Gurjaras of Lata

Gurjara of Lata
c. 580–c. 738
Capital		Nándípurí (Nandod) Bhrigukacchapa (Bharuch)
Languages		Prakrit
Religion		Sun-worshipers, Shaivism
Government		Monarchy
History
•	Established	c. 580
•	Disestablished	c. 738
Preceded by Succeeded by Kalachuri dynasty Rashtrakuta Empire
Today part of		Gujarat, India

The Gurjaras of Lata, also kown as Gurjaras of Nandipuri or Bharuch Gurjaras, was a dynasty which ruled Lata region (now South Gujarat, India) as a feudatory of different dynasties from c. 580 CE to c. 738.

Sources of Information

All the available information regarding the Bharuch Gurjaras comes from copperplates,^[1] all obtained from South Gujarat. Like the grants of the contemporary Chalukyas all the genuine copperplates are dated in the Traikúṭaka era which begins in 249–50 CE. The Gurjara capital seems to have been Nándípurí or Nándor, the modern Nandod near Bharuch. Two of their grants issue Nándípurítaḥ that is ‘from Nándípurí’, a phrase which seems to show the place named was the capital since in other Gurjara grants the word vásaka or camp occurs.^[2]

Rule

These copperplates limit the regular Gurjara territory to the Bharuch district between the Mahi and the Narmada rivers, though at times their power extended north to Kheḍá and south to the Tápti river.^[2]

Though the Gurjaras held a considerable territory in South Gujarát their plates seem to show they were not independent rulers. The general titles are either Samadhigata-panchamaháśabada ‘He who has attained the five great titles,’ or Sámanta Feudatory. In one instance Jayabhaṭa III who was probably a powerful ruler is called Sámantádhipati Lord of Feudatories. It is hard to say to what suzerain these Broach Gurjaras acknowledged fealty. Latterly they seem to have accepted the Chalukyas on the south as their overlords. But during the greater part of their existence they may have been feudatories of the Maitraka dynasty, who were probably Gurjaras who passed from Málwa to South Gujarát and thence by sea to Vallabhi leaving a branch in South Gujarát.^[2]

History

The origin of dynasty is not known. They probably originated from the neighboring dynasty, Gurjaras of Mandor or Bhinmal.^[3]

Early history

A grant^[4] made by Nirihullaka, the chieftain of a forest tribe in the lower valley of the Narmada, shows that towards the end of the sixth century CE that region was occupied by forest tribes who acknowledged the supremacy of the Kalachuri dynasty; a fact which accounts for the use of the Chedi or Traikúṭaka era in South Gujarát. Nirihullaka names with respect a king Śaṅkaraṇa, identified with Śaṅkaragaṇa (r. c. 575-600 CE) of Kalachuri dynasty and the Gurjara conquest must be subsequent to this date. Another grant,^[5] which is only a fragment and contains no king’s name, but which on the ground of date (Samvat 346 = 594–5 CE) and style may be safely attributed to the Gurjara dynasty, shows that the Gurjaras were established in the country within a few years of Śaṅkaragaṇa’s probable date.^[2]

A still nearer approximation to the date of the Gurjara conquest is suggested by the change in the titles of Dharasena I of Maitraka dynasty, who in his grants of Saṃvat 252^[6] (571 CE) calls himself Mahárája, while in his grants of 269 and 270^[7] (588 and 589 CE), he adds the title of Mahásámanta, which points to subjection by some foreign power between 571 and 588 CE. It seems highly probable that this power was that of the Gurjaras of Bhínmál; and that their successes therefore took place between 580 and 588 CE or about 585 CE.^[2]

Dadda I

The above-mentioned anonymous grant of the year 346 (CE 594–95) from Sankheda is ascribed with great probability to Dadda I. who is known from the two Kheḍá grants of his grandson Dadda II. (C. 620–650 CE)^[8] to have “uprooted the Nága” who may be the same as the forest tribes ruled by Nirihullaka (possibly later represented by the Náikdás of the Panchmaháls and the Talabdas or Locals of Bharuch).^[2]

The northern limit of Dadda’s kingdom seems to have been the Vindhya, as the grant of 380 (CE 628–29) says that the lands lying around the feet of the Vindhya were for his pleasure. At the same time it appears that part at least of Northern Gujarát was ruled by the Mahásámanta Dharasena of Maitraka dynasty, who in Val. 270 (CE 589–90) granted a village in the áhára (province) of Kheṭaka (Kheḍá).^[9] Dadda is always spoken of as the Sámanta, which shows that while he lived his territory remained a part of the Gurjara kingdom of Bhínmál. Subsequently, North Gujarát fell into the hands of the Málava kings, to whom it belonged in Hiuen Tsiang’s time (c. 640 CE). In Tsiang's accounts, Po-lu-ka-cha-po (Bharigukacchapa or Bhrigukaccha, i.e., Bharuch) is mentioned. Dadda I. is mentioned in the two Kheḍá grants of his grandson as a worshipper of the sun: the fragmentary grant of 346 (CE 594–95) which is attributed to him gives no historical details.^[10][2][11]

Jayabhata I

Dadda I was succeeded by his son Jayabhaṭa I who is mentioned in the Kheḍá grants as a victorious and virtuous ruler, and appears from his title of Vítarága the Passionless to have been a religious prince.^[2]

Dadda II

Jayabhaṭa I. was succeeded by his son Dadda II who bore the title of Praśántarága, the Passion-calmed. Dadda was the donor of the two Kheḍá grants of 380 (CE 628–29) and 385 (CE 633–34), and a part of a grant made by his brother Raṇagraha in the year 391 (CE 639–40) has been recorded.^[12] Both of the Kheḍá grants relate to the gift of the village of Siríshapadraka (Sisodra) in the Akrúreśvara (Ankleshwar) vishaya to certain Bráhmans of Jambusar and Bharuch. In Raṇagraha’s grant the name of the village is lost.^[2]

Dadda II’s own grants describe him as having attained the five great titles, and praise him in general terms: and both he and his brother Raṇagraha sign their grants as devout worshipers of the sun. Dadda II heads the genealogy in the later grant of 456 (CE 704–5),^[13] which states that he protected "the lord of Valabhi [Dhruvasena II] who had been defeated by the great lord the illustrious Harshadeva." The event referred to must have been some expedition of Harsha of Kanauj (Pushyabhuti dynasty) (CE 607–648), perhaps the campaign in which Harsha was defeated on the Narmada by Pulakeshin II of Chalukya dynasty (which took place before CE 634). The protection given to the Valabhi king is perhaps referred to in the Kheḍá grants in the mention of "strangers and suppliants and people in distress." If this is the case the defeat of Valabhi took place before CE 628–29, the date of the earlier of the Kheḍá grants. On the other hand, the phrase quoted is by no means decisive, and the fact that in Hiuen Tsiang’s time Dhruvasena II of Valabhi was son-in-law of Harsha’s son, makes it unlikely that Harsha should have been at war with him. It follows that the expedition referred to may have taken place in the reign of Dharasena IV who may have been the son of Dhruvasena by another wife than Harsha’s granddaughter.^{[2][14][15][11][16]}

To Dadda II’s reign belongs Hiuen Tsiang’s notice of the kingdom of Bharuch (C. 640 CE). He says "all their profit is from the sea" and describes the country as salt and barren, which is still true of large tracts in the west and twelve hundred years ago was probably the condition of a much larger area than at present. Hiuen Tsiang does not say that Broach was subject to any other kingdom, but it is clear from the fact that Dadda bore the five great titles that he was a mere feudatory. At this period the valuable port of Bharuch, from which all their profit was made, was a prize fought for by all the neighbouring powers. With the surrounding country of Láṭa, Broach submitted to Pulakeśin II. (CE 610–640)^[17] it may afterwards have fallen to the Málava kings, to whom in Hiuen Tsiang’s time (CE 640) both Kheḍá (K’i.e.-ch’a) and Ánandapura (Vadnagar) belonged; later it was subject to Valabhi, as Dharasena IV made a grant at Bharuch in V.S. 330 (CE 649–50).^[18][2]

The knowledge of the later Gurjaras is derived exclusively from two grants of Jayabhaṭa III dated respectively 456 (CE 704–5) and 486 (CE 734–5).^[19] The later of these two grants is imperfect, only the last plate having been preserved. The earlier grant of 456 (CE 704–5) shows that during the half century following the reign of Dadda II the dynasty had ceased to call themselves Gurjaras, and had adopted a Puráṇic pedigree traced from Karna of Mahabharata. It also shows that from Dadda III onward the family were Śaivas instead of sun-worshipers.^[2]

Jayabhata II

The successor of Dadda II was his son Jayabhaṭa II who is described as a warlike prince, but of whom no historical details are recorded.^[2]

Dadda III

Jayabhaṭa’s son, Dadda III Báhusaháya is described as waging wars with the great kings of the east and of the west (probably Málava and Valabhi). He had received title of Báhusaháya to for showing valour of his arms in fights with suzerain of east and west. He was Śaiva. Like his predecessors, Dadda III was not an independent ruler. He could claim only the five great titles, though no hint is given who was his suzerain. His immediate superior may have been Jayasimhavarma, who received the province of Láṭa from his brother Vikramaditya I of Chalukya dynasty.^[20][2][21] During his rule Jayasimhavarma had defeated Vajjada between Mahi and Narmada rivers. Vajjada may be another name of Dadda III or another king of that name had invaded his state and was defeated by Jayasimhavarma.^[11][16]

Jayabhata III

The son and successor of Dadda III was Jayabhaṭa III whose two grants of 456 (CE 704–5) and 486 (CE 734–5)^[22] must belong respectively to the beginning and the end of his reign. He attained the five great titles, and was therefore a feudatory, probably of the Chálukyas: but his title of Mahásámantádhipati implies that he was a chief of importance. He is praised in vague terms, but the only historical event mentioned in his grants is a defeat of a Maitraka ruler of Valabhi, noted in the grant of 486 (CE 734–5). The Maitraka king referred to must be Śíláditya IV (CE 691).^[2]

Ahirole

Jayabhata III was succeeded by Ahirole. He ruled till c. 720 CE.^[11]

Jayabhata IV

Ahirole's son Jayabhata IV's copperplate states that he defeated the Arabs fighting for the Ummayad Caliphate at Valabhi, the capital of his probable overlords, the Maitrakas, in the year 735-36 CE. He assumed title of Mahasamanradhipati. He must be fuedatory of Maitraka ruler Shiladitya IV or Shiladitya V as he had helped his suzerain Maitrakas in battle. Majumdar had suggested that he may have helped as a feudatory of Chalukyas.^[16][23][11] Bharuch may have finally destroyed by the Arabs and the Gurjara principality overtaken by them. The Arab were severely defeated and repulsed by Chalukya governor Pulakeśi Janáśraya in 738-39 at Navsari. The state may have been absorbed under Dantidurga of Rashtrakuta dynasty.^[2][16]

Religion

The rulers till Dadda III were worshipers of Surya (sun) but after Dadda III the are identified as Shaiva.^[2] Jayabhata I and Dadda II, are given the epithets ‘Vitardga’ and ‘Prasdntardga’ in their grants, — words which indicate that they may have patronized Jainism though they themselves were not converts.^[16]

List of Rulers

• Dadda I. c. 585–605 CE
• Jayabhaṭa I. Vítarága, c. 605–620 CE
• Dadda II. Praśántarága, c. 620–650 CE
• Jayabhaṭa II. c. 650–675 CE
• Dadda III. Báhusaháya, c. 675–690 CE
• Jayabhaṭa III. c. 690–710 CE
• Ahirole c. 710–720 CE
• Jayabhaṭa IV c. 720–737 CE

References