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The '''Maharajas of Valkha''' were part of a central Indian dynasty that ruled the historical Valkha region (the area around present-day [[Khargone district]]). They are known from several inscriptions dated to the years 38-134 of an unspecified [[calendar era]]. Based on the identification of this era with the [[Gupta era]], they are believed to have ruled during 4th and 5th centuries CE. These rulers of Valkha were probably vassals of the [[Gupta Empire|Gupta emperors]].

== Territory ==

The core territory of the Valkha rulers was located along the [[Narmada river]] around present-day [[Khargone district]] (West Nimar), [[Madhya Pradesh]]. In 1982, a hoard of 27 inscriptions of the dynasty's rulers were found at Risawala [[adivasi]] settlement on the outskirts of the [[Bagh, Dhar|Bagh]] town in [[Dhar district]]. This suggests that the name "Bagh" is derived from "Valkha". The inscriptions of the dynasty have also been discovered at [[Indore]] and [[Shirpur]] (or Sirpur).{{sfn|Shiv Kumar Tiwari|2002|pp=63-64}}

== Date ==

The inscriptions of the Valkha rulers are dated to the years 38-134 of an unspecified [[calendar era]]. The rulers are titled [[Maharaja]] ("great king") and described as meditating at the feet of the ''Parama-bhattaraka'' ("supreme overlord"). Some historians, such as [[D. C. Sircar]] and [[R. C. Majumdar]] theorized that the Maharajas of Valkha were subordinates to the [[Gupta Empire|Gupta emperors]], who were overlords of northern India. According to these scholars, the calendar era used in the Valkha inscriptions is the Gupta era, which starts from 319 CE.{{sfn|Shiv Kumar Tiwari|2002|p=64}}

On the other hand, [[V. V. Mirashi]] suggested that the calendar era used in the Valkha inscriptions is the [[Kalachuri Era|Abhira era]] starting in 249 CE.{{sfn|Shiv Kumar Tiwari|2002|p=64}} He also identified the location of Valkha as [[Waghali]] in present-day [[Maharashtra]].{{sfn|Parmanand Gupta|1976|p=128}}

== History ==

Bhulunda, the name of the dynasty's earliest known ruler, appears to be a non-[[Sanskrit]] name. The later rulers of the dynasty have Sanskrit names, and the inscriptions don't mention the relationships between the different rulers. One theory is that Bhulunda was a [[adivasi|tribal]] (non-[[Indo-Aryans|Indo-Aryan]]) chieftain, who was appointed by emperor [[Samudragupta]] as the governor; the later feudal governors were of Indo-Aryan origin. Another theory is that the later four governors were descendants of Bhulunda, and adopted Sanskritized names.{{sfn|Shiv Kumar Tiwari|2002|p=64}}

All the inscriptions record [[brahmadeya|land grants]] to [[Brahmin]]s, groups of Brahmins (called ''Chaturvaidya-Samooha'') or temple deities. This has led to suggestions that the Gupta emperors attempted to Brahminize what were then tribal areas of central India. One of the inscriptions records a grant to the deity "Bappa Pishacha-deva", who was probably an evil spirit ([[pishacha]]) worshipped by the local tribals.{{sfn|Shiv Kumar Tiwari|2002|p=64}}

Bhulunda's inscriptions are dated between years 38-59 (358-379 CE, assuming Gupta era). After him, Valkha was ruled by Svamidasa, Rudradasa, Bhattaraka and Nagabhatta. The inscriptions of these four rulers are dated between 63-134 (383-454 CE).{{sfn|Archana Verma|2007|p=23}}

After Nagabhatta, the next known ruler of the region is Maharaja Subandhu of [[Mahishmati]]. His [[Bagh Caves]] inscription is dated 167 (486 CE, assuming Gupta era).{{sfn|Archana Verma|2007|p=23}}{{sfn|Walter M. Spink|2005|p=37}} Historian Walter M. Spink has identified Subandhu as the prince Vishruta mentioned in ''[[Dashakumaracharita]]''. According to his theory, Subandhu or Vishruta was a Gupta prince, who established the dynasty that later came to be known as [[Kalachuri]].{{sfn|Walter M. Spink|2005|pp=153-154}}{{sfn|Sara L. Schastok|1985|p=97}}

== Rulers ==

The Maharajas of Valkha attested by epigraphic evidence are:{{sfn|Archana Verma|2007|p=23}}

# Bhuluṇḍa
# Svāmidāsa
# Rudradāsa
# Bhaṭṭāraka
# Nāgabhaṭṭa

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===

{{ref begin}}
* {{cite book |author=Archana Verma |title=Cultural and Visual Flux at Early Historical Bagh in Central India |publisher=Archaeopress |location=Oxford |year=2007 |isbn=9781407301518 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_os7mOK9v38C&pg=PP6 }}
* {{cite book |author=Om Prakash Misra |title=Archaeological Excavations in Central India: Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o0ISjDDWJwQC&pg=PA13 |year=2003 |publisher=Mittal Publications |isbn=978-81-7099-874-7 }}
* {{cite book |author=Parmanand Gupta |title=Geographical Names in Ancient Indian Inscriptions |publisher=Concept |year=1976 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PPlNxFkiVfIC&pg=PA128 }}
* {{cite book |author=Sara L. Schastok |title=The Śāmalājī Sculptures and 6th Century Art in Western India |publisher=BRILL |year=1985 |isbn=9789004069411 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jh1fF8HvJmMC&pg=PA97 }}
* {{cite book |author=Shiv Kumar Tiwari |title=Tribal Roots of Hinduism |publisher=Sarup & Sons |year=2002 |isbn=9788176252997 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n0gwfmPFTLgC&pg=PA63 }}
* {{cite book |author=Walter M. Spink |title=Ajanta: The end of the Golden Age |year=2005 |isbn=9789004148321 |publisher=BRILL |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fjgq2OivwmkC&pg=PA37 }}
{{ref end}}

[[Category:Dynasties of India]]
[[Category:History of Madhya Pradesh]]

Maharajas of Valkha - Revision history

->Citation bot at 17:13, 1 April 2021