Vākāṭaka Dynasty
The Vākāṭaka Dynasty was a significant ruling power in the northern Deccan Plateau of India, specifically in present-day Maharashtra, during the third to fifth centuries CE. Founded by Vindhyaśakti, believed to be of Greco-Indian descent, the dynasty initially functioned as a feudatory and gradually expanded its influence over much of central India. The Vākāṭakas are notable for their matrimonial alliances with various indigenous groups, including the Nāgas, Āndhras, and Guptas, which strengthened their political and cultural ties. Under rulers like Pravarasena I and Rudrasena II, the dynasty saw territorial expansion and increased prominence, with Rudrasena II marrying into the Gupta royal family, further solidifying these alliances.
The Vākāṭakas are also recognized for their patronage of the arts, particularly sculpture and architecture, contributing to significant cultural sites such as Cave XVI at Ajantī. Throughout their reign, they embraced Buddhism, reflecting a diverse cultural landscape. However, their power diminished towards the end of the fifth century, culminating in a temporary revival under Pṛthvīṣeṇa II. The legacy of the Vākāṭaka Dynasty is marked by their contributions to art, culture, and regional politics, positioning them among the notable dynasties of their time in the Deccan region.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Vākāṭaka Dynasty
Related civilizations: India, Greece.
Date: third-fifth centuries c.e.
Locale: India
Vākāṭaka Dynasty
The Vākāṭaka (vaw-KAW-tah-kah) Dynasty ruled in the northern Deccan Plateau of India (the present-day state of Maharashtra) between the third and fifth centuries c.e. The Vākāṭakas may have been a result of Greco-Indian liaisons, but they also had matrimonial alliances with the Nāgas, Āndhras, Guptas, and other indigenous groups.
Vindhyaśakti (c. 250-270 c.e.), the founder, is believed to have belonged to the Kilakilā (“leporous” or white) kings, who were Yavanas (Greeks or Kushāns). Initially a feudatory, he extended his influence over much of central India. His son, Pravarasena I (r. from c. 270 c.e.), reached the Narmada in the north by annexing the kingdom of Purika. The main line continued with Rudrasena I (c. 330), his son Pṛthvīṣeṇa I (c. 350), and Pṛthvīṣeṇa’s son Rudrasena II (c. 400). Rudrasena II married Prabhāvatī, a daughter of Chandragupta II. She reigned after Rudrasena’s early death until her sons became of age. Thus the Gupta influence was strong, and later rulers became Buddhist.
When the Guptas became involved in a war against the Hūṇas, or Huns, they expanded and, in the period of Pravarasena II’s son Narendrasena (c. 450-470), spread but eventually came into conflict with the Nalas. During the reign of the last Vākāṭaka, Pṛthvīṣeṇa II (from c. 470 c.e.), Vākāṭaka power was temporarily revived.
The Vākāṭakas liberally patronized sculpture and graphic arts, and they generously endowed Hindu and Buddhist shrines, including Cave XVI at Ajantī. They were among the most glorious of the contemporary dynasties of the Deccan.
Bibliography
Bakker, Hans. The Vākāṭakas: An Essay in Hindu Iconology. Groningen, Netherlands: E. Forsten, 1997.
Shastri, Ajay Mitra. Vākāṭakas: Sources and History. New Delhi, India: Aryan Books International, 1997.
Thaper, Romila. A History of India. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1966.
Walker, Benjamin. Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. London: Allen and Unwin, 1968.