Maukhari
Encyclopedia
The Maukhari Dynasty, classically called the Megar Dynasty, was a royal India
n dynasty that controlled vast areas of Northern India for over six generations. They earlier served as vassals of the Guptas
as well as related to Harsha
and his short-lived Vardhan dynasty. The Maukhari's established their independence at Kannauj
, during the sixth century. The dynasty ruled over much of Uttar Pradesh
and Magadha
, however, around 606 A.D. large areas of their empire was reconquered by the Later Guptas.
of Jats in India. Thakuri, the rulers of Nepal
, also had relations with Maukharis as well as Harsha the ruler of Thanesar
; due to the clans having marital relations.
(then called Chaturanga
, meaning "army") was crystallized during their rule in the 6th century.
. It is only from Isana Varman onwards that the family ceased to be feudatories.
Isana Varman along with the Later Guptas took advantage of the destruction of the Gupta Empire, but they kept challenging each other for the bid of power. This led to a long war which continued for more than half a century and ultimately led to the destruction of Maukharis. It was Kumargupta of the later Guptas who defeated Isana Varman.
It is said that Isana Varman defeated the Andhras
and forced the Gauda
s to remain in their proper realm. He issued coins in imitation of Toramana, the Huna
chief. These were close copies of the imperial Gupta coins, but distinguished by a date. Varman was succeeded by his son Sarva Varman. Both Saarva Varman and his successor son Avanti Varman were styled as Maharajadhirajas. According to Banabhatta, Prabhakara Vardhana of Kannauj
gave his daughter Rajyasri in marriage to the son of Avanti Varman (Grahavarman), who was later treacherously killed by the Devgupta, ruler of Malwa, and had imprisoned Rajyasri. Later, this led to battle between Rajyavardhana, brother of Rajyasri, and Devgupta in which Devgupta was defeated. However, Rajyavardhana was treacherously put to death by Shashanka
, ruler of Bengal
, an ally of Malwa.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n dynasty that controlled vast areas of Northern India for over six generations. They earlier served as vassals of the Guptas
Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire which existed approximately from 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the...
as well as related to Harsha
Harsha
Harsha or Harsha Vardhana or Harshvardhan was an Indian emperor who ruled northern India from 606 to 647 AD. He was the son of Prabhakara Vardhana and younger brother of Rajya Vardhana, a king of Thanesar, Haryana...
and his short-lived Vardhan dynasty. The Maukhari's established their independence at Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
, during the sixth century. The dynasty ruled over much of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Magadha
Magadha
Magadha formed one of the sixteen Mahājanapadas or kingdoms in ancient India. The core of the kingdom was the area of Bihar south of the Ganga; its first capital was Rajagriha then Pataliputra...
, however, around 606 A.D. large areas of their empire was reconquered by the Later Guptas.
Origin
Maukhari are gotraGotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
of Jats in India. Thakuri, the rulers of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, also had relations with Maukharis as well as Harsha the ruler of Thanesar
Thanesar
Thanesar is an old and historic town on the banks of the Sarsawati Ghaggar river in the state of Haryana in northern India. It is located in Kurukshetra District, approximately 160 km northwest of Delhi...
; due to the clans having marital relations.
Contribution
The game of chessChess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
(then called Chaturanga
Chaturanga
Chaturanga is an ancient Indian game that is presumed to be the common ancestor of the games of chess, shogi, and makruk, and related to xiangqi and janggi.Chaturanga developed in Gupta India around the 6th century...
, meaning "army") was crystallized during their rule in the 6th century.
Maukari rulers
There is definite evidence of Maukharis as an imperial power from 6th century A.D. Probably, Yagna Varman founded the dynasty. He was succeeded by Sardula Varman and in turn by Ananta Varaman. It is only during the reign of Isana Varman that the family rose to power and prestige. The empire is located in the modern state of Uttar PradeshUttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. It is only from Isana Varman onwards that the family ceased to be feudatories.
Isana Varman along with the Later Guptas took advantage of the destruction of the Gupta Empire, but they kept challenging each other for the bid of power. This led to a long war which continued for more than half a century and ultimately led to the destruction of Maukharis. It was Kumargupta of the later Guptas who defeated Isana Varman.
It is said that Isana Varman defeated the Andhras
Coastal Andhra
Coastal Andhra or Kosta, is a region of India's Andhra Pradesh State. This region was part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of and a population of 3,41,93,868...
and forced the Gauda
Gauḍa region
Gauda , was a territory located in Bengal in ancient and mediaeval times.-Location and extent:The Arthashastra of Chanakya refers to it along with Vanga, Pundra and Kamarupa. This geographical idea continues with some of the ancient texts...
s to remain in their proper realm. He issued coins in imitation of Toramana, the Huna
Huna
For other uses, see HunaHuna is a Hawaiian word adopted by Max Freedom Long in 1936 to describe his theory of metaphysics which he linked to ancient Hawaiian kahuna...
chief. These were close copies of the imperial Gupta coins, but distinguished by a date. Varman was succeeded by his son Sarva Varman. Both Saarva Varman and his successor son Avanti Varman were styled as Maharajadhirajas. According to Banabhatta, Prabhakara Vardhana of Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
gave his daughter Rajyasri in marriage to the son of Avanti Varman (Grahavarman), who was later treacherously killed by the Devgupta, ruler of Malwa, and had imprisoned Rajyasri. Later, this led to battle between Rajyavardhana, brother of Rajyasri, and Devgupta in which Devgupta was defeated. However, Rajyavardhana was treacherously put to death by Shashanka
Shashanka
Shashanka is often attributed with creating the first separate political entity in a unified Bengal called Gauda and as such is a major figure in Bengali history. He reigned in 7th century AD, and some historians place his rule approximately between 590 AD and 625 AD. He is the contemporary of...
, ruler of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, an ally of Malwa.
Further reading
- Thakur DeshrajThakur DeshrajThakur Deshraj was a social worker, journalist, nationalist, freedom fighter and author of many books. He was from Rajasthan state in India. He was revenue minister in the princely state of Bharatpur....
: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992.
External links
- Joseph Schwartzberg. The Historical Atlas of South Asia. Map of the “Age of Pusyabhutis & Calukyans, c. A.D. 550-700”. (Pg 26).