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| {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}} | | #REDIRECT [[Vidarbha kingdom]] |
| {{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}} | | |
| {{More citations needed|date=April 2015}}{{Short description|An ancient Indian kingdom}} | | {{Redirect category shell| |
| {{Infobox country
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| |native_name =
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| |conventional_long_name = Vidarbha Kingdom
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| |common_name = Vidarbha Kingdom
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| |era = [[Iron Age]]
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| |government_type = [[Monarchy]]
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| |year_start = unknown (?~1100 BCE)
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| |year_end = unknown (?~500 BCE)
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| |s1 = Vajji (Sanskrit: Vṛji)
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| |s2 = Mahajanapadas
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| |image_map = Late Vedic Culture (1100-500 BCE).png
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| | image_map_alt = Vidarbha
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| |image_map_caption =Vidarbha and other kingdoms of the late [[Vedic period]]
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| |capital = [[Kaundinyapur]]
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| |common_languages =
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| |religion = [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic]] [[Hinduism]]
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| |currency =
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| |title_leader= [[Janaka|Janak]] (King or Chief)
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| |today =
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| }} | | }} |
| The '''Vidarbha kingdom''' in the Sanskrit epic [[Mahabharata]] is among the many kingdoms ruled by [[Yadu]] kings (Bhoja Yadavas).
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| It is the southernmost kingdom within the epic's geographical horizon, south of the [[Vindhya]] range, in the region still known as [[Vidarbha]] in what is now Central India.
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| [[Damayanti]], the wife of [[Nala]] was the princess of Vidarbha. Similarly [[Rukmini]], the eldest wife of [[Krishna in the Mahābhārata|Vasudeva Krishna]] was from Vidarbha. Sage [[Agastya]]'s wife [[Lopamudra]], also was a princess from the country of Vidarbha as mentioned in the ''[[Mahabharata]]''.<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03097.htm Lopamudra] [[Mahabharata|The Mahabharata]], translated by [[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]] (1883 -1896), Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section XCVII.</ref> Indumati, the Grandmother of [[Lord Rama]] and mother of King [[Dasharatha]] was also a princess of Vidarbha kingdom. [[Kundinapuri]] was its capital, which is identified as [[Kaundinyapur]] in the eastern [[Maharashtra]]. Rukmini's brother [[Rukmi]] founded another kingdom with capital [[Bhojakata]], close to Vidarbha proper. During the [[Kurukshetra War]], when all other kingdoms participated in the battle, Vidarbha under Rukmi stayed neutral, because his army was rejected by both [[Pandavas]] and [[Kauravas]] who were the two parties engaged in the war. It is not clear if any other king from Vidarbha participated in the war. There is a mention at MBh 6:51, that a Vidarbha army sided with Kauravas under the generalissimo [[Bhishma]].
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| == King Bhima of Vidarbha ==
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| King Bhima is mentioned as the ancient ruler of Vidarbha at many places in Mahabharata. (MBh 3:53 to 77). The
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| == The southern route connecting Vidarbha and Ayodhya ==
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| Mahabharata gives clues on a route that existed in ancient times connecting Vidarbha to the northern kingdoms like [[Kosala Kingdom|Kosala]].
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| ''The following conversation between Nala and Damayanti describes many ancient roads or pathways connecting kingdoms of north, south and central India of ancient times. (MBh 3:61)''
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| These many roads lead to the southern country, passing by (the city of) Avanti and the Rikshavat mountains. This is that mighty mountain called Vindhya; yon, the river Payasvini running seawards, and yonder are the asylums of the ascetics, furnished with various fruit and roots. This road leadeth to the country of the Vidarbhas—and that, to the country of the [[Kosala Kingdom|Kosalas]]. Beyond these roads to the south is the southern country.
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| ''Rituparna,the king (of [[Ayodhya]], [[Kosala Kingdom|Kosala]]), arrived at the city of the Vidarbhas. The people brought unto king Bhima (of Vidarbha) the tidings (of his arrival). And at the invitation of Bhima, the king entered the city of Kundina''
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| The king of Kosala reflected a while and at length said, ‘I have come here to pay my respects to thee.’ And the king Bhima was struck with astonishment, and reflected upon the (probable) cause of Rituparna's coming, having passed over a hundred yojanas. And he reflected, ‘That passing by other sovereigns, and leaving behind him innumerable countries, he should come simply to pay his respect to me is scarcely the reason of his arrival.
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| ==Bhojas of Goa==
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| Bhojas of Goa who ruled [[Goa]] and parts of [[Konkan]] and some part of [[Karnataka]] from at least 3rd century AD to the 6th century AD are believed to have descended from the Bhojas of Vidarbha who migrated southwards and founded a kingdom in South Konkan(Goa).<ref name=goa>{{cite book|last1=Kapoor|first1=Subodh|title=Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography, Volume 1 Volume 1 of A-Kashmir,|date=2002|publisher=Genesis Publishing Pvt Ltd|isbn=9788177552980|page=148}}</ref> Goa came under the political sway of the Bhojas who ruled this territory in feudal allegiance to the emperor of [[Pataliputra]] or perhaps under [[Satavahana dynasty|Shatavahanas]].The Bhoja seat of power was located at ''Chandrapura'' or ''Chandraura'' (Modern [[Chandor]]) in Goa.<ref name=bhoja>{{cite book|last=Shyam Singh|first=Shashi|title=Encyclopaedia Indica: Ancient Goa|year=2000|publisher=Anmol Publications|isbn=8170418593 <!--|ISBN=9788170418597 --> |page=657}}</ref>
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| == Other References ==
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| *A Vidarbha princess Susrava is mentioned at MBh 1:95. She was wedded to a prince named Jayatsena, of the [[Lunar Dynasty]]. Avachina was her son.
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| *[[Ikshwaku]] King Sagara is mentioned to have a Vidarbha princess
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| *Sage [[Agastya]] is mentioned to have a Vidrabha princess as his wife.
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| * A river named [[Payoshni]] is mentioned to be flowing through this kingdom. Its fine landing place was constructed by the king of Vidarbha. (MBh 3:120).
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| ==See also==
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| *[[Bhojas of Goa]]
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| == References ==
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| {{Reflist}}
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| *[[Kisari Mohan Ganguli]], ''The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose'', 1883-1896.
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| *Rukhmini Udana: The Flight to sri Krishna Reunion by Dr Hemant Bonde Patil Atlantic publishers & Distributors, India, {{ISBN|978-8126926886}}
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| ==External links==
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| {{Tribes and kingdoms of the Mahabharata}}
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| [[Category:Kingdoms in the Mahabharata]]
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| [[Category:Vidarbha]]
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| [[Category:History of Maharashtra]]
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| [[Category:History of Nagpur]]
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| [[Category:History of Vidarbha]]
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