Bhojakata was the capital of
Rukmi a Bhoja-
Yadava
The Yadava (literally, descended from Yadu) were an ancient Indian people who believed to be descended from Yadu, a legendary king of Chandravamsha lineage. The community was formed of various clans, being the Abhira, Andhaka, Vrishni, an ...
king of
Vidarbha Kingdom
The Vidarbha Kingdom in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata is among the many kingdoms ruled by Yadu kings (Bhoja Yadavas).
It was situated in the region still known as Vidarbha in what is now Maharashtra in the Deccan.
Damayanti, the wife of Nal ...
. Rukmi wanted his sister
Rukmini
Rukmini ( sa, रुक्मिणी, , ) is a Hindu goddess and the first queen and chief wife of Krishna. In Vaishnava tradition, she is described as Krishna's principal queen in Dvaraka, as well as the chief of his wives. She is an in ...
to be married by the
Chedi king
Shishupala
Shishupala ( sa, शिशुपाल, lit. ''protector of children'', IAST: ''Śiśupāla''; sometimes spelt Sisupala) was the king of the Chedi kingdom, and an antagonist in the Mahabharata. He was the son of King Damaghosha and Srutashubha, ...
, but she was in love with
Vasudeva Krishna. Krishna abducted Rukmini against the will of Rukmi. Then king Rukmi left the capital of Vidarbha, viz
Kundinapuri and chased Krishna. He pledged that he will not return to his capital without Rukmini. But he was defeated by Krishna's army. Rukmi kept his promise by constructing another capital for Vidarbha, to the west of Kundinapuri called Bhojakata. Since then he started ruling from this new capital. He never returned to Kundinapuri.
Bhojakata can be identified with present-day
Bhatkuli
Bhatakuli is a town and a taluka in Amravati subdivision of Amravati district in Amravati revenue Division in the Berar region in the state of Maharashtra, India.
Bhatkuli has an ancient shiv temple for Vishwamitra
Vishvamitra ( sa, व ...
village west of
Amravati
Amravati (pronunciation ( help· info)) is the second largest city in the Vidarbha region and ninth largest city in Maharashtra, India. It is administrative headquarters of Amravati district and Amravati division which includes Akola, Bul ...
to the western boundary of Vidharbha region of
Maharashtra state of India.
References
See also
*
Bhojas of Goa
Ancient Indian cities
Former populated places in India
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