The name
‘Bhanja’ itself has been deeply rooted to the northern and western Odisha
region for centuries. So far the history of the early Bhanjas has been a
mystery as not much research has been done in this field. The history of Odisha
from the 3rd century to 6th century A.D. was considered to be in darkness
as all most all attention was laid on the prior topics of emperor Kharavela and
Kalinga war. Only after enough research was conducted on the Sitabhinj’si
Ravanchaya inscriptions and with the discovery of the Satrubhnaja inscription
from the vicinity of the Asanpat village in Keonjhar district, historians have
begun to draw light on the glorious past of the Odias in this Dark Age.
Myth logically, the Ravanchaya rock at Sitabhinji is
believed to be the place where Sita took exile. The river situated within the
range of 100 yards is also named as Sita. Pre-historic implements and tools
have been discovered in abundance in this area. However, the most interesting
discovery is the 3rd or 4th Century rock painting of a
royal procession of the king Disabhanja riding an elephant with followers and
attendants which throws a light on the dominance of the Bhanja dynasty in the
highland areas of Odisha. Historians have continuously credited the mysterious
Bhanja dynasty of this era for the cultural uplift of the tribal hinterlands
and mountainous areas of Odisha due to evidences collected so far. Though the
final domain of the Bhanjas was limited to Mayurbhanj district and other parts
of the northern Odisha including the domain of the Mayura dynasty of Sundergarh
area, the discovery of the Asanpat inscription has revealed the achievements
and conquests of a powerful warlord called Satrubhanja.
The recreated Ravanachaya rock painting at
Sitabhinji of the king Disabhanja and his Royal procession
Logically the word ‘warlord’ does not fit in with his
achievements, it is obligatory because of his dynastical identity. In actual
terms Satrubhanja belonged to the Naga clan of the Vindhya mountain range (the
middle region of India from the west to the east coast). The Asanpat
inscription which is issued under a stone carved image of the dancing Nataraja
(Siva) glorifies the family line being devout Shaivites and traditionally
patrons of warfare and cultural activities. Nagas were the rulers of different
parts of Vindhya Range under different family names. The administration of the
Indian subcontinent was dictated by the powerful Kushanas and Murundas from Pataliputra. Combinedly known as the
Devaputras there origin was foreign as the Kushanas where the invaders from the
Central Asia region who had eventually established a firm grip on India. The
Nagas of Keonjhar (Vindhyatabi) and the Bharashiva Nagas of Central India
joined hands to overthrow the Kushana rule from India under the leadership of
Satrubhnaja.
Asanpat
Inscription of Satrubhanja
What does the Asanpat Inscription say?
This thirteen line Sanskrit inscription provides a clear
cut description about the life of Satrubhanja.
Birth,
lineage and Success as a Warrior
He is described to be born to the Naga clan
as the moon among kings and as the illustrious Ranaslaghin of the family. He is
also described as the Devaputra or the divine child born to a family whose fame
would last till the end of the Kali yuga. This description verifies the top
position of his family amongst the entire ruling Naga clans and the adjoining dynasties
along with possibility of him being the crown prince who is expected to win
battles in the future with the enemies. He is stated to be the ruling king and
the lord of Vindhyatabi (the forest kingdom in the Vindhya Range), the son of
Maharaja Manabhanja born to the queen Mahadevi Damayanti. His success as a
warrior is defined by the statement that his valour is unchecked and
unchallenged even after hundreds of battles (possibly with the traditional
enemies, the Kushanas and Murundas of North India). He is described to be the
Kalpavriksha (with the sense of being holy and not being deviated yet) and
having the quality of good wealth on earth that was like the sun having mass
splendor on earth
His Knowledge
The inscription glorifies Satrubhnja’s
knowledge in the Puranas and Mahabharata. Subjects studied by him also include
Itihasa (history), Vyakarana (grammar), Samiksa, Nyaya (law), Mimamsa (decision
making), Chandas (metrical science), Vedas, Buddhist Scriptures and Samkhya
(logical derivation). He is described as the storehouse of the knowledge and an
expert in all the arts.
Relegious Activities
Satrubhanja is stated to have build houses
and monasteries that belonged to different religious communities in his empire
which glorifies his approach to all religions as a part of his policy of
tolerance and secularism. The religious communities included Brahmacarins
(Brahmin), Parivrajakas (travelers who make holy trip), Bhikshus (Buddhists
alms seekers) and Nirgranthakas. The end of inscription also unveils that he
had build a temple for god Siva.
The Extent of his Empire known from his Religious Activities
The fall of Kushana Dynasty in eastern India and Murundas in Kalinga was caused by rigorous struggle of the combined Naga forces (Kausambi, Ahichhatra, Padmavati and Vindhyatavi) under the
leadership of Satrubhanja and the rising Gupta power. The continuous classes
between the Nagas and the combined Murunda and Kushan forces ultimately ended
in the complete weakening of the Kushan authority in India. It is said that the
king of the Kushan dynasty plunged into the river Ganga to commit suicide due
the burden of insult inflicted upon him by Satrubhanja’s Naga forces. After the
victory, Satrubhanja is said to have gifted lakhs of cows at places like
Pataliputra, Gaya, Krimila, Dalavardhana, Pundrvardhana, Gokkhati, Khadranga,
Tamaralipti and both North and South Toshali in Coastal Odisha as an act of
holy duty. He donated lakhs of hiranaya (gold coins) to various Mathas
(monasteries) such as the Sankhara Matha at Ahichatra and Manibhadra matha at
Yaksheswara.
The vast amount of wealth distributed in
foreign domains gives the extent of his territorial expansion after the
conflict with the Kushan cum Murunda forces. Certain historians have treated
him as a feudal king making pilgrimages to these holy places under the Gupta
domain but after the rise of the Gupta dynasty, Samudragupta completely
subjugated the Naga forces of Vindhyas and Odisha. This verifies that Nagas and
Guptas were contenders for the power in India on the verge of the collapse of
the Kushanas and it is not possible for a enemy king like Satrubhanja to be
allowed to pilgrimages into so many places of the Gupta domain at the height of
their enmity. Moreover, the amount of wealth donated in places mentioned on the
Asanpat inscription describes the power and wealth he enjoyed as a lord of an
empire instead of a preposterous idea of being a vassal or feudal king as
assumed by certain downplaying historians.
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