VAKATAKAS SOURCES Inscriptions Texts Puranas The Vakaaka Empire

VAKATAKAS

SOURCES �Inscriptions �Texts �Puranas

�The Vakaṭaka Empire was originated from the Deccan in the 3 rd century AD. �Brahmins by their caste �Founded by Vindhyasakti �After him, Pravarasena I came to power. �He himself called “Samrat” means universal ruler. �Extended the dynasty to the North and South.

�Vakataka ruling family was divided into two branches after Pravarasena. �Padmapura-Nandivardhana-Pravarapura branch and the Vatsagulma branch. �Why there was a division? �Pravarasena had two sons-Gautamiputra and Sarvasena. �Gautamiputra died, his son Rudrasena I ascended the throne.

�Sarvasena, did not accept him as a king and established an independent kingdom at Vatsagulma. �Thus the empire divided into two parts. �This division weakened the power of the Vakatakas.

Padmapura-Nandivardhana. Pravarapura branch �Rudrasena I was the first ruler of this branch. �Rudrasena II married Prabhavathy, daughter of Chandra Gupta II. �After his death Prabhavathy ruled the kingdom. �Divakarasena ruled for 15 years. �Incapable rulers. �Empire was conquered by Harisena, ruler of the Vatsagulma branch of the Vakatakas.

Vatsagulma Branch �First ruler-Sarvasena �Other rulers-Vindhyasakthi II, Pravarasena II, Devasena. �Powerful ruler-Harisena united two branches and conquered Avanti, Kalinga, Andhra Pradesh, etc. , �After his death, the empire declined. �Nothing known about the downfall of the Vakatakas.

ADMINISTRATION �King-Head of the administration-hereditary �Pravarasena I –Samrat �Others-Maharaja �No Mantri Parishad to assist the ruler. Instead officials were helped the ruler-Mahamantri, Senapathi. �Empire divided into Bhuktis or Rashtras. �Santaka – Chief officer of a Bhuktis.

�Chatas and Batas-officers maintain peace, collecting taxes, law and order. �Source of income-Land tax �Nothing is known about other taxes. �Village assemblies were existed to look after the village administration

SOCIAL LIFE �Caste system not rigid. �Sati system was rarely observed. �Widow had a share in the husbands property �Cloth Industry was at the top. Economic prosperity. �Issued no coins. �Organised guilds for their trade

Literature �Patronised Sanskrit and Prakrit language �“Hari Vijaya” written by Maharaja Sarvasena �“Sethu-Bandh” written by Maharaja Pravarasena �Both in poetic form and written in Prakrit language. �The building work of the caves of Ajanta was initiated during their period.

VAKATAKAS COINS

ARCHITECTURE

NARASIMHA VISHNUS MAN-LION AVATAR

YOGA NARASIMHAR

Vindhyashakti, Founder of Vakataka Dynasty

INSCRIPTIONS

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