Vallabhi

Vallabhi

Vallabhi (modern Vala) is an ancient city located in Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, in western India, near Bhavnagar. Also known as Vallabhipura, it was the capital of the ancient Maitraka dynasty.

Origins and history

Legend has it that a Kshatriya named Vijayasena founded the city around the 3rd century. The Maitrakas, descending from general Bhatarka, a military governor of Saurashtra peninsula during Gupta ruler Skandagupta (455-467), had ruled the peninsula and parts of southern Rajasthan from Vallabhi from the fifth to the eighth centuries.

Vallabhi has been a famous Jain center, and there is a possibility that the Maitrakas (Sun-worshippers) may have embraced Jainism later on. But when Chinese traveller Xuanzang visited Vallabhi during second quarter of 7th century, he found its ruler to be a Buddhist follower. When Itsing, another Chinese traveller visited Vallabhi in the last quarter of 7th century, he found the city as a great center of learning including Buddhism. Gunamati and Sthiramati are stated to be two famous Buddhist scholars of Vallabhi at the middle of seventh century. Vallabhi was famous for its catholicity and the students from all over the country, including the Brahmana boys, visited it to have higher education in secular and religious subjects. We are told that the graduates of Vallabhi were given higher executive posts.

Maitraka rule ended with the sacking of Vallabhi by the barbarians in 524, according to James Tod [Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, Vol I, 2002, pp 177, 187.] and in second or third quarter of the 8th century by various other scholars [History and Culture of Indian People, Classical age, p 150, (Ed) Dr A. D. Pusalkar, Dr R. C. Majumdar.] . There is no agreement among the scholars as to who these barbarians were.

Gajni or Gayni is one of the ancient names of port of Vallabhi (Cambay), the ruins of which are about three miles from the modern city [Annals and Antiquities of Mewar, 2002, Vol I, pp pp 178, 202, James Tod.] . H. A. Rose and several other scholars have identified this Gajni with the Gajni referenced in the traditions of Karnal Kamboj ("Garh Gajni Nikaas, Lachhoti Ghaggar") [Glossary of Tribes, 1914, p 444fn, Sqq., H. A. Rose; Ancient Kambojas, People and the Country, 1981, p 306, Dr J. L. Kamboj; The Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, p 416, S Kirpal Singh] . This and some other traditions of "Karnal Kamboj" seem to connect them with Vallabhi (Kambay) in Saurashtra [Op cit., p 444fn, Sqq., H. A. Rose; The Kambojas Through the Ages, 2005, pp 416-417, S Kirpal Singh, Ancient Kambojas, People and the Country, 1981, p 305-306, Dr J. L. Kamboj.] .

One of the bardic chronicles of Sisodias of Mewar reads thus about the destruction of Gajni and the killing of Siladitya-VI and his defence forces:

" The barbarians had captured Gajni. The house of Siladitya was left desolate. In its defence, his hero fell; of his seed but the name remains " [Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, 2002, Vol-I, pp 178, 71, James Tod.] . This reference seems to connect the ancestors of the Sisodias to the same Gajni as of the Kamboj traditions.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Maitraka — Empire ← CE 475–CE 767 …   Wikipedia

  • Gujarat — This article is about the Indian state. For the district in Pakistan, see Gujrat District. For the city in Pakistan, see Gujrat. Gujarat ગુજરાત   State   …   Wikipedia

  • Sisodia — See also: Category:Chhatis Rajkul and Rajput clans Rajput Clan Sisodia …   Wikipedia

  • Kambojas and Cambodia — Cambodia or Kambodia is the English transliteration of the French name Kambodge , which name stands for Sanskrit Kamboja (Persian Kambujiya or Kambaujiya ). In Chinese historical accounts, the land was known as Chenla. The ancient inscriptions of …   Wikipedia

  • Kulothunga Chola I — Infobox Chola | name=Kulothunga Chola tamil = முதலாம் குலோத்துங்க சோழன் caption = Chola Territories c. 1070 C.E. title = Rajakesari reign= 1070 C.E. 1120 C.E. capital = Gangaikonda Cholapuram queen= Madurantaki Thyagavalli Elisai Vallabhi… …   Wikipedia

  • Kamboja-Dvaravati Route — was the name of an ancient high road running from the port of Dvaraka in Anarta (Gujarat) in western India to Kamboja Mahajanapada located in parts of north east Afghanistan and southern Tajikstan. It was the second most important ancient caravan …   Wikipedia

  • Mudigonda —   town   …   Wikipedia

  • History of Gujarat — Situated on the western coast of India, the name of the state is derived from Gujjarātta (Gurjar Rāshtra), which means the land of the Gujjars . It is believed that a tribe of Gujjars migrated to India around the 5th century. The history of… …   Wikipedia

  • Nagar Brahmins — Nagar Gujarati Brahmins are believed to be one of the oldest of the Brahmin groups. Contents 1 Overview 2 Origin of Nagars 3 Migration of Nagars 4 Narsinh Mehta (1414–1481) …   Wikipedia

  • Grammaire Du Sanskrit — La grammaire du sanskrit décrit les sons de la langue sanskrite (phonétique), la formation des mots de cette langue (morphologie), et la composition de ces mots en phrases (syntaxe). Son étude permet de mieux comprendre les citations en sanskrit… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”