________________
108
Sudarshan Kumar Sharma a part of the spoils of the kingdom of Anantavarma. Against Dr. V. V. Mirashi's identification of Bhaskaravarma with Harişoņa's grandson Dr. D. K. Gupta remarks “But bere Dandı seems to have made a conveniost departure from the actual events to suit the plot of his narrativo, for wo koow for certain that not long after Harigena's death Vidarbha sufforod occupation by Kalacuhris who had in the meantime established themselves at Mahiqmati.50 Dr. A. S. Altekar51 likewise establishes the fall of Vakatakas by 550 A. D. wheo Caulūkyas occupied the region of Vidarbha. He further says :
"The Vakațaka empire disappeared by C. 549 because Kadambas of Karnataka, the Kalachuris of Northern Mahārāsţra and the Nalas of Baster State managed to absorb most of its territories during the weak rulo of successor (or successors) of Harişeņa. None of these powers, however, succeeded in building up an empire embracing the whole of the Deccan. Un expectedly, then arose a new ruling house in Karşațaka that of the Caulakyas which soon managed to defeat every one of these powers and apocx its territory52. These points refute the argument of Dr. Mriashi that Bhas käravarm, was Harişeņa's grand son. Let us examine the point if we can identify the vidarbha kings Punyavarma, Anantavarma and Bhaskaravarmt with the Caulukyas of...Vatapi. The description of Vidarbha as given by Dandi in the Viśrutacarita having Puņyavarmā of righteous conduct gives us clues to suromise that Punyavarma should be identified with Pulakesin II - who came to the throne about the middle of the 6th Century A. D, u a figure of some note after Jayasimha and Ranaraga bad initiated the lineage Polaket II made Vätāpi (Modern Badami, Modern Bijapur Distt.) bis capital and even indulged in imperial pretensions by celebrating an Aivamedha Sacrifice. His successor was Kirtivarma who defeated the Mauryas of North Konkaņa as well as the Kādambas of Vanavāşi (North Kanara) and the Nalas, whose exact location is uncertain. According to certain epigraphs armics penetrated right upto Bibar (Magadha) and Vanga (Bengal) in the North and the Cela and Pandya territories in the South, but in the absence of any other corroboration it is doubtful if the alleged exploits are founded on fact. When Kirtivarma died, his younger brother bru. shed aside the minor nephews and assumed the crown himself. Mangalaraja or Mangalesa is said to have subjugated the Kalachuris of Northern Dekkan (Sankaragana and Buddha-rāja). Mangalesa's last days were clouded by court intrigues leading to a civil war. Evidently all. attempts to - settle the succession on his son came to naught and be met his death while fighting against the forces of his energetic and vigilantnephew.13. Pulakesin II was his vigilant nephew who through his expert strategies: -- overthrew his uncle with the help of his wise coussellors, Kirtivarman :
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org