Period – around 250A.D to 500 A.D .
Territorial Expanse : Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the western to the edges of Chhattisgarh in the east.
Languages – Ancient Maharasthri, Sanskrit, Prakrit.
Sources of their History- Allahabad inscriptions, Ajanta caves.
Religions Patronised- Hinduism, Buddhism.
Founder – King Vindhyasakthi is considered to be the original founder .
Rulers of the Vakataka dynasty
Vindhyasakti (250270)
Pravarasena I (270330)
1. The PravarapuraNandivardhana branch
Rudrasena I (330 355)
Prithvisena I (355 380)
Rudrasena II (380385)
Divakarasena (385400)
Prabhavatigupta (fem.), Regent (385405)
Damodarasena (Pravarasena II) (400440)
Narendrasena (440460)
Prithvishena II (460480)
2.The Vatsagulma branch
Sarvasena (330 355)
Vindhyasena (Vindhyashakti II) (355 400)
Pravarasena II (400 415)
Unknown (415 450)
Devasena (450 475)
Harishena (475500)
Territorial expansion began in the reign of his son Pravarasena I, who came to the throne about 270 and reached the Narmada River in the north by annexing the kingdom of Purika.
Branches of Vakataka Dynasty
It is generally believed that the Vakataka ruling family was divided into four branches after Pravarsena I. Two branches are known and
two are unknown. The known branches are the
1.Pravarpura Nandivardhana branch – They ruled from various sites like Pravarapura (Paunar) in Wardha district and Mansar
and Nandivardhan (Nagardhan) in Nagpur district. This branch maintained matrimonial relations with the Imperial Guptas.
Prominent Kings were – Rudrasena I, Pravarasena ,
2.Vatsagulma branch – This branch was founded by Sarvasena, the
second son of Pravarasena I after his death. King Sarvasena made Vatsagulma, the present day Washim in Washim district of Maharashtra his capital .
The territory ruled by this branch was between the Sahydri Range and the Godavari River .
Important kings under this branch are :
Sarvasena
Sarvasena (c.330 355) took the title of Dharmamaharaja. He is also known as the author of Harivijaya in Prakrit which is based on the story of bringing the parijat tree from
heaven by Krishna. This work,praised by later writers is lost.
He is also known as the author of many verses of the Prakrit
Gaha Sattasai. One of his minister’s name was Ravi. He
was succeeded by his son Vindhyasena.
Vindhyasena
Vindhysena (c.355 400) was also known as Vindhyashakti II. He is known from the well known Washim plates which recorded
the grant of a village situated in the northern marga (subdivision)
of Nandikata (presently Nanded) in his 37th regnal year. The
genealogical portion of the grant is written in Sanskrit and the formal portion in Prakrit. This is the first known land grant by any Vakataka ruler. He also took the title of Dharmamaharaja.
Pravarsena II
Pravarasena II (c.400 415) was the next ruler of whom very little is known except from the Cave XVI inscription of Ajanta, which says that he became exalted by his excellent, powerful and liberal rule. He died after a very short rule and succeeded by his minor son, who was only 8 years old when his father died. Name of this ruler is lost from the Cave XVI inscription.
Devasena
This unknown ruler was succeeded by his son Devasena (c.450 475). His administration was actually run by his minister
Hastibhoja.[6] During his reign, one of his servant Svaminadeva
excavated a tank named Sudarshana near Washim
Harishena
Harishena (c.475 500) succeeded his father Devasena. He was a
great patron of Buddhist architecture, art and culture. The World
Heritage monument Ajanta is surviving example of his works. The
rock cut architectural cellXVI inscription of Ajanta states that he
conquered Avanti (Malwa) in the north, Kosala (Chhattisgarh),
Kalinga and Telangana in the east, Lata (Central and Southern Gujarat) Harishena was succeeded by two rulers whose names are not known.
The end of the dynasty is unknown. They were probably defeated by
the Kalachuri of Mahismati.
Cultural Contributions
Some of the kings of the Vakataka dynasty contributed heavily towards the sectors of culture, religion and arts. Though the rule of these kings was not as famous or as significant as the
kings of other famous dynasties, they still played a big role in those days.
The caves, famous for its murals, are the finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting.
These caves are excavated in horse–shoe shaped bend of rock surface nearly 76 m in height overlooking a narrow stream known as Waghora.
The location of this valley provided a calm and serene environment for the Buddhist monks who retreated at these secluded places during the rainy seasons. This retreat also provided them with enough time for furthering their religious pursuits through intellectual discourses for a considerably longer period
The caves were caused to be excavated by royal patronage and the feudatories under the Vakatakas as illustrated by the inscriptions found in the caves. Varahadeva, the minister of Vakataka king Harishena (A.D. 475-500) dedicated Cave 16 to the Buddhist Sangha while Cave 17 was the gift of a prince (who subjugated Asmaka) feudatory to the same king.
The flurry of activities at Ajanta was between mid 5th century A.D. to mid 6th century A.D.
During the rule of King Harishena, cave numbers sixteen and seventeen were dug out and adorned with excellent paintings and sculptures. One of the famous historians, Walter Spink
has recorded that all the caves in the Ajanta rock cut temples, except caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and
15A, were constructed during the historic rule of Harishena.
Literature
One of the rulers of the Vatsagulma branch, King Sarvasena, was also a famous poet and is best known for his work, Harivijaya in Prakrit script. During the time it was written, this work was praised by lot of literature experts. However, this work got lost over time due to lack of preservation. The work termed as Gaha Sattasai, was also penned by Sarvasena.
Religion
The last significant ruler of the Vatsagulma branch, Harishena, was known to have contributed excessively towards Buddhism culture. Cave number 16 in Ajanta caves found in the Aurangabad district is proof of the fact that Harishena won places like Nasik’s Trikuta (west), Central and Southern Gujarat’s Lata (west), Telangana (east), Kalinga (east), Malwa’s Avanti (north), Chhattisgarh’s Kosala (east) and Southern Maharashtra’s Kuntala (south).
Territorial Expanse : Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian Sea in the western to the edges of Chhattisgarh in the east.
Languages – Ancient Maharasthri, Sanskrit, Prakrit.
Sources of their History- Allahabad inscriptions, Ajanta caves.
Religions Patronised- Hinduism, Buddhism.
Founder – King Vindhyasakthi is considered to be the original founder .
Rulers of the Vakataka dynasty
Vindhyasakti (250270)
Pravarasena I (270330)
1. The PravarapuraNandivardhana branch
Rudrasena I (330 355)
Prithvisena I (355 380)
Rudrasena II (380385)
Divakarasena (385400)
Prabhavatigupta (fem.), Regent (385405)
Damodarasena (Pravarasena II) (400440)
Narendrasena (440460)
Prithvishena II (460480)
2.The Vatsagulma branch
Sarvasena (330 355)
Vindhyasena (Vindhyashakti II) (355 400)
Pravarasena II (400 415)
Unknown (415 450)
Devasena (450 475)
Harishena (475500)
Territorial expansion began in the reign of his son Pravarasena I, who came to the throne about 270 and reached the Narmada River in the north by annexing the kingdom of Purika.
Branches of Vakataka Dynasty
It is generally believed that the Vakataka ruling family was divided into four branches after Pravarsena I. Two branches are known and
two are unknown. The known branches are the
1.Pravarpura Nandivardhana branch – They ruled from various sites like Pravarapura (Paunar) in Wardha district and Mansar
and Nandivardhan (Nagardhan) in Nagpur district. This branch maintained matrimonial relations with the Imperial Guptas.
Prominent Kings were – Rudrasena I, Pravarasena ,
2.Vatsagulma branch – This branch was founded by Sarvasena, the
second son of Pravarasena I after his death. King Sarvasena made Vatsagulma, the present day Washim in Washim district of Maharashtra his capital .
The territory ruled by this branch was between the Sahydri Range and the Godavari River .
Important kings under this branch are :
Sarvasena
Sarvasena (c.330 355) took the title of Dharmamaharaja. He is also known as the author of Harivijaya in Prakrit which is based on the story of bringing the parijat tree from
heaven by Krishna. This work,praised by later writers is lost.
He is also known as the author of many verses of the Prakrit
Gaha Sattasai. One of his minister’s name was Ravi. He
was succeeded by his son Vindhyasena.
Vindhyasena
Vindhysena (c.355 400) was also known as Vindhyashakti II. He is known from the well known Washim plates which recorded
the grant of a village situated in the northern marga (subdivision)
of Nandikata (presently Nanded) in his 37th regnal year. The
genealogical portion of the grant is written in Sanskrit and the formal portion in Prakrit. This is the first known land grant by any Vakataka ruler. He also took the title of Dharmamaharaja.
Pravarsena II
Pravarasena II (c.400 415) was the next ruler of whom very little is known except from the Cave XVI inscription of Ajanta, which says that he became exalted by his excellent, powerful and liberal rule. He died after a very short rule and succeeded by his minor son, who was only 8 years old when his father died. Name of this ruler is lost from the Cave XVI inscription.
Devasena
This unknown ruler was succeeded by his son Devasena (c.450 475). His administration was actually run by his minister
Hastibhoja.[6] During his reign, one of his servant Svaminadeva
excavated a tank named Sudarshana near Washim
Harishena
Harishena (c.475 500) succeeded his father Devasena. He was a
great patron of Buddhist architecture, art and culture. The World
Heritage monument Ajanta is surviving example of his works. The
rock cut architectural cellXVI inscription of Ajanta states that he
conquered Avanti (Malwa) in the north, Kosala (Chhattisgarh),
Kalinga and Telangana in the east, Lata (Central and Southern Gujarat) Harishena was succeeded by two rulers whose names are not known.
The end of the dynasty is unknown. They were probably defeated by
the Kalachuri of Mahismati.
Cultural Contributions
Some of the kings of the Vakataka dynasty contributed heavily towards the sectors of culture, religion and arts. Though the rule of these kings was not as famous or as significant as the
kings of other famous dynasties, they still played a big role in those days.
Art
AJANTA CAVESThe caves, famous for its murals, are the finest surviving examples of Indian art, particularly painting.
These caves are excavated in horse–shoe shaped bend of rock surface nearly 76 m in height overlooking a narrow stream known as Waghora.
The location of this valley provided a calm and serene environment for the Buddhist monks who retreated at these secluded places during the rainy seasons. This retreat also provided them with enough time for furthering their religious pursuits through intellectual discourses for a considerably longer period
The caves were caused to be excavated by royal patronage and the feudatories under the Vakatakas as illustrated by the inscriptions found in the caves. Varahadeva, the minister of Vakataka king Harishena (A.D. 475-500) dedicated Cave 16 to the Buddhist Sangha while Cave 17 was the gift of a prince (who subjugated Asmaka) feudatory to the same king.
The flurry of activities at Ajanta was between mid 5th century A.D. to mid 6th century A.D.
During the rule of King Harishena, cave numbers sixteen and seventeen were dug out and adorned with excellent paintings and sculptures. One of the famous historians, Walter Spink
has recorded that all the caves in the Ajanta rock cut temples, except caves 9, 10, 12, 13 and
15A, were constructed during the historic rule of Harishena.
Literature
One of the rulers of the Vatsagulma branch, King Sarvasena, was also a famous poet and is best known for his work, Harivijaya in Prakrit script. During the time it was written, this work was praised by lot of literature experts. However, this work got lost over time due to lack of preservation. The work termed as Gaha Sattasai, was also penned by Sarvasena.
Religion
The last significant ruler of the Vatsagulma branch, Harishena, was known to have contributed excessively towards Buddhism culture. Cave number 16 in Ajanta caves found in the Aurangabad district is proof of the fact that Harishena won places like Nasik’s Trikuta (west), Central and Southern Gujarat’s Lata (west), Telangana (east), Kalinga (east), Malwa’s Avanti (north), Chhattisgarh’s Kosala (east) and Southern Maharashtra’s Kuntala (south).
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