Vakataka

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The Vakataka (Vākāţaka) was an Indian dynasty which ruled parts of today's Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh from the third century to fifth century. They are the most important follow-up dynasty of the Satavahanas, contemporaneous with the Gupta.

The dynasty founder was called Vindhyashakti (250-270), from the name of the goddess Vindhya for whom the mountains were named. The dynasty was Brahman and may have come from there. The next ruler was Pravarasena I. (270-330), who maintained the realm as a great power, called himself an "all ruler" and conducted wars with the Naga kings.

Even the great conqueror of the Gupta , Samudragupta (335-380) seems to have avoided a war with the Vakataka. The Rudradeva in Samadragupta's victory inscription of Allahabad may be Pravarasena I's son Rudrasena I (330-355). But from this Samadragupta would have garnerned no lasting success.

Rudrasena I had a son named Prithvisena I (355-380), and Prithvisena I had a son named Rudrasena II. At those days the state seems to have occasionally divided. Rudrasena II (380-385) married Prabhavatigupta, the daughter of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375-413/15). Rudrasena II died fortuitously after a very short reign in 385 C.E., following which Prabhavatigupta ( 385 - 405) ruled as a regent on behalf of her two sons, Divakarsena and Damodarsena (Pravarsena II) for 20 years. During this period the Vakataka realm was practically a part of the Gupta empire. Many historians refer to this period as the Vakataka-Gupta age.

Under Pravarsena Narendrasena (440-460), Vakataka influence spread to some central Indian states. Prithvisena II , the last known king of the line, succeded to the throne around 470.

1 Rulers of Vakataka
2 Branches of Vakataka Dynasty
3 Pravarpur-Nandivardhan branch
4 Vatsagulma branch
5 External links

[edit] Rulers of Vakataka

Vindhyashakti (250-270)
Pravarasena I ( 270- 330)
Rudrasena I ( 330 - 355 )
Prithvisena I ( 355 - 380 )
Rudrasena II ( 380- 385 )
Divakarasena ( 385- 400 )
Prabhavatigupta (fem.), Regent (385- 405)
Damodarasena (Pravarasena II) (400- 440)
Narendrasena (440- 460)
Prithvishena II (460- 480)

Sarvasena
Harishena ( 480- 510)

emergence of the Chalukyas of Karnataka...
To the Karnataka Empire 543-1317

[edit] Branches of Vakataka Dynasty

It is generally believed that the Vakataka ruling family was divided into four branches. Two branches are known and two are unknown.

The known branches are the Pravarpur-Nandivardhan branch and the Vatsagulma branch.

[edit] Pravarpur-Nandivardhan branch

The Pravarpur-Nandivardhan branch ruled from various sites like Pravarpur (Paunar), Dist. Wardha, Mansar and Nandivardha (Nagardhan), Dist. Nagpur. This branch maintained matrimonial relations with the Imperial Guptas.

[edit] Vatsagulma branch

After Pravarasena I the second line of his younger son Sarvasena was the Vatsagulma branch in Basim, in Akola district, who occupied the area between the Sahydri Range and the Godavari River. They patronized some of the Buddhist caves at Ajanta.

Harishena, a prince from a collateral line, came into power later in Berar. The rulers from this branch excavated the famous caves of Ajanta and Ellora. The end of the dynasty is unknown.