Traikutaka dynasty

Former dynasty of India

Traikutaka dynasty

c. 388 CE–c. 456 CE

Silver coin of king Dahrasena.
Obv: Bust of king.
Rev: Chaitya and star.Brahmi inscription:

"The glorious king Dahrasena, foremost follower of Vishnu, and son of king Indradatta".^[1]

Map of the territory of the Traikutakas (in yellow), along with their contemporaries, especially the Kadambas, the Vakatakas and the Gupta Empire.

Common languages

Sanskrit
Prakrit

Religion

Hinduism

History

• Established

c. 388 CE

• Disestablished

c. 456 CE

Preceded by

Succeeded by

Western Satraps

Maitraka dynasty
Kalachuri dynasty

History of Gujarat

Stone Age (before 4000 BCE)

Stone Age

(before 4000 BCE)

Chalcolithic to Bronze Age (4000–1300 BCE)

Chalcolithic Gujarat
– Anarta tradition	(c. 3950–1900 BCE)
– Padri Ware	(3600–2000 BCE)
– Pre-Prabhas Assemblage	(3200–2600 BCE)
– Pre Urban Harappan Sindh Type Pottery	(3000–2600 BCE)
– Black and Red Ware	(3950–900 BCE)
– Reserved Slip Ware	(3950–1900 BCE)
– Micaceous Red Ware	(2600–1600 BCE)
– Malwa Ware
– Jorwe Ware
Indus Valley Civilisation	(3300–1300 BCE)
– Early Harappan	(3300–2600 BCE)
– Mature Harappan	(2600–1900 BCE)
– Late Harappan	(1900–1300 BCE)
Late cultures	(2200–1700 BCE)
– Prabhas Assemblage	(2200–1700 BCE)
– Lustrous Red Ware	(1900–1300 BCE)
Vedic Civilisation	(2000–500 BCE)

Iron Age (1500–300 BCE)

Vedic Civilisation	(2000–500 BCE)
– Janapadas	(1500–600 BCE)
– Black and Red Ware	(1300–1000 BCE)
– Painted Grey Ware	(1200–600 BCE)
Maha Janapadas	(600–300 BCE)
Epic India	(1700–300 BCE)
–Abhira Kingdom
–Anarta Kingdom
–Dwaraka Kingdom
–Sindhu Kingdom
–Saurashtra Kingdom

Classical period (380 BCE – 1299 CE)

Nanda Empire	(380–321 BCE)
Maurya Empire	(321–184 BCE)
Indo-Scythians	(312 BCE − 400 CE)
–Western Satraps	(c. 119 – 405 CE)
Vakataka dynasty	(c. 250 – c. 500 CE)
Kushan Empire	(30 – 375 CE)
Traikutaka dynasty	(388 – 454 CE)
Gupta Empire	(405 – c. 730 CE)
Maitraka	(475 – 767 CE)
Saindhava	(c. 725 – c. 950 CE)
Gurjaras of Lata	(c. 580 – c. 738 CE)
Chalukyas of Navasarika	(c. 660 – c. 739 CE)
Empire of Harsha	( 7th century)
Gurjara-Pratihara	(c. 730 – c. 960 CE)
Chavda dynasty	(c. 690 – c. 940 CE)
Chudasama dynasty	(c. 875 – 1472 CE)
Rashtrakuta dynasty	(8–9th century)
Paramara dynasty	(9–10th century)
Western Chalukya	(9–10th century)
Chalukyas of Lata	(c. 970 – c. 1070 CE)
Chaulukya dynasty	(c. 940 – 1243 CE)
Vaghela dynasty	(1243–1299 CE)

Medieval and early modern periods (1299–1819)

Gujarat under Delhi Sultanate	(1298–1407)
– Khalji Sultanate	(1298–1320)
– Tughlaq Sultanate	(1320–1407)
Gujarat Sultanate	(1407–1573)
Mughal Gujarat	(1573–1756)
Maratha Empire	(1756–1819)
–Peshwa
–Gaekwad
Cutch State	(1365–1947)

Colonial period (1819–1961)

Portuguese India	(1534–1961)
Company Raj	(1819–1858)
British Raj	(1858–1947)
–Princely states	(till 1948)
–Residencies	(1819–1947)
–Agencies of British India	(1819–1947)
–Bombay Presidency	(1618–1947)

Post-independence (1947–)

Saurashtra State	(1948–1956)
Kutch State	(1947–1956)
Bombay State	(1947–1960)
Gujarat	(1960–)

The Traikutakas were a dynasty of Indian kings who ruled between 388 and 456. The name "Traikutakas" seems to be derived from the words for a three-peaked mountain ("Tri-kuta"). The Traikutakas are mentioned in Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa, in which they are located in the area of northern Konkan. The dominions of the Traikutakas further included Aparanta and northern Maharashtra.^[2]

The coins of the Traikutaras are found extensively in southern Gujarat, and southern Maharashtra beyond the Ghats. Their design is very close to that of the Western Satraps, from which they probably inherited some territories, and traces of the obverse legend with Greek letters can still be seen.^[3]

Traikuta rule of Aparanta or Konkan begins in A.D. 248 (Traikuta era) exactly the time of Abhira Ishwarsena rule, hence Traikutas are identified with the dynasty of Abhiras.^[4]

The Traikutakas reckoned in a specific era, known as the Traikutaka era, or usually the Kalachuri or Chedi era, starting in 249.

History

It is generally supposed that Traikutakas were a different dynasty of Abhira,^[5]^[6]^[7] and hence are sometimes called Abhira-Traikutakas .^[8] Indradutta, Dahrasena & Vyaghrasena were well known kings from this dynasty.^[9] King Dahrasena expanded his realm, which soon bordered the Vakataka realm. This led to conflict and the Vakataka king Narendrasena, who with the help of his son & crown prince Prithivishena, probably defeated the Traikutikas, as later king Prithivishena's inscriptions refer to him twice rescuing the "sunken fortunes of his family".^[10]

Traikutikas were known for their Vaishnava faith, who claimed to be Yadav of Haiheya branch.^[11]^[12] and Dharasena performed Ashvamedha Yajna too.^[5]^[13] During the reign of Maharaja Madhyamasena, the kingdom was invaded by the Vakataka king Harishena.^[5]^[14] The dynasty ended around AD 550, when Vikramasena, the last known king died.^[14] The Traikutakas were probably reduced to a vassal status under the Vishnukundins and had to accept Madhavavarman I's authority.^[14]

Traikutaka rulers

The following Traikuta rulers are known from the coins and inscriptions of Gupta period-

Maharaja Indradatta (AD 415-440,^[14] only mentioned on the coins of his son) ^[4]
Maharaja Dahrasena, son of Indradatta (A.D. 455),^[5] he performed Ashwamedha^[4]
Maharaja Vyaghrasena, son of Dahrasena (A.D. 480)^[5]^[4]
Maharaja Madhyamasena
Vikramasena

References

^ Rapson, E. J. (Edward James) (1908). Catalogue of the coins of the Andhra dynasty, the Western Ksatrapas, the Traikutaka dynasty, and the "Bodhi" dynasty. London : Printed by order of the Trustees. p. 198.
^ Rapson p.clxxxv.
^ Rapson, p.cixxiv.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Mookerji, Radhakumud (2007). The gupta empire (5th ed.). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120804401. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Radhakumud Mookerji (1997). The Gupta Empire (Paperback). Motilal Banarsidass. p. 38. ISBN 9788120804401.
^ Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay By Asiatic Society of Bombay, p. 66
^ Ramesh Chandra Majumdar (1968). The Age of imperial unity. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 223. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
^ Asiatic Society of Bombay (1935). Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay. The Society. pp. 66–67. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
^ Lionel D. Barnett (October 1994). Antiquities of India: An Account of the History and Culture of Ancient Hindustan. Asian Educational Services. pp. 49–50. ISBN 978-81-206-0530-5. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
^ Singh, Upinder (2016). A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India From the Stone Age to the 12th Century. Pearson India Education Services. p. 483. ISBN 9788131716779.
^ Vaidya, Chintaman Vinayak (1921). History of Mediæval Hindu India: Circa 600-800 A.D. Oriental Book Supplying Agency. It is clear that the rule previous to that of the Gurjaras was that of the Traikutakas who claimed to be Haihayas by descent and whose capital Trikuta not yet well identified is mentioned even in the Rāmāyaṇa and in Kalidasa's Raghuvansha.
^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency ..., Volume 1, Part 1 By Bombay (India : State), p. 58
^ Sailendra Nath Sen (1 January 1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. pp. 426–. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0. Retrieved 3 January 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Vanina, Eugenia, ed. (1988). Indian History (Audiobook). Allied Publishers. p. 409. ISBN 9788184245684.
^ Rapson, E. J. (Edward James) (1908). Catalogue of the coins of the Andhra dynasty, the Western Ksatrapas, the Traikutaka dynasty, and the "Bodhi" dynasty. London : Printed by order of the Trustees. p. 202.

References

"A catalogue of the Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc.." Rapson

Middle kingdoms of India

Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Indo-Gangetic Plain			Central India	Southern India
Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Upper Gangetic Plain (Ganga-Yamuna doab)	Middle Gangetic Plain	Lower Gangetic Plain	Central India	Southern India
IRON AGE
Culture	Late Vedic Period	Late Vedic Period (Srauta culture)^[a] Painted Grey Ware culture	Late Vedic Period (Shramanic culture)^[b] Northern Black Polished Ware		Pre-history
6th century BCE	Gandhara	Kuru-Panchala	Magadha		Adivasi (tribes)	Assaka
Culture	Persian-Greek influences	"Second Urbanisation" Rise of Shramana movements Jainism - Buddhism - Ājīvika - Yoga			Pre-history
5th century BCE	(Persian conquests)		Shaishunaga dynasty		Adivasi (tribes)	Assaka
4th century BCE	(Greek conquests)	Nanda empire			Adivasi (tribes)
HISTORICAL AGE
Culture	Spread of Buddhism				Pre-history
3rd century BCE	Maurya Empire					Satavahana dynasty Sangam period (300 BCE – 200 CE) Early Cholas Early Pandyan Kingdom Cheras
Culture	Preclassical Hinduism^[c] - "Hindu Synthesis"^[d] (ca. 200 BC - 300 CE)^[e]^[f] Epics - Puranas - Ramayana - Mahabharata - Bhagavad Gita - Brahma Sutras - Smarta Tradition Mahayana Buddhism
2nd century BCE	Indo-Greek Kingdom		Shunga Empire Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty			Satavahana dynasty Sangam period (300 BCE – 200 CE) Early Cholas Early Pandyan Kingdom Cheras
1st century BCE	Indo-Greek Kingdom		Shunga Empire Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty
1st century CE	Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthians		Kuninda Kingdom
2nd century	Kushan Empire
3rd century	Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom	Kushan Empire	Western Satraps	Kamarupa kingdom	Adivasi (tribes)
Culture	"Golden Age of Hinduism"(ca. CE 320-650)^[g] Puranas Co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism
4th century	Kidarites	Gupta Empire Varman dynasty				Andhra Ikshvakus Kalabhra dynasty Kadamba Dynasty Western Ganga Dynasty
5th century	Hephthalite Empire	Alchon Huns				Vishnukundina Kalabhra dynasty
6th century	Nezak Huns Kabul Shahi		Maitraka		Adivasi (tribes)	Vishnukundina Badami Chalukyas Kalabhra dynasty
Culture	Late-Classical Hinduism (ca. CE 650-1100)^[h] Advaita Vedanta - Tantra Decline of Buddhism in India
7th century	Indo-Sassanids		Vakataka dynasty Empire of Harsha	Mlechchha dynasty	Adivasi (tribes)	Badami Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan Kingdom (Revival) Pallava
8th century	Kabul Shahi		Pala Empire			Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan Kingdom Kalachuri
9th century	Kabul Shahi		Gurjara-Pratihara			Rashtrakuta dynasty Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan Kingdom Medieval Cholas Chera Perumals of Makkotai
10th century	Ghaznavids			Pala dynasty Kamboja-Pala dynasty		Kalyani Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas Medieval Cholas Chera Perumals of Makkotai Rashtrakuta
References and sources for table References ^ Samuel ^ Samuel ^ Michaels (2004) p.39 ^ Hiltebeitel (2002) ^ Michaels (2004) p.39 ^ Hiltebeitel (2002) ^ Michaels (2004) p.40 ^ Michaels (2004) p.41 Sources Flood, Gavin D. (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press Hiltebeitel, Alf (2002), Hinduism. In: Joseph Kitagawa, "The Religious Traditions of Asia: Religion, History, and Culture", Routledge Michaels, Axel (2004), Hinduism. Past and present, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press Samuel, Geoffrey (2010), The Origins of Yoga and Tantra. Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge University Press