Gopa Rashtra

In the Sanskrit epics, the Gopa Rashtra (Gopa kingdom) of central and western India is believed to have been ruled by Krishna. Inscriptions indicate the presence of a region by this name in the Chalukya empire (present day Maharashtra and Goa).[1] In the Junagarh inscriptions of Skandagupta and Chalukyan records, Gopa rasthra is mentioned as the colony inhabited by the cowherd people.[2][3] Kautilya states that the region was tribal corporation following the profession of agriculture and arms both.[2] According to Mahabharata's list of kingdoms given in Bhishma Parva, chapter-9,Pandu Rashtra, Gopa Rashtra, Malla Rashtra and Ashmaka together formed the modern Maharashtra.[4] The term Goa is derived from Goparashtra i.e. the area of cowherds and shepherds.[5]

History

The name of Gopa rashtra forms part among the various kingdoms of Ancient India as narrated in the epic Mahabharata.[6]

The state of Goa is described as ancient Goparashtra and it takes its present name from earlier used terms like- Gomant, Gomantaka, Govarashtra or Goparashtra. All these names are prefixed with "Go" means "cow". Mahabharata refers it to as the country of cowherds.[7]

Inscriptions of Chalukya age mention about grant of Balegrama village in the Goparashtra to worship Kapaleshvara.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mahajan, Malati (1989). A cultural history of Maharashtra and Goa: from place name inscriptions. Sundeep Prakashan. p. 79.
  2. 1 2 Shastri, Ajay Mitra (1992). The Age of the Vākāṭakas. Harman Publishing House. p. 69. ISBN 9788185151519. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  3. ↑ India Today International. Living Media India Limited. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  4. ↑ Vaidya, Chintāmana Vināyaka (1921). History of Mediæval Hindu India: (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) ... Oriental Book Supplying Agency. p. 259. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  5. ↑ Anthropological Survey of India (1995). The Scheduled Castes. Oxford University Press. p. xxiv. ISBN 9788171547609. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  6. ↑ Debroy, Bibek (2015). The Mahabharata. Penguin UK. pp. Chapter 870(10). ISBN 9788184756814. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  7. ↑ Souza, edited by Teotonio R. de (1990). Goa through the ages. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co. p. 4. ISBN 9788170222590. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  8. ↑ Chapekar, Laxman Narayan (1966). Thakurs of the Sahyadri. University of Bombay; distributors: P.C. Manaktala. p. 3. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

External links

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