Deva dynasty (Saketa) - Revision history

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			{{Short description\|Royal dynasty in Kosala, India}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2017}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=July 2017}}
	{{Use Indian English\|date=July 2017}}		{{Use Indian English\|date=July 2017}}
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	\| lon_deg = 82.20		\| lon_deg = 82.20
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	[[File:Dhanadeva Ayodhya inscription.jpg\|thumb\|The [[Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription]], 1st century BCE.<ref name="Kishore">Ayodhya Revisited by Kunal Kishore ~~p.24~~ [https://books.google.com/books?id=gKKaDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA24]</ref>]]		[[File:Dhanadeva Ayodhya inscription.jpg\|thumb\|The [[Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription]], 1st century BCE.<ref name="Kishore">''Ayodhya Revisited'' by Kunal Kishore, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gKKaDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA24 p. 24.]</ref>]]
	[[File:Muladeva coin Kosala.jpg\|thumb\|Coin of ruler Muladeva, minted in Ayodhya, Kosala. Obv: ''Muladevasa'', elephant to left facing symbol. Rev: Wreath, above symbol, below snake.]]		[[File:Muladeva coin Kosala.jpg\|thumb\|Coin of ruler Muladeva, minted in Ayodhya, Kosala. Obv: ''Muladevasa'', elephant to left facing symbol. Rev: Wreath, above symbol, below snake.]]
	The '''Deva dynasty''' of [[Saketa]], was a dynasty of kings who ruled in the area of the city of [[Ayodhya]], [[Kosala]], in [[India]] from the 2nd century BCE until the end of 1st century BCE.<ref name="Kishore"/>{{sfn\|Bakker~~, The rise of Ayodhya as a place of pilgrimage~~\|1982}}		The '''Deva dynasty''' of [[Saketa]], was a dynasty of kings who ruled in the area of the city of [[Ayodhya]], [[Kosala]], in [[India]] from the 2nd century BCE until the end of 1st century BCE.<ref name="Kishore"/>{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1982}}

	== Political history ==		== Political history ==
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	Five Deva kings are attested by their coins: Mula-deva, Vayu-deva, Vishakha-deva, Patha-deva, and Dhana-deva.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=21}}{{sfn\|Shailendra Bhandare\|2006\|pp=77–8, 87–8}}{{sfn\|Harry Falk\|2006\|p=149}} Another king - Phalgudeva - is attested by the 1st century BCE [[Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription\|Ayodhya inscription]] of his son Dhanadeva.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=21}}		Five Deva kings are attested by their coins: Mula-deva, Vayu-deva, Vishakha-deva, Patha-deva, and Dhana-deva.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=21}}{{sfn\|Shailendra Bhandare\|2006\|pp=77–8, 87–8}}{{sfn\|Harry Falk\|2006\|p=149}} Another king - Phalgudeva - is attested by the 1st century BCE [[Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription\|Ayodhya inscription]] of his son Dhanadeva.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=21}}

	After the decline of the [[Maurya ~~empire~~]], Saketa (modern [[Ayodhya]]) appears to have come under the rule of the [[Shunga Empire\|Shunga]] ruler [[Pushyamitra Shunga\|Pushyamitra]]. One interpretation of Dhanadeva's inscription suggests that Pushyamitra appointed at a Deva king as a governor at Saketa.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=20}} This would mean that the Devas ruled as Shunga vassals. However, another interpretation suggests that the Devas ruled as sovereigns and considered themselves as legitimate heirs of the Shungas.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=21}}		After the decline of the [[Maurya Empire]], Saketa (modern [[Ayodhya]]) appears to have come under the rule of the [[Shunga Empire\|Shunga]] ruler [[Pushyamitra Shunga\|Pushyamitra]]. One interpretation of Dhanadeva's inscription suggests that Pushyamitra appointed a Deva king as a governor at Saketa.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=20}} This would mean that the Devas ruled as Shunga vassals. However, another interpretation suggests that the Devas ruled as sovereigns and considered themselves as legitimate heirs of the Shungas.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=21}}

	The ''[[Yuga Purana]]'' mentions Saketa as the residence of a governor, and describes it as being attacked by a combined force of [[Yavanas\|Greeks]], [[Mathura]]s, and [[Panchala]]s.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|pp=18-19}} [[Mahābhāṣya\|Patanjali's commentary]] on [[Pāṇini\|Panini]] also refers to the Greek siege of Saketa.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=7,19}} The ''[[Yuga Purana]]'' states that Saketa was ruled by seven powerful kings after the retreat of the Greeks.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=20}} The ''Vayu Purana'' and the ''Brahmanda Purana'' also state that seven powerful kings ruled in the capital of Kosala. These kings appear to be same as the Deva kings: Dhanadeva's is described as the king of Kosala (''Kosaladhipati'') in his inscription.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=21}}		The ''[[Yuga Purana]]'' mentions Saketa as the residence of a governor, and describes it as being attacked by a combined force of [[Yavanas\|Greeks]], [[Mathura]]s, and [[Panchala]]s.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|pp=18-19}} [[Mahābhāṣya\|Patanjali's commentary]] on [[Pāṇini\|Panini]] also refers to the Greek siege of Saketa.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=7,19}} The ''[[Yuga Purana]]'' states that Saketa was ruled by seven powerful kings after the retreat of the Greeks.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=20}} The ''Vayu Purana'' and the ''Brahmanda Purana'' also state that seven powerful kings ruled in the capital of Kosala. These kings appear to be same as the Deva kings: Dhanadeva's is described as the king of Kosala (''Kosaladhipati'') in his inscription.{{sfn\|Hans T. Bakker\|1984\|p=21}}
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	{{ref begin}}		{{ref begin}}
	* {{cite book \|author=Hans T. Bakker \|author-link=Hans T. Bakker \|title=Ayodhya \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r8rIygAACAAJ \|year=1984 \|publisher=Institute of Indian Studies, University of Groningen \|oclc=769116023 }}		* {{cite book \|author=Hans T. Bakker \|author-link=Hans T. Bakker \|title=Ayodhya \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r8rIygAACAAJ \|year=1984 \|publisher=Institute of Indian Studies, University of Groningen \|oclc=769116023 }}
			* {{cite journal \|author=Hans T. Bakker \|author-link=Hans T. Bakker \|title=The rise of Ayodhya as a place of pilgrimage \|journal=Indo-Iranian Journal \|volume=24 \|number=2 \|year=1982 \|pages=103–126 \|url=https://archive.org/details/AyodhyaAsPageOfPilgrimageHTBakker_201801/page/n0 \|doi=10.1163/000000082790081267 \|s2cid=161957449 }}

	* {{cite book \|author=Harry Falk \|chapter=The Tidal Waves of Indian History: Between the Empires and Beyond \|editor=Patrick Olivelle \|title=Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE \|year=2006 \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|isbn=0-19-568935-6 }}		* {{cite book \|author=Harry Falk \|chapter=The Tidal Waves of Indian History: Between the Empires and Beyond \|editor=Patrick Olivelle \|title=Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE \|year=2006 \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|isbn=0-19-568935-6 }}
	* {{cite book \|author=Shailendra Bhandare \|chapter=Numismatics and History: The Maurya-Gupta Interlude in the Gangetic Plain \|editor=Patrick Olivelle \|title=Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE \|year=2006 \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|isbn=0-19-568935-6 }}		* {{cite book \|author=Shailendra Bhandare \|chapter=Numismatics and History: The Maurya-Gupta Interlude in the Gangetic Plain \|editor=Patrick Olivelle \|title=Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE \|year=2006 \|publisher=Oxford University Press \|isbn=0-19-568935-6 }}
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	[[Category:Shunga Empire]]		[[Category:Shunga Empire]]
	[[Category:Ayodhya]]		[[Category:Ayodhya]]
	[[Category:History of ~~Uttar Pradesh~~]]		[[Category:History of Awadh]]
	[[Category:Dynasties of India]]		[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
			[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 1st century BC]]

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2017}}
{{for|the [[Bengal]] rulers|Deva dynasty}}
{{Location map
| India
| width = 250px
| float =
| border =
| caption = Location of [[Saketa]] (modern [[Ayodhya]]) in [[India]], where the Deva dynasty flourished.
| alt =
| relief = yes
| AlternativeMap =
| overlay_image =
| label = Saketa/ Ayodhya
| label_size =
| position =
| background =
| mark =
| marksize =
| link =
| lat_deg = 26.80
| lon_deg = 82.20
}}
[[File:Dhanadeva Ayodhya inscription.jpg|thumb|The [[Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription]], 1st century BCE.<ref name="Kishore">Ayodhya Revisited by Kunal Kishore p.24 [https://books.google.com/books?id=gKKaDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA24]</ref>]]
[[File:Muladeva coin Kosala.jpg|thumb|Coin of ruler Muladeva, minted in Ayodhya, Kosala. Obv: ''Muladevasa'', elephant to left facing symbol. Rev: Wreath, above symbol, below snake.]]
The '''Deva dynasty''' of [[Saketa]], was a dynasty of kings who ruled in the area of the city of [[Ayodhya]], [[Kosala]], in [[India]] from the 2nd century BCE until the end of 1st century BCE.<ref name="Kishore"/>{{sfn|Bakker, The rise of Ayodhya as a place of pilgrimage|1982}}

== Political history ==

Five Deva kings are attested by their coins: Mula-deva, Vayu-deva, Vishakha-deva, Patha-deva, and Dhana-deva.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|p=21}}{{sfn|Shailendra Bhandare|2006|pp=77–8, 87–8}}{{sfn|Harry Falk|2006|p=149}} Another king - Phalgudeva - is attested by the 1st century BCE [[Dhanadeva-Ayodhya inscription|Ayodhya inscription]] of his son Dhanadeva.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|p=21}}

After the decline of the [[Maurya empire]], Saketa (modern [[Ayodhya]]) appears to have come under the rule of the [[Shunga Empire|Shunga]] ruler [[Pushyamitra Shunga|Pushyamitra]]. One interpretation of Dhanadeva's inscription suggests that Pushyamitra appointed at a Deva king as a governor at Saketa.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|p=20}} This would mean that the Devas ruled as Shunga vassals. However, another interpretation suggests that the Devas ruled as sovereigns and considered themselves as legitimate heirs of the Shungas.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|p=21}}

The ''[[Yuga Purana]]'' mentions Saketa as the residence of a governor, and describes it as being attacked by a combined force of [[Yavanas|Greeks]], [[Mathura]]s, and [[Panchala]]s.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|pp=18-19}} [[Mahābhāṣya|Patanjali's commentary]] on [[Pāṇini|Panini]] also refers to the Greek siege of Saketa.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|p=7,19}} The ''[[Yuga Purana]]'' states that Saketa was ruled by seven powerful kings after the retreat of the Greeks.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|p=20}} The ''Vayu Purana'' and the ''Brahmanda Purana'' also state that seven powerful kings ruled in the capital of Kosala. These kings appear to be same as the Deva kings: Dhanadeva's is described as the king of Kosala (''Kosaladhipati'') in his inscription.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|p=21}}

Although the texts mention seven powerful kings of Kosala, only six Deva kings are known from coins and an inscription. Indologist [[Hans T. Bakker]] speculates that Mitra-deva, who is mentioned in the 7th century text ''[[Harshacharita]]'', may have been the seventh Deva king. Mitra-deva is said to have killed Sumitra (that is, the Shunga king [[Vasumitra]]). If Bakker's identification is correct, it appears that the Deva kings rebelled against their Shunga overlords. However, several kings, whose names ended in -deva, ruled various parts of India, so this identification is not certain. Moreover, some manuscripts of ''Harshacharita'' mention the king's name as Muladeva.{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|p=21}}

The Deva dynasty was replaced by the [[Datta dynasty]] at the end of the 1st century BCE, which itself was replaced by the [[Mitra dynasty (Mathura)|Mitra dynasty]] in the 1st and 2nd centuries CE, which also ruled in [[Mathura]].<ref name="Kishore"/> It is thought that the [[Indo-Scythian]] [[Northern Satraps]] ultimately replaced these local kings, until the advent of the [[Kushan Empire]].

== Rulers ==

Based on the identification of Mitradeva as a Deva king, [[Hans T. Bakker]] provides the following list of Deva kings:{{sfn|Hans T. Bakker|1984|pp=21-22}}

# Muladeva (possibly a vassal of [[Pushyamitra Shunga|Pushyamitra]] at Saketa)
# Mitradeva (contemporary of [[Vasumitra]])
# Vayu-deva
# Patha-deva
# Phalgudeva
# [[Dhanadeva]]
# Vishakhadeva

==References==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Hans T. Bakker |author-link=Hans T. Bakker |title=Ayodhya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r8rIygAACAAJ |year=1984 |publisher=Institute of Indian Studies, University of Groningen |oclc=769116023 }}
* {{cite book |author=Harry Falk |chapter=The Tidal Waves of Indian History: Between the Empires and Beyond |editor=Patrick Olivelle |title=Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-568935-6 }}
* {{cite book |author=Shailendra Bhandare |chapter=Numismatics and History: The Maurya-Gupta Interlude in the Gangetic Plain |editor=Patrick Olivelle |title=Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0-19-568935-6 }}
{{ref end}}

[[Category:Shunga Empire]]
[[Category:Ayodhya]]
[[Category:History of Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Dynasties of India]]