Bana Kingdom

The Banas were a dynasty of South India, who claimed descent from the asura Mahabali. The dynasty takes its name from Bana, the son of Mahabali. The Banas faced opposition from several neighbouring dynasties and served some major dynasties such as the Cholas and Pandyas as feudatories, sometimes after they were subjugated by them. They also served as Samantas to some dynasties such as Chalukyas. The Banas had their capital at various places at different times, including Kolar and Gudimallam.[1] The earliest mention of the Banas in authentic historical records is in the middle of the fourth century AD, and as the feudatories of the Satavahana and early Pallavas.[2]

Boundaries

The Bana Kingdom was made up of various regions at different points in time and was known by the following names:

In medieval Andhra

The Ganga king, Prithivipati II was conferred the title "lord of the Banas" by Parantaka I Chola after he defeated the Banas. After the Chola King, Parantaka I deprieved the Banas of their Andhrapatha kingdom between 909-916 AD, the Banas were subsequently found ruling various parts, such as Nellore, Guntur and Anantapur, as Chieftains in medieval Andhra.

In Nellore

An inscription found in Sannamur brought to light a Bana family ruling in the north of Nellore district in the 11th century AD. The Bana king's name was Aggaparaju (also spelled Aggraparaju alias Aggappa). Aggappa claimed descent from Mahabali, and lordship over Paravipura and Nandagiri. Nothing is known of his predecessors. Aggappa may have ruled as a feudatory of the Chalukya prince, Vimaladitya.[14]

In Konidena

Churrabali I or Churaballiraja I of the Banas was ruling in Konidena in the 12th century AD. Churaballi II alias Churabbiraju II, served as a Mahamandaleshwara and bore a long prasasti and titles similar to that of Aggapparaju. Hence it is suggested that he was a descendent of Aggappa Raju. Churabbiraju's only record from Konidena dated 1151 AD mentions him as "Mahamandalesvara Berbaha Churraballi Raju". His epithets mention he belonged to Vashista gotra. He claimed lordship over Paravipura and Nandagiri and ruled in a part of Kammanadu.[15]

Other Banas [16]

Brihatphala

Based on the copper plates of Jayavarman Brihat-Phalayana, it has been suggested that Brihat-Phala means the same as Brihad-Bana, where 'phala' and 'bana' both have the same meaning as 'arrowhead'.[18] The Brihat-phalayanas ruled in regions around Masulipatnam around the 3rd century AD.[19] Additionally, the Saka Mahakshatrapas of Ujjain claimed Brihatphala (Bahaphala) gotra and were linked with the Ikshvakus.[20] A record of the Ikshvakus of the Guntur-Krishna region mentions that a queen named Varma Bhatarika, the wife of Maharaja Ehuvula Chantamula, and daughter-in-law of Maharaja Chantamula, is said to have belonged to Bahapala (that is, Brihat-phala or Brihatphalayana) gotra and is said to have been the daughter of a Mahakshatrapa.[21][22] It may therefore be surmised that Brihatphala was possibly used as a gotra name to indicate descent from Brihad-Bana.

Bana kings

Some Bana kings mentioned in various historical sources are:

In Sangam literature

An ancient Tamil poem of the Sangam period, describes a scene in front of a Vanar Palace as below:
Poets are leaving the palace with plenty of gifts from the King, while the arrested rulers of smaller regions of the Kingdom, who have failed to pay tribute to the King and waiting for the King's pardon happen to see the poets leaving with expensive gifts which are actually things seized by the King from them. One of them, seeing the gifts, says that its his horse that one the poet takes away, while another one points out to his elephant, similarly and so on goes the poem, capturing the might of ancient Vanars. This poem explains the wealth and power of Southern Vanars. Kalki, in his historic novel Ponniyin Selvan, describes a scene in which the protagonist, Vallavaraiyan Vandiyadevan, who he claims to be of Vanar descent, broods over the fall of his clan, singing this poem.

Titles

The Bana Chieftains had different titles in different regions at different times. Some of them include Vanar, Vanara, Vanavarayar, Vanakovarayar, Ponparappinan. Some of the Banas claim as "Vaana-Kulothoman" and "Ganga-kula-uthaman".kaangeyar.etc.

See also

References

  1. The history of Andhra country, 1000 A.D.-1500 A.D, By Yashoda Devi, p.384
  2. Karnataka through the ages: from prehistoric times to the day of the independence of India, Ranganath Ramachandra Diwakar, Literary and Cultural Development Department, Government of Mysore, p.129-130.
  3. Sailendra Nath Sen. (1988). "Ancient Indian History and Civilization". New Age International Publishers: 469–476.
  4. Feudatories of South India, 800-1070 A.D, p.35-36
  5. The Tirumala Temple, by N Ramesan, p.17-18
  6. The early Chōḷas history, art, and culture, by S.Swaminathan, p.46
  7. South Indian Inscriptions: Miscellaneous inscriptions in Tamil, by Eugen Hultzsch, Hosakote Krishna Sastri, Archaeological Survey of India, p. 89 and p.113
  8. Trade, ideology, and urbanization: South India 300 BC to AD 1300, by Radha Champakalakshmi, p.374
  9. Buddhist remains in Āndhra and the history of Āndhra between 224 & 610 A.D, by KR Subramanian, p.148
  10. Foundations of Indian culture, By Govind Chandra Pande, p. 30
  11. The history of Andhra country, 1000 A.D.-1500 A.D, By Yashoda Devi, p.384
  12. Journal of Indian history, Volume 45, By University of Kerala, p.481-482
  13. Malwa through the ages, from the earliest times to 1305 A.D, by Kailash Chand Jain, p.177
  14. The history of Andhra country, 1000 A.D.-1500 A.D., by Yashoda Devi, p.385
  15. The history of Andhra country, 1000 A.D.-1500 A.D, by Yashoda Devi, p.385-386
  16. The history of Andhra country, 1000 A.D.-1500 A.D, by Yashoda Devi, p.384-387
  17. Yashoda Devi (1993). The history of Andhra country, 1000 AD - 1500 AD. Gyan Publishing House. p. 387. ISBN 8121204380. The last date for the Vijayanagar Viceroys (Nayaks) of Madurai claiming a Bana descent is 1546 AD
  18. The Journal of the Bihar Research Society, Volume 19, p.179
  19. Ancient India, By Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, p.385
  20. Department of Archeology Annual Report on Indian Epigraphy for 1961-58, p.4
  21. Epigraphia Indica, Volume 34, by Devadutt Bhandarkar, p.21
  22. Rural studies in early Andhra, by PVP Shastry, p.198
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