Friday 25 September 2015

Satrubhanja, the Naga Emperor from Northern Odisha

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.


Research Document Submitted by Manjit Keshari Nayak
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