Vakataka Dynasty: Ancient History NCERT Notes For UPSC

In the mid of the third century CE, the Vakataka Dynasty succeeded the Satavahana Dynasty in the Deccan region. Vindhyashakti was the founder of the Vakataka Dynasty. Their empire extended from the Southern tip of Malwa and Gujarat in the North to the River Tungabhadra in the South and from the Arabian Sea in the West to Chattisgarh in the East. The Vakataka dynasty was the contemporary of the Gupta dynasty.

Check the following article on NCERT notes on Vakataka Dynasty to know more about it which is useful to prepare for the UPSC general studies paper I.

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Origin of Vakataka Dynasty

• The Scholars have different views regarding the origin of the Vakataka Dynasty
• They were believed to be the Brahmins belonging to Vishnu Vriddha Gotra.
• The dynasty was founded by the ruler Vindhyashakti around 250 CE.
• The Vakataka Dynasty was established on the ruins of the Satavahana dynasty in the Deccan region.

Origin: South India

• Also the titles such as Haritiputra and Dharmamaharaja used by Pravarasena I and Sarvasena I respectively, were also used in the inscriptions of Southern dynasties such as Chalukyas and Pallavas.
• Some scholars believe that the Vakataka dynasty originated in South India. This is evident from some of the fragmentary inscriptions found in Andhra Pradesh in which the name Vakataka is mentioned.

Origin: Vindhyan Region

• As the Puranas state, some scholars state that the Vakataka dynasty was the Northern dynasty that originated in the Vindhyan region.
• The dynasty is referred to as Vindhyakas in the Puranas.
• The town Kanchanaka which is mentioned in the Puranas in relation to the Vakataka ruler Pravarasena I, is identified as a place in the Panna district of Madhya Pradesh.

Branches And Rulers of the Vakataka Dynasty

Vindhyashakti (250 – 270 CE)

• Vindhyashakti was the founder of the Vakataka Dynasty and he ruled from 250 CE to 270 CE.
• He was described as the ‘Banner of Vakataka family and a Dvija’ (i.e. Twice Born ) in the XVI cave inscription of Ajanta

Pravarasena I (270 – 330 CE)

• Vindhyashakti was succeeded by his son Pravarasena I. He was the real founder of the Vakataka dynasty.
• He was the only Vakata ruler who assumed the imperial title Samrat. He also assumed title Haritiputra.
• Under his reign, the Vakataka empire was extended further South of Vidarbha and the adjoining areas of Deccan. He ruled over a good portion of North India and Deccan
• The capital city of the Vakataka dynasty during his reign was Kanchanaka.
• He probably ruled for about 60 years
• During his reign, he performed a number of Vedic sacrifices such as Agnishtoma, Aptoryama, Vajapeya, Brihaspatisava, Ukthya, Atiratra, and Sadyaskra and he is said to have performed four Asvamedhas.
• He established a political alliance with the Naga dynasty by marrying his son Gautamiputra to the daughter of Naga king Bhavanaga.

The Vakataka dynasty was divided into branches following the reign of Pravarasena I. The two known branches of the dynasty were Pravarapura-Nandivardhana branch and the Vatsagulma branch.

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Pravarapura-Nandivardhana Branch Of Vakataka Dynasty

• This branch of the Vakataka dynasty ruled from places like Pravarapura in the Wardha district and Nandivardhan in the Nagpur district.
• They maintained a matrimonial alliance with their imperial Guptas

Vatsagulma Branch Of Vakataka Dynasty

The Vatsagulma branch of the Vakataka dynasty ruled the region between the Sahyadri range and the Godavari river. The important rulers of this branch were:

Sarvasena

• Sarvasena was the founder of the Vatsa Gulma branch and he reigned from 330 CE to 355 CE.
• He was the younger son of Pravarasena I
• He took up the title Dharma Maharaja
• He authored the book Harivijaya in Prakrit, which was about the story of bringing a parijat tree from heaven by the Lord Krishna.

Vindhya Sena

• Vindhyasena was the son of Sarvasena and succeeded him on the throne.
• He was also known as Vindhyashakti II and he reigned from 355 CE to 400 CE
• He is known from the Washim plates which mention the grant of a village situated in the Northern Marga of Nandikata by him in his 37th regnal year.
• Like his father, he also took up the title Dharmamaharaja.

Pravarasena II

• Vindhyasena was succeeded by Pravarasena II who ruled from 400 CE to 415 CE.
• The cave XVI inscription of Ajanta describes him in brief.
• After his death, he was succeeded by his minor, whose name was unknown. Following him Devasena ruled from 450 CE to 475 CE.

Harishena

• He succeeded his father Devasena in 475 CE
• He patronized Buddhist art and architecture
• The XVI inscription of Ajanta states that he conquered the following states during his reign
  1. Avanti in the North
  2. Kosala, Kalinga and Andhra in the East
  3. Lata (Central and Southern Gujarat) and Trikuta (Nasik district) in the west
  4. Kuntala (Southern Maharashtra) in the south.

Important Facts About Vakataka Dynasty

• 1. Vakataka inscriptions mention that in total about 35 land grants were made by the rulers of the Vakataka dynasty and Pravarasena II alone made 20 land grants.
  2. Under the patronage of the Vakataka ruler Harishena, a number of rock-cut Buddhist Chaityas and Viharas of Ajanta caves were built.
  3. The second phase of the Ajanta cave paintings corresponds to the Vakataka period.
  4. The terms Klipta and Upaklipta mentioned in the Vakataka inscriptions refer to forced labour.

• Administration:

• 1. The Vakataka empire was divided into provinces called rashtras which were administered by Rajyadhikritas
  2. The rashtras were divided into vishayas which were further divided into aharas and bhogas.

Nagardhana Excavations

Archaeological excavations were carried out at Nagardhan village in Ramtek Taluk near Nagpur in Maharashtra. These excavations provide concrete evidence of the life, religious and trade practices of the Vakataka dynasty. Some of the important findings are

• Oval-shaped clay sealings belonging to the period of Prabhavati Gupta which has her name inscribed in the Brahmi script.
• These sealings were found on top of the mega wall which was possibly the royal structure placed in the capital city.
• A copperplate issued by Prabhavati Gupta was excavated in which the names of her grandfather Samudragupta and father Chandragupta II have been mentioned.
• An intact idol of Lord Ganesha without any ornaments was found
• Earlier ceramics, ear studs made of glass, antiquities, bowls and pots, a votive shrine and tank, an iron chisel, a stone depicting a deer, and terracotta bangles were also excavated.

Dasakumaracarita of Dain which was written around 125 years after the fall of the Vakataka dynasty mentions that the ruler of Vanavasi invaded the Vakataka empire when it was under the reign of Harishena’s son. Harishena’s son neglected the study of Dandaniti and involved himself in pleasures. This advantageous position was utilized by the ruler of Vanavasi who defeated Harishena’s son on the battlefield. With his death, the Vakataka dynasty came to an end.

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