Freelaw67: further adjust article after review for clarity

2026-03-28T15:22:32Z

further adjust article after review for clarity

2409:4063:6E81:396A:8628:B9CB:C9D8:1D00 at 03:25, 2 June 2021

2021-06-02T03:25:29Z

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{{Short description|Third-century empire in India}}
{{Infobox country
| common_name = Abhira dynasty(Ahir)
| conventional_long_name = Abhiras of Nasik
| status = Empire
| status_text = Empire
| era = Early Classical
| year_start = 203 A.D.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History">{{cite journal |last1=Thosar |first1=H.S. |title=The Abhiras in Indian History |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44148188 |journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress |year=1990 |volume=51 |pages=56–65 |publisher=Indian History Congress |jstor=44148188 |access-date=27 December 2020}}</ref>
| year_end = 315 or 370<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>
| event_end = Overthrow of the Abhiras by the [[Traikutaka dynasty|Traikutakas]]. Reconquest of lost territories by the [[Western Satraps|Saka ''kshtarapas'']] and the rise of the [[Vakataka dynasty]]. Defeat of petty Abhira chieftains by [[Kadamba dynasty|Kadamba ruler]] [[Mayurasharma|Mayurasarman]].
| government_type = [[Monarchy]]
| capital = [[Anjaneri]], [[Thalner]], [[Prakasha|Prakashe]], [[Bhamer Dhule|Bhamer]], [[Asirgarh Fort|Asirgarh]]
| religion = [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] [[Hinduism]]<br />[[Buddhism]]
| p1 = Satavahana dynasty
| p2 = Western Satraps{{!}}Western Satrap Empire
| p3 = Andhra Ikshvaku{{!}}Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri
| s1 = Traikutaka dynasty
| s2 = Vakataka dynasty
| s3 = Western Satraps{{!}}Western Satrap Empire
| s4 = Kadamba dynasty
| image_map = The Abhiras at their maximum extent.png
| image_map_caption = The Abhiras at their maximum extent under Abhira Vashishthiputra Vasusena{{cn|date=February 2021}}
| common_languages = [[Ahirani]], [[Apabhraṃśa]], [[Sanskrit]]
| today = India
}}

[[File:Map showing the Abhiras of the Konkan.png|thumb|Map showing the shrunken Abhira territory along with their contemporaries in [[History of India|Ancient India]].]]
The '''Abhira dynasty''' was a dynasty that ruled over the western [[Deccan]], where they succeeded the [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahanas]]. From 203 to roughly 260, they formed a vast kingdom. They were from the [[Abhira tribe|Abhira]] [[kshatriya]] clan.

==Origin==
The Abhiras were from the [[Abhira tribe|Abhira clan]].<ref name="ReferenceA">[[Dineshchandra Sircar|D.C. Sircar]]</ref> They were among the successors of the [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahanas]] in the Western [[Deccan]]. Some of them entered the military service of the [[Western Satraps]] ([[Saka]]s), and helped them in conquest of new territories.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/> The Gunda inscription dated 181 refers to Abhira Rudrabhuti as the ''[[senapati]]'' (commander-in-chief) of the [[Western Satrap|Saka]] satrap (ruler) [[Rudrasimha I|Rudrasimha]].<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/><ref name="Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya: Some Early Dynasties of South India">{{cite book |last1=Chattopadhyaya |first1=Sudhakar |title=Some Early Dynasties of South India |date=1974 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=9788120829411 |pages=216 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&pg=PA128 |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>

The inscription refers [[Rudrasimha I|Rudrasimha]] to as simply a ''ksatrapa'', ignoring the existence of any ''mahaksatrapa''. According to Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya, this indicates that the Abhira general was the ''[[de facto]]'' ruler of the state, though not assuming any higher title. The inscription states Abhira Rudrabhuti as the son of the general Bapaka.<ref name="Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya: Some Early Dynasties of South India"/> The Abhira dynasty was probably related Abhira Rudrabhuti.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/><ref name="Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya: Some Early Dynasties of South India"/>

==History==
The history of the Abhiras is shrouded in much obscurity.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/> The Abhira dynasty was founded by [[Ishwarsena]]. The branch came to power after the demise of the [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahanas]] in the [[Nashik|Nasik]] region of [[Maharashtra]], with the help and consent of the [[Western Satraps]] ([[Saka]]s). They were known as ''Gavali rajas'' indicating that they were cowherds by profession before becoming kings.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/> Ten Abhira kings ruled in the [[Maharashtra]] region of the [[Deccan]], whose names have not been mentioned in the [[Puranas]].<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>
An Abhira king is known to have sent an embassy to the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanid]] ''[[Shahanshah]]'' of [[Persia]], [[Narseh]], to congratualte him on his victory against [[Bahram III]].<ref name="Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India">{{cite book |last1=Singh Nijjar |first1=Bakhshish |title=Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India |date=2008 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Distributors |isbn=9788126909087 |pages=434 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Origins_and_History_of_Jats_and_Other_Al/xQM9voN21ekC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Abhira+dynasty&pg=PA171&printsec=frontcover}}</ref><ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>

The duration of the Abhira rule is uncertain, with most of the [[Puranas]] giving it as sixty-seven years, while the [[Vayu Purana]] gives it as one hundred and sixty-seven years.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/><ref name="MR Majumdar 136"/> According to V.V Mirashi, the following were the feudatories of the Abhiras-<ref name="Chattopadhyaya1974">{{cite book|author=Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya|title=Some Early Dynasties of South India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&pg=PA128|year=1974|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-2941-1|pages=128–130}}</ref>
* The [[Maharajas of Valkha]]<ref name="Chattopadhyaya1974"/>
* Isvararata <ref name="Chattopadhyaya1974"/>
* The kings of [[Mahishmati]]<ref name="Chattopadhyaya1974"/>
* The [[Traikutaka dynasty|Traikutakas]]<ref name="Chattopadhyaya1974"/>

The Abhiras spoke [[Apabhraṃśa]], and seem to have patronized [[Sanskrit]]. The Nasik cave inscription of [[Ishwarsena|Isvarsena]] is written mostly in [[Sanskrit]]. Several guilds flourished in their kingdom, in which people invested large amounts for making endowments. This indicates peace, order and security in the kingdom of the Abhiras.<ref name="MR Majumdar 136">{{cite web |last1=Majumdar |first1=M R |title=Chronology of Gujarat |url=https://jainqq.org/explore/006799/136 |publisher=Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda}}</ref>

===Abhira Sivadatta===
Abhira Sivadatta was the actual founder of the Abhira power.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/> But other Historians like Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya and Bhakshish Singh Nijjar argue that Sivadatta is not given any royal title, and thus his son [[Ishwarsena]] wasfounder of the Abhira dynasty.<ref name="Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India"/><ref name="Chattopadhyaya1974"/> Some scholars have identified Sivadatta with [[Śūdraka|Shudraka]], a king and author of plays including the ''[[Mrichchhakatika]]''. [[Śūdraka|Shudraka]] was probably the [[pen name]] of Sivadatta.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Warder, Anthony Kennedy|year=1990|chapter=Chapter XX: Drama in the +3 ; Śūdraka; Contemporary Lyric Poetry|title=Indian Kāvya Literature, Volume 3|edition=second|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=jTlLXw46g-cC&pg=PA3 3]|isbn=81-208-0448-1}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Banerjee|1999|page=9}} citing {{Cite book|author=Konow, Sten|year=1920|title=Das Indische Drama|language=German|publisher=[[Walter de Gruyter]]|location=Berlin|page=[http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101074217710;view=1up;seq=65 57]}}</ref>

The Nasik cave inscription of Ishwarsena says that he was the son of Abhira Sivadatta. Abhira Sivadatta was probably a descendant of Abhira Rudrabhuti, and may have been in the service of the powerful [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahana]] king [[Yajna Sri Satakarni]]. After [[Yajna Sri Satakarni]]'s death he occupied Western [[Maharashtra]] and pushed [[Yajna Sri Satakarni]]'s successsors into the Andhra region. He was succeeded by his son [[Sakasena]].<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/><ref name="Chattopadhyaya1974"/>

===Saka Satakarni===
Another king claiming to be a son of Mathari besides [[Ishwarsena|Abhira Ishwarsena]] is Sakasena. He is identified with Saka Satakarni, whose coins have been found over [[Andhra Pradesh]] and is taken to be a [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahana king]] and successor of [[Yajna Sri Satakarni]]. However, K.Gopalchari thinks that Sakasena was a Abhira king. Reasons:
* The name of Sakasena or Saka Satakarni does not occur in the Puranic genealogies of the Andhra-[[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahana]] kings. He claimed to be th son of Mathari, the wife of Abhira Sivadatta, as indicated by his epithet ''Mathariputra''.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>
* The traditional title of ''Siri'' which is found on most coins and inscriptions of the [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahanas]] is significantly absent in the case of this ruler.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>
* Considering the dynastic rivalry between the [[western Satraps|Saka Kshatrapas]], the naming of a Satavahana prince with its main content as ''Saka'' is very unnatural and unlikely.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>
* The Abhiras were earlier in the service of the [[Western Satraps|Saka rulers of Ujjaini]], and in those days, [[Vassal|feudatory chiefs]] used to name their sons after the names of their overlords. The name of Sakasena was probably a result of this practice. The suffix of ''Sena'' in his name also suggests that he was an Abhira king and related to Ishwarsena.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>

So this concludes that Ishwarsena's predecessor was his elder brother Sakasena, and [[Ishwarsena]] ascended the throne after his death.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>

Sakasena was probably the first great Abhira king. His inscriptions from the [[Konkan]] and coins from [[Andhra Pradesh]] suggest that he ruled over a large portion of the [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahana Empire]].<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>

===Abhira Ishwarsena===
Ishwarsena was the first independent Abhira king. He was the son of Abhira Sivadatta and his wife Mathari.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/> He started an era which later became known as the [[Kalachuri Era|Kalachuri-Chedi era]]. His descendants ruled for nine generations.<ref name="Arun Kumar Sharma">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sDluAAAAMAAJ&q=Ishwarsena | title=Heritage of Tansa Valley | publisher=Bharatiya Kala Prakashan | author=Arun Kumar Sharma | year=2004 | pages=33, 92 | isbn=9788180900297}}</ref> Ishwarsena's coins are dated only in the first and second years of his reign and are found in [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] and Southern [[Rajputana]].<ref name="India. Dept. of Archaeology">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mB4LAQAAMAAJ&q=abhiras+of+rajputana | title=Inscriptions of the Kalachuri-Chedi Era, Part 1 | publisher=Government Epigraphist for India Original from the University of Michigan | author=Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi contributor-India. Dept. of Archaeology | year=1955 | pages=xxx}}</ref><ref>Inscriptions of the Kalachuri-Chedi era, Part 1</ref>

The [[Traikutaka dynasty|Traikuta]] rule of Aparanta or Konkan begins in A.D. 248 (Traikuta era) exactly the time of [[Ishwarsena]]'s rule, hence Traikutas are identified with the Abhira dynasty.<ref name="abhiras">{{cite book|last1=Mookerji|first1=Radhakumud|title=The gupta empire|date=2007|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|location=Delhi|isbn=9788120804401|edition=5th|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uYXDB2gIYbwC&pg=PA26 |access-date=19 July 2016|language=en}}</ref>

==List of rulers==
The following is the list of the sovereign and strong Abhira rulers-
* Abhira Sivadatta
* Sakasena alias Saka Satakrni
* [[Ishwarsena|Abhira Ishwarsena]] alias ''Mahaksatrapa'' Isvaradatta
* Abhira Vashishthiputra Vasusena

==Territory==
The Abhiras ruled western Maharashtra which included [[Nasik]] and its adjoining areas,<ref name="auto">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&pg=PA129| title= Some Early Dynasties of South India| publisher= Motilal| work= History | date= 1974 | author= Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya| pages=129| isbn= 9788120829411}}</ref> Aparanta, [[Lata (region)|Lata]], [[Ashmaka]],<ref name="Maharashtra (India). Gazetteers Dept">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yScbAAAAIAAJ&q=Ishwarsena | title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Sholapur Gazetteer of India Volume 24 of Maharashtra State Gazetteers, Maharashtra (India). Gazetteers Dept | publisher=Director of Government Printing, Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State | author=Maharashtra (India). Gazetteers Dept | year=1977 | pages=40}}</ref><ref name="auto"/> and [[Khandesh]]<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JggZAQAAIAAJ&q=Khandesa| title= Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography, Volume 1 | publisher= Cosmo Publications | work= Geography | author= Subodh Kapoor | pages=2| isbn= 9788177552980 | year= 2002 }}</ref> Their core territory included [[Nashik|Nasik]] and the adjoining areas.<ref name="Sudhakar Chattopadhyaya: Some Early Dynasties of South India"/><ref name="5 Post Maurya Dynasties (In South India)">{{cite web |title=5 Post Maurya Dynasties (In South India) |url=https://www.historydiscussion.net/history-of-india/mauryas/5-post-maurya-dynasties-in-southern-india/5718 |website=History discussion |access-date=13 January 2021}}</ref> The Abhira territory also may have consisted of [[Malwa]], which they gradually seized from the [[Western Satraps|Kshahratas]].<ref name="Madhya pradesh">{{cite book |last1=Krishnan |first1=V. S. |last2=Shrivastav |first2=P. N. |last3=Verma |first3=Rajendra |title=Rajgarh By Madhya Pradesh (India) |date=1996 |publisher=Government Central Press |pages=18 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Madhya_Pradesh_District_Gazetteers_Rajga/CyMLAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Abhira+dynasty&dq=Abhira+dynasty&printsec=frontcover}}</ref>

==Decline==
After the death of Abhira Vashishthiputra Vasusena, the Abhiras probably lost their sovereign and paramount status.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/> The Abhiras lost most of their domains to the rising [[Vakataka dynasty|Vakatakas]] (north) and the [[Kadamba dynasty|Kadambas]] (south-west).<ref name="Hawkins">{{cite book |last1=Mitchiner |first1=Michael |title=The Ancient & Classical World, 600 B.C.-A.D. 650 |date=1978 |publisher=Hawkins Publications |isbn=9780904173161 |pages=634 |url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/The_ancient_classical_world_600_B_C_A_D/zuQLAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Abhira+dynasty&dq=Abhira+dynasty&printsec=frontcover}}</ref> The Abhiras were finally supplanted by their feudatories, the [[Traikutaka dynasty|Traikutakas]]. But still many petty Abhira chieftains and kings continued to rule until the fourth century, roughly till 370 AD, in the [[Vidarbha]] and [[Khandesh]] region. They continued to rule, but without sovereignty, until they came into conflict with the [[Kadamba dynasty|Kadamba king]] [[Mayurasharma|Mayurasarman]] and were defeated.<ref name="Origins and History of Jats and Other Allied Nomadic Tribes of India"/><ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>

==Descendants==
According to Ganga Ram Garg, the modern-day [[Ahir]] caste are descendants of Abhira people and the term ''Ahir'' is the [[Prakrit]] form of the [[Sanskrit]] term ''Abhira''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Radhakrishnan|first=S.|title=Identity And Ethos|date=2007|publisher=Orient Paperbacks|isbn=978-8-12220-455-1|pages=31–32|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XJTDELuvZKsC&pg=PA31}}</ref> This view gets support in many writings. The descendants of the Abhiras can be recognized by their surnames, such as ''[[Ahir]], Ahire, Ahir-Rao'' etc.<ref name="H.S. Thosar: The Abhiras in Indian History"/>

==See also==
* [[Ishwarsena]]
*[[Satavahana dynasty]]
*[[Nashik]]
*[[Traikutaka dynasty]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last= Banerjee |first=Biswanath |year=1999 |title=Shudraka |series=Makers of Indian Literature |publisher=Sahitya Academy |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-260-0697-8}}

[[Category:Hindu dynasties]]
[[Category:History of Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Social groups of India]]

Abhira dynasty - Revision history

Freelaw67: further adjust article after review for clarity

2409:4063:6E81:396A:8628:B9CB:C9D8:1D00 at 03:25, 2 June 2021