Maukhari dynasty

The Maukhari dynasty was a post-Gupta royal Indian dynasty that controlled vast areas of Northern India for over six generations. They earlier served as vassals of the Guptas and later by Harsha's Vardhan dynasty. The Maukharis established their independence at Kannauj, during the 6th century. The dynasty ruled over much of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha. Around 606 CE, a large area of their empire was reconquered by the Later Guptas.[2] According to Huien Tssng, the territory may have been lost to King Shashanka of Gauda, who declared independence circa 600 AD.[3][4]

Maukhari Empire
c. 550 CE–c. 606 CE
Maukharis and their contemporaries in India
Capital	Kannauj
Common languages	Sanskrit
Religion	Hinduism Buddhism
Government	Monarchy
Maharajadhirajas
Historical era	Classical India
• Established	c. 550 CE
• Disestablished	c. 606 CE
Preceded by Succeeded by Gupta Empire Later Guptas Vardhana dynasty

Coin of King Iśanavarman of the Maukhari of Kannauj, successors of the Guptas in the Gangetic region. Circa 535-553 CE. The ruler faces to the left, whether in Gupta coinage the ruler faces to the right. This is possibly a symbol of antagonism and rivalry, as also seen on some similar coins of Toramana.[1]

Rulers

The known Maukhari rulers of madhya-desha include:[5]

• Hari-varman[6]
• Aditya-varman
• Ishvara-varman (Iśvaravarman)
• Ishana-varman (Iśanavarman), r. c. 550-560 CE
• Sharva-varman (Śarvavarman), r. c. 560-575 CE
• Avanti-varman, r. c. 575-600 CE
• Graha-varman, r. c. 600-605 CE

The Barabar Caves inscriptions attest the existence of another Maukhari branch. This branch ruled as feudatories, probably that of the Later Guptas. The known rulers of this branch include:[7]

• Nrpa Shri Yajna-varman
• Nrpa Samantachudamani Shri Shardula-varman
• Ananta-varman

Inscriptions

• 
  Asirgarh seal inscription of Sarvavarman, Maukhari dynasty, 6th century .
• 
  Lomas Rishi cave inscription of Anantavarman
• 
  Gopika Cave Inscription of Anantavarman
• 
  Vadathika Cave Inscription of Anantavarman

See also

• Megasthenes
• List of Hindu Empires and Dynasties

References

1. Tripathi, Rama S. (1989). History of Kanauj: To the Moslem Conquest. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 45 Note 1. ISBN 9788120804043.
2. "Maukhari dynasty (Indian dynasty) - Britannica Online Encyclopedia". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2013-01-26.
3. Reza, Mohammad Habib; Bandyopadhyay, S.; Mowla, Azizul. "Traces of Buddhist architecture in Gupta and post-Gupta Bengal: evidence from inscriptions and literature". Journal of Eurasian Studies.
4. Dasgupta, Biplab. "European Trade and Colonial Conquest, Volume 1". Retrieved 25 April 2020.
5. Ronald M. Davidson 2012, p. 34-35.
6. Documented by the Shankarpur copper-plate inscription: see SIDDHAM: the asia inscriptions database: https://siddham.network/inscription/in00067/
7. Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha (1977). Dynastic History of Magadha, Cir. 450-1200 A.D. Abhinav. pp. 109–110. OCLC 464639312.

Bibliography

• Ronald M. Davidson (2012). Indian Esoteric Buddhism: A Social History of the Tantric Movement. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231501026.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

External links

• Joseph Schwartzberg. The Historical Atlas of South Asia. Map of the “Age of Pusyabhutis & Calukyans, c. A.D. 550-700”. (Pg 26).