Varendra Rebellion
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The Varendra rebellion (also known as the Kaivarta revolt) was the revolt against King Mahipala II led by Kaivarta chieftain Divya (Dibyak), a
feudal lord An overlord in the English feudal system was a lord of a manor who had subinfeudated a particular manor, estate or fee, to a tenant. The tenant thenceforth owed to the overlord one of a variety of services, usually military service or s ...
of Northern
Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...
. The Kaivartas were able to capture
Varendra Varendra (), also known as Barind (), was an ancient and historical territory of Northern Bengal, now mostly in Bangladesh and a little portion in the Indian state of West Bengal and Eastern Bihar. It formed part of the Pundravardhana or Pund ...
by this rebellion. The revolt might have been the first peasant revolt in Indian history. However, the first phase of the revolt would more appropriately be described as a rebellion of feudal lords ( samantas), who would have mobilized the peasants, and the last phase of the revolt was a spontaneous mass uprising.


Sources for history of the rebellion and the dynasty

* Ramacharitam by Sandhyakar Nandi * Bhaturiya Inscription of Rajyapala * Belava plate of Bhojvarman * Manahali Cooper plate inscription of Madanpala * Kamauli copper plate inscription of Vaidyadeva *
Taranatha Tāranātha (1575–1634) was a Lama of the Jonang school of Tibetan Buddhism. He is widely considered its most remarkable scholar and exponent. Taranatha was born in Tibet, supposedly on the birthday of Padmasambhava. His original name was Ku ...
's history of Buddhism in India


Identification of rebels

In the early ancient period the Kaivartas were rated low, associated with boatmen, fishermen, or else forest-settlers hunters and raiders like the Niṣāda or even the dāsas, or were described as a mixed caste—sankīrṇa jāti, or as antyajas. The Vaṃśānucarita  of the Viṣṇu  Purāṇa mentioned that a king of
Magadha Magadha was a region and kingdom in ancient India, based in the eastern Ganges Plain. It was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas during the Second Urbanization period. The region was ruled by several dynasties, which overshadowed, conquered, and ...
, having overthrown the traditionally accepted kṣatriyas would create new category of kṣatriyas.
Romila Thapar Romila Thapar (born 30 November 1931) is an Indian historian. Her principal area of study is ancient India, a field in which she is pre-eminent. Quotr: "The pre-eminent interpreter of ancient Indian history today. ... " Thapar is a Professor ...
notes that the list of other varṇas converted to Kṣatriya status through this process includes the Kaivarta. The Sultanpur copperplate inscription of the 5th century brings to light the presence of Kaivartaśarman in the local assembly (adhikaraṇa) as a member of Kuṭumbin (peasant landholders) in Gupta Bengal. Swapna Bhattacharya notes that in Varendra Kaivartas were represented not only as fishermen and cultivators, but Brahmins as well. R. C. Majumdar and RS Sharma mentioned the merger of this tribe or clan with
Aryan ''Aryan'' (), or ''Arya'' (borrowed from Sanskrit ''ārya''), Oxford English Dictionary Online 2024, s.v. ''Aryan'' (adj. & n.); ''Arya'' (n.)''.'' is a term originating from the ethno-cultural self-designation of the Indo-Iranians. It stood ...
or Brahmanical society and later getting affiliated with Mahishya, an offspring of Kshatriya father and Vaishya mother. The name of Kaivartas appeared in a grant of Gopāla II as one of the lowest categories of rural residents. There are reference to vṛttis of Kaivartas like Osinnakaivartavṛtti, Uddhannakaivartavṛttivahikala, in the copperplates of Mahīpāla I and Vigrahapāla III. According to Ryosuke Furui, these vṛttis or lands, given for livelihoods or some services, connote their settling in agrarian frontier and the growth of some section to a class of landholders. Furui further noted there might also be a diverse social group in Varendra labelled as "Kaivarta". The Kaivartas acquired the position of subordinate rulers through their association with the Pāla kings in the forms of military or other services and the appointment to administrative positions. On the other hand, Historians Vishweshwar Chakraborty and HS Kotiyal opined that Pala kings and rebel Samanta leaders both were Kaivartas or Mahishyas.


Dynasty


Origin

SP Lahiry argued that Divya was from the family of Yasodāsa who was the prime minister in royal court of
Rajyapala Rajyapala was the eighth emperor of the Pala dynasty. He succeeded his father Narayanapala. He reigned for 32 years. The Bharat Kala Bhaban inscription is dated in his 2nd regnal year, He was succeeded by his son Gopala III.Sinha, Bindeshwar ...
. This dāsa dynasty of cāsi Kaivarta clan, of which Yasodāsa's ancestors Malhadāsa, Suradāsa, and Sanghadāsa were important members, were known for their wealth and prowess. When Yasodas was the prime minister, the king commanded allegiance with Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Suhma, Pandya, Karnata, Gurjara etc. Yasodasa is said to have performed many humanitarian and religious activities in the form of excavation of tanks, construction of temples, monasteries, palaces and bridges etc. Divya, Rudok and Bhima ruled Varendra for around half a century.


Divya

Divya held very high royal office, presumably commander-in-chief of royal army. The rebels responded to his call and were easily able to capture Varendra. Mahipala II was killed by the rebels and the Pala armies were forced to fall back. As a result, Varendra was declared a separate state by Divya, and he became the king of Gauḍa, the Pāla capital. During his rule Jatavarman of
Varman Dynasty The Varman dynasty (350–650) was the first historical dynasty of the Kamarupa kingdom. It was established by Pushyavarman, a contemporary of Samudragupta. The earlier Varmans were subordinates of the Gupta Empire, but as the power of the Gup ...
in Vanga attacked
Varendra Varendra (), also known as Barind (), was an ancient and historical territory of Northern Bengal, now mostly in Bangladesh and a little portion in the Indian state of West Bengal and Eastern Bihar. It formed part of the Pundravardhana or Pund ...
with a hostility towards Buddhism. Though Divya did not suffer any loss, a part of Buddhist monastery of
Somapura Somapura Mahavihara (), also known as Paharpur Buddhist Vihara (), is a major Buddhist monastery (''mahavihara'') in Paharpur, Badalgachhi, Naogaon, Bangladesh. It is among the best known Buddhist viharas in the Indian Subcontinent and is one ...
was destroyed by fire set by Jatavarman's army. Divya consolidated his position in Varendra. He was a powerful ruler and invaded Ramapala's dominion. He left a peaceful kingdom to his Brother Rudok, but nothing is known of him.


Bhima

Rudok was succeeded by his son Bhima, who successfully ruled the region for 30 years. After becoming the master of Varendri, Bhima, a popular king who is remembered still, reinforced the already well-established Kaivarta power. Bhima made the war-torn Varendra prosper. Bhima dispossessed Brahmanical and other religious agents from their lands, which were granted by Pala kings. He prioritised the interests of peasants who happened to be his kith and kin. Dibyak ''Jayastambha'' or Kaivarta pillar is still standing in
Naogaon District Naogaon District () is a district in northern Bangladesh, and part of Rajshahi Division. It is named after its headquarters, the city of Naogaon in Naogaon Sadar Upazila. Demographics According to the 2022 Census of Bangladesh, Naogaon Distri ...
of
Bangladesh Bangladesh, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, eighth-most populous country in the world and among the List of countries and dependencies by ...
as a sign of the dynasty. Bhima's ''Dyeing'', Bhima's ''Jangal'', Bhima ''Sagar'', Bhima's ''Panti'' etc. in Varendra still bear his memory.


Analysis of reasons and consequences

According to
Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya Debiprasad Chattopadhyaya (19 November 1918 – 8 May 1993) was an Indian Marxist philosopher. He made contributions to the exploration of the materialist current in ancient Indian philosophy. He is known for '' Lokayata: A Study in Ancient I ...
, the Kaivarta rebellion is associated with the
Siddha ''Siddha'' (Sanskrit: '; "perfected one") is a term that is used widely in Indian religions and culture. It means "one who is accomplished." It refers to perfected masters who have achieved a high degree of perfection of the intellect as we ...
movement. The story of the Buddhist
Mahasiddha Mahasiddha (Sanskrit: ''mahāsiddha'' "great adept; ) is a term for someone who embodies and cultivates the "siddhi of perfection". A siddha is an individual who, through the practice of sādhanā, attains the realization of siddhis, psychic and ...
s inspired them to revolt.
Romila Thapar Romila Thapar (born 30 November 1931) is an Indian historian. Her principal area of study is ancient India, a field in which she is pre-eminent. Quotr: "The pre-eminent interpreter of ancient Indian history today. ... " Thapar is a Professor ...
mentioned that the rebels were associated with
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
and Tantric sects -
Vajrayana ''Vajrayāna'' (; 'vajra vehicle'), also known as Mantrayāna ('mantra vehicle'), Guhyamantrayāna ('secret mantra vehicle'), Tantrayāna ('tantra vehicle'), Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, is a Mahāyāna Buddhism, Mahāyāna Buddhis ...
which was popular then in the region. The rebels, who confiscated granted (agrahara) lands to Brahmins, were probably unhappy with royal patronage of Brahmins and brahminical institutions' growing influences on subordinate rulers and in rural society.
Ram Sharan Sharma Ram Sharan Sharma (26 November 1919 – 20 August 2011) was an Indian Marxist historian and Indologist who specialised in the history of Ancient and early Medieval India. He taught at Patna University and Delhi University (1973–85) and was ...
described that Bhima had popular support of masses, but the samantas did not support him as the rebels were inspired by egalitarian spirit. Ramapala had to beg the supports of independent chiefs and donate them profusely in land and cash. Bhima's ill-equipped and untrained army of peasants and commoners were no match for the consolidated army of Palas,
Rashtrakutas The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal Indian polity ruling large parts of the Indian subcontinent between the 6th and 10th centuries. The earliest known Rashtrakuta Indian inscriptions, inscription is a 7th-century copper plate grant detailing th ...
and more than a dozen samantas. After regaining Varendra Ramapala built temples of
Bhavani Bhavānī (also known as Bhāvya, Tulajā, Turajā, Tvarita, Aṃbā, Jagadambā and Aṃbē) is an epithet associated with Durga. Bhavani translates to "giver of life," meaning the power of nature or the source of creative energy. She is cons ...
and
Shiva Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...
to pacify the Kaivartas; He also had to adopt mild taxation to appease the peasants. Ryosuke Furui noted:
Kaivarta rebellion...was a critical event in the early history of Bengal. It temporarily ousted the Palas from their ancestral territory of Varendra and decisively weakened their control over subordinate rulers. It also paved the way for their fall in the hands of another power, the Senas, who rose after the event.


References


Bibliography

* {{Cite book, last=Sharma , first=Ram Sharan , title= Early medieval Indian society: a study in feudalisation, publisher =Orient Longman , date=2003, isbn = 8125025235, oclc= 77538061 * ''বিদ্রোহী কৈবর্ত'' খান ব্রাদার্স, ১৯৭০, সত্যেন সেন Pala Empire Rebellions in Asia Medieval rebellions