Global Phenomenon Addressed: Political, Religious, Economical, Cultural History of Kuninda /Kulinda kings of Almora

Monday, May 20, 2013

Political, Religious, Economical, Cultural History of Kuninda /Kulinda kings of Almora

Political, Religious, Economical, Cultural History of Kuninda /Kulinda kings of Almora

History of Garhwal, Kumaon (Uttarakhand) - Part 47

Historical Aspects of Ancient communities of Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-44

Historical , Political, Religious, Economical and Historical Characteristics of Kunindas/Kulindas Rule in Uttarakhand (200BCE-100AD) -4

(All the History write ups are dedicated to great Historians Hari Krishna Raturi, Badri Datt Pandey and Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral)

By: Bhishma Kukreti

Historians found Kuninda/Kulinda coins from Almora those are of the time after the Kuninda/kulindraine or Kulinda coins of Amoghbhuti. There are four Kuninda Kings coins found from Almora and are called Almora Kuninda coins. There are differences regarding types and sizes between Almora Kuninda/Kulinda coins and other Kunindas coins found in other parts of North India. However, there are some characteristics on Almora coins that those coins are definitely supposed the Kuninda coins (Rapson). Dr Dabral and Dr. M.P Joshi (Morphogenesis of Kunindas) discussed these coins in details than other historians.

Historical Aspects of Four Kuninda Kings of Almora

Mrigbhuti or Margabhuti; a Kuninda King

At the time of Kuninda, the metallurgy science was at developing stage and there were some mistake in carving the coins for Brahmi or Kharoshti vowels. In one type of Almora Kuninda coin the words are M-G-Bh-T-S-. The coins are as of Shiv Datt coins. Dabral suggested by logical analysis that the king of such coins must be Mrigbhuti or Margbhuti.

Shivdatt: A Kuninda King

Sivdatas is engraved in this type of Almora Kuninda coins. The script is Brahmi. Nandi is standing before trailing tree. There is wave or cobra. Stage or other animal (?) is there.

On reverse, Nandipad and Indraysti are there as found on Kumudsen and Ajvarm coins from Ayodhya.

Shivpalit: a Kuninda king

There is rawness on the letterings of these types of Almora Kuninda coins. As the tradition was to ending the King name 'itasya' but on coins, it is Shivpalitas. There is deity or human image on reverse side of coins.

Time Period of Kuninda Coins of Almora Coins

There is very less disagreement among for supposing Almora coins as Kuninda coins of after the time of Amoghbhuti. However, there are some disputes among historians for the time period of Kuninda Kings of Almora Coins.

After analysis, Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral states the time period of Kings of Almora kings from 60 BCE to 20 AD. After, these kings, there was invasion of Shaka, Panchnad, Kuru on the territories.

Decline in Economic Conditions

The Kuninda Almora kings did not have their capital in Srugh (Today's Sugh, Ambala, Haryana). It seems that after death of Amoghbhuti, Kunindas shifted the capital from Srugh (Sugh) towards east on Himalayan foothills that are Govishan (Kashipur Region of Almora). The four types of Almora Kuninda coins show that there was decline of economic, political and diplomacy conditions of Kuninda Kings/king. Govishan was on that time the one of the major business centers of North India.

Religions of Kuninda Kings of Post Amoghbhuti

It seems that the regions of post Amoghbhuti Kuninda supported Hindu or Sanatan sects than Buddhism as Amoghbhuti etc supported Buddhism.

The Kuninda Kings of Govishan (Kumaon) used to worship deities/goddesses as Vrikshdevta, Nag devta. It seems the worshipping of Nag Devta was spread more in the post Amoghbhuti Kuninda period in Uttarakhand.

There were conducible relations of Govishan (Kumaon) Kuninda with neighboring Panchal and Ayodha Kingdoms.

Economical, Political, Social, Cultural and Geographical Aspects of Kuninda Era

Panini's Mahabhashya- There are various literature available about Post Mahabharata Kuninda communities. Pantajali or Panini wrote much about Kuninda in his Mahabhashya. Panini wrote about Srughnanagar (Srugh). Panini was court priest of Pushyamitra but travelled Kuninda region including Kankhal, Hardwar.

Himalaya: the Attraction for Tourists- There was great attractions for tourists for visiting central Himalaya or Uttarakhand. There are descriptions of Himalayan fauna and floras in Panini's Mahabhashya. The Chamar cow and Gangajal of Ganges had significance.

The Pilgrim places of Uttarakhand had an important place in the life of Indians.

Shivalik of Uttrakhand – Shivalik region was famous for elephants.

Capital Srughna- Panini described about Srughna in full details.

Srughana was situated on bank of Yamuna. Today, Yamuna does not flow there and it seems Yamuna had changed the direction.

The City Srughana was protected by brick walls. The width of external wall of cities was wide and armed men used to walk on the protecting wall. It seems that on that period, there were the protecting walls for capital in Patliputra and Srughana.

There were wide Yamuna canals sounding the protecting wall of Srughana. There were folding bridges were used as doors on Yamuna canals.

There were residing areas and buildings for King and administrative employees; court, stores; arms stores in Srughana. There were entertaining places, taxation buildings. The roads were wide, elite statesmen used to live in palaces types of buildings, subject were inside the city .The low cadres of workers used to reside outer side of city.

The buildings had various facilities as drainage, windows, big courtyards, bathrooms, hangers, and separate place for keeping earthen lamps, good arrangement for closing doors.

There was difference between common men buildings and buildings for elite.

The works and properties of elite had importance for enhancing the fame and name of the city.

The palaces of Srughana and Patliputra were unique than other kingdom palaces.

Srughana had importance place for business roads or links. There were business roads/links from Srughana to Mathura. Sakal, Patliputra, Hastinapur, Kankhal, Magadh, Banaras, Kosal-Ayodhya and western parts of India.

Transportation in Post Mahabharata Kunindas Age-The transportation medium were animals as sheep, goat, bulls, buffalos, horses and bullock carts or buffalo carts, horse carts. The roads were comfortable of that age context.

The leather was used for cover of carts.

There were arrangements of Saray or Dharamshalas or motels in Bawar regions.

There were various medium for crossing rivers as leather bag etc. There were boats for crossing rivers as boats made by wood and bamboo or fruits of cucumber -Tumdi.

Villages and Village Life in Post Mahabharata Kunindas

Panini and or Patanjali travelled Bhardwaj (Garhwal) region extensively. Panini described two villages of Bhardwaj (Garhwal) –Krikarna and Parn. Patanjali described two Bhardwaj (Garhwal) villages – Ainik and Saushuk.

Houses-- Houses were made by mud, stones and wood. The archeological excavations in various places Uttarakhand around this and after Age this show various development in hose building techniques

Home utensils and appliances- The bedding system was developed than past. Cots, wooden wood pallets were used for sleeping and sting by richer ones. Clay /wood, stone vessels were common as bowl, pitchers.

There are evidences of metal appliances used by riches.

The vessels of storing cereals etc were made by wood, grasses and bamboo. There were agricultural appliances in uses.

Dresses of Post Mahabharata Kuninda Age- The dresses were –langot, Kachhauta (ghuttna), Kaybandh, Uttariya, ushniy ( Pagdi) , etc as dresses.

The hill people used blanket; woolen and hemp- dresses and leather dresses.

The ornaments were common for both sexes and all age.

Agriculture and animal herds – The main occupation was agriculture, domestic animals, forest produces. Goth system was thee at that age too. The today's cereals were started sowing on that time.

Meat eating, taking liquor was common.

Social structure- Four caste system –Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaisya, Shudra were also common in Buddhist of hills.

Religious culture- The religious culture of Khasas –kirat of Mahabharata era, Sanatan or Vedic culture; Buddhism for a couple of centuries in plains of Uttarakhand, and Jainism in couple of places for some time were there. Travelling for pilgrim places in Uttarakhand was common.

Administration in Post Mahabharata Kuninda Age- Republic /Ganasngha/Janapada system was common. The previous kings were usually made governors by winners was common. Initially, collective wisdom was popular but slowly authoritative system took place. Perhaps making King as deity was also started at this time.

Tentative or Suggestive Time Period of Post Mahabharata Kuninda Age

Dr Dabral suggested following time period of Post Mahabharata Kuninda Age-

Gandhar Greek rulers

Demetrius- 192-167BCE

Demetrius Indian campaign -188-167 BCE

Menander era (149-70BCE)

Shunga Kings of Magadha

Pushyamitra- 184-148BCE

Agnimitra- 148-140BCE

Jyesthmitra- 140-133 BCE

Vasumitra -133-123 BCE

Post Shunga Kings- 123-72BCE

Kuninda of Kalkut (Kalsi) -Srughana

Republicans/Janapada/Ganasangh—232-200BCE

First founding King- 200BCE

Vishwadev, Agraraj- ?-103 BCE

Greece rule- 186-170BCE

Dhanbhuti first- 160-140BCE

Bridhpal, Dhanbhuti, Balbhuti second- 140-100BCE

Kuninda Kings of Almora/Kumaon

Mrigbhuti (Margbhuti), Shivdatt, Haridatta, Shivpalit- 60 BCE-20 AD

Contemporary Shaka Kshatraps of Mathura

Moga Shaka -77-58 BCE

Winning Mathura- 60BCE

Kshatrap Hagam- 60-40BCE

Hagan, Rajubal, Sondas and post era- 40BCE to 80 AD

(The write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal – Kumaon (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -48

Ancient communities of Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas- to be continued…45

[Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Kashipur, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Nainital, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Almora, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Champawat, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Bageshwar, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Hardwar, Uttarakhand; History of Dehradun Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Tehri Uttarakhand; History of Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Chamoli Garhwal, Uttarakhand; History of Pauri, Garhwal, Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Uttarakhand; History of Bawar , Uttarakhand; Political, Religious, Economical , Cultural History of Rudraprayag, Garhwal Uttarakhand]