https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=NarendrasenaNarendrasena - Revision history2026-09-07T15:24:36ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Narendrasena&diff=160904&oldid=previmported>Bangaru Yachama Nayudu: Cleaned up and expanded article, provided more sources.2021-06-10T20:31:42Z<p>Cleaned up and expanded article, provided more sources.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Vakataka king}}<br />
{{Infobox royalty<br />
| reign = c. 455 - 480 CE<br />
| image =<br />
| caption = <br />
| predecessor = [[Pravarasena II]]<br />
| successor = [[Prithivishena II]]<br />
| spouse = Ajjhitabhattarika<br />
| dynasty = [[Vakataka dynasty|Vakataka]]<br />
}}<br />
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{{Vakataka Infobox}}<br />
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'''Narendrasena''' ({{reign|{{circa|455}}|480 CE}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shastri |first1=Ajay Mitra |title=Vakatakas: Sources and History |date=1997 |publisher=Aryan Books International |isbn=9788173051234 |page=212}}</ref>) was a ruler of the Nandivardhana-Pravarapura branch of the [[Vakataka dynasty]]. He succeeded his father [[Pravarasena II]] as Maharaja.<br />
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==Early life==<br />
Narendrasena was possibly born to Ajnakabhattarika, who may have been the chief queen of Pravarasena II and is mentioned as the mother of "Narindaraja" (possibly referring to Narendrasena) in a charter from Pravarasena's 16th regnal year.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bakker |first1=Hans |title=The Vakatakas: An Essay in Hindu Iconology |date=1997 |publisher=Egbert Forsten |location=Groningen |isbn=9069801000 |page=24}}</ref> Sometime during his father's reign, Narendrasena was married to a princess named Ajjhitabhattarika who was described as the daughter of the "king of [[Kuntala country|Kuntala]]". It is not known for certain who this "king of Kuntala" was, but he is often identified with the [[Kadamba dynasty|Kadamba]] king [[Kakusthavarma|Kakusthavarman]] who is known to have married his daughters into several prominent royal families.<ref name = "sircar">{{cite book |author1=D.C. Sircar |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=R.C. |title=The Classical Age |date=1997 |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |page=184 |edition=Fifth}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=A.S. Altekar |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=R.C. |editor2-last=Altekar |editor2-first=A.S. |title=The Vakataka-Gupta Age |date=2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsi Dass |isbn=9788120800434 |page=106}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Sastri |first1=K.A. Nilakanta |title=A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar |date=1961 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=109 |edition=Third}}</ref><br />
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==Reign==<br />
The death of Pravarasena II may have been followed by a succession struggle, from which Narendrasena emerged victorious.<ref name="singh">{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Upinder |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |date=2016 |publisher=Pearson India Education Services |isbn=9788131716779 |page=484}}</ref> The Vakataka records state that Narendrasena had to "regain the fortunes of his family" after suffering some undisclosed calamity, which several historians have interpreted as referring to this supposed war of succession after his father's death. However, [[Anant Sadashiv Altekar|A.S. Altekar]] argues that the records instead refer to an invasion of the Vakataka realm by the [[Nala dynasty|Nala]] king [[Bhavadattavarman]] of the [[Bastar state|Bastar]] region, who is known to have penetrated deep into [[Vidarbha]] and occupied Nandivardhana, the erstwhile Vakataka capital.<ref name = "altekar">{{cite book |author1=A.S. Altekar |editor1-last=Majumdar |editor1-first=R.C. |editor2-last=Altekar |editor2-first=A.S. |title=The Vakataka-Gupta Age |date=2007 |publisher=Motilal Banarsi Dass |isbn=9788120800434 |pages=106-109}}</ref> Altekar supposes that Narendrasena successfully drove out the Nalas from his kingdom shortly after the death of Bhavadattavarman.<br />
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The inscriptions of [[Prithivishena II]], Narendrasena's son and successor, assert that Narendrasena's authority was acknowledged by the rulers of [[Dakshina Kosala|Kosala]], [[Maikal Hills|Mekala]], and [[Malwa|Malava]].<ref name = "sircar" /><ref>Bakker (1997), p. 29</ref> Many historians regard this claim to be an empty boast or exaggeration, but it is possible that Narendrasena had indeed greatly expanded the Vakataka sphere of influence. The [[Gupta empire]], then the hegemonic power in northern India, was embroiled in a war with invading [[Huna people|Huna]] hordes, which left the Vakatakas free to expand into central India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vakataka dynasty {{!}} Indian history {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Vakataka-dynasty |website=Britannica |publisher=Britannica |access-date=26 January 2021}}</ref> It is also possible that Narendrasena's prosecution of the war against the Nalas resulted in the further extension of Vakataka authority, especially in the area around present-day [[Chhattisgarh]]. Narendrasena might have invaded the Nala homeland and sacked their capital, for Skandavarman, a brother and successor of Bhavadattavarman, is said to have retrieved the fortunes of his family and had to repopulate his capital.<ref name = "altekar" /><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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[[Category:Vakataka dynasty]]<br />
[[Category:5th-century Indian monarchs]]</div>imported>Bangaru Yachama Nayudu