Goparaja

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Goparaja (गोपराज) was feudatory chief who is said to have accompanied the mighty king glorious Bhanugupta and fought a famous battle. Goparaja died in the battle and his wife burnt herself on the funeral pyre along with him.

Variants

• Gopa Raja (गोपराज)
• Gôparâja (गोपराज)

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Gopa Rai = Goparaja. Goparaja is mentioned in (LL. 3, 5) of Eran Posthumous Iron Pillar Inscription (of Goparaja) of the time of Bhanugupta Gupta Year 191 (A.D. 510). Eran is an ancient historical place in Bina tahsil of Sagar District in Madhya Pradesh, India.
• Lakha (Jat clan) = Lakha. Lakha is mentioned as ancestor of Goparaja. Goparaja is mentioned in (LL. 3, 5) of Eran Posthumous Iron Pillar Inscription (of Goparaja) of the time of Bhanugupta Gupta Year 191 (A.D. 510). Eran is an ancient historical place in Bina tahsil of Sagar District in Madhya Pradesh, India.

History

Goparaja is mentioned in (LL. 3, 5) of Eran Posthumous Iron Pillar Inscription (of Goparaja) of the time of Bhanugupta Gupta Year 191 (A.D. 510)

The inscription informs us that he was the son of a king named Madhava, and was the daughter's son of the Sarabha king, belonging to the lineage of Lakṣa (Lakha) of which he is described as an ornament.

Literally the name means 'a king of the Gopas', i.e., milkmen or Ahiras. Raja is a surname signifying 'the king'.

Source - Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions/Names of Feudatory Kings and High Officers, p.43

Eran Posthumous Stone Pillar Inscription of Goparaja GE 191 (510-511 CE)

• Ôm! In a century of years, increased by ninety-one; on the seventh lunar day of the dark fortnight of (the month) Srâvana; (or in figures) the year 100 (and) 90 (and) 1; (the month) Srâvana; the dark fortnight; the day 7: —

• (Line 2.)—(There was) a king, renowned under the name of . . . . râja, sprung from the . . laksha (?) lineage; and his son (was) that very valorous king (who was known) by the name (of) Mâdhava.

• (L. 3.)— His son was the illustrious Gôparâja, renowned for manliness; the daughter's son of the Sarabha king; who is (even) now (?) the ornament of (his) lineage.

• (L. 5.) — (There is) the glorious Bhanugupta, the bravest man on the earth, a mighty king, equal to Pârtha, exceedingly heroic; and, along with him, Gôparâja followed . . . . . . . . . . (his) friends (and came) here. [And] having fought a very famous battle, he, [who was but little short of being equal to] the celestial [king (Indra)], (died and) went to heaven; and (his) devoted, attached, beloved, and beauteous wife, in close companionship, accompanied (him) onto the funeral pyre.

• From: Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 93.

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Notes by Wiki editor -

• Lakha (Jat clan) = Lakha. Lakha is mentioned in Eran Posthumous Stone Pillar Inscription of Goparaja GE 191 (510-511 CE) as ancestor of Goparaja. Here the name of grandfather of Goparaja is missing but his lineage is from Laksha or Lakha indicates he is probably of Lakha Jat clan. Lakhlan (लाखलान) Lakhilan (लाखीलान) Lakhi (लाखी) is gotra of Jats found in Distt Sikar and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan. Also found in Haryana. This gotra has originated from place called Lakhi Jungle (लाखी जंगल). They were branch of Chauhans.

• Sarabha (Jat clan) = Śarbharāja. Eran Posthumous Stone Pillar Inscription of Goparaja GE 191 (510-511 CE) mentions that Gôparâja, renowned for manliness; the daughter's son of the Sarabha king; who is (even) now (?) the ornament of (his) lineage. Śarbharāja was the maternal grandfather of Goparaja, the feudatory chief of king Bhanugupta. Sarabha is the name of a people and also refers to a fabulous animal supposed to have eight legs and to inhabit the snowy mountains; it is represented as stronger than the lion and the elephant. The name may literally mean 'a king of the Sarabha people'. It may also be treated as a name based on an animal. In freedom movement of India we find name of Kartar Singh Sarabha, who led Ghadr Party along with Sardar Ajit Singh.

Text of Eran inscription of Bhanugupta

Text of Eran inscription of Bhanugupta in Sanskrit language is as under:

श्री भानुगुप्तो जगति प्रवीरो, राजा महान्पार्थसमोडति शूरः।

तेनाथ सार्द्धन्त्विह गोपराजो, मित्रानुगत्येन किलानुयातःड्ड

कृत्वा च युद्ध सुमहत्प्रकाशं, स्वर्ग गतो दिव्य नरेन्द्रकल्पःड्ड

भक्तानुरक्ता च प्रिया च कान्ता, भार्यावलग्नानुगताग्निराशिम्ड्ड (ऐरण अभिलेख)

In this inscription Bhanu Gupta is described as ruling and as the bravest man on the earth. Bhanu Gupta's, subordinate ruler was Gopa-raja who fought for Bhanu-Gupta against Hunas and died on the battle-field of Eran. His wife became the Sati.

References

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