Maharaja Hastin

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Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

Maharaja Hastin was a ruler of Parivrajaka dynasty in parts of central India during 5th and 6th centuries. The kings of this dynasty bore the title Maharaja, and probably ruled as feudatories of the Gupta Empire. The dynasty is known from inscriptions of two of its kings: Maharaja Hastin and Maharaja Samkshobha.

Genealogy

The earliest known member of the Parivrajaka dynasty is Susharman, who is known only from the Khoh inscription of Samkshobha. The inscription describes Susharman as a learned ascetic from Bharadvaja gotra, and compares him to the legendary sage Kapila. It states that he knew "the whole truth" and fourteen branches of science.[1]

Maharaja Devadhya was a descendant of Susharman, and was succeeded by his son Maharaja Prabhanjana. Prabhanjana was succeeded by his son Maharaja Damodara.[2]

Maharaja Hastin was son of Damodara.

History

Maharaja Hastin, the son of Damodara, is credited with several military victories, although the inscriptions do not mention any of his adversaries. According to K. C. Jain, these claims probably refer to his participation in Guptas' war against the Hunas. He was a charitable king, and donated cows, horses, elephants, gold and land to Brahmins.[3]

According to the Khoh inscription of his son Samkshobha, Hastin ruled the kingdom of ābhala (or āhala; later Dahala) and the 18 aavi-rājya ("forest kingdoms"). The identity of these 18 forest kingdoms is not certain, but they were most probably in the Vindhyan region.[4]

Maharaja Hastin ruled for at least 42 years, as his earliest extant inscription is dated to the year 156, and his last inscription is dated to the year 198. Assuming these years to be in the Gupta era, Hastin would have been a contemporary of the Gupta kings Budhagupta, Vainyagupta, Bhanugupta and possibly Narasimhagupta. Budhagupta was a relatively strong ruler among these, and Hastin appears to have been his vassal. This theory is corroborated by the discovery of a copper-plate inscription issued during Budhagupta's reign from Sankarapur in Sidhi district.[5]

Hastin was a Shaivite, as suggested by his Bhumara inscription, which describes him as meditating at the feet of Mahadeva (Shiva).[6]

Some ancient silver coins bearing the legend "Raa Hastin" have been discovered. Historians such as E. J. Rapson, R. D. Banerji and B. P. Sinha identified him with Hastin on palaeographic basis. However, Dasharatha Sharma and P. L. Gupta identify him with the Pratihara king Vatsaraja who held the title "Rana-hastin" according to the Kuvalayamālā of Udyyotana Suri. According to Gupta, these coins cannot be dated before the 8th century CE. This theory is corroborated by the fact that no Gupta vassals issued coins in their own names.[7]

Khoh Copper-plate Inscription of the Maharaja Hastin (475-476 CE)

  • Reverence to (the god) Mahâdêva! Hail! In a century of years, increased by the fifty- sixth (year); in the enjoyment of sovereignty by the Gupta kings; in the Mahâ-Vaishâkha samvatsara; on the third lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month Kârttika,— on this (lunar day), (specified) as above by the day (&c.), —
  • (Line 3.)— By the Mahârâja, the illustrious Hastin,— who is born in the family of a kingly ascetic;— who is the great-grandson of the Mahârâja Dêvâdhya;— who is the grandson of the Mahârâja Prabhañjana;— who is the son of the Mahârâja Dâmôdara; — who is the giver of thousands of cows, and elephants, and horses, and gold, and many lands; — who is earnest in paying respect to (his) spiritual preceptor and (his) father and mother;— who is extremely devoted to the gods and Brâhmans;— who has been victorious in many hundreds of battles;— (and) who causes the happiness of his own race,—
  • (L. 7.)— (By him),— for the purpose of increasing his own religious merit, (and) in order to cause (himself) to ascend by the steps of the ladder that leads to heaven,— the village of Vasuntarashandika is granted to the Brâhman Gôpasvâmin, of the Vâjasanêya-Mâdhyamdina (shâkhâ) and the Kautsa gôtra, and to Bhavasvâmin, Sandhyâputra, Divâkaradatta, Bhâskaradatta, and Sûryadatta.
  • (L. 11.)— On all sides (there are) trenches (of demarcation); (and) on the north by the west, the boundaries are those that have been previously enjoyed. (This village is made the property) of Sandhyâputra and the others, with the udranga and the uparikara, (and with the privilege that it is) not to be entered by the irregular or regular troops; (but) with the exception of (the right to fines imposed on) thieves.
  • (L. I3.)— Therefore, even in future times, no obstacle (to the enjoyment of this grant) is to be caused by those who are born in Our family, or by my feudatories. This injunction having been given, he who behaves otherwise,— him I will consume with a great contempt, even when I have passed into another body.
  • (L. 15.)— And it has been said by the venerable supreme sage, the arranger of the Vêdas,— "O Yudhisthira, best of kings, carefully preserve land that has previously been given to the twice-born; (verily) the preservation (of a grant) (is) more meritorious than making a grant! The earth has been enjoyed by many kings, commencing with Sagara; whosoever at any time possesses the earth, to him belongs, at that time, the reward (of this grant that is now made, if he continue it)! The giver of land enjoys happiness in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the confiscator (of a grant), and he who assents (to an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the same number of years in hell!"
  • (L. 20.)— And (this charter) has been written by Sûryadatta, the [great]-grandson of the Amâtya Vakra; the grandson of the Bhôgika and Amâtya Naradatta; (and) the son of the Bhôgika Ravidatta. The Dûtaka (is) Bhâgraha.[8]

Khoh Copper-plate Inscription of the Maharaja Hastin (482-483 CE)

  • Reverence to (the god) Mahâdêva! Hail! In a century of years, increased by sixty-three; in the enjoyment of sovereignty by the Gupta kings; in the Mahâ-Ashvayuja samvatsara; on the second lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month Chaitra,— on this (lunar day), (specified) as above by the day (&c.),—
  • (Line 3.)— By the Mahârâja, the illustrious Hastin,— who is born in the family of a kingly ascetic;— who is the great-grandson of the Mahârâja Dêvâdhya;— who is the grandson of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Prabhañjana;— who . is the son of the Mahârâja Dâmôdara;— who is the giver of thousands of cows, and elephants, and horses, and gold, and many lands;— who is earnest in paying respect to (his) spiritual preceptor and (his) father and mother;— who is extremely devoted to the gods and Brâhmans;— who has been victorious in many hundreds of battles; — (and) who causes the happiness of his own race,—
  • (L. 7.)— (By him),— for the purpose of increasing his own religious merit,— the agrâhâra of Kôrparika, in the northern patta, is granted, with the udranga and the uparikara, and (with the privilege that it is) not to be entered by the irregular or regular troops, to (certain) Brâhmans, commencing with Dêvasvâmin, the son of Agnisvâmin, of the Bharadvâja gôtra (and) a student of the Vâjasanêya (shâkhâ), and Sharvasvâmin, (and) Gôrisvâmin,— Divâkarasvâmin, of the Kautsa gôtra, a student of the Vâjasanêya (shâkhâ), (and) Svâtisvâmin, — Varunasharman, of the Bhârgava gôtra, a student of the Vâjasanêya (shâkhâ), (and) Bappasvâmin,— Kumâradêva, of the Vâsula gôtra, a student of the Katha (shâkhâ),— (and) Mâtrisharman, a student of the Vâjasanêya (shâkhâ), (and) Nâgasharman, Rukharadêva, Kaudravadêva, Vishnudêva, Dêvanâga, Kumârasêna, Rudrasharman, Dêvadângiras (?), Lambôshtha, Dêvamitra (?), Mahadêva, (and) Gunthaka.
  • (L. 17.)— The boundaries of it (are),— on the east, (the boundary-trench or village called) Kôrparagartâ; on the north, Animuktakakônaka, (and) a vrika-tree in the centre of Valaka on the south side of the village of Vangara, (and) a clump of amrâta-trees; on the west, (the tank or village called) Nâgasarî; (and) on the south, the parichchhêda of Balavarman.
  • (L. 19.)— Therefore, even in future times, no obstacle (to the enjoyment of this grant) is to be caused by those who are born in Our family, or by my feudatories. This injunction having been given, he who behaves otherwise,— him I will consume with a great contempt, even when I have passed into another body.
  • (L. 22.)— And it has been said by the venerable supreme sage, the arranger of the Vêdas,— " O Yudhishthira, best of kings, carefully preserve land that has previously been given to the twice-born; (verily) the preservation (of a grant) (is) more meritorious than making a grant! The earth has been enjoyed by many kings, commencing with Sagara; whosoever at any time possesses the earth, to him belongs, at that time, the reward (of this grant that is now made, if he continue it)! He becomes a worm in ordure, and is tormented together with his ancestors, who confiscates land that has been given, whether by himself, or by another! The giver of land enjoys happiness in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the confiscator (of a grant), and he who assents (to an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the same number of years in hell!"
  • (L. 28.)—And (this charter) has been written by the Mahâmdhivigrahika Sûryadatta; the great-grandson of the Amâtya Vakra; the grandson of the Bhôgika Naradatta; (and) the son of the Bhôgika Ravidatta. Bhagraha (is) he Dûtaka. [9]

Bhumara Stone Pillar Inscription of the Maharajas Hastin and Sharvanatha

  • Hail! In (the boundary of) the kingdom of the Mahârâja Hastin, who meditates on the feet of (the god) Mahâdêva; at (the village of) Âmblôda; (and) in (the boundary of ) the bhôga of the Mahârâja Sharvanâtha,— (this) boundary-pillar has been set up by Shivadâsa, the grandson of Indana, and the son of the Grâmika Vâsu;— in the Mahâ Mâgha samvatsara; the month Kârttika; the day 10 (and) 9.[10]

Majhgawam Copper-plates of the Maharaja Hastin (510-511 CE)

  • Reverence to (the god) Mahâdêva! Hail! In a century of years, increased by ninety-one; in the enjoyment of sovereignty by the Gupta kings; in the prosperous augmenting Mahâ-Chaitra samvatsara; on the third lunar day of the dark fortnight of the month Mâgha,— on this (lunar day), (specified) as above by the samvatsara and month and day,—
  • (Line 3.)— By the Mahârâja, the illustrious Hastin,— who is born in the family of a kingly ascetic;— who is the great-grandson of the Mahârâja Dêvâdhya;— who is the grandson of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Prabhañjana;— who is the son of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Dâmôdara;— who is the giver of thousands of cows, and elephants, and horses, and gold, and many lands;— who is earnest in paying respect to (his) spiritual preceptor and (his) father and mother;— who is extremely devoted to the gods and Brâhmans;— who has been victorious in many hundreds of battles;— (and) who causes the happiness of his own race,—
  • (L. 6.)— (By him), at the agreeable request of Mahâdêvidêva, the village named Vâlugarta, in accordance with the usage of the specification of (its) ancient boundaries, with the udranga and the uparikara, (and with the privilege that it is) not to be entered by the irregular or the regular troops, is granted as an agrâhâra, by a copper-charter,— for the purpose of increasing the religious merit of (his) parents and of himself, and in order to erect the steps of a ladder leading to heaven, acceptable to Mahâdêvidêva,— to these Brâhmans, of the Aupamanyava gôtra, students of the Chhandôga-Kauthuma (shâkhâ), (viz.) Govindasvâmin, Gômikasvâmin, and Dêvasvâmin,— to be enjoyed by (their) sons and sons' sons, with the exception of (the proceeds of fines imposed on) thieves.
  • (L. 10.)— Therefore, even in future times, no obstacle (to the enjoyment of this grant) is to be caused by those who are born in Our family, or by my feudatories. This injunction having been given, he who behaves otherwise,— him I will consume with a great contempt, even when I have passed into another body.
  • (L. 12.)— And it has been said by the venerable supreme sage, Vyâsa, the arranger of the Vêdas,— "O Yudhishthira, best of kings, carefully preserve land that has previously been given to the twice-born; (verily) the preservation (of a grant) is more meritorious than making a grant! The earth has been enjoyed by many kings, commencing with Sagara; whosoever at any time possesses the earth, to him belongs, at that time, the reward (of this grant that is now made, if he continue it)! The giver of land enjoys happiness in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the confiscator (of a grant), and he who assents (to an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the same number of years in hell! He becomes a worm in ordure, and is tormented together with his ancestors, who confiscates land that has been given, whether by himself or by another! Those who confiscate a previous grant, are born (again) as black serpents, inhabiting the dried-up hollows of trees, in desert places destitute of water!"
  • (L. 18.)— And (this charter) has been written by the Mahâsâmdhivigrahika Vibhudatta, the son of the great-grandson of the Amâtya Vakra; the great-grandson of the Bhôgika Naradatta; the grandson of Ravidatta; (and) the son of Sûryadatta. The Mahâbalâdhikrita Nâgasiriha (is) the Dûtaka. The year 100 (and) 90 (and) 1; (the month) Mâgha; the day 3. [11]

Khoh Copper-plate Inscription of the Maharaja Samkshobha (528-529 CE)

  • Ôm! Reverence to the divine (god) Vâsudêva! Hail! In two centuries of years, increased by nine; in the enjoyment of sovereignty by the Gupta kings; in the glorious augmenting and victorious reign; in the Mahâ-Ashvayuja samvatsara; on the thirteenth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month Chaitra,— on this (lunar day), (specified) as above by the samvatsara and month and day,—
  • (Line 3.)— By the Mahârâja, the illustrious Samkshôbha,— who is born in the family of the kingly ascetic Susharman, who had learned the whole truth of the fourteen sections of science; who was a great sage, (being) indeed (an incarnation of) Kapila; who knew all the first principles; (and) who was of the Bharadvâja gôtra;— who is the great-grandson of the son of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Dêvâdhya;— who is the great-grandson of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Prabhañjana;— who is the grandson of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Dâmôdara;— who is the son of the Mahârâja, the illustrious Hastin, who was the giver of thousands of cows, and elephants, and horses, and gold, and many lands; who was earnest in paying respect to (his) spiritual preceptor and (his) father and mother; who was extremely devoted to the gods and Brâhmans; who was victorious in many hundreds of battles; who sought to govern properly the kingdom of Dabhâlâ, which had come (to him) by inheritance, together with (all the country) included in the eighteen forest kingdoms; (and) whose fame was renowned through many good qualities;— who is intent upon establishing the religious duties of the castes and the different periods of life;— who is a most devout worshipper of the Divine One;— who is extremely devoted to (his) ancestors;— (and) who causes the happiness of his own race,—
  • (L. 11.)—(By him),— for the purpose of increasing the religious merit of (his) parents and of himself,— at the request of Chhôdugômin, and (with the object of) causing him to ascend the steps of the ladder that leads to heaven,— half of the village of Ôpâni, in the Maninâga pêtha, is granted by a copper-charter, with the exception of (the right to fines imposed on) thieves and mischief-doers, for the purpose of observing the bali, charu, and sattra, at the temple, which (he) has caused to be built, of the divine (goddess) Pishtapurî, and for the purpose of renewing whatever may become broken or torn.
  • (L. 15.)— Therefore, even in future times, no obstacle (to the enjoyment of this grant) is to be caused by those who are born in

Our family, or by my feudatories. This injunction having been given, he who behaves otherwise,— him I will consume with a great contempt, even when I have passed into another body.

  • (L. 18.)— And it has been said by the venerable supreme sage, Vyâsa, the arranger of the Vêdas,—" O Yudhishthira, best of kings, carefully preserve land that has previously been given to the twice-born; (verily) the preservation (of a grant) (is) more meritorious than making a grant! The earth has been enjoyed by many kings, commencing with Sagara; whosoever at any time possesses the earth, to him belongs, at that time, the reward (of this grant that is now made, if he continue it)! The giver of land enjoys happiness in heaven for sixty thousand years; (but) the confiscator (of a grant), and he who assents to (an act of confiscation), shall dwell for the same number of years in hell! (There is) no gift better than a gift of land, and the preservation (of a grant) (is) better than making a grant; all kings, commencing with Nriga, have attained heaven (by) preserving land that had been granted!"
  • (L. 23.)— And (this charter) has been written by Îshvaradâsa, the grandson of Jîvita, (and) the son of Bhujamgadâsa. The order (is that) of his own mouth. (The month) Chaitra; the day 20 (and) 9. [12]

बालुगर्त

बालुगर्त (AS, p.625) बालुगर्त नामक गाँव का नाम 'मझगावम' (नागौद, मध्य प्रदेश) से प्राप्त 191 गुप्त संवत (=510 ई.) के, परिव्राजक महाराज हस्तिन के अभिलेख (ताम्रपट्टलेख) में आया है। मझगावम से प्राप्त अभिलेख में बालुगर्त नाम के गाँव को कुछ ब्राह्मणों के लिए दान में दिए जाने का उल्लेख है। ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि यह ग्राम मझगावम के निकट ही स्थित रहा होगा।[13]

References

  1. ↑ Moirangthem Pramod (2013). "The Parivrajaka Maharaja" (PDF). Asian Journal of Multidimensional Research. 2 (4). ISSN 2278-4853. p. 935.
  2. ↑ Ashvini Agrawal (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7. p. 259.
  3. ↑ Moirangthem Pramod 2013, p. 95.
  4. ↑ Moirangthem Pramod 2013, p. 96.
  5. ↑ Moirangthem Pramod 2013, p. 96.
  6. ↑ Moirangthem Pramod 2013, p. 96.
  7. ↑ Moirangthem Pramod 2013, p. 96.
  8. ↑ Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 96-100.
  9. ↑ Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 104-105.
  10. ↑ Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 111-112.
  11. ↑ Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 108-109.
  12. ↑ Fleet, John F. Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum: Inscriptions of the Early Guptas. Vol. III. Calcutta: Government of India, Central Publications Branch, 1888, 115-116.
  13. ↑ Aitihasik Sthanavali by Vijayendra Kumar Mathur, p.625
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