INVASION OF
SAMUDRAGUPTA
The political condition of Orissa in the
Pre—Gupta Age was characterized by the absence of any paramount power. The
Kushãnas and the Muraridas seem to have exercised their control over Orissa for
some time. By the end of their supremacy the political unity of Kaliñge had
given way to the rise of many small kingdoms. Kalidasa mentions that the river
Kapisã (identified with modern Kasãi) was the boundary between Utkala and
Kaliñga during this period. We also learn from Silapadikarapi and Manimekhali2
that internal wars and rebellions brought about the disunity of Kaliñga in the
Pre-Gupta period. In fact. when Sarnudragupta led his South Indian expedition
he did not encounter any opposition from Kalinga.
Lines
19/20 of the Allahabad Pillar Inscription throw light on the nature of
Samudraguptas conquests of Orissa in the course of his South Indian campaign.
The rulers of Orissa who were vanquished by Samudragupta were Mahendra of South Kosala, Vyäghraräja of Mahäkäntära,
Mantaräja of Kuräla, Mahendragiri of pistapura , Swämidutta of Kottura, Damana
of Erandapalla and Kuvera of Devarâshtra.
KING MAHENDRA OF KOSALA :-
Kosela, the territory
of king Mahendra, was the same as Dakshina Kosala (South Kosala) comprising the
modern districts of Bilaspur and Raipur of Madhaya Pradesh and Sambalpur of
Orissa3. Scholars have put forward various theories to identify King Mahendra.
Recently, P.L.Mishra4 has suggested that since we know of no other dynasty than
the Nalas ruling over South Kosala in the fourth century A.D., Mahendra(Varman)
who was the contemporary of the Gupta emperor, must have belonged to the Nala
dynasty.
These
are his other arguments in support of this theory :
1)
According to the Purnas, Nals were
ruling over Kosala in the fourth century A.D.
2)
That Mahendra had the proud title of
‘Aditya’before the Guptas took over Kosala.
3)
The Mahendra of coins (i.e. of
Mahendraditya coins) and the Mahendra referredtoiflAllahabad Pillar Inscription
must be identical.
4)
The name Mahendravarman sounds well with
some of the Nala rulers like Bhavadattavarman and Skandavarman.
The Nalas ruled over Nisãdha country and not over Kosala as is evident from the Purnic source5. Moreover, as regards the Nisdha country B.C.Law writes : During the period represented by epic and Puränic tradition the Nisdas seems to have had their habitat among the mountains of jhalwãr and Khàndesh in the Vindhya and Satpur ranges.
This is proved by the reference in Mahãbhãrata to a Nisädha—rãshtrain the region of the Srävasti and the Western Vindhyas, not far from the Paripatra. The Erihads&nihit of Varãhamihira seems to recognise a kingdom or rhtra of the Nisdas in the South—east of Madheyadesa. A Nisãdha kingdom whose capital was Sringaverapura is referred to in the Rãmäyaa. Further Mr.Wilson thinks that it was near the roads which lead from it across the Rksa mountain to Avanti and the South as well as to Vidarbha and Kosala. Burgess11 places the Nisãdha country to the South of Mãlwã. Finally, according to D.C.Sircar’ Nisãdhas were associated with Pariyatra. They probably lived about Nalapura, modern Narwer in the Sivapuri district of Madhaya Pradesh.
The different interpretations which are given here prove the seperate existence of a Nisäda country (along with Kosala and Mekala) which was ruled by Nala kings. This proves the wrong presumptions of Misra that the Nalas were ruling over Kosala on the eve of the campaign of Samudragupta. Again, Mahendra of Allahabad Pillar Inscription cannot be identified with king Mahendrãditya who issued the Khairtal hoard of gold coins’. ‘Mahendrãdity& legend of the coins indicate that Mahendra belonged to a period much later than the fourth century A.D. Of Mishra’s suggestion that the name Mahendra(varman) sounds well with some of the Nala rulers like Bhavadattavarrnan, Skandavarman etc. N.K.Sahu’ says that it is not only vague but also unwarrented. since neither the Mahendrditya of the coins nor the Mahendra referred to in Allahabad Pillar Inscription had the surname Varman1, and no Nala ruler was known to have the title of Aditya as suffix to his name.
As to the other identifications of king Mahendra, K.D.Bajpai considers
him to be a Megha king. He writes that from the coins and some epigraphs0 from
the Vatsa and South—Kosala regions we know that this part of the country may
have remained independent till about 335 A.D, when Samudragupta annexed it. We
do not know if Mahendra of South Kosala who was thus defeated 15 by
Samudragupta bore any relationship with Meghas. Since we have not come across
any coin or inscriptions showing Mahendra’srelationship with the Meghas,
Bajpai’s suggestions appear untenable.
VYAGHPAPAJA OF MAHAKANTA
Contiguous to the kingdom of South
Kosala was the territory known as Mahãkntra which, according to - mhäbhãrata ,extended
from the East of Kosala up to the bank of river Ve (Waingañgã). This territory
is generally identified with the kingdom of King Vyäghra, father of Jayanätha,
belonging to the Uchchakalpa family, who was a feudatory of the Vakatakas.
Inscriptions of this king were found at Nach-ne—ki talai
and Gang in Madhaya Pradesh. But this king was the ruler of the
Bundelkhand region, North of Vincihya, and therefore cannot be classed with the
rulers of the Dakshinãpatha. Mahãkäntära
appears to be the same as Mahävana referred - is to in two of the Amaravati Stupa
Inscriptions and may be identified with the wild tracts of modern districts of
Kalahandi and Koraput in Orissa19. Vyghraräja, the king of Mahkântära gallantly
fought with Samudragupta but was ultimately defeated by him. The coins of Tiger
type which depict the emperor Samudragupta as overpowering a tiger are said to
have represented this war: the victory over Vyãghrarja was considered a
significant one by the emperor himself.
MANTARAJA OF KURALA :
After subduing Mahäkntära territory
Sarnudragupta defeated king Mantarja of Kurâla, a territory which is identified
by many scholars with the Sonepur region of Bolangir district. Barnet suggests,
identification of this place with Korada in South India; Jayswal locates it in
the territory on the bank of the Kollear (Kollair) lake; but Raychoudhury
suggests that this place must be within the territory of Hastivarman of Vengi
mentioned separately in the Allahabad Inscriptions. According to S.N.Rajguru, however,
Korãla may be the same as Kolaulapurapattana or Kokolavalapurapatiana mentioned
in the records of Eastern Gañgas of Kaliñga and identified with the modern town
of Kuläda in Ghumsur, Taluk of Ganjam district. But Kalaulapura was the seat of
the Western Gangas and has been identified with Kolär in Mysore. If
Kolaulapurapattana is taken to be the town established by the Eastern Ganges it
must be ascribed to a period much later than that of Samudragupta.
The
Sonepur region of Bolangir district which was contiguous to Mahãkosala may be
said to have represented the territory of Kosala. The villages named Bada-Karal
and Säna—Karalâ near Bink (Vinitapura of medieval epigraph) are very likely
reminiscent of the name of ancient Korla26. This region is located in the Añg
river valley and is found rich in antiquities datable to both Pre—Gupta and the
Post—Gupta periods and also occupies an important position in between the
territories of Mahãkosala and Mahkãntãra.
In this connection we draw the attention of Scholars to a Saravapuriya
copper plate grant of Mahrja Narendra discovered at Rawan27 in Madhaya Pradesh.
In the second line of the said charter there is mention of the village Aramaka
situated in Mantarãjabhukti. We suggest that the kingdom of Kurala which was
under the suzerainty of Mantarãja in the time of Samudragupta was subsequently
designated as Mantaräjabhukti’ in the sixth century A.D. during the reign of
the arvapuriyas. Ararnaka, mentioned in the Rawan copper plates.. is very
likely the same as modern Rämpur in the bolangir district. In that case the
identificat ion of Kuräla in Bolangir district seems to be quite tenable. Under
these circumstances we may suggest that Mantarãja was ruling over the region
surrounding Säna—Karal and Bada—Karal which was later known as Mantarãjabhukti.
Mahãkosala, Mahkãntãra and Korála composed the western region of the
South—western part of modern Orissa, and the exact territorial limits of these
three kingdoms are difficult to determine. It seems that Samudragupta started
his campaign from the Jamunã valley, more particularly from Kauambi, and
marching through the modern Rewa and Jabalpur regions, entered the territory of
South-Kosala. After subduing Kosala, Mahäkãntra and Korla he could easily
proceed towards the eastern coast through the ancient trade route tha linked
Kosala with Kalinga.
The territory of Kaliñga probably was no longer a compact one, capable
of offering a formidable resistance to the invader. This territory was then divided
into not less than four principalities namely Kottura, Erandapalla, Devaräshtra
and Pisthapura, each being under the rule of a petty chieftain.
PlISTAPURAKA MAHENDRAGIRI-KAUTTURAKA
SVAMIDUTTA :The expression Paitapuraka Mahendragiri Kautturaka Svämidutta’ in the Allahabad
Pillar Inscription has been variously interpreted by scholars Fleet interprets
it as ‘Mahendragiri of Pistapura arid Svãmidutta of Kuttura’ and Bhandarkar as
‘Mahendragiri the king of Pistapura and Svámidutta the king of Kottura’.
Kottura has been identified with modern Kothoor about miles to the South of Mahendra hill. G.Ramdas
has given an altogether different interpretation. He has suggested Svãmidutta
as the lord of Pitapura, Mahendragiri and Kuttura, and has emphasized the
importance of Mahendragiri.
The Mahendre mountain range of the Eastern Ghats formed an important
geographical feature of Kaliñga as it was regarded by many royal dynasties in
the past as their cradle land. It was important as a seat of political
activities and became famous as a centre of religious and cultural life of
Kaliñga. The Mahendra region was originally inhabited by the aboriginal avara
and Pulindas but about the early Christian era civilized races began their
settlement in that area. Gautamiputra Sãtakarni is known to have extended his
empire in the 2nd century A.D. in the east up to the Mahendra hill.
The Mahäbhretdeclares this mountain as an important seat of Aryan
culture where Parasurâma, the champion of Brahmanism is said to have performed
penance. In the Raghuvaihsa of Kãlidsa the Mahendra mountain finds prominent
mention and it is regarded there as the very heart of Kaliñga. Raghu, in the
course of his ‘digvijaye’, is said to have conquered Kaliñga. According to the
poet Raghu inflicted a crushing defeat upon the King of Kaliñga at the summit
of Mahendragiri. The poet refers to the king of Kaliñga as the ‘Lord of
Mahendra’ and there—by suggests that the political headquarters of Kaliñga was
located in Mahendra region. The palace of Hemãngada, the king of Kaliñga, as
indicated by the poet in the same work, was located on the sea shore not far
from the Mahendra hill
The southern expedition of Samudragupta as described by Harisena in the
Allahabad Pillar Inscription echoes the invasion of Raghu. We presume from this
inscription that the king of Kaliñga, whose headquarters was at Pisthapura, was
probably named as Mahendragiri after his famous hill. ‘Kottura’ of
Mahendrabhoga visaya mentioned in the same inscription also finds mention in
the Dhavalapettä grant36 of Umävarman of the Mhera dynasty. This suggests that
when even after the invasion of Samudragupta, Kaliñga became a powerful state
under the Mätharas, a district named
Mahendrabhoga was formed centering round the Mahendra hill
KUVERA OF DEVARASHTRA :
R.C.Majumdar and J.Dubreuil have located Devarshtra in the Viagapattanam
district of Andhra Pradesh. We are inclined to identify Devarãshtra of the
Allahabad Pillar Inscription with Devapura mentioned in the Sripurath grant of
Anantavarman.
DAMANA OF
ERANDAPALLA :
Errandapalla has been identified with modern
Erandapalli near Chicacole. The name ‘Damana’ suggests that this king was
probably an ancestor of Mahrja S’atrudãmana known to us from the Peddãduggafn
copper plate charters as the ruler of Girikaliñga or Trikaliñga. The tutelary
deity of this royal family Darnaneswar, seems to have been installed by king
Damana arid from this consideration Darnaneswara may be regarded the earliest
known Saivite God in Kaliñga.
After the
subjugation of these territories the campaign of Samudragupta in Kaliñga was
successfully over; and the victor triumphantly crossed the river Godavari and
proceeded towards Vengi over which king Hastivarmari was ruling. The southern
kings, claimed to have been defeated by Samudragupta were Hastivarrnan, the
Sãlankyana king of Vengi, Vihnugopa, the Pallava king of KaIchi, Nilarâja of
Avamukta, Ugrasena of Palaka and Dharmarja of Kusthalapura. These kings and their
kingdoms have not been satisfactorily identified, though it is believed that
Hastivarrnan and Vishnugopa, belonging
to Sãlankãyana and Pallava dynasties respectively, were famous kings in the
south. Hastivarman is also known from the Peddäveci Grant4’ of Nandivarman . J.Dubreuil has suggested that Samudragupta, advancing as
far as river Krishna was opposed by a confederacy of kings of the Eastern Deccan, and being repulsed, abondoned his conquests in the
Orissan coast and returned to Magadha. K.P.Jayaswal is of the opinion that the
southern potentates were grouped under two chief leaders, Mantarja of Korala
and Vishnugopa of Kachi, and that Samudragupta fought his decisive battle in
the Colair lake region. Such suggestions are, however, speculative in nature.
Notwithstanding his overwhelming success Samudragupta was not destined to alter
the political structure of these states. The Allahabad Pillar Inscription makes
us believe that instead of annexing their territories to his growing empire, he
liberated and reinstated the defeated kings in their respective kingdoms.
Samudragupta’s act of re—installing the SouthI ndian kings has led some
scholars to speculate that the Gupta emperor was forced to adopt such a course
of action owing to his discomfiture at the hands of his southern contemporaries who fought shoulder to shoulder under the
stewardship of two kings Mantarãja and Vishnugopa, But such speculation is far
fetched and untenable as there is no internal evidences to support it.
JH.C.Raychoudhury is of the opinion that Samudragupta’s unwillingness to
annex the southern states was due to his realization of the utter absurdity of
maintaining permanent control over these kingdoms.which lay far away from his
base. But the more probable reason why Samudragupta reinstated this southern
potentates after having defeated them seems to be a different one. A close study
of the Allahabad Pillar Inscription reveals that when the Gupta monarch was
engaged in the south, several kings of Aryävarta rose united to fight against
him. It is no wonder, therefore, that Sainudragupta had to give up the idea of
annexing the southern states in order to prepare for a great struggle in the
Aryávarta war. The defeated kings of Orissa acknowledged the submission of the
retreating emperor on the political gimmick; but in reality this submission was
far from being meaningful, and they continued to rule over their principalities
as independent sovereigns.
