Parivrajaka dynasty - Revision history

FrancisClement: correct structure and corrected details

2026-03-29T14:35:50Z

correct structure and corrected details

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:05, 29 March 2026
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	== Political status ==		== Political status ==

	The Parivrajaka inscriptions refer to the imperial [[Gupta Empire\|Gupta dynasty]], but do not mention any Gupta overlord. However, the use of title "[[Maharaja]]" (generally used by feudatory kings) suggests that they were vassals of the Guptas.{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=95}} In addition, the Parivrajaka inscriptions state that the dynasty ruled the ~~forest kingdoms~~; the [[Allahabad pillar]] inscription of the Gupta emperor [[Samudragupta]] states that he subjugated all the ~~forest~~ kingdoms.{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=91}}		The Parivrajaka inscriptions refer to the imperial [[Gupta Empire\|Gupta dynasty]], but do not mention any Gupta overlord. However, the use of title "[[Maharaja]]" (generally used by feudatory kings) suggests that they were vassals of the Guptas.{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=95}} In addition, the Parivrajaka inscriptions state that the dynasty ruled the Jagir of vindhya ; the [[Allahabad pillar]] inscription of the Gupta emperor [[Samudragupta]] states that he subjugated all the Jagir kingdoms.{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=91}}

	When the Gupta empire started declining, they acknowledged nominal Gupta suzerainty.{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=95}}		When the Gupta empire started declining, they acknowledged nominal Gupta suzerainty.{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=95}}
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	Hastin was a [[Shaivite]], as suggested by his Bhumara inscription, which describes him as meditating at the feet of Mahadeva ([[Shiva]]).{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=96}}		Hastin was a [[Shaivite]], as suggested by his Bhumara inscription, which describes him as meditating at the feet of Mahadeva ([[Shiva]]).{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=96}}

	Some ancient silver coins bearing the legend "Raa Hastin" have been discovered. Historians such as [[E. J. Rapson]], [[R. D. Banerji]] and [[B. P. Sinha]] identified him with Hastin on palaeographic basis. However, [[Dasharatha Sharma]] and P. L. Gupta identify him with the Pratihara king Vatsaraja who held the title "Rana ~~Hastin~~" according to the ''~~Kuvalayamāla~~'' of Udyyotana Suri. According to Gupta, these coins cannot be dated before the 8th century CE. This theory is corroborated by the fact that no Gupta vassals issued coins in their own names.{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=96}}		Some ancient silver coins bearing the legend "Raa Hastin" have been discovered. Historians such as [[E. J. Rapson]], [[R. D. Banerji]] and [[B. P. Sinha]] identified him with Hastin on palaeographic basis. However, [[Dasharatha Sharma]] and P. L. Gupta identify him with the Pratihara king [[Vatsaraja]] who held the title "Rana-hastin" according to the ''[[Kuvalayamālā]]'' of Udyyotana Suri. According to Gupta, these coins cannot be dated before the 8th century CE. This theory is corroborated by the fact that no Gupta vassals issued coins in their own names.{{sfn\|Moirangthem Pramod\|2013\|p=96}}

	=== Maharaja Samkshobha ===		=== Maharaja Samkshobha ===
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	* {{cite book \|author=Ashvini Agrawal \|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC&pg=PA259 \|year=1989 \|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7 }}		* {{cite book \|author=Ashvini Agrawal \|title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC&pg=PA259 \|year=1989 \|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|isbn=978-81-208-0592-7 }}
	* {{cite book \|author=D. C. Sircar \|title=Studies in the Political and Administrative Systems in Ancient and Medieval India \|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|year=1996 \|isbn=9788120812505 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nqm-Vp90E5UC&pg=PA156 }}		* {{cite book \|author=D. C. Sircar \|title=Studies in the Political and Administrative Systems in Ancient and Medieval India \|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass \|year=1996 \|isbn=9788120812505 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nqm-Vp90E5UC&pg=PA156 }}
	* {{cite journal \|author=Moirangthem Pramod \|title=The Parivrajaka Maharaja \|journal=Asian Journal of Multidimensional Research \|volume=2 \|issue=4 \|year=2013 \|issn=2278-4853 \|url=http://www.tarj.in/images/download/ajmr/AJMR%20APRIL%202013%20COMPETE%20PDF/4.10,%20Dr.%20Moirangthem%20Pramod.pdf }}		* {{cite journal \|author=Moirangthem Pramod \|title=The Parivrajaka Maharaja \|journal=Asian Journal of Multidimensional Research \|volume=2 \|issue=4 \|year=2013 \|issn=2278-4853 \|url=http://www.tarj.in/images/download/ajmr/AJMR%20APRIL%202013%20COMPETE%20PDF/4.10,%20Dr.%20Moirangthem%20Pramod.pdf \|access-date=20 December 2016 \|archive-date=30 November 2020 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130082215/https://www.tarj.in/images/download/ajmr/AJMR%20APRIL%202013%20COMPETE%20PDF/4.10,%20Dr.%20Moirangthem%20Pramod.pdf \|url-status=dead }}
	{{ref end}}		{{ref end}}

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	[[Category:Dynasties of India]]		[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
	[[Category:History of Madhya Pradesh]]		[[Category:History of Madhya Pradesh]]
	[[Category:Gupta Empire]]		[[Category:Vassals of the Gupta Empire]]

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{{EngvarB|date=April 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox country
|conventional_long_name = Parivrajaka
|common_name = Parivrajaka
|status = Vassal
|empire = [[Gupta Empire]]
|government_type = Monarchy
|year_start = c. 5th century CE
|year_end = c. 6th century CE
|capital = Unknown
}}

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The '''Parivrajaka''' ([[IAST]]: Parivrājaka) dynasty ruled parts of central India during 5th and 6th centuries. The kings of this dynasty bore the title [[Maharaja]], and probably ruled as feudatories of the [[Gupta Empire]]. The dynasty is known from inscriptions of two of its kings: Hastin and Samkshobha.

== Political status ==

The Parivrajaka inscriptions refer to the imperial [[Gupta Empire|Gupta dynasty]], but do not mention any Gupta overlord. However, the use of title "[[Maharaja]]" (generally used by feudatory kings) suggests that they were vassals of the Guptas.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=95}} In addition, the Parivrajaka inscriptions state that the dynasty ruled the forest kingdoms; the [[Allahabad pillar]] inscription of the Gupta emperor [[Samudragupta]] states that he subjugated all the forest kingdoms.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=91}}

When the Gupta empire started declining, they acknowledged nominal Gupta suzerainty.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=95}}

Multiple inscriptions of the dynasty mention a year of an uncertain [[calendar era]], with the term "Gupta-nṛipa-rājya bhuktau", which has been translated variously by different scholars:

* According to Moirangthem Pramod, the Parivrajakas were reduced to the governors of a ''bhukti'' (province) after the Gupta conquest.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=95}}
* According to [[P. L. Gupta]], the Parivrajakas were originally vassals of the Gupta, but became independent by the time of Hastin. Even after becoming independent, they continued to use the [[Gupta era]], which is what the term refers to.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=94}}
* According to [[H. H. Wilson]], the term refers to the occupation of the Parivrajaka kingdom by the Guptas, and the calendar era starts from this date of occupation.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=94}}
* According to Dr. Hall, the term refers to end of the Gupta sovereignty, and the calendar era starts from beginning of the post-Gupta period.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=94}}

== History ==
The term "Parivrajaka" literally means a wandering ascetic. The family came from a lineage of [[Brahmin]]s of [[Bharadvaja]] [[gotra]], who may have been wandering ascetics some time in the past.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=93}} Another possibility is that the term "Parivrajaka" is a reference to the practice of kings abdicating their thrones in old age and becoming wandering ascetics, in accordance with the [[ashrama (stage)|ashrama system]].{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=94}}

=== Early rulers ===

The earliest known member of the dynasty is Susharman, who is known only from the Khoh inscription of Samkshobha. The inscription describes Susharman as a learned ascetic from Bharadvaja gotra, and compares him to the legendary sage [[Kapila]]. It states that he knew "the whole truth" and fourteen branches of science.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=935}}

Maharaja Devadhya was a descendant of Susharman, and was succeeded by his son Maharaja Prabhanjana. Prabhanjana was succeeded by his son Maharaja Damodara.{{sfn|Ashvini Agrawal|1989|p=259}}

=== Maharaja Hastin ===
[[File:Khoh plates of the Maharaja Hastin.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Satna district|Khoh]] plates of the [[Maharaja]] [[Hastin]], 482 CE.<ref>Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol 3 [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.358795 p.102ff]</ref>]]
[[File:Majhgawam plates of Maharaja Hastin.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Majhgawan]] plates of Maharaja Hastin, 510 CE.<ref>Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol 3 [https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.358795 p.108ff]</ref>]]
Maharaja Hastin, the son of Damodara, is credited with several military victories, although the inscriptions do not mention any of his adversaries. According to K. C. Jain, these claims probably refer to his participation in Guptas' war against the [[Huna people|Hunas]]. He was a charitable king, and donated cows, horses, elephants, gold and land to [[Brahmin]]s.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=95}}

According to the Khoh inscription of his son Samkshobha, Hastin ruled the kingdom of ābhala (or āhala; later [[Dahala]]) and the 18 ''aavi-rājya'' ("forest kingdoms"). The identity of these 18 forest kingdoms is not certain, but they were most probably in the [[Vindhyas|Vindhyan region]].{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=96}}

Hastin ruled for at least 42 years, as his earliest extant inscription is dated to the year 156, and his last inscription is dated to the year 198. Assuming these years to be in the [[Gupta era]], Hastin would have been a contemporary of the Gupta kings [[Budhagupta]], [[Vainyagupta]], [[Bhanugupta]] and possibly [[Narasimhagupta]]. Budhagupta was a relatively strong ruler among these, and Hastin appears to have been his vassal. This theory is corroborated by the discovery of a copper-plate inscription issued during Budhagupta's reign from Sankarapur in [[Sidhi district]].{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=96}}

Hastin was a [[Shaivite]], as suggested by his Bhumara inscription, which describes him as meditating at the feet of Mahadeva ([[Shiva]]).{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=96}}

Some ancient silver coins bearing the legend "Raa Hastin" have been discovered. Historians such as [[E. J. Rapson]], [[R. D. Banerji]] and [[B. P. Sinha]] identified him with Hastin on palaeographic basis. However, [[Dasharatha Sharma]] and P. L. Gupta identify him with the Pratihara king Vatsaraja who held the title "Rana Hastin" according to the ''Kuvalayamāla'' of Udyyotana Suri. According to Gupta, these coins cannot be dated before the 8th century CE. This theory is corroborated by the fact that no Gupta vassals issued coins in their own names.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=96}}

=== Maharaja Samkshobha ===

Maharaja Samkshobha (or Sakshobha) succeeded his father Hastin, and inherited the entire ancestral territory, including the 18 kingdoms. Like his father, he also made land grants for [[punya (Hinduism)|religious merit]]. He maintained the orthodox [[varna (Hinduism)|varna]] and [[ashrama (stage)|ashrama]] systems.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=97}}

Unlike his father who invoked [[Shiva]], Samkshobha's Khoh inscription opens with an invocation to the god [[Krishna|Vasudeva]]. He is the last known of the dynasty, which probably ended with him. The end of the Parivrajaka rule probably coincided with the end of the Gupta rule, which was followed by the [[Aulikara]] rule in central India.{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=97}}

== Genealogy ==

The following members of the dynasty are known ([[IAST]] names in brackets):{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|pp=91–93}}

* Susharman (Suśarman)
* Devadhya (Devāḍhya)
* Prabhanjana (Prabhañjana)
* Damodara (Dāmodara)
* Hastin, r. c. 475–517 CE
* Samkshobha or Sakshobha (Saṃkṣobha), r. c. 518–528 CE

== Inscriptions ==

The following inscriptions from the Parivrajaka reign have been discovered. All are copper-plate inscriptions, except the Bhumara stone pillar inscription:{{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|pp=91–93}}

{| class="wikitable"
! [[Find spot]]
! Issued by
! Year ([[Common era|CE]] year, assuming [[Gupta era]]){{sfn|D. C. Sircar|1996|p=156}}
! Objective
! Source
|-
| Khoh
| Maharaja Hastin
| 156 (475 CE)
| Grant of the Vasuntarashaika village by Maharaja Hastin to Gopasvamin and other [[Brahmins]]
| {{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|pp=91–92}}
|-
| Khoh
| Maharaja Hastin
| 163 (482 CE)
| Grant of the Korparika [[agrahara]] by Maharaja Hastin to Brahmins
| {{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=92}}
|-
| [[Jabalpur]]
| Maharaja Hastin
| 163 (482 CE)
| Grant of a village by Maharaja Hastin to Brahmins, in Gupta year 170
| {{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=92}}
|-
| [[Majhgawan]]
| Maharaja Hastin
| 191 (510 CE)
| Grant by Maharaja Hastin at the request of Mahadevi-deva
| {{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=92}}
|-
| Navagrama
| Maharaja Hastin and [[Uchchhakalpa]] Maharaja Sharvanatha
| 198 (517 CE)
| Grant of a village by Maharaja Hastin to Brahmins of [[Parashara]] [[gotra]] and [[Madhyandina Shakha]]
| {{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=92}}
|-
| [[Bhumara]] (or Bhummra)
| Maharaja Hastin
|
| [[D. C. Sircar]] suggests that this is a family stone. The inscription mentions Ambalode village, which according to [[John Faithfull Fleet]], was located at the Parivrajaka–Uchchhakalpa border
| {{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|pp=92–93}}
|-
| [[Betul, Madhya Pradesh|Betul]]
| Maharaja Sakshobha (Samkshobha)
| 199 (518 CE)
| Grant of the Prastaravataka village and Dvāravāika quarter in Tripuri province, by Maharaja Hastin to Bhanusvamin (a Brahmin of [[Bharadvaja]] [[gotra]])
| {{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=93}}
|-
| Khoh
| Maharaja Samkshobha
| 209 (528 CE)
| Grant of the Opani village by Maharaja Hastin to a temple of goddess Pishapuri, at the request of Chhodugomin. Pishapuri was probably a local form of [[Lakshmi]].
| {{sfn|Moirangthem Pramod|2013|p=93}}
|}

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

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Ashvini Agrawal |title=Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hRjC5IaJ2zcC&pg=PA259 |year=1989 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-0592-7 }}
* {{cite book |author=D. C. Sircar |title=Studies in the Political and Administrative Systems in Ancient and Medieval India |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=1996 |isbn=9788120812505 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nqm-Vp90E5UC&pg=PA156 }}
* {{cite journal |author=Moirangthem Pramod |title=The Parivrajaka Maharaja |journal=Asian Journal of Multidimensional Research |volume=2 |issue=4 |year=2013 |issn=2278-4853 |url=http://www.tarj.in/images/download/ajmr/AJMR%20APRIL%202013%20COMPETE%20PDF/4.10,%20Dr.%20Moirangthem%20Pramod.pdf }}
{{ref end}}

== External links ==

* Siddham – the South Asia Inscriptions Database: [http://damayata.com/search/result?keys=Hastin&f%5B0%5D=type:Inscription Hastin]{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and [http://damayata.com/search/result?keys=Samksobha&f%5B0%5D=type:Inscription Samkshobha]{{Dead link|date=January 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://indepigr.narod.ru/latergupta/menulisting16.htm Parivrаjaka inscriptions] by D.N Lielukhine, Oriental Institute

[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:History of Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Gupta Empire]]