The Traikutakas were a dynasty of Indian kings who ruled between 388 and 456. The name "Traikutakas" seems to be derived from the words for a three-peaked mountain ("Tri-kuta"). The Traikutakas are mentioned in

Kalidasa Kālidāsa (''fl.'' 4th–5th century CE) was a Classical Sanskrit author who is often considered ancient India's greatest poet and playwright. His plays and poetry are primarily based on the Vedas, the Rāmāyaṇa, the Mahābhārata and t ...

's Raghuvamsa, in which they are located in the area of northern

Konkan The Konkan ( kok, कोंकण) or Kokan () is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, running from Damaon in the north to Karwar in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan plateau in the east. The hinterland ...

. The dominions of the Traikutakas further included Aparanta and northern

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India and the second-most populous country subdi ...

. The coins of the Traikutaras are found extensively in southern

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

, and southern

beyond the Ghats. Their design is very close to that of the

Western Satraps The Western Satraps, or Western Kshatrapas (Brahmi:, ''Mahakṣatrapa'', "Great Satraps") were Indo-Scythian (Saka) rulers of the western and central part of India (Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajastha ...

, from which they probably inherited some territories, and traces of the obverse legend with

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

letters can still be seen. Traikuta rule of Aparanta or Konkan begins in A.D. 248 (Traikuta era) exactly the time of

Abhira The Abhira tribe is mentioned in the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata. A historical people of the same name are mentioned in the '' Periplus of the Erythraean Sea''. They are thought to be people who moved in from eastern Iran in the aftermath o ...

Ishwarsena rule, hence Traikutas are identified with the dynasty of Abhiras. The Traikutakas reckoned in a specific era, known as the Traikutaka era, or usually the

Kalachuri The Kalachuris (IAST: Kalacuri), also known as Kalachuris of Mahishmati, were an Indian dynasty that ruled in west-central India between 6th and 7th centuries. They are also known as the Haihayas or as the Early Kalachuris to distinguish them ...

or Chedi era, starting in 249.

History

It is generally supposed that Traikutakas were a different dynasty of

, and hence are sometimes called Abhira- Traikutakas . Indradutta, Dahrasena & Vyaghrasena were well known kings from this dynasty. King Dahrasena expanded his realm, which soon bordered the

Vakataka The Vakataka dynasty () was an ancient Indian dynasty that originated from the Deccan in the mid-3rd century CE. Their state is believed to have extended from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the north to the Tungabhadra River in th ...

realm. This led to conflict and the Vakataka king Narendrasena, who with the help of his son & crown prince Prithivishena, probably defeated the Traikutikas, as later king Prithivishena's inscriptions refer to him twice rescuing the "sunken fortunes of his family". Traikutikas were known for their Vaishnava faith, who claimed to be

Yadav Yadav refers to a grouping of traditionally non-elite, Quote: "The Yadavs were traditionally a low-to-middle-ranking cluster of pastoral-peasant castes that have become a significant political force in Uttar Pradesh (and other northern state ...

of Haiheya branch and

Dharasena ''Acharya'' Dharasena was a ''Digambara monk'' of first century CE. Biography ''Āchārya'' Dharasena, in first century CE, guided two ''Āchāryas'', ''Āchārya'' Pushpadant and ''Āchārya'' Bhutabali, to put the teachings of Mahavira in t ...

performed Ashvamedha yajna too. During the reign of Maharaja Madhyamasena, the kingdom was invaded by the

king Harishena. The dynasty ended around AD 550, when Vikramasena, the last known king died. The Traikutakas were probably reduced to a vassal status under the

Vishnukundins The Vishnukundina dynasty (IAST: Viṣṇukundina) was an Indian dynasty based in Deccan, which ruled modern Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and parts of South India during the 5th and 6th centuries, carving land out from the Vakataka Empire. ...

and had to accept Madhavavarman I's authority.

Traikutaka rulers

The following Traikuta rulers are known from the coins and inscriptions of Gupta period- * Maharaja Indradatta (AD 415-440, only mentioned on the coins of his son) * Maharaja Dahrasena, son of Indradatta (A.D. 455), he performed Ashwamedha * Maharaja Vyaghrasena, son of Dahrasena (A.D. 480) * Maharaja Madhyamasena * Vikramasena Vyaghrasena coinage, Traikutaka dynasty

References

* "A catalogue of the Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc.." Rapson {{Middle kingdoms of India History of Maharashtra Dynasties of India

History

Traikutaka rulers

Further reading

References

References