Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty Mahāmēghabāhana | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd or 1st century BC–4th century CE | |||||||||||||||
 Map of the Maha-Meghavahanas, circa 20 BCE.[1] | |||||||||||||||
| Religion | Jainism | ||||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||
| Historical era | Classical India | ||||||||||||||
• Established | 2nd or 1st century BC | ||||||||||||||
• Disestablished | 4th century CE | ||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||
50 CE
| History of South Asia |
|---|
_without_national_boundaries.svg) |
The Mahameghavahana dynasty (Mahā-Mēgha-Vāhana, 2nd or 1st century BC to early 4th century CE[3][4]) was an ancient ruling dynasty of Kalinga after the decline of the Maurya Empire.[5] In the first century B.C., Mahameghavahana, a king of Chedirastra (or Cetarattha, i.e., kingdom of the Chedis)[6] conquered Kalinga and Kosala. During the reign of Kharavela, the third king of Mahameghavahana dynasty, South Kosala became an integral part of the kingdom. He patronised Jainism, but did not discriminate against other religions.[7][8] He is known by his Hathigumpha inscription.
South Kosala was later conquered by Gautamiputra Satakarni of the Satavahana dynasty in the early part of the 2nd century CE and remained in their possession up to the second half of the 2nd century CE. It was during the second and third century CE, the Meghas or Meghavahanas reappeared in the political scene and regained their suzerainty over South Kosala. Samudragupta during his Dakshinapatha expedition, defeated Mahendra of Dakshina Kosala who probably belonged to the Megha dynasty according to a speculation. As a result, the South Kosala during the fourth century A.D, became a part of the Gupta empire.[3][9]
The Sada dynasty who ruled form Amaravati region in their inscription from Guntapalli describe themselves as Maharaja of Kalinga Mahisaka countries belonging to Mahameghavahana family.[10]
- ^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (f). ISBN 0226742210.
- ^ Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 21, 145. ISBN 0226742210.
- ^ a b Sahu, J. K. (1977). "The Meghas of Kosala". Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 38: 49–54. ISSN 2249-1937. JSTOR 44139050.
- ^ Sahu, J.K. (1977). "The Meghas of Kosala" (PDF). shodhganga.
- ^ For a map of their territory see: Schwartzberg, Joseph E. (1978). A Historical atlas of South Asia. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 145, map XIV.1 (f). ISBN 0226742210.
- ^ L Bhagawandas Gandhi (1927). Tribes in Ancient India.
- ^ Hampa Nagarajaiah (1999). A History of the Early Ganga Monarchy and Jainism. Ankita Pustaka. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-87321-16-3.
- ^ Kailash Chand Jain (2010). History of Jainism. D. K. Print World (P) Limited. p. 437. ISBN 978-81-246-0547-9.
- ^ Sahu, J.K. "The Meghas of Kosala" (PDF). shodhganga.
- ^ Shimada, Akira (9 November 2012). Early Buddhist Architecture in Context: The Great St?pa at Amar?vat? (ca. 300 BCE-300 CE). BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-23283-9.