Avanti (India)

This article is about the historical region of Avanti. For the kingdom in Indian Epic Literature, see Avanti Kingdom.
Avanti in 7th century BCE
Mahajanapada
(c. 600 BCE–c. 300 BCE)
Anga
Assaka (Asmaka)
Avanti
Chedi
Gandhara
Kashi
Kamboja
Kosala
Kuru
Magadha
Malla (Mallarashtra)
Machcha (Matsya)
Panchala
Surasena
Vriji
Vatsa (Vamsa)

Avanti (Sanskrit: अवन्ति) was an ancient Indian janapada (realm), roughly corresponded to the present day Malwa region. According to the Buddhist text, the Anguttara Nikaya, Avanti was one of the solasa mahajanapadas (sixteen great realms) of the 6th century BCE. The janapada was divided into two parts by the Vindhyas, the northern part had its capital at Ujjayini and the southern part had its centre at Mahishmati.[1][2]

The Avantis, the ancient people belonging to this realm were described as mahavala (very powerful) in the Udyoga Parva (19.24) of the Mahabharata.[3] According to the Vishnu Purana (II.3), the Bhagavata Purana (XII.I.36) and the Brahma Purana (XIX.17), the Avantis were associated with the Malava, the Saurashtras, the Abhiras, the Suras, the Karushas and the Arbudas and were described as dwelling along the Pariyatra (or Paripatra) mountains[4][5] (a western branch of the Vindhyas).

The Haihayas of Mahishmati

Main article: Haihayas

According to the Puranic accounts, the Haihayas were the earliest rulers of Avanti, who captured the region from the Nagas. Initially, they ruled from Mahishmati. Later the whole janapada was divided into two parts with the capitals at Mahishmati and Ujjayini. The Haihayas were a confederation of five clans, the Vitihotras, the Bhojas, the Avantis, the Tundikeras and the Sharyatas. Later, the Haihayas were better known by their dominant clan - the Vitihotras. Ripunjaya, the last Vitihotra ruler of Ujjayini was overthrown by his amatya (minister) Pulika, who placed his son, Pradyota on the throne.[6][7] Some accounts place Ujjayini as the capital of Avanti.[8]

The Mahagovindasuttanta of the Dighanikaya mentions about an Avanti king Vessabhu (Vishvabhu) and his capital Mahissati (Mahishmati). Probably he was a Vitihotra ruler.[9]

Pradyota dynasty

Main article: Pradyota dynasty

Pradyota was contemporary to Gautama Buddha. He was also known as Chandapradyota Mahasena. Pradyota captured the Vatsa king Udayana but later he married his daughter Vasavadatta to Udayana. The Mahavagga described him as cruel and according to the Majjhima Nikaya, Ajatashatru, the king of Magadha fortified Rajagriha to protect it from an invasion led by Pradyota. He also waged war on Pushkarasarin, king of Takshashila[10] Pradyota’s chief queen Gopalamata (mother of prince Gopala) was a disciple of Buddhist monk Mahakatyayana and constructed a stupa in Ujjayini.

Prodyota had two sons, Gopala and Palaka. He was succeeded by Palaka. According to Jaina accounts Palaka ascended to the throne on the day of passing away of Mahavira. According to the Kathasaritsagara and the Avashyaka Kathanaka, the kingdom of Vatsa was already a part of Avanti during the reign of Palaka and a prince of the royal family was the governor of Kaushambi. In the Mricchakatika, Palaka was described as a tyrant who was overthrown by a popular revolt. This revolt placed Aryaka on the throne of Ujjayini. The Puranas place Nadivardhana or Vartivardhana after Aryaka. But these names are probably corruptions of Avantivardhana, the name of the son of Palaka according to the Kathasaritsagara or the son of Gopala according to the Nepali Brihatkatha. He was defeated by Shishunaga, the king of Magadha.[11]

Avanti under Magadhan rule

A copper uninscribed coin of Ujjayini

Avanti was a part of the Magadha empire during the rule of the Shaishunaga and the Nanda dynasties. During the Mauryan dynasty rule, Avanti became the Avantirāṭṭha[12] or the western province of the empire, with its capital at Ujjayini.[13] The Junagarh Rock inscription of Rudradaman I (150 CE) mentions Pushyagupta as the governor of the western province during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya.[14] During the reign of the next ruler Bindusara, prince Ashoka was the provincial governor.[15] After the fall of the Mauryas, at the time of Pushyamitra Shunga, his son Agnimitra was the Magadhan viceroy at Vidisha, but he ruled independent of Magadha for all practical purposes.[16]

Malava Kingdom

The Malava kingdom is one among the many kingdoms ruled by the Yadava kings in the central and western India (Malwa region) that are mentioned in the Mahabharata.[17] Sometimes Avanti and Malava were described to be the same country. They were originally a western tribe, in Punjab province of Pakistan. Later they migrated to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states of India. In recorded history of India, there were a royal tribe called Malavas. They were believed to be the descendants of the Malavas.


References

  1. ↑ Mahajan, V.D. (1960, reprint 2007). Ancient India, New Delhi:S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0887-6, p.233
  2. ↑ Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.85,129-30
  3. ↑ Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, pp.337-43
  4. ↑ Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.63
  5. ↑ Gokhale, B. G. (1962). Samudra Gupta: Life and Times. New Delhi: Asia Publishing House. p. 18.
  6. ↑ Raizada, Ajit (1992). Ujjayini (in Hindi), Bhopal: Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh, p.21
  7. ↑ Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.130-1
  8. ↑ Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam, ed. India through the ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 74.
  9. ↑ Bhattacharyya, P. K. (1977). Historical Geography of Madhya Pradesh from Early Records. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 118–9.
  10. ↑ Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.179-81
  11. ↑ Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.192-5
  12. ↑ Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972). Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.256
  13. ↑ Thapar, R. (2001). Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-564445-X, p.237
  14. ↑ Thapar, R. (2001). Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-564445-X, p.13
  15. ↑ Thapar, R. (2001). Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-564445-X, p.21
  16. ↑ Lahiri, B (1974). Indigenous States of Northern India (Circa 200 B.C. to 320 A.D.) , Calcutta: University of Calcutta, p.49
  17. ↑ Kisari Mohan Ganguli, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose, 1883-1896.

See also

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