Traikutaka dynasty

Traikutaka dynasty
c. 388 CE–c. 456 CE
Silver coin of king Dahrasena. Obv: Bust of king. Rev: Chaitya and star.Brahmi inscription: "The glorious king Dahrasena, foremost follower of Vishnu, and son of king Indradatta".[1] of Traikutaka dynasty
Silver coin of king Dahrasena.
Obv: Bust of king.
Rev: Chaitya and star.Brahmi inscription:
Dharasena coin legend, Traikutaka Dynasty
"The glorious king Dahrasena, foremost follower of Vishnu, and son of king Indradatta".[1]
Map of the territory of the Traikutakas (in yellow), along with their contemporaries, especially the Kadambas, the Vakatakas and the Gupta Empire.
Map of the territory of the Traikutakas (in yellow), along with their contemporaries, especially the Kadambas, the Vakatakas and the Gupta Empire.
Common languagesSanskrit
Prakrit
Religion
Hinduism
History 
• Established
c. 388 CE
• Disestablished
c. 456 CE
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Western Satraps
Maitraka dynasty
Kalachuris of Mahishmati
History of Gujarat
Stone Age (before 4000 BCE)
Stone Age(before 4000 BCE)
Chalcolithic to Bronze Age (4000–1300 BCE)
Chalcolithic Gujarat
 – Anarta tradition(c. 3950–1900 BCE)
 – Padri Ware (3600–2000 BCE)
 – Pre-Prabhas Assemblage(3200–2600 BCE)
 – Pre Urban Harappan Sindh Type Pottery (3000–2600 BCE)
 – Black and Red Ware (3950–900 BCE)
 – Reserved Slip Ware(3950–1900 BCE)
 – Micaceous Red Ware(2600–1600 BCE)
 – Malwa Ware
 – Jorwe Ware
Indus Valley Civilisation(3300–1300 BCE)
 – Early Harappan(3300–2600 BCE)
 – Mature Harappan(2600–1900 BCE)
 – Late Harappan(1900–1300 BCE)
Late cultures(2200–1700 BCE)
 – Prabhas Assemblage(2200–1700 BCE)
 – Lustrous Red Ware (1900–1300 BCE)
Vedic Civilisation(2000–500 BCE)
Iron Age (1500–300 BCE)
Vedic Civilisation(2000–500 BCE)
 – Janapadas (1500–600 BCE)
 – Black and Red Ware(1300–1000 BCE)
 – Painted Grey Ware (1200–600 BCE)
Maha Janapadas (600–300 BCE)
Epic India (1700–300 BCE)
 –Abhira kingdom
 –Anarta kingdom
 –Dwaraka kingdom
 –Sindhu kingdom
 –Saurashtra kingdom
Classical period (380 BCE – 1299 CE)
Nanda Empire (380–321 BCE)
Maurya Empire (321–184 BCE)
Indo-Scythians (312 BCE − 400 CE)
 –Western Satraps (c. 119 – 405 CE)
Vakataka dynasty(c. 250 – c. 500 CE)
Kushan Empire (30 – 375 CE)
Traikutaka dynasty (388 – 454 CE)
Gupta Empire (405 – c. 730 CE)
Maitraka (475 – 767 CE)
Saindhava(c. 725 – c. 950 CE)
Gurjaras of Lata(c. 580 – c. 738 CE)
Chalukyas of Navasarika (c. 660 – c. 739 CE)
Empire of Harsha( 7th century)
Gurjara-Pratihara (c. 730 – c. 960 CE)
Chavda dynasty (c. 690 – c. 940 CE)
Chudasama dynasty (c. 875 – 1472 CE)
Rashtrakuta dynasty(8–9th century)
Paramara dynasty (9–10th century)
Western Chalukya(9–10th century)
Chalukyas of Lata (c. 970 – c. 1070 CE)
Chaulukya dynasty (c. 940 – 1243 CE)
Vaghela dynasty (1243–1299 CE)
Medieval and early modern periods (1299–1819)
Gujarat under Delhi Sultanate (1298–1407)
 – Khalji Sultanate (1298–1320)
 – Tughlaq Sultanate (1320–1407)
Gujarat Sultanate (1407–1573)
Mughal Gujarat (1573–1756)
Maratha Empire (1756–1819)
 –Peshwa
 –Gaekwad
Cutch State(1365–1947)
Colonial period (1819–1961)
Portuguese India(1534–1961)
Company Raj (1819–1858)
British Raj (1858–1947)
 –Princely states(till 1948)
 –Residencies (1819–1947)
 –Agencies of British India(1819–1947)
 –Bombay Presidency(1618–1947)
Post-independence (1947–)
Saurashtra State (1948–1956)
Kutch State (1947–1956)
Bombay State (1947–1960)
Gujarat (1960–)

The Traikutakas were a dynasty of Indian kings who ruled between 388 and 456. The name "Traikutakas" seems to be derived from the words for a three-peaked mountain ("Tri-kuta"). The Traikutakas are mentioned in Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa, in which they are located in the area of northern Konkan. The dominions of the Traikutakas further included Aparanta and northern Maharashtra.[2]

The coins of the Traikutaras are found extensively in southern Gujarat, and southern Maharashtra beyond the Ghats. Their design is very close to that of the Western Satraps, from which they probably inherited some territories, and traces of the obverse legend with Greek letters can still be seen.[3]

History

[edit]

Some scholars theorize that the Traikutakas were a branch of the Abhiras,[4][5] and refer to them as the "Abhira-Traikutakas".[6] These scholars assume that the Traikutaka records were dated in the so-called Chedi-Kalachuri era, starting in 249 CE. However, later epigraphic discoveries and numismatic evidence contradict this theory, and it is likely that the Traikutakas used the Shaka era.[7]

Indradutta, Dahrasena & Vyaghrasena were well known kings from this dynasty.[8] King Dahrasena expanded his realm, which soon bordered the Vakataka realm. This led to conflict and the Vakataka king Narendrasena, who with the help of his son & crown prince Prithivishena, probably defeated the Traikutikas, as later king Prithivishena's inscriptions refer to him twice rescuing the "sunken fortunes of his family".[9] [10]

Traikutikas were known for their Vaishnava faith.[11][12] and Dharasena performed Ashvamedha Yajna too.[4][13] During the reign of Maharaja Madhyamasena, the kingdom was invaded by the Vakataka king Harishena.[4][14] The dynasty ended around AD 550, when Vikramasena, the last known king died.[14] The Traikutakas were probably reduced to a vassal status under the Vishnukundins and had to accept Madhavavarman I's authority.[14]

Traikutaka rulers

[edit]

The following Traikuta rulers are known from the coins and inscriptions of Gupta period-

  • Maharaja Indradatta (AD 415-440,[14] only mentioned on the coins of his son) [15]
  • Maharaja Dahrasena, son of Indradatta (A.D. 455),[4] he performed Ashwamedha[15]
  • Maharaja Vyaghrasena, son of Dahrasena (A.D. 480)[4][15]
  • Maharaja Madhyamasena, son of Vyaghrasena (A.D. 504)
  • Vikramasena, son of Madhyamasena (A.D. 533)
Coinage of Vyaghrasena, circa 480 AD, Traikutaka dynasty.[16]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Rajgor, Dilip (1998). History of the Traikūṭakas: Based on Coins and Inscriptions. Harman Publishing House.
  • MARILYN KATHLEEN EDWARDS LEESE (1983). THE TRAIKUTAKA DYNASTY AND KANHERI'S SECOND PHASE OF BUDDHIST CAVE EXCAVATION. Vol. I–II. University of MICHIGAN.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rapson, E. J. (Edward James) (1908). Catalogue of the coins of the Andhra dynasty, the Western Ksatrapas, the Traikutaka dynasty, and the "Bodhi" dynasty. London : Printed by order of the Trustees. p. 198.
  2. ^ Rapson p.clxxxv.
  3. ^ Rapson, p.cixxiv.
  4. ^ a b c d e Radhakumud Mookerji (1997). The Gupta Empire (Paperback). Motilal Banarsidass. p. 38. ISBN 9788120804401. the Traikutakas who were rulers of the Aparanta or Konkan and identified by some scholars with the dynasty of Abhira Isvarasena
  5. ^ Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (1968). The Age of imperial unity. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 223. Retrieved 3 January 2011. Although the Traikutakas, who flourished in the northern Konkan in the flfth century, may have been a branch of the Abhira tribe, Mayurasarman's inscription points to the separate existence of the Abhira and Traikutaka kingdoms in the fourth century.
  6. ^ S. V. Vishwanatha (1935). "The Abhira-Traikutaka Dynasty". Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay. Asiatic Society of Bombay. pp. 66–67. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  7. ^ H.S. Thosar (1990). "The Abhiras in Indian History". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 51. Indian History Congress: 58–60. JSTOR 44148188.
  8. ^ Lionel D. Barnett (October 1994). Antiquities of India: An Account of the History and Culture of Ancient Hindustan. Asian Educational Services. pp. 49–50. ISBN 978-81-206-0530-5. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  9. ^ Singh, Upinder (2016). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson India Education Services. p. 483. ISBN 9788131716779.
  10. ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency ..., Volume 1, Part 1 By Bombay (India : State), p. 58
  11. ^ Vaidya, Chintaman Vinayak (1921). History of Mediæval Hindu India: Circa 600-800 A.D. Oriental Book Supplying Agency. It is clear that the rule previous to that of the Gurjaras was that of the Traikutakas who claimed to be Haihayas by descent and whose capital Trikuta not yet well identified is mentioned even in the Rāmāyaṇa and in Kalidasa's Raghuvansha.
  12. ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency ..., Volume 1, Part 1 By Bombay (India : State), p. 58
  13. ^ Sailendra Nath Sen (1 January 1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. pp. 426–. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d Vanina, Eugenia, ed. (1988). Indian History (Audiobook). Allied Publishers. p. 409. ISBN 9788184245684.
  15. ^ a b c Mookerji, Radhakumud (2007). The gupta empire (5th ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120804401. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  16. ^ Rapson, E. J. (Edward James) (1908). Catalogue of the coins of the Andhra dynasty, the Western Ksatrapas, the Traikutaka dynasty, and the "Bodhi" dynasty. London : Printed by order of the Trustees. p. 202.

References

[edit]
  • "A catalogue of the Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc.." Rapson
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