Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Seuna Empire
Official languages Marathi, Sanskrit, Kannada
Capital Devagiri
Government Monarchy
Preceding state Kalyani Chalukya
Succeeding state Deccan Sultanates

The Seuna, Sevuna or Yadava dynasty (Kannada: ಸೇವುಣರು, Marathi: यादव वंश) (850 - 1334) was an Indian dynasty, which during their peak ruled present day Maharashtra, north Karnataka and parts of Madhya Pradesh from their capital at Devagiri (present-day Daulatabad in Maharashtra).

They initially ruled as feudatories of the Kalyani Chalukyas and around the middle of the 12th. century, declared their independence. At their peak under Singhana II, they ruled a large kingdom stretching from the Tungabhadra to the Narmada rivers.

Contents

[edit] Origin

The Seuna dynasty claimed descent from Yadavas. Hence, they are often referred to as "Yadavas of Devagiri". They are also described as Marathas as they ruled a large part of Maharashtra. But, the correct name of the dynasty is Seuna or Sevuna[1]. The inscriptions of this dynasty as well as those of contemporary kingdoms, the Hoysala, Kakatiya and Chalukyas call them Seunas[2]. The name is probably derived from the name of their second ruler Seunachandra.

Many writers referred to the dyanasty as "Yadavas of Devagiri". The former name of the dynasty i.e. "Sevuna" (or Seuna) was brought back into use by John Faithful Fleet in his book The dynasties of the Kanarese districts of the Bombay Presidency from the earliest historical times to the Musalman conquest of A.D. 1318[3].

Scholars are divided regarding the descent of Suena dynasty.

[edit] North India

The Suena dynasty claimed descent from Yadavas of north India[4]. According to a Sanskrit work by Hemadri, the Seunas were originally from Mathura and later moved to Dwaraka. Some of their inscriptions call them Dvaravatipuravaradhishvaras ("masters of Dvaravati or Dwaraka").

[edit] Maratha

According to some scholars such as Prof. George Moraes[5], Dr. A.S. Altekar, Dr. D.R. Bhandarkar and J. Duncan M. Derrett[3], the Suena dynasty rulers were of Maratha descent. The Suenas patronised the Marathi language[6], along with Sanskrit and Kannada. Digambar Balkrishna Mokashi noted that Yadava dynasty rule was "what seems to be the first true Maratha empire"[7].

A stone inscription found at Anjaneri near Nasik suggests that there was a minor branch of the Yadava family ruling over a small district with Anjaneri as the chief city. The inscription indicates that a ruler called Seunadeva belonging to Yadava family called himself Mahasamanta and made a grant to a Jain temple[8].

Shivaji's mother, Jijabai, was of Yadava descent.

[edit] Immigrants from Karnataka

Many Seuna rulers had pure Kannada names like "Dhadiyappa", "Bhillama", "Rajugi", "Vadugi" and "Vasugi", "Kaliya Ballala". Other kings had names like "Singhana" and "Mallugi" which were also used by the Southern Kalachuri dynasty. Records show that one of the early rulers "Seunachandra II" had a Kannada title Sellavidega. The Seunas had very close matrimonial relationships with royal Kannada families through out their rule. Bhillama II was married to Lachchiyavve from a Rashtrakuta descendant family in Karnataka area. Vaddiga was married to Vaddiyavve, daughter of Rashtrakuta chieften Dhorappa. Wives of Vesugi and Bhillama III were Chalukya princesess. In Dr. Ritti's opinion, Seunas must have been originally from Kannada-speaking region and migrated northwords due to political situation in the Deccan at that time[2].

Also, over five hundred inscriptions belonging to the Seuna dynasty have been found in Karnataka. Most of these are in Kannada language. Many others are in Kannada language but Devanagari script[2]. The first inscription which is in Kannada is from the rule of Bhillama II. The Seuna coins from the early part of the rule itself have Kannada legends. Many scholars such as Dr. O. P. Varma, therefore believe that Kannada was certainly a court language along with Marathi and Sanskrit during Seuna times[2].

During the rule of the Seunas, many ruling chieftens who were related to the Seuna Kings were from Kannada-speaking families, like the Seunas of Masavadi-140 in present day Dharwad. Dr. A. V. Narasimha Murthy opined that during the later part of the Rashtrakuta rule from Manyakheta, Seuna chieftens were despatched from the Karnataka region to rule near Nasik. [2].

[edit] History

[edit] Feudatory

Seunas were once the feudatories of the Rashtrakutas and then of the Western Chalukyas[1]. The founder of the Suena dynasty was Dridhaprahara, the son of Subahu. According to Vratakhanda, his capital was Shrinagara. However, an early inscription suggests that Chandradityapura (modern Chandor in the Nasik district) was the capital[8].

The name Seuna comes from Dridhaprahara's son, Seunachandra. He originally ruled a region called Seunadesha (present-day Khandesh). Bhillama II, a later ruler in the dynasty, assisted Tailapa III in his war with the Paramara king Munja. Seunachandra II helped Vikramaditya VI in gaining the throne.

[edit] Bhillama V

Bhillama V (1173-1192), son of Mallugi, established the sovereign kingdom (as opposed to feudatory of Chalukyas). He took over the Chalukya capital of Kalyani in 1190. He founded Devagiri (now Daulatabad) as the capital of the Yadava dynasty.

The Seunas were bordered by aggressive neighbours on all sides: Paramara Rajputs of Malwa in the north, Kakatiyas in the east, Hoysalas in the south and Solanki Rajputs of Gujarat in the west. As a precaution, they built their citadel at Devagiri. The citadel was situated on a hill rising 183 meters[9] (300 meters according to John Keay[1]). The hill was enclosed by three lines of walls, each of which was defended by moats and turrets. The othermost wall had a circumfrence of 4.4 km.

[edit] Singhana II

Singhana II 1200-1247 C.E. is considered the greatest ruler of the Yadava dynasty. During his rule the the kingdom expanded from Narmada to Tungabhadra.

He founded the town Shinghanapur (or Singhanapur). He was a great patron of learning and literature. He established the college of astronomy to study the work of celebrated astronomer Bhaskaracharya.

Sangit Ratnakar, an authoritative Sanskrit work on Indian music was written by Sharangadhar (or Shrangadeva) during Singhana II's reign[10]. He also patronised Changadeva, Kannada poet Kamalabhava.

[edit] Ramachandra

Ramachandra (or Ramadevarava), the grandson of Singhana II, ruled from 1271 to 1309 CE. His Shrikaranadhipa (Chief Minister) was Hemadri (or Hemadapant), who compiled the encyclopedic Sanskrit work Chaturvarga Chintamani. He is said to have built many temples in a style known after him - Hemadapanti. He also invented the Modi script in Marathi[10].

In 1294, during the reign of Ramachandra (1271-1312), Ala-ud-din Khalji captured Devagiri. He restored it to Ramachandra in return for promise of a high ransom and an annual tribute[9]. However, this was not paid and Seuna kingdom's arrears to the Khalji dynasty kept mounting. In 1307, Ala-ud-din Khalji sent an army commanded by Malik Kafur to Devagiri.

Ramachandra was taken to Delhi. Khalji reinstated him on the throne. In turn, Ramachandra helped him to subdue the Hindu kingdoms of South. In 1309, Malik Kafur mounted an assault on the Kakatiyas from Devagiri[1].

[edit] Fall of the kingdom

Ramachandra's successor Singhana III challenged the supremacy of Alauddin Khilji, who sent Malik Kafur to capture Devagiri. Singhana III lost his life in the ensuing battle[11]. In 1310, Khalji's army occupied Devagiri. Later, Mumahmmad Tughluq renamed it Daultabad.

[edit] The Seuna Yadava rulers

[edit] Feudatory of Western Chalukyas of Kalyani

[edit] Independent kingdom

[edit] Tributary status under Khilji dynasty

[edit] Literature

[edit] Kannada

According to scholars Kannada was one of the court languages during Seuna times, as is evident from a number of Kannada-language inscriptions (See Origin section). Kamalabhava, patronised by Bhillama V wrote Santhishwarapurana, Achanna composed Varadhamanapurana in 1198, Amugideva composed many Vachanas or devotional songs. He was patronised by Singhana II. Chaundarasa of Pandharapur wrote Dashakumara Charite.

[edit] Marathi

The Yadavas of Devagiri patronised Marathi[12] and Marathi was one of their official languages[13]. Their reign also oversaw the literary development of Marathi language.[14]

Bhillama V's son, Jaitrapal (or Jaitugi) had Mukundaraja, the author of Paramamrita and Vivekasindhu as his spiritual teacher[10]. Paramamrita is considered the first systematic attempt to explain the Vendantic principles in Marathi language. Vivekasindhu is another exposition of Vedantic principles. Mukundaraja's earliest works were completed in 1190 C.E. Mahimabhatta wrote Lilacharita in 1238

The famous Marathi saint-poet Dnyaneshwar wrote Dnyaneshwari, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita in 1290, during Ramachandra's period. He also composed devotional songs called abhangas. Hemadri invented the Modi script in Marathi during this period. Chakradhara propagated the Mahanubhava cult, using Marathi as the medium of his religious teachings. The work of his followers are counted among the first works of Marathi literature.[15].

[edit] Sanskrit

The Sanskrit literary works from Seuna period include Chaturvarga Chintamani by Hemadri, Suktimuthavali by Jalhana and Hammiramadhana by Jayasimha Suri, Karnakutuhala and Siddhanta Shiromani by Bhaskaracharya. Anantadeva wrote a commentary on Varahamihira's Brijajjataka and Brahmagupta's Brihatsputa siddhanta.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Keay, John (2001-05-01). India: A History. Atlantic Monthly Pr, 252-257. ISBN 0-80213-797-0.. The quoted pages can be read at Google Book Search.
  2. ^ a b c d e Kamat, Suryanath Upendra. A Concise History of Karnataka.
  3. ^ a b Murthy, A. V. Narasimha (1971). The Sevunas of Devagiri. Rao and Raghavan, 32.
  4. ^ Chapter 8, "Yadavas Through the Ages" J.N.S.Yadav (1992)
  5. ^ Professor George Moraes. Pre-Portuguese Culture of Goa. International Goan Convention. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
  6. ^ Kulkarni, Chidambara Martanda (1966). Ancient Indian History & Culture. Karnatak Pub. House, 233.
  7. ^ Mokashi, Digambar Balkrishna (1987-07-01). Palkhi: An Indian Pilgrimage. SUNY Press, 37. ISBN 0-88706-461-2.
  8. ^ a b Nasik District Gazetteer: History - Ancient period. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.
  9. ^ a b Bennett, Mathew (2001-09-21). Dictionary of Ancient & Medieval Warfare. Stackpole Books, 98. ISBN 0-81172-610-X.. The quoted pages can be read at Google Book Search.
  10. ^ a b c Mann, Gurinder Singh (2001-03-01). The Making of Sikh Scripture. Oxford University Press US, 1. ISBN 0-19513-024-3.
  11. ^ Michell, George (1999-006-10). Architecture and Art of the Deccan Sultanates. Cambridge University Press, 5. ISBN 0-52156-321-6.
  12. ^ Kulkarni, Chidambara Martanda (1966). Ancient Indian History & Culture. Karnatak Pub. House, 233.
  13. ^ "Yadav - Pahila Marathi Bana" S.P.Dixit (1962)
  14. ^ "History of the Marhattas" Grant Duff
  15. ^ Ancient History, Part VII. Retrieved on 2006-10-01.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../s/e/u/Seuna_Yadavas_of_Devagiri_57db.html"
In other languages