Danda Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Danda was a colonial state of Lanka under the reign of Ravana
. Ravana's governor Khara
ruled this province. It was the stronghold of all the Rakshasa
tribes living in the Dandaka Forest. It is roughly the Aurangabad
district of Maharashtra
with Janasthana (Aurangabad city) as its capital. It was from here that the Rakshasa Khara attacked Raghava Rama of Kosala
, who lived with his wife and brother at Panchavati (modern day Nasik) , not far away.
, the Pandava
general, and younger brother of Pandava
king Yudhisthira
, came to southern regions to collect tribute for the Rajasuya
sacrifice of the king.
Sahadeva
, having exacted jewels and wealth from king Rukmin (ruling at the second capital of Vidarbha
, named Bhojakata), marched further to the south. There he, reduced to subjection, Surparaka
and Talakata, and the Dandakas also. The Kuru warrior then vanquished and brought under his subjection numberless kings of the Mlechchha tribe living on the sea coast (2,30).
at (3-85). The sacred forest of Dandaka is mentioned here along with its possible boundaries and the rivers flowing within it. Surparaka
(southern Gujarat) probably formed its western boundary. Mahendra Mountains
in Orissa
formed its eastern boundary. The rivers Godavari
, and Krishnavenna run through this forest. the river or lake Payoshni
is mentioned at the northern entrance of this forest. In epic Ramayana
no kingdom except the Dandaka kingdom and Kishkindha Kingdom is mentioned as lying within this forest. During epic Mahabharata
many regions that was formerly Dandaka forest were found to be habitable kingdoms.
Dandaka Kingdom was a kingdom of Rakshasas
in the midst of the Dandaka forests
Raghava Rama lived for some time in the forest of Dandaka, from desire of slaying the Rakshasas. At Janasthana (the capital of Dandaka Kingdom ) he cut off the head of a wicked-souled Rakshasa (as per epic Ramayana
, his name was Khara) with a razor-headed shaft of great sharpness (9,39)
Raghava Rama, that foremost of bowmen, taking his bow and in company with his queen (Sita
and brother (Lakshmana
), with the view of compassing his father’s welfare, began to reside in the Dandaka forest. From Janasthana (the capital of Dandaka Kingdom ), that mighty Rakshasa
monarch, the wicked Ravana
, carried away Rama’s queen. (3,146).
A southern path through the Dandaka woods existed during the time of Raghava Rama. He travelled through this path in search of his wife, abducted by Ravana. Many uninhabited asylums of ascetics, scattered over with seats of Kusa grass and umbrellas of leaves and broken water-pots, and abounding with hundreds of jackals were seen along that path.(3,277).
, on the banks of river Ganges
. (3-85,275). A king by the name Danda ruled the outskirts of Magadha Kingdom
which was close to the Anga Kingdom
.
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
. Ravana's governor Khara
Khara
Khara can refer to* Khara, a character in the ancient Sanskrit epic the Ramayana* Khara-Khoto, the ruins of a medivial city in western Mongolia* Khara, Punjab - town in Punjab, India.* Khara, Nepal* Khara, Punjab - town in Punjab, Pakistan....
ruled this province. It was the stronghold of all the Rakshasa
Rakshasa
A Rakshasa or alternatively rakshas, is a race of mythological humanoid beings or unrighteous spirit in Hindu and Buddhist religion...
tribes living in the Dandaka Forest. It is roughly the Aurangabad
Aurangabad District, Maharashtra
Aurangabad District is one of the 35 districts of Maharashtra state in western India. It is bordered by the districts of Nashik to the west, Jalgaon to the north, Jalna to the east, and Ahmednagar to the south. Aurangabad is the headquarters and principal city...
district of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
with Janasthana (Aurangabad city) as its capital. It was from here that the Rakshasa Khara attacked Raghava Rama of Kosala
Kosala Kingdom
Kosala Proper or Uttara Kosala is the kingdom of the celebrated personality of Treta Yuga, Raghava Rama. Ayodhya was its capital, presently in Faizabad district, Uttar Pradesh. Rama's sons Lava and Kusha inherited parts of this kingdom. Lava ruled from the city called Sravasti and Kusa from the...
, who lived with his wife and brother at Panchavati (modern day Nasik) , not far away.
Sahadeva's conquests
SahadevaSahadeva
Sahadeva was one of the five Pandava brothers according to the epic Mahābhārata. He was one of the twin sons of Madri, who invoked Ashvins using a mantra shared by Kunti for a son. His twin brother was named Nakula...
, the Pandava
Pandava
In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu , by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. Although, Karna is told by Lord Krishna that according to the laws and ethics he is the first son of Kunti making...
general, and younger brother of Pandava
Pandava
In the Hindu epic Mahābhārata, the Pandava are the five acknowledged sons of Pandu , by his two wives Kunti and Madri. Their names are Yudhisthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. Although, Karna is told by Lord Krishna that according to the laws and ethics he is the first son of Kunti making...
king Yudhisthira
Yudhisthira
In the great Hindu epic Mahabharata, Yudhisthira , the eldest son of King Pandu and Queen Kunti, was king of Indraprastha and later of Hastinapura. He was the leader of the Pandava side in the Kurukshetra War...
, came to southern regions to collect tribute for the Rajasuya
Rajasuya
Rajasuya was a sacrifice, described in detail in the Mahabharata, performed by the ancient kings of India who considered themselves powerful enough to be an emperor...
sacrifice of the king.
Sahadeva
Sahadeva
Sahadeva was one of the five Pandava brothers according to the epic Mahābhārata. He was one of the twin sons of Madri, who invoked Ashvins using a mantra shared by Kunti for a son. His twin brother was named Nakula...
, having exacted jewels and wealth from king Rukmin (ruling at the second capital of Vidarbha
Vidarbha Kingdom
Vidarbha kingdom was one among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadava kings in the central and western India, in a region still known as Vidarbha. It was the southern most kingdom known to the kings of Gangatic Plain until they explored Southern India.Damayanti, the wife of Nala was the princess of...
, named Bhojakata), marched further to the south. There he, reduced to subjection, Surparaka
Surparaka Kingdom
The country of Surparaka was founded by Bhargava Rama near the Western sea, close to the mouth of river Narmada. This kingdom is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. Parashurama gave this kingdom to the Brahmin rulers of Kashyapa clan....
and Talakata, and the Dandakas also. The Kuru warrior then vanquished and brought under his subjection numberless kings of the Mlechchha tribe living on the sea coast (2,30).
Dandaka forest
The forest of Dandaka was the biggest forest in ancient India. It streached from Vindhya ranges in central Indian to the banks of river Krishnavenna (now known as river Krishna) and Tughabhadra in the south. Mention of this forest is found in MahabharataMahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
at (3-85). The sacred forest of Dandaka is mentioned here along with its possible boundaries and the rivers flowing within it. Surparaka
Surparaka Kingdom
The country of Surparaka was founded by Bhargava Rama near the Western sea, close to the mouth of river Narmada. This kingdom is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. Parashurama gave this kingdom to the Brahmin rulers of Kashyapa clan....
(southern Gujarat) probably formed its western boundary. Mahendra Mountains
Mahendra Mountains
Mahendra Mountains is a mountain range described in the epic Mahabharata. It is identified to be the part of the mountain ranges in the east coast of India , that falls in Orissa. It is the place where Bhargava Rama or Parashurama spending his days of life, as he is one of the chiranjeevi or having...
in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
formed its eastern boundary. The rivers Godavari
Godavari River
The Godavari is a river that runs from western to southern India and is considered to be one of the big river basins in India. With a length of 1465 km, it is the second longest river in India , that runs within the country and also the longest river in South India...
, and Krishnavenna run through this forest. the river or lake Payoshni
Payoshni
Payoshni is an ancient river mentioned in the epic Mahābhārata. Pandavas had visited this place as part of their pilgrimage. It lies in the territory of Vidarbha...
is mentioned at the northern entrance of this forest. In epic Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
no kingdom except the Dandaka kingdom and Kishkindha Kingdom is mentioned as lying within this forest. During epic Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
many regions that was formerly Dandaka forest were found to be habitable kingdoms.
Dandaka Kingdom was a kingdom of Rakshasas
Rakshasa Kingdom
Rakshasa Kingdom refers to the territory of Rakshasas who were a tribe, mentioned along with others like Devas , Asuras , Pisachas, Gandharvas, Kimpurushas, Vanaras, Suparnas, Kinnaras, Bhutas and Yakshas...
in the midst of the Dandaka forests
Raghava Rama lived for some time in the forest of Dandaka, from desire of slaying the Rakshasas. At Janasthana (the capital of Dandaka Kingdom ) he cut off the head of a wicked-souled Rakshasa (as per epic Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
, his name was Khara) with a razor-headed shaft of great sharpness (9,39)
Raghava Rama, that foremost of bowmen, taking his bow and in company with his queen (Sita
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
and brother (Lakshmana
Lakshmana
Lakshmana was the brother and close companion of Rama, and himself a hero in the famous epic Ramayana...
), with the view of compassing his father’s welfare, began to reside in the Dandaka forest. From Janasthana (the capital of Dandaka Kingdom ), that mighty Rakshasa
Rakshasa Kingdom
Rakshasa Kingdom refers to the territory of Rakshasas who were a tribe, mentioned along with others like Devas , Asuras , Pisachas, Gandharvas, Kimpurushas, Vanaras, Suparnas, Kinnaras, Bhutas and Yakshas...
monarch, the wicked Ravana
Ravana
' is the primary antagonist character of the Hindu legend, the Ramayana; who is the great king of Lanka. In the classic text, he is mainly depicted negatively, kidnapping Rama's wife Sita, to claim vengeance on Rama and his brother Lakshmana for having cut off the nose of his sister...
, carried away Rama’s queen. (3,146).
A southern path through the Dandaka woods existed during the time of Raghava Rama. He travelled through this path in search of his wife, abducted by Ravana. Many uninhabited asylums of ascetics, scattered over with seats of Kusa grass and umbrellas of leaves and broken water-pots, and abounding with hundreds of jackals were seen along that path.(3,277).
Other References
There was a place (a sacred region) called Dandaparna (also known as Danda) near the city called Champapuri, in Anga KingdomAnga Kingdom
Anga was a kingdom ruled by non-Vedic rulers. Anga king Lomapada was a friend of Kosala king Dasaratha. Kosala Princess Santha, elder to Raghava Rama, lived as the daughter of Lomapada, since he was childless. Duryodhana established Karna as the ruler of Angas. It is believed that there were many...
, on the banks of river Ganges
Ganges River
The Ganges or Ganga, , is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. By discharge it...
. (3-85,275). A king by the name Danda ruled the outskirts of Magadha Kingdom
Magadha Kingdom
Magadha was a kingdom ruled by non-Vedic kings. Jarasandha was the greatest among them during epic times. His capital was Rajagriha or Rajgir a modern hill resort in Bihar. Jarasandha's continuous assault on the Yadava kingdom of Surasena resulted in their withdrawal from central India to western...
which was close to the Anga Kingdom
Anga Kingdom
Anga was a kingdom ruled by non-Vedic rulers. Anga king Lomapada was a friend of Kosala king Dasaratha. Kosala Princess Santha, elder to Raghava Rama, lived as the daughter of Lomapada, since he was childless. Duryodhana established Karna as the ruler of Angas. It is believed that there were many...
.