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 Abhir 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 Yadavas.[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
- ↑ A cultural history of Maharashtra and Goa: from place name inscriptions{{#if:Mahajan|, Mahajan}. Sundeep Prakashan(1989)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Age of the Vākāṭakas{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Harman Publishing House(1992). ISBN 9788185151519
- ↑ India Today International{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Living Media India Limited
- ↑ History of Mediæval Hindu India: (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) ...{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Oriental Book Supplying Agency(1921)
- ↑ The Scheduled Castes{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Oxford University Press(1995). ISBN 9788171547609
- ↑ The Mahabharata{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Penguin UK(2015). ISBN 9788184756814
- ↑ Goa through the ages.{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Concept Pub. Co.(1990). ISBN 9788170222590
- ↑ Thakurs of the Sahyadri{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. University of Bombay; distributors: P.C. Manaktala(1966)
- Kisari Mohan Ganguli, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose, 1883-1896.
External links
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