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Aparajita

2021-07-05T04:21:02Z

2401:4900:4993:E47:0:0:E25:4B4D:

{{about|the ruler|other uses|Aparajita (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2016}}
{{More footnotes|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox royalty
| succession = 9th [[Shilahara]] Ruler
| reign = {{circa|975|1010 CE}}
| predecessor = Chhadvaideva
| successor = [[Vajjada II]]
| issue = [[Vajjada II]]<br>[[Arikesarin]]
| dynasty = [[Shilahara]]
| father = Vajjada I
|religion=[[Jainism]]}}
'''Aparajita''' was an able [[Shilahara]] ruler of north [[Konkan]] branch from 975 CE – 1010 CE.

Chhadvaideva was followed by his nephew Aparajita, the son of Vajjada. Aparajita was an ambitious king. He sought to extend his sphere of influence by alliance with the mighty kings of other countries. He probably represents the Vidyadhara king Shikhandaketu, mentioned in the ''[[Nava-sahasanka-charita]]'' of Padmagupta; this king sent his son Shashikhanda to render help to the [[Paramara]] king [[Sindhuraja]] (993 CE 1010 CE) in his invasion of South [[Kosala]] at the request of the Naga king of Bastar.<ref name="Dept. Gazetteer: 2002">(Dept. Gazetteer: 2002)</ref>

Aparajita's extensive conquests, his alliance with the [[Paramara]]s, his assumption of grandiloquent titles and his subsequent refusal to recognise the [[Chalukyas of Kalyani|Later Chalukya]] suzerainty led to a Chalukya invasion of his kingdom. ''Gadayuddha'', composed by the Chalukya court poet [[Ranna (Kannada poet)|Ranna]], by order of the Chalukya king [[Taila II]], prince [[Satyashraya]] chased the Konkaneshvara (the ruler of Konkan i.e. Aparajita) to the sea.<ref name="KANS_1960"/> Satyashraya pressed as far as the Shilahara capital Puri.<ref name="Dept. Gazetteer: 2002"/> Aparajita ultimately acknowledged the Chalukya suzerainty, as attested by a 997 Bhadana inscription which gives his title as ''Mahamandaleshvara''.<ref name="KANS_1960">{{cite book |author=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |chapter=The Chāḷukyas of Kalyāṇi and the Kalachuris of Kalyāṇi |editor=Ghulam Yazdani |title=The Early History of the Deccan Parts |volume=1 (Parts I-IV) |year=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lllDAAAAYAAJ |oclc=59001459 |pages=321–322 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Shilahara]]

==References==
* Bhandarkar R.G. (1957): Early History of Deccan, Sushil Gupta (I) Pvt Ltd, Calcutta.
* Fleet J.F. (1896): "The Dynasties of the Kanarese District of The Bombay Presidency", written for ''The Bombay Gazetteer''.
* Department of Gazetteer, Govt of Maharashtra (2002): Itihaas : Prachin Kal, Khand -1 (Marathi)
* Department of Gazetteer, Govt of Maharashtra (1960): Kolhapur District Gazetteer
* Department of Gazetteer, Govt of Maharashtra (1964): Kolaba District Gazetteer
* Department of Gazetteer, Govt of Maharashtra (1982): Thane District Gazetteer
* A.S. Altekar (1936): The Silaharas of Western India.

;Specific
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.geocities.com/ancientcoinsofindia/shilacoinex.html Silver Coin of Shilaharas of Southern Maharashtra (Coinex 2006 - Souvenir)] ([https://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1256495031755745 Archived] 2009-10-25)

{{Shilahara dynasty}}

[[Category:Shilahara dynasty]]
[[Category:10th-century rulers in Asia]]
[[Category:11th-century rulers in Asia]]

Bhillama II

2021-07-05T03:52:20Z

2401:4900:4993:E47:0:0:E25:4B4D:

{{Infobox royalty
| name = Bhillama II
| title = Mahasamanta
| succession = Yadava ruler
| reign = c. 985–1005 CE
| dynasty = [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Seuna (Yadava)]]
| predecessor = Dhadiyasa
| successor = Vesugi
| father = Karna
|religion=[[Jainism]]}}
'''Bhillama II''' (r. c. 985–1005 CE) an able [[Jain]]}} ruler of the [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty]] of [[Deccan]] region in India. He was a vassal of the [[Chalukyas of Kalyani|Kalyani Chalukya]] ruler [[Tailapa II]], and played an important role in Tailapa's victory against the [[Paramara]] king [[Vakpati Munja|Munja]].

== Early life ==

Bhillama was a son and successor of the Yadava chief Dhadiyasa, who was a [[Rashtrakuta]] feudatory.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=517}} He married the Rashtrakuta princess Lakshmi.{{sfn|T. V. Mahalingam |1957|p=138}} When the [[Chalukyas of Kalyani|Kalyani Chalukya]] chief [[Tailapa II]] overthrew the Rashtrakutas, Bhillama transferred his allegiance to Chalukyas.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=517}}

An inscription of the contemporary [[Shilahara]] ruler [[Aparajita]] states that he granted protection to a king named Bhillama. It is possible that this is a reference to some sort of alliance between Aparajita and Bhillama when they were both Rashtrakuta vassals.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=517}}

== Military career ==

Bhillama appears to have played an important role in [[Chalukyas of Kalyani|Chalukya]]-[[Paramara]] war, which resulted in the defeat and death of the Paramara king [[Vakpati Munja|Munja]]. His 1000 [[Sangamner]] inscription poetically boasts that he thrashed the goddess of prosperity [[Lakshmi]] on the battlefield because she had sided with Munja, and forced her to become an obedient housewife in the palace of the Chalukya king Tailapa.{{sfn|K. A. Nilakanta Sastri|1960|p=322}}

The Chalukya king rewarded Bhillama by adding the present-day [[Ahmednagar district|Ahmednagar]] area to his hereditary fief.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=517}} The Sangamner inscription describes Bhillama as a ''[[Samanta|Maha-samanta]]'' ("great feudatory"), and mentions his epithets ''Pancha-maha-shabada'', ''Aratini-sudana'', ''Kandukacharya'', ''Sellavidega'', and ''Vijayabharana''.{{sfn|T. V. Mahalingam |1957|p=138}}

== Legacy ==

Bhillama erected the Vijayabharneshvara temple at Sangamner.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=517}} He was succeeded by Vesugi, who married Nayilladevi, the daughter of a Chalukya feudatory of Gujarat.{{sfn|A. S. Altekar|1960|p=518}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |author=A. S. Altekar |author-link=Anant Sadashiv Altekar |editor=Ghulam Yazdani |title=The Early History of the Deccan Parts |volume=VIII: Yādavas of Seuṇadeśa |year=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=14DvAQAACAAJ5 |oclc=59001459 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite book |author=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |author-link=K. A. Nilakanta Sastri |chapter=The Chāḷukyas of Kalyāṇi and the Kalachuris of Kalyāṇi |editor=Ghulam Yazdani |title=The Early History of the Deccan Parts |volume=1 (Parts I-IV) |year=1960 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lllDAAAAYAAJ |oclc=59001459 |pages=315–468 }}
* {{cite book |author=T. V. Mahalingam |author-link=T. V. Mahalingam |chapter=The Seunas of Devagiri |editor=R. S. Sharma |title=A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206 |volume=4 (Part 1) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ahFuAAAAMAAJ |year=1957 |publisher=Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House | isbn=978-81-7007-121-1 }}
{{refend}}

{{Seuna (Yadava) dynasty}}

[[Category:Seuna (Yadava) dynasty]]

Vishnukundina dynasty

2021-07-05T02:14:43Z

2401:4900:4993:E47:0:0:E25:4B4D:

{{more footnotes|date=March 2016}}
{{use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Vishnukundina dynasty
|common_name = Vishnukundina
|era = [[Middle Kingdoms of India|Classical India]]
|year_start = 420
|year_end = 624
|p1 = Vakataka dynasty
|s1 = Eastern Chalukyas
| s2 = Pallava Dynasty
|image_map = Vishnukundina Empire map.png
|image_map_caption = Vishnukundina Empire at its height
|capital = Indrapalanagara<br />[[Denduluru]]<br />[[Amaravathi village, Guntur district|Amaravati]]
|common_languages = [[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]] , [[Prakrit language|Prakrit]]
|religion = [[Hinduism]] and [[Jainism]]
|government_type = Monarchy
|leader1 = [[Govinda Varma I]]
|leader2 = Vikramendra Varma II
|leader3 = Govinda Varma II
|title_leader = Janasraya
|demonym=|area_km2=|area_rank=|GDP_PPP=|GDP_PPP_year=|HDI=|HDI_year=|today=}}
{{APhistory}}
{{HistoryOfSouthAsia}}
The '''Vishnukundina dynasty''' ([[IAST]]: Viṣṇukundina) was an [[India]]n imperial power controlling the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]], [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Telangana]], [[Odisha]] and parts of [[South India]] during the 5th and 6th centuries, carving land out from the [[Vakataka|Vakataka Empire]]. It played an important role in the history of the Deccan during the 5th and 6th centuries. The dynasty initially ruled from Indrapalanagara (in present day [[Nalgonda district]] of Telangana), and later shifted to [[Denduluru]], and [[Amaravathi, Guntur district|Amaravathi]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sarma|first=A. Rajeswara|date=2009|title=Indrapura: The capital city of Vishnukundi dynasty|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44147663|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|volume=70|pages=138–141|jstor=44147663|issn=2249-1937}}</ref>

The area north of the [[Godavari River|Godavari]], [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]], became independent. The area south of the [[Krishna River]] fell to the [[Pallavas]]. The Vishnukundina reign came to an end with the conquest of the eastern Deccan by the [[Chalukya]], [[Pulakeshin II|Pulakesi II]]. Pulakesi appointed his brother [[Kubja Vishnuvardhana]] as Viceroy to rule over the conquered lands. Eventually, Vishnuvardhana declared his independence and started the [[Eastern Chalukya]] dynasty.

==Origin==

"Vishnukundina" is a [[Sanskrit]]ised name for ''Vinukonda''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xdUUZ2WYurIC&q=Vinukonda+vishnukundinapuram|title=Telugu Literature in the Qutub Shahi Period|first=E.|last=Vasumati|year=1969|publisher=Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute|via=Google Books}}</ref> The early rulers of the dynasty migrated eastern deccan to the west deccan in search of employment and under the [[Vakataka]]s they might have attained feudatory status.

During the reign of Madhava Varma, they became independent and conquered coastal [[Coastal Andhra|Andhra]] from the [[Salankayana]]s and established their capital at Denduluru<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O7J7PqrK4Z0C&q=vishnukundin+Dendulur|title=Journal of the Andhra Historical Society|first1=Andhra Historical Research Society, Rajahmundry|last1=Madras|first2=Andhra Historical Research|last2=Society|date=14 January 2018|publisher=Andhra Historical Research Society.|via=Google Books}}</ref> near [[Eluru]], [[West Godavari district]].

==Chronology==
The Vishnukundina reign might be fixed between the end of the [[Salankayana]] and the rise of the [[Eastern Chalukya]]n power in 624. Some historians mention Vishnukundinas' reign was from 420 to 624, while some other historians say their reign was from the early 5th century to the 7th century.

===Govinda Varma I===
<ref>https://andhrapradesh.pscnotes.com/appsc-group-1-mains/paper-i/andhra-pradesh-history/vishnukundins/</ref>
Govinda Varma I took the imperial title of Maharaja and his son Madhava Varma I was the founder of the power based on grants from Sriparvata (Nagarjunakonda) and Indrapalagutta.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MazdaWXQFuQC&q=vishnukundin+founder&pg=PA89|title=Indian History|year=1988|publisher=Allied Publishers|isbn=9788184245684|via=Google Books}}</ref>

=== Madhava Varma I ===
The reign of Madhava Varma (c. 420 – c. 455). He was the founder of the Vishnukundina power.


=== [[Madhava Varma II]] ===
'''Madhava Varma II''', He is the Most Powerful King of Vishnukundina dynasty in India. The reign of [[Madhava Varma II]] (c. 440 – c. 460) was a golden age in the history of the [[Vishnukundina Dynasty|Vishnukundinas]]. He is regarded as the Greatest Ruler of the Vishnukundina dynasty. The Vishnukundina Empire reached its greatest territorial extent under him. He defeated Prithvishena II, the powerful [[Vakataka dynasty|Vakataka]] king. The daughter of Prithvishena II, Vakataka Mahadevi, was given in marriage to [[Madhava Varma II]].

By the middle of the 5th century, the dynasty began its imperial expansion under its most efficient ruler [[Madhava Varma II]] who ruled for nearly half a century. The reign of Madhava Varma (c. 440 – c. 460) was a golden age in the history of the Vishnukundinas. It was during this period, the small Vishnukundina dynasty rose to imperial heights. A princess of the then powerful ruling family of the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] the [[Vakataka]]s was given in marriage to Madhava Varma's son, Vikramendra Varma.

This alliance gave them great power and made it easy for them to extend their influence to the east coast and vanquishing the petty chieftains lingering on in that area. Madhava Varma II led his arms against [[Ananda Gotrika]]s who were ruling over [[Guntur]], [[Tenali]] and [[Ongole]], probably enjoying subordinate position under the [[Pallavas]] of [[Kanchipuram]].

After occupying these areas from the [[Ananda Gotrika]]s, Madhava Varma II made Amarapura (modern [[Amaravathi village, Guntur district|Amaravati]]) his capital. Keeping in view the constant threat from the [[Pallava]]s, he created an out-post to check their activities and appointed his son, Deva Varma and after his death the grandson Madhava Varma III as its [[Viceroy]].

Madhava Varma II next turned his attention against the [[Vengi]] kingdom which was under the [[Salankayana]]s. The Vengi region was annexed. The [[Godavari]] tract became part of the Vishnukundina territory. After these conquests the capital might have been shifted to [[Bezwada]] ([[Vijayawada]]), a more central location than Amarapura. These extensive conquests entitle him to the title of the lord of [[Dakshinapatha]] (southern country). After these various conquests Madhava Varma performed many [[Asvamedha]], [[Rajasuya]] and other [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic sacrifices]].

=== Successors of Madhava Varma II ===
The fortunes of the Vishnukundinas were at a low point during the reign of the next ruler Vikramendra Varma I (508–528). The next two and half decades also experienced the constant strife and dynastic struggles during the reign of Indra Bhattaraka Varma (528–555). Though Indra Bhattaraka could not withstand the hostile Kalinga subordinate, Indra Varma and lost his life in battle. The Vishnukundinas lost their Kalinga possessions north of the Godavari.

===Vikramendra Varma II===
With the accession of Vikramendra Varma II (555–569), the fortunes of the Vishnukundina family were restored. To have immediate access to the Kalinga region, he shifted his capital from Bezwada to Lenduluru (modem [[Denduluru]] in the [[West Godavari district]]). He repulsed the attack of the [[Pallava]] ruler Simhavarman. He was successful enough to restore the fortunes of the Vishnukundinas in the Kalinga region. His son Govinda Varma II enjoyed a comparatively short period of rule (569–573).

===Janssraya Madhava Varma IV===
The Vishnukundina empire set about again to imperial expansion and cultural prosperity under its able ruler Janssraya Madhava Varma IV (573-621). This prudent king spent his early years of rule in consolidating his position in Vengi. The later part of his reign is marked by wars and annexations. In his 37th regnal year, he suppressed the revolt of his subordinate chief the Durjaya Pruthvi Maharaja in Guddadivishya (modern [[Ramachandrapuram, East Godavari|Ramachandrapuram]] in the [[East Godavari]] district).

Madhava Varma IV had to face the [[Chalukya]]n onslaught in his last years of rule. By about 616, [[Pulakeshin II]] and his brother [[Kubja Vishnuvardhana]] conquered Vengi from the Vishnukundinas and the [[Pithapuram]] area from their subordinate Durjayas. In 621 in his 48th regnal year, Madhava crossed the Godavari probably to oust the Chalukyas from his territories. However, he lost his life on the battlefield. His son Manchana Bhattaraka also might have been expelled by the Chalukyas. Thus the Vishnukundina rule was brought to a close by 624. [[File:East-Hem 600ad.jpg|thumb|Greatly reduced Vishnukundina territory in 600 AD, along with the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyas]] advancing at their border]]

==Vishnukundina country==
They had three important cities, Indrapalanagara, [[Denduluru]], and [[Amaravathi village, Guntur district|Amaravati]].

==Administration==

For administrative convenience, the empire was divided into a number of ''Rashtras'' and ''Vishayas''. Inscriptions refer to Palki Rashtra, Karma Rashtra, Guddadi Vishaya, etc.

Madhava Varma III appointed members of the royal family as [[Viceroy]]s for various areas of the kingdom.

The king was the highest court of appeal in the administrator of justice. The Vishnukundina rulers established various kinds of punishments for various crimes. They were known for their impartial judgment and high sense of justice.

===Army===
Their army consisted of traditional fourfold divisions:
*Elephants
*Chariots
*Cavalry
*Infantry

The Hastikosa was the officer-in-charge of elephant forces and the Virakosa was the officer-in-charge of land forces.
These officers issued even grants on behalf of the kings.

===Taxes===
There may have been well-organized administrative machinery for the collection of land revenue.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}
Agrahara villages enjoyed tax exemptions. Sixteen types of coins of the Vishnukundina rulers have been found by archaeologists.

==Religion==
All the records of the Vishnukundinas and the kings prior to the Madhava Varma II seem to be patrons of [[Hinduism]].

From the time of the accession of Madhava Varma II, an aggressive self-assertion of the [[Vedic Brahmanism]] occurred. Elaborate Vedic ceremonies like [[Rajasuya]], [[Sarvamedha]], and [[Aswamedha]] were undertaken. The celebration of all these sacrifices represents the traditional spirit of the Brahmanical revival. Some of the rulers referred to themselves as 'Parama Mahesvaras'. The inscriptions refer to their family deity Sri Parvata Swami.

The names of rulers like Madhava Varma and Govinda Varma show their [[Vaishnavite]] leanings. Thus both the [[Hindu]] sects of [[Saivism]] and [[Vaishnavism]] might have received equal patronage from them.

==Literature==
The Vishnukundinas were also great patrons of learning. They established colleges for Vedic learning. Learned [[Brahmin]]s were encouraged by gifts of lands and colleges were established for the propagation of [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] studies. Indra Bhattaraka established many schools for imparting education on Vedic literature. The performance of several elaborate Vedic ceremonies by Madhava Varma is evidence of the faith of the rulers in [[Vedic Brahmanism|Brahmanism]] and the popularity of Vedic learning with the people during this period.

Some of the Vishnukundina kings were credited with authorship of several books. Vikramendra Varma I was described as ''Mahakavi'' – a great poet in a record. Further, an incomplete work on Sanskrit poetics called 'Janasraya Chando Vichiti' was attributed to Madhava Varma IV who bore the title of 'Janasraya'. [[Sanskrit]] enjoyed royal patronage.

== Art and Architecture ==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
VishnukundinCastCpr1.jpg|Vishnukundina Empire, 420-674 AD, Cast Copper, 4.65g, Vidarbha (Maharashtra), Bull type.
VishnukundinCastCpr2.jpg|Vishnukundina Empire, 420-674 AD, Cast Copper, 7.80g, Vidarbha (Maharashtra), Lion type.
Ananta Padmanabha Swami Temple.jpg|The largest of the [[Undavalli Caves]] built by the Vishnukundinas.
Undavalli caves munis.jpg|Sculptures of monks at Undavalli Caves.
</gallery>
Being great devotees of [[Shiva|Siva]], the Vishnukundinas seem to have been responsible for the construction of a number of cave temples dedicated to Siva. The cave structures at Bezwada ([[Vijayawada]]), Mogalrajapuram, [[Undavalli caves]], and Bhairavakonda were dated to this period. Though some of these cave temples were attributed to the [[Pallava]] Mahendra Varman I, the emblems found on the caves and the areas being under the rule of the Vishnukundinas during this period clearly show that these were contributions of the Vishnukundinas. The big four-storeyed cave at Undavalli and the 8 cave temples in Bhairavakonda in [[Nellore district]] show however clear resemblances with the architecture of Pallava Mahendra Varman's period.

==See also==
*[[Vakataka]]
*[[Salankayana]]
*[[Eastern Chalukya]]
*[[History of India]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Durga Prasad, History of the Andhras up to 1565 A. D., P. G. PUBLISHERS, GUNTUR (1988)
* South Indian Inscriptions [http://www.whatisindia.com/inscriptions/]
* Nilakanta Sastri, K.A. (1955). A History of South India, OUP, New Delhi (Reprinted 2002).
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1f4m674MGwDo7pQ1IhTgA-CxAi7w&ll=15.884755024376066%2C81.27649050000002&z=7 Map of find-spots of inscriptions] issued by Vishnukundinas and other neighbouring dynasties
* {{commons category-inline|Vishnukundina Empire}}

{{Middle kingdoms of India}}

{{Telangana}}

[[Category:History of Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:Ancient empires and kingdoms of India]]
[[Category:Empires and kingdoms of India]]
[[Category:Hindu dynasties]]
[[Category:420 establishments]]
[[Category:624 disestablishments]]