NAGA DYNASTY ANCIENT INDIA

PRESENTATION ON NAGA DYNASTY OF ANCIENT INDIA

1. JIWAJI UNIVERSITY, GWALIOR ANCIENT INDIAN HISTORY, CULTURE AND ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT A SEMINAR PRESENTATION ON THE NĀGA DYNASTY COURSE : MA (A.I.H.C.A.) SESSION : 2021-2023 SUBJECT : HISTORY OF INDIA UPTO 650 CAD PRESENTED BY: - Saurabh Rajput MA (AIHCA) - Ist Sem PRESENTED TO : - Prof. (Dr.) S. D. Sisodia

2. Nagas, Myth or Real ?

3. Parsvanath Image, 10c, Sahet-Mahet, Lucknow Museum Buddha with Nagas, 2c, Mathura Museum Nagas in Buddhist and Jaina tradition

4. Political scenario of North India at the time of Nagas expansion @Map not to scale, only for representation purpose. Malav Tribes

5. Naga expansion in “Green” based on coinage distribution and epigraphic records @Map not to scale, only for representation purpose. Malav Tribes

6. Coinage of Naga Kings Coins of Brihaspti Naga (3 rd AD)

7. History of The Nagas The earliest information about Naga Cult comes from the Great epic Mahabharata as tribes divided into various sub clans,. All Nagas were born to Sage Kashyap and Kadru. Since, Sage Kashyap was inhabitant of Kashmir, we still find various cities in Kashmir founded on the name of various Naga Kings. Cities like Anantnag (on Ananta), Karakota (Karkota), Takshashila (Takshak) etc There are several Naga kings mentioned in Indian Puranic and Buddhist Texts.

8. First Historical reference..... First historical mention of Naga kings is shishu-Naga dynasty of Magadha. Shishunaga (413-395 BCE), took over the throne by replacing last king of Haryanka Dynasty. After Shishunaga, his son KalaAshok ruled for (395-367 BCE) and after him 10 other kings ruled for brief period (345 BCE) until the last ruler Mahanandin was deposed by Mahapadma Nanda, forging Nanda dynasty.

9. As far as historical records insinuate, we do not find much about Naga Kings in Valley (Kashmir) area or elsewhere except in later traditions. The actual records are only visible in later Buddhist depictions and in 2-3rd century epigraphic, numismatic findings as well as in literary sources.

10. Naga Dynasty in post-Kushan era After the fall of Great Kushana empire in north and central India (230-250 CAD) Nagas had very humble begining, it seems they started from Vidisha region and became most powerful ruler in pre-Gupta period. They were also responsible for eliminating last traces of Kushan rulers in Central and North India, extending their rule upto Mathura.

11. Sources of information..... Puranic texts give us geneological list of Naga Ruler, as well as it also tells us that Naga ruled in different other parts like Mathura, Kantipur, Padmavati were all related to each other. Epigraphic records of Vakataka, Gupta also gives us important information about their ruling period, extent and name of the rulers. Copper Coins (Known as Kakini ) are found in large numbers help us to define the Naga territory and helped to resolve the chronological problems.

12. Naga Dynastic Expansion (170-340 CAD) @Map not to scale, only for representation purpose. Malav Tribes

13. Political status based on Epigraphic, Numismatic and Literary evidences 1. Based on provenance of the Naga coins, H. V. Trivedi envisaged that Naga Kingdom originated from Vidisha, then they Shifted their capital as Padmavati (Pawaya) in north, however a branch at Vidisha continued to expand further in south upto Ujjain. while Padmavati branch went further up and annexed territories like Kantipuri (Morena) and Mathura, appointing their own family members as ruler of these cities. A branch of Naga was also ruling at Ahichhatra (Bareilly) region at the time of Samudragupta as mentioned in his Prayag Prashati. Northwards, Naga frontiers were bordered with Yodheya Confederacy and in west to the Rajasthan. 2. According to Vayu and Brahmanda Puranas, Nine Naga kings ruled Padmavati, Seven ruled Mathura before Gupta rising. However, coinage finding to doesnot confirm with this, as per scholars coins of 12 different kings have been found from Padmavati. 3. Vakataka inscription of Rudrasena mentions that his mother was daughter of Bhar-shiva king Bhavanaga, This Naga King has been identified with the issued coins in Padmavati, Rudrasena reign dated from 335 to 355 AD. Therefore, his maternal Grandfather can be dated to early 4th Century. Vakataka mentions that Bharashiva performed 10 Ashvamedha Sacrifice. This indicates that Nagas assumed a sovereign status after defeating Kushanas from North India. The Bharashiva family obtained the holy water of Ganges for the coronation with their valour, this insinuates that they won region upto Gange river. Bhima-Naga was the first soveriegn king of padmavathi who used title Maharaja in his coins. 4. Gupta Inscriptions also mentions that Chandragupta-II married with KuberNaga, a daughter of Naga official. It suggests that the Bharshiva or Nagas were quite formidable dynasty who had strong matrimonial alliances with other great political powers of India.

14. Fall of Naga Kingdom Samudragupta (335-375 CAD) Prayag Prashasti mentions Ganapati Naga, Ruler of Padmavati, defeated by him and with the deposition of Ganapati Naga, the Nagas power subsided from Vidisha and other areas. Samudragupta also attacked Kaushambi, Mathura and Yodheyas and completely annihilated these kingdoms. Another king Achyutanandin from Ahichhatra subdued by him was also mentioned as Naga king. As for as Bharshiva name is concerned, some scholars (K. P. Jayaswal) has conjectured that the people of Naga tribe used to carry small Shivalingam on their Shoulders and hence were called as Bhara-shiva. Historian K. P. Jayaswal had read several coins and attributed them to the Nagas of Kantipuri like Haya-Naga, Traya-Naga, Bhava-Naga but other historions like A. S. Altekar have discredited this theory and added that Kantipuri was perhaps smaller capital of Padmavati and ruled by subsidiary branch. Kantipuri is identified by Kotwal town in Morena District. By the 530 AD, Nagas power weakened and no longer remained a powerful Political entity. They gradually disappeared from North-Indian political scenario, though we continue to find mention of the Naga kings in other parts of India.

15. Nagas in popular culture Even at later period, Nagas were significantly depicted in temple reliefs in the form of sculptures often in donative or worshiping or sacrificial mode to the deity (in Hindu, Buddhist shrines). This indicates that Naga people even though were no more a political entity continued to donate heavily for religious works through out India and hence, found prominent places in the popular depictions upto 10th century. They still have significant position in popular Hindu and Buddhist mythologies. Many a temple constructed later in 5-9 th centuries have ample depictions of Naga Families, Naga Kings etc. Nagas are part of many Puranic stories, Buddhist Jataka tales.

16. Depiction of Naga Family at the entrance of Cave 19, Ajanta (7 th Century AD) Suggests that perhaps they had made donation for this cave.

17. Samudragupta Prayag Prashasti

18. Reference : R. K. Sharma (2001). Ancient history of the Naga tribe of Central India K.P.Jayaswal - History of India 150 – 350 A.D. www.wikipedia.org https://myvoice.opindia.com/2020/05/the-naga-dynasties-in-ancient-india/ Hemchandra Rayachaudhury - Political History of Ancient India. K. C. Srivastava - Prachin Bharat Ka Itihas R. C. Majumdar, A. S. Altekar - Vakataka Gupta Age.