sat down in the abyssal sea. was going' –
Pravishti:Kalimarutghattita Kshitarlakshya Rasatal Waridhou.
PropertySwimmingly Erupted Nauriv Yen Balladruta.
Ishanvarma's Hun-conquest is also confirmed by his coins, which are similar to those of the Hun ruler Toorman. As a result of these conquests of Ishanvarma, the boundaries of Maukhari kingdom were extended up to Magadha in the east, Central Provinces and Andhra in the south, Malwa in the west and Thaneswar in the north-west.
The Gupta Empire in its last days was plagued by invasions and rebellions from the east, so Maukhari and Uttar-Gupta participated in the struggle on their behalf. By the time of Ishwarvarma, Maukhari and Uttar-Gupta were simultaneously fighting the coastal enemies on behalf of the Gupta emperors. Thus initially Uttargupta and Maukhari fought together in Bengal, but when Ishanvarma declared his independence 'Maharajadhiraj ', then the post-Gupta rulers were very angry and then the struggle started.
The official text reveals that there was a fierce battle between Kumaragupta and Ishanvarma. The article reveals that 'Kumragupta churned Ishanvarma's army in the battlefield like the moon among kings, in the same way that Kshirsagar was churned by the Mandar mountain for the attainment of Lakshmi '-
Bheemah Srishanvarmakshitipatishashinah Sainyadugdhosindhu.
Lakshmisampraptihetuh sapavi vimathito mandribhuya yen.
It is clear from the language of the article that in this war Ishanvarma was defeated and the victor Kumaragupta established his rule over Magadha. This was the first and last defeat in Ishanvarma's life.
Ishanvarma was the nurturer of Vedic religion. According to the Haraha article, during his time all the three Vedas had become aware again (Yasminshasati Cha Kshitipatau Jaateg Bhuyastro , He had established Varnashrama Dharma in the society.
Sarvavarma
ईशानवर्मा के बाद उसका पुत्र शर्ववर्मा मौखरि वंश का शासक हुआ। हरहा से प्राप्त लेख से पता चलता है कि सूर्यवर्मा नामक ईशानवर्मा का छोटा भाई था, जिसकी मृत्यु संभवतः ईशानवर्मा के काल में ही हो गई थी। असीरगढ़ मुद्रालेख में शर्ववर्मा को ‘महाराजाधिराज ' Having said. यह लेख विंध्य क्षेत्र पर उसके आधिपत्य का सूचक है। पश्चिम में उसके राज्य का विस्तार थानेश्वर राज्य की पूर्वी सीमा तक था।
संभवतः शर्ववर्मा ने अपने पिता ईशानवर्मा की पराजय का बदला लेने के लिए उत्तर-गुप्त शासक कुमारगुप्त के उत्तराधिकारी दामोदरगुप्त पर आक्रमण किया। अफसढ़ लेख से पता चलता है कि इस युद्ध में दामोदरगुप्त मूर्च्छित हो गया, तदन्तर सुरवधुओं ने उसका वरण किया था। अधिकांश इतिहासकारों का अनुमान है कि युद्ध में दामोदरगुप्त मारा गया और मगध पर मौखरियों का अधिकार हो गया। देववर्णार्क लेख से ज्ञात होता है कि शर्ववर्मा ने मगध क्षेत्र में स्थित वारुणीक ग्राम दान में दिया was. यह दान इस बात का प्रमाण है कि मगध उसके साम्राज्य में सम्मिलित था। हर्षचरित में दामोदरगुप्त के पुत्र महासेनगुप्त को ‘मालवराज’ Having said. इससे भी स्पष्ट हो जाता है कि दामोदरगुप्त के बाद उत्तर-गुप्तों का राज्य केवल मालवा तक ही सीमित रह गया था। इस प्रकार शर्ववर्मा ने एक विस्तृत प्रदेश पर लगभग 586 ई. तक शासन किया।
मौखरियों और उत्तर-गुप्तों की इस शत्रुता का प्रदर्शन इनके सिक्कों पर भी मिलता है। दामोदरगुप्त ने जो सिक्के प्रचलित किये, उसमें उसने अपना मुख दाहिनी ओर मोड़ रखा था, जो मौखरियों के प्रति विरोधभाव को प्रदर्शित करता है। मौखरि शासक अपने सिक्कों पर बाईं ओर मुख मोड़े रहते थे।
अवंतिवर्मा (Avantivarma)
शर्ववर्मा के बाद उसका पुत्र अवंतिवर्मा शासक हुआ जो इस वंश का सबसे शक्तिशाली एवं प्रतापी राजा था। नालंदा लेख में उसे ‘महाराजाधिराज ' Having said. उसी समय थानेश्वर के पुष्यभूतिवंश के साथ मौखरियों का मैत्री-संबंध स्थापित हुआ जो तत्कालीन इतिहास की एक महत्त्वपूर्ण घटना है। इससे हूणों तथा उत्तर-गुप्तों का सामना करने में मौखरि वंश के राजाओं को बड़ी सहायता मिली। मुद्राराक्षस से पता चलता है कि उसने म्लेच्छों (हूणों) को पराजित किया था। उसके राज्य में कन्नौज के अलावा पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश तथा बिहार का एक बड़ा भाग सम्मिलित था। हर्षचरित में उसकी प्रशंसा करते हुए कहा गया है कि ‘उसके काल में मौखरि वंश समस्त राजाओं का सिरमौर एवं भगवान् शिव के चरण-चिन्हों की भाँति समस्त संसार में पूजित था’ (धरणीधराणां च मूर्ध्निस्थितो माहेश्वरः पादन्यास इव सकलभुवननमस्कृतो मौखरवंशः , सुधाकर चट्टोपाध्याय के अनुसार इस समय उत्तर-गुप्त मौखरियों की अधीनता स्वीकार करते थे और महासेनगुप्त अवंतिव र्मा का सामंत था।
ग्रहवर्मा (Grahvarma)
अवंतिवर्मा का उत्तराधिकारी ग्रहवर्मा (600 ई.-605 ई.) मौखरि वंश का अंतिम शासक था। हर्षचरित के अनुसार ‘वह पृथ्वी पर सूर्य की भाँति सुशोभित था’ (ग्रहवर्मा नाम ग्रहपत इव गां गतः , ग्रहवर्मा का उल्लेख किसी लेख में नहीं मिलता है और उसके इतिहास के लिए हर्षचरित के साक्ष्य पर ही निर्भर रहना पड़ता है। ज्ञात होता है कि उसका विवाह थानेश्वर के राजा प्रभाकरवर्धन की पुत्री राज्यश्री से हुआ था। इस वैवाहिक संबंध से उत्तर भारत के दो प्रसिद्ध राजवंश- वर्धन तथा मौखरि एक सूत्र में जुड़ गये। इस विवाह संबंध के विरुद्ध मालवा के उत्तर-गुप्तवंशी नरेश देवगुप्त तथा बंगाल के गौड़वंशी शासक शशांक ने एक राजनीतिक गुट बना लिया। हर्षचरित से पता चलता है कि प्रभाकरवर्धन की मृत्यु के पश्चात् मालवा के उत्तर-गुप्तवंशी राजा देवगुप्त ने कन्नौज नरेश ग्रहवर्मा की हत्या कर दी और राज्यश्री को कन्नौज के कारागार में डाल दिया। हर्षचरित में देवगुप्त का नाम नहीं मिलता है, उसे केवल ‘मालवा का दुष्ट शासक ' Having said. बाँसखेड़ा लेख में उसके नाम का स्पष्ट उल्लेख हुआ है। यह देवगुप्त संभवतः उत्तर-गुप्त नरेश महासेनगुप्त की पहली पत्नी से उत्पन्न पुत्र अथवा उसका चचेरा भाई था, जिसने महासेनगुप्त की मृत्यु के बाद मालवा पर अधिकार कर लिया था। ग्रहवर्मा की मृत्यु के साथ ही मौखरि वंश के इतिहास का अंत हो गया।
ग्रहवर्मा के बाद मौखरियों का इतिहास थानेश्वर के वर्धन वंश के इतिहास से जुड़ा है। राज्यश्री के बड़े भाई राज्यवर्धन ने मालवा पर आक्रमण कर देवगुप्त को पराजित किया। किंतु इस जीत के बाद ही गौड़ शासक शशांक ने धोखे से राज्यवर्धन की हत्या कर दी।
मौखरि वंश का अंत (The End of the Maukhari Dynasty)
नालंदा मुद्रालेख एवं हर्षचरित से पता चलता है कि अवंतिवर्मा कोएक अन्य पुत्र ‘सुव’ या ‘सुच’ (सुचंद्रवर्मा) was. संभवतः अवंतिवर्मा की मृत्यु के बाद मौखरि साम्राज्य दो भागों में बँट गया जिनमें एक का केंद्र कन्नौज था, जहाँ ग्रहवर्मा का शासन था और दूसरा मगध का राज्य था जहाँ अवंतिवर्मा का दूसरा पुत्र ‘सुच’ (सुचंद्रवर्मा) शासन करता था। लगता है कि मगध में ग्रहवर्मा के छोटे भाई सुचंद्रवर्मा ने अपनी स्वतंत्रता स्थापित कर ली थी क्योंकि नालंदा लेख में वह अपने को अवंतिवर्मा का उत्तराधिकारी तथा ‘महाराजाधिराज ’ कहता है। कुछ इतिहासकारों के अनुसार ग्रहवर्मा की मृत्यु के समय सुचंद्रवर्मा अल्पवयस्क था, जो हर्ष की मृत्यु के बाद शासक हुआ और उत्तर-गुप्तवंशी आदित्यसेन का समकालीन था। आर्यमंजुश्रीमूलकल्प में भी ग्रहवर्मा के बाद ‘सुव्र’ नामक शासक का उल्लेख मिलता है जिसका समीकरण इतिहासकारों ने ‘सुच’ (सुचंद्रवर्मा) से किया है। जो भी हो, सुचंद्रवर्मा मौखरि वंश का अंतिम शासक था। उसने लगभग 664 ई. तक शासन किया।
एक नेपाली अभिलेख से पता चलता है कि भोगवर्मा नामक मौखरि शासक उत्तर-गुप्तवंशी आदित्यसेन का दामाद था। संभवतः वह सुचंद्रवर्मा का पुत्र रहा होगा। उसे ‘मौखरि कुल का मुकुटमणि’ Having said. मौखरि वंश का एक लेख वाराणसी के इलिया गाँव से भी मिला है जिसमें मनोरथवर्मा नामक एक शासक का उल्लेख है। संभवतः उसने भोगवर्मा के बाद शासन किया होगा। इसके बाद मौखरि इतिहास से ओझल हो गये।