Chapter 4: CHALUKYAS OF BATAPI & KING NANYADEVA, THE KARNA KAYASTHA RULER OF MITHILA

CHALUKYAS OF BATAPI & KING NANYADEVA, THE "KARNA KAYASTHA" RULER OF MITHILA:

Thirteen centuries before Christ, as per Dr.R.C.Mazumdar, in the great war of ‘Mahabharata’, thousands of kings and princes of both Solar and Lunar races were killed and there was a great political vacuum up till the time of the Mauryan dynasty. Dr.R.C.Mazumdar also confirms that in south India only after Pulikesin-I (550 C.E.-567 C.E.), the Chalukyas of Vatapi (presently Badami in Karnataka) emerged as a super power, who claimed that their ancestors were from 'Ayodhya' ruling family of Solar race. Dr. Mazumdar further writes to say that in 'Andhra Desha', there were small kingdoms created by 'Ishwakku vanshi' princes from  Ayodhya, after the downfall of Satavahana empire.

Fragment of stone found near Batterappa temple, now preserved in the museum of Kannada Research office, Dharwar, contains inscription dated 610 C.E., wherein the preamble is-"Param-Bhagavatanam Svami-Mahasena-Matngana-Padanuahyatnam-Polekesi-Vallabha." Meaning King Pulikesin I as the performer of a horse sacrifice. From the alphabet and the mention of Vatapi as the victorious capital, it appears probably that the inscription belongs to the reign of Pulikesin II, who established himself at Vatapi(present Badami) after a successful compaign of 'Digvijaya' as recorded in the famous Aihole inscription of 634 C.E.. 

As concluded by scholars like Parjiter and Pulskar, it is well established that some princes from Ayodhya area had migrated to Konkan Desha, after the capital of Ayodhya became deserted, and indeed established small principalities. This study indicates that the ancestors of  Nanyadeva had lived in 'Konkan Desha' for 7/8 generations. The ancestors of Nanyadeva might have even helped King Pulikesin-I (550-567 C.E.) to conquer Vizapur and in creating the capital at Vatapi.


Even in the history of Nepal and the chronicle collected by Shri Shiva Raj Shrestha'Malla', it is more explicit and given the description in the following words-

“Ayodhya nagari ujad bhaiya tesama vasanya manisahar charo tafe badhan gaya, rajavanshaka manusyaharu jun jun thaonma badhan gaya, use use thaonma afna afna purusartha anushar shano thulo rajya sthapit gari vasya. Nidan tinai surya vansha ka kohi manislay Ayodhya bata dakshin ko kokan deshma. Gae kaye din 7/8 pusta samma basechhan.”

(Meaning-"The city of Ayodhya was deserted and the people and the royal men left the place in search of safe places in and around the Deccan plateau. There they, as per their capability, created a few small/big kingdoms. In this a few Suryavanshi kings went to Konkan area of south and created a kingdom and ruled there for 7/8 generations)". 

Therefore, it is well established that some princes from Ayodhya had migrated to south India and indeed had established small kingdoms as described in all the Bhasa Vanshavalis found in Nepal, being the main source of it’s history. This study indicates that the ancestors of King Nanyadeva(The founder of  'Karnat dynasty', and the 'Mul purush' of Nepali Kingdom), had lived in Konkan desha for 7/8 generations before,  again capturing theVideha region in 1097 C.E., by establishing its capital at Simaraongarh(presently Birganj) by defeating King Laxman Sena of Sena dynasty.

Several mention of the Karnatas in Pala inscriptions clearly indicate that they were serving the Pala kings as important officials. The Karnata invasion from the south helped in realization of their ambition of creating their own kingdoms in their ancestral areas. Acha, a feudatory of king Vikramaditya VI, is being quoted by several historians to have conquered large territories for his master. A few historians also opine that Karnatas were merely the results of the revival of the eclipsed Karnata power in Magadha. King Nanyadeva built the fort at Simraongarh (presently Birganj town of Nepal). The Simraongarh pillar inscription and the exact replica of the text preserved in the Nepal Vansavali records states - "King Nanyadeva made this erection in Simha Lagna(early morning) of a Saturday in the month of Shravan, Shukla Paksha seventh day in Swati Nakshatra in the year 1019 Shaka, i.e. on 10th July, 1097 C.E.".  

Dr.Satyaketu Vidyalankar also confirms that the ancestors of Chalukyas of Batapi were from ruling Solar dynasty of Ayodhya. Dr.Dina Nath Verma has studied Chalukyas origin in more detail and after studying the writings of Srinivasacharya Ayengar and Dr.H.C.Roy, has very firmly concluded that the ancestors of Chalukyas of Batapi were definitely from ancient Ayodhya's ruling Solar race, who for some reason or other, first migrated to Nimad(Rajasthan), before coming to Batapi(presently Badami near Bijapur).

According to the "Political History of the Chalukyas of Badami" by Durga Prasad Dikshit in the Nilagunda inscription of King Vikramaditya VI (1076-1126 C.E.), the Chalukyas,  originally hailed from Ayodhya, where fifty nine kings ruled and later sixteen more of this family ruled from south India, where they had migrated. This is also mentioned in "Vikramdevacharita", by his court poet Bilhana, who claimed that the first member of the family ‘Chalukya’ was so named as he was born in the hollow palm of Lord Brahma.

In 'Vikramdevacharita', the writer Bilhana says–"Brahma was once engaged in his meditation, when Indra came to him to complain of the growing godlessness on the earth and begged him to put an end to it by creating a hero, who would be a terror to the evil doers. On hearing this request, the creator directed his looks towards his hollow palms(chuluka) and from it sprang a handsome warrior fit to protect the three worlds. From him descended the Chalukya race of heroes, among whom Harita, grandson of King Harishchandra of Sat Yuga, is reckoned as first progenitor and 'Manavya', who humbled the kings of the earth. The original seat of the Chalukyas was Ayodhya".

F.E.Parjiter had established that the original Puranas like Vayu, Matsya and Vishnu can be the great source of writing history of ancient Indian sub-continent. He has proved beyond doubt that most of the original parts of Puranas written by 'Chhatriya Sutas' are authentic and various stories coined and recordings made by 'Brahmin priests' are mostly fabricated and imaginary. Parjiter had opined that there were several wars between Mandhata’s successors and Pururava-Haihayas. According to Vayu Purana, there is a description of King Harit of Ishwakku race of Ayodhya and as to how his successor (King Bahu) was forced by Haihaya kings of Lunar race (Ila vanshi) to flee to jungles.

According to Vayu and Kurma Purana, King Harit was the grandson of King Harishchandra (Sat yuga) and Parjiter places him on 35th generation after Vivaswayat Manu or 30 generations (or some 500years) earlier than Lord Rama. This name of King Harit is important, as many historians including Dr.R.S.Tripathy are on record to say that the old Chalukya dynasty of Batapi claimed their main lineage from King Harit of pre-historical Ayodhya. It should be noted that the Chalukyas of Kalyani were branched off  from the old Batapi Chalukyas. King Nanyadeva is very firmly believed by some historians to be a commander of Vikramaditya-VI (Kalyani Chalukya emperor), who had attacked north and north-east India and some parts of Nepal.

In the 'Balmiki Ramayana', the Suryavanshi prince Danda, son of Ishwakku, a serial rapist is exiled by his father to the (aranya) forest, presently named "Dandakaranya', where he proceeds to rape his teacher Shukracharya’s daughter Arja. Incensed, Shukracharya cursed Danda-" He and his entire clan perish". Meanwhile, the regent discovers that Arja had conceived from the rape. She was brought to the Suryavanshi capital, Ayodhya, with great honor. She becomes queen and her child, Harit, later ascends the throne.



King Nanyadeva, the founder of ‘KARNAT  DYNASTY’, and also the 'Mul Purush' of the Nepali Kingdom, had his main lineage from King Harit of pre-historical Ayodhya, was a 'Karna Kayastha Kshatriya', which is evident from the book "Maithila Karna Kayasthaka Panjik Sarvekshan" written by Shri Benod Bihari Verma.  King Nanyadeva defeated the last king of Sena Dynasty King Laxman Sena and became the ruler of Mithila with his kingdom at Simraongarh. During the rule of King Nanyadeva, Shridharadasa invited most of his relatives to settle at Mithila in four phases. In first phase his twelve relatives, second phase twenty relatives, third phase thirty relatives and in the fourth phase all the remaining relatives.

After settling at Mithila these Karna Kayasthas were popular as 'Tirhutia Kayasthas'. It is very much evident that from the period of King Nanyadeva till the middle of Oinwar Dynasty, these kayasthas used to have  the surname ‘Thakkar’. The Oinwar kings, did not like their surname similar to the Brahmins, so they changed their surname to Das, Dutta, Dev, Kantha, Nidhi, Mallik, Labh, Chaudhary etc.. Most of their rituals are same as 'Brahmins', but their marriages are mostly in the same 'gotra'.

Nanyadeva (1097-1147 C.E.) obtained the kingdom of Mithila in return for a tribute of Rs.1 Lakh.  With founding of village Koili-Nanhapura(Nanyapura), near Nehra Raghopur, Sakri, Darabhanga his seat of government was later shifted to Sivarampura-Simraon, a village situated in Nepal, 10 kms. north of the Purnahia factory in the Motihari district. He ruled for about 46 years between powerful Gahadwals of Kasi and Senas of Magadh and Bengal. He clashed with King Vijayasena near Supaul and was defeated by him. His sons Gangadeva and Malladeva defeated Vijaysena and captured the town of Malladiha and Gangapur Ranani. Nanyadeva’s minister was Sridharadas, a Karna Kayastha. The two sons of Nanyadeva, Malladeva and Gangadeva seemingly made the Senas move further east as observed by the setting up of village Gangapur Ranani(named after King Gangadeva) in the sub-division Nishanpur Kurha and Maldiha(named after King Malladeva) on the Saharsa-Purnea border. The village Malhad near Supaul is also associated with King Malladeva as well.

King Nanyadeva had come from Batapi(presently Badami in Karnataka) and made his first capital at Koili-Nanhapura(Nanyapura) in Motihari district, which was later shifted to Simraungarh(Birganj). After conquering entire Mithila, he shifted his capital to Kamaladityasthan(Kamladan). Another village named Andharatharhi in Madhubani district is also mentioned to be capital of the Karnats. In the said village, there are six dozen ponds, constitute the beads of a picturesque garland. The ponds are interconnected among themselves and also with the river ‘Sugarve’ for smooth recharging with the flood water. These ponds constructed by Karnat kings make a unique irrigation system and is proving its relevance even today, spanning over around nine centuries.Karnat Dynasty rulers were 'Karna Kayasthas', as the name formed 'Karnat'. Several historians opine that as these warriors came from Karnataka, so the dynasty was called "Karnat Dynasty".

Karnat dynasty founder Nanyadeva, apart from being a great warrior, he also had keen interest in music.He named himself ‘Mithileshvara’ in his work on music-‘Saraswati Hridayalankar’. He classified and analysed Ragas and opines 'Madhya laya' is chosen for ‘Hasya Ras’ and ‘Shringar Ras’, 'Bilambit' is chosen for ‘Karun Ras’ and 'Drut" for 'Veer', 'Rodra', 'Advut' and 'Bhayanak Rasas’. His treaty on music ‘Saraswati Hridayalankar’, is preserved in the Bhandarkar Research Institute in Pune. As per the book "Abhinavagupta-An Historical and Philosophical Study" by K.C.Pandey on page 121-123, Nanyadeva also mastered 'Natya Sastra'. Abhinavagupta in his commentary on Bharata's Natya Sastra, refers to King Nanyadeva and quotes from his 'Bharatabhasya', a commentary on the Natya Sastra, as follows:-

• "Uktam Nanyadevena sva Bharatabhasye-'Atra varnasubdena gitirabhidhiyate naksaravisesaha;
•   napi sadjadisaptasvarah padagrame tvaniyamadeva;
•   svecchaya prayujyante sadjadis varantanam apya;
•   vizesena vavaronadidharmanam pratyeva samupa lambhate;
•   Ato verna eva gitirityavasthitam, sopi caturdha maga dhyudih."

An account of Nanya's commentary on Bharata's Natya Sastra (Chs. XXVII to XXXIV, dealing with music), the author gives his identity as:-

01. Mahasamantadhipati-dharmavaloka-Sriman Nanyapati

02. Mithilesvara

03. Karnatakulabhusana

04. Dharmadharabhupati

05. Rajnarayana

06. Nrpamalla

07. Mohanmurari

08. Pratyagravanipati

09. Extinguisher of the fame of the king of Malwa

10. Conqueror of the heroes of Sauvira 

11. Breaker of the powers of Vanga and Gauda.    

Gangadeva, Narsinhdeva, Shankersinghdeva and Harisinghdeva followed King Nanyadeva. In them King Harisinghdeva is the most famous. He was instrumental in initiating and implementing 'Panji Vyavastha' in Maithil Brahmins and Karna Kayasthas. He was also great patron of art and literature. In the court of King Harisinghdeva, the royal priest was Pundit Kameshwar Thakur, the author of ‘Varna Ratnakara’, which is considered to be the first prose and encyclopedia in any north Indian language. Pundit Kameshwar Thakur later became founder of the Oinwar Dynasty kings from 1356 to 1526 C.E., and then after, with a period of anarchy from 1527 to 1576 C.E., the 'Kandavala' Dynasty ruled Mithila from 1577 to 1947 C.E.

Karnat dynasty kings are known as forgotten kings of Mithila, so I like to add the following:- The ancestors of King Nanyadeva were from the ruling solar race of Ayodhya, who had gone to konkan (south west coast of Maharashtra) adjoining north-west Karnataka near Batapi, the capital of ancient Chalukyas and also Tulajapur- Sholapur in Nimad (country of ancient Rajasthan- central India) in the pre-historic  times. King Nanyadeva came to Delhi at the age of 20 years with his father, mother, and wife. He served the king of Delhi for 5/7 years. King Nanyadeva was born in 1057 C.E. and died in 1147 C.E. As per Dr. Satyaketu Vidyalankar, one King Chandra Dev seized power in Kannauj in 1080 C.E. Nanyadeva served king Chandra Dev for 5/7 years and after the death of his father, mother and wife he wondered Ayodhya like a Fakir and was there for nearly seven years. Around 1093 C.E., Nanyadeva had entered Mithila and had first established his capital in Nanapura in Champaran district and then shifted to Simraungarh(Birganj). Dr. Satyaketu Vidyalankar also confirms that Indraprastha (Delhi) was under the rule of King Chandra Dev Gahadwal. Dr. Vidyalankar further writes that the grand son of King Chandra Dev, King Govind Chandra(1114-1154 C.E.), who ruled the area of Delhi in the west and Behar in the east, had very cordial relationship with King Nanyadeva and his sons. Actually because of the favours from Govind Chandra, Nanyadeva and his sons had sustained their hold in Mithila. Besides this there are other indications, which show that the sons and grandsons of King Nanyadeva were in very good terms with Gahadwal kings of Kannauj, who were mostly living in Kashi. Actually, the elder son of King Nanyadeva, Malladeva had accepted to serve Gahadwal king Jaya Chandra.

During the rule of King Nanyadeva, Mithila had been an important center of music. Nanyadeva is credited with having developed popular ragas and is believed to have been the inspirer of the Mithila School of Music, which assumed a new form after being influenced by Jayadeva of "Geet-Govind" fame. Nanyadeva was also a writer of Dramaturgy, as he wrote an exhaustive commentary on Bharata's 'Natya-Shashtra'. He holds that a dominant feeling or emotion becomes a sentiment, when it is transferred into an object of enjoyment. His 'Abhinavabharati' is an epoch making contribution as it covers the whole ground connected with drama. 


The last ruler of Karnat dynasty King Harisimhadeva was also a very prominent ruler and  was a great patron of art and letter. In his reign flourished not only Jyotirishwar and Umapati but also a host of other poets, scholars and philosophers. Shankardutta, a karna kayastha, was a devout 'Vaishnava' and a renowned scholar and a poet. Bodhidasa, another karna kayastha, was a poet and was also mentioned in the famous “Purushpariksha”.

“Shake yugma gunaki sammit vare bhoopal chooramani,
Shri machhri Harisimhadeva vijayee panji prabandhah kritah ;
Tasmatu karna beejkalitan sudvishwan chakrepura,
Kayastha mati pradastha guninang Shree Shakardutta bhan.”

It means that Raja Harisimhadeva ordered Shankardutta of Mul-Sarisab in 1310 C.E. for 'Panji Prabandha'. 'Panji Prabandha' was written during 1310-1314 C.E., then it was handed over to his nephew Gunapati Dutta(Mul-Mohinvar-san-Laduari dera). So his clan is known as ‘Panjikars’.

“Shake yugma gunaki sammit vare bhoopal chooramani,
Tasmata karna beejkalitan kayastha panji prabandha,
Krita tasmata mantra guneena Shree Gunapati duttavan.”                  

From 1326-1353 C.E., Mithila, was attacked several times by Ghiasuddin Tughlaq, and was totally in a state of anarchy, most of the books and testimonials were burnt or destroyed, it has been mentioned that the library of  Nalanda University was burning for around three months,  so in 1352 C.E. the work of copying the 'Panji Prabandh' was given to Shree Shambhudutta Mallik, son of Shree Shankardutta Mallik.

Taranand Mishra has written about a royal priest by the name of Sripati/Sridhar (Compiler of Sadhuktikarnamrit), who was not only connected with Gahadwal king Govind Chandra, but also served as the royal priest of King Nanyadeva.Therefore, the ‘root’ of Karnat dynasty kings of Mithila and their key supporters like Acharyas, Hadas, Rathauds, Karna Kayasthas, and Joshis were in Konkan, Rajasthan, Bundelkhand and Himachal Garhwal. An important clue is found in a historical statement saying that-“Only after the death of Kalachuri king Karna, Nanyadeva could become the ruler of Mithila. According to Dr. Vidyalankar, Chedi(Kalachuri Karna) king died in 1093 C.E. His son, who had attacked 'Mithila' repeatedly had been in command already, before his father’s death. Kaibrata revolt also had taken place during that time, which has weakened Pala rulers over Mithila and north Behar, which definitely helped Nanyadeva to take over the control of Mithila.

              
The script of Andharatharhi inscription of Sridhardasa in Maithili and an inscription in Maithili script of the time of King Akbar has recently been discovered from the Godda subdivision of the district of Santhal Pargana.