Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History: Chapter 3
Huns from China were very cruel. They pushed neighbouring tribe Kushan to west which in turn pushed Sakas. Sakas forwarded that kick to Bactria Greek.
At the beginning of the Christian era Sakas occupied the Indian Territory of Baluchistan, Sindh, Kathiawad, Gujrat and some parts of Aparantak(Konkan) to the south, right upto Ujjain.
Victory of Andhra and Malavas
- Andhra and Kalinga at this time were staunch supporter of Vedic religion.
- When Sakas crossed Narmada, Andhra marched against them and pushed beyond Narmada.
- Sakas was then defeated by Youdheyas and Malavas in North.
- Malavas killed Sakas king Nahapan.
- They started MALAVA SAMVAT to commemorate this historic victory.
- This Malava Samvat later on became our VIKRAM SAMVAT.
Origin of Vikram Samvat and Shalivahan Saka
- There are very wide difference of opinion about the origin of these two Samvatsar.
- Both these eras signify the decisive victories the Indians won over the Saka-Kushans.
- Samvat is more acceptable as from Vedic time we are using Samvatsar and Samvat for the measurement of time.
- The word 'Saka' appear to be corrupt form of foreign aggressors Sakas and Kushans.
- Shalivahan(Salivahan) Saka is not a pure name of sanskrit extraction as Vikram Samvat.
- So instead of Salivahan Saka - "Salivahan Samvat" should be used.
Satavahan Empire
Indian's Martial and religious Victory over The Sakas
- Andhra warriors Salivahan Kings like Vilinayankur, Gautamiputra Satkarni, Vashishthputra Pulamayi and others destroyed Sakas kingdom in Gujarath, Sourashtra and Sindh.
- Saka Satrap "Rudra" gave his daughter in marriage to Salivahan King as Greek King Seleucos had years before given his to Emperor Chandragupta.
- Due to this fight over hundred years, Indian civilization look over Sakas. They started to adopt Indian names. Most of them embraced Vedic religion.
- Buddhist were more in the region of Baluchistan and Sindh. They never opposed Sakas. Naturally Sakas must have hated Vedic people more. But still they accepted Vedic religion because of respect at the valiant Vedic warriors who defeated them.
- Sakas made sanskrit their offical language.
The Kushan Invasion
- By this time Kushan who were pushed by Huns started to enter India. Millions of them violently entered Southern Asia shedding blood, plundering and burning towns and cities.
- They pushed themselves ahead of Punjab. Their first king in India was Wima Kadphises.
- After death of Wima, Kanishka ascended the throne in 78 A.D.
- He took over all kingdom and merged into single one. His capital was Purushpur(Peshawar).
- Because of continuous battle with Sakas, Satavahanas got defeated in one or two battles and withdrawn from the north of the Narmada to the south to build strong defences.
- By this time Kanishka conquered all the Sakas states Malava, Gujarath, Sourashtra and Sindh.
Its not only the battlefield that decides whether a Nation is destroyed because of Foreign aggression rather in the final phase of that National Struggle that Nation was able to overcome those foreign aggressions that determines a Nation's prowess, its vitality and its right to live.
Kanishka Embraces Buddhism?
- Kanishka embraces buddhism but due to many sects those who joined him called Mahayan sect.
- Others who refrained to join Mahayan, founded Heenayan.
- Mahayan recognised Sanskrit as the language of their religion.
- Buddhist scriptures which were formally written in Pali and Prakrit only, were translated into Sanskrit.
- Inspite of Buddhism he continue attacking his enemies with huge armies.
- Passed 10 years in the effort to Conquer China and got killed by his tired soldiers only.
- He was able to spread Buddhism in China because he had first conquered those provinces with his weapons of war.
Without armed support, religious victory if tame and insipid, whereas martial glory without a strong religious footing becomes grossly diabolic. This alone is true.
Disloyalty of Buddhists
- They again supported a foreigner Kanishka like they did to Greek, while Satvahans and Youdheyas continue to fight with Kanishka.
- Due to their treason Buddhism continue to decline.
Kanishka Grandson Havishka(Samrat Vasudeo)
- Havishka embraced Vedic religion and changed his name to Samrat Vasudeo and struck coins with the images of Siva and Nandi imprinted on them.
- After death of Kasnishka his empire fell to pieces.
- Satvahanas kept South intact throughout, North also declared independence.
Gupta Empire
Chandragupta(308 A.D. - 318 A.D.) -> Samudragupta ( 318 A.D - 375 A.D.) -> Chandragupta-2
- During the 125 years of Sakas-Kushan onslaught Patliputra or Magadha ruled by non-entity king with the four walls.
- Around 300 A.D., Lichchavi Republic was established known in Magadha from the times of Buddha.
- Princess of Lichchavi married to Chandragupta.
- He founded an independent kingdom in Patliputra.
- During his ten years of rule he extended Patliputra to include Magadha, Prayag and Ayodhya.
- Chandragupta died in 330 A.D.
- Gupta dynasty was a staunch adherent of the Vedic religion Shree Vishnu being their chief God of Worship.
Samudragupta
- He conquered several independent states in North and South like Mauryan Empire. He took over Kamrup, Samatat, Nepal and all the region from north-eastern frontier provinces to the Vindhyas.
- He conquered twelve prominent kingdom in South and allowed their Kings to go free and rule their kingdoms.
- After seeing this Kushan in Gandhar and others voluntarily sued for peace and accepted Gupta paramountcy.
- This end the Kushan problem.
- However Sakas kings from Malava to Sindh also conquered Andhra.
- He was preapring for march against Sakas but died in 375 A.D.
- His wish was that his younger but valiant and Virile son Chandragupta-2 should be crowned emperor.
- But elder son Ramgupta took over the empire.
Chandragupta-2 (Vikramaditya)
- When Ramgupta took over the empire, Sakas became fearless and asked Ramgupta to send his wife Grahdevi to them.
- To avoid conflict, Ramgupta started preparations to send his queen to Sakas.
- Chandragupta took Grahdevi under his protection and sends word to Saka King that queen will be sent with curtained palanquin together with her maids in similar litters.
- Chandragupta himself donned the female attire and sat in the queen's Palanquin with his strong choosen warriors in other Palanquins.
- Saka King was so happy that he came to welcome but immediately killed by Chandragupta.
- Chandragupta and his warriors vanished before the news spread.
- Whole capital and the Nation was filled with joy on this Chandragupta victory.
- There was great agitation to dethrone the coward Ramgupta.
- In this commotion Ramgupta was killed.
- Chandragupta was crowned emperor and married to same Grahdevi whom he saved from humiliation at the hands of the enemy.
- He then marched upon the Saka Satraps.
- At all the places Saka kings were crushed. The last King Rudrasingh, son of Satyasingh was killed by Chandragupta.
- After ending Sakas, he entered the ancient city Ujjayini which was capital of Saka kingdom.
- He was assumed the title of Vikramaditya.
- He renamed Malava Samvat as Vikram Samvat.
- Ujjayini was made capital of the western part of his India-wide empire.
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