Janapadas to the Golden Age
1. The Audumbaras (Full Fact Sheet)
Origin and Location:
– One of 4 major ancient Janapadas of Himachal Pradesh.
– Lived in the Lower Hills between Pathankot and Jwalamukhi.
– Formed an independent state in the 2nd Century B.C..
– Capital: Pratiṣṭhāna, identified with modern Pathankot.
Geographical and Commercial Importance:
– Territory lay on a major ancient Trade Route connecting Takshila (Taxila) with the Gangetic Valley.
– Formed a vital link between Magadha and Kashmir.
– Pathankot served as a Commercial Hub, joining routes from Kangra, Nurpur, and Chamba.
– Mahabharata: Descendants of Sage Vishwamitra, founder of the Kaushika Gotra.
– Panini (5th Century B.C.): Mentioned them in his Ganapatha along with Jallandhara.
– J. Przyluski: Mentions they bore the brunt of the Aryan Invasion.
– Literature: Mentioned in Markandeya Purana and Brihat Samhita.
– Buddhist Source: Mentioned in the Vinaya Pitaka.
Political Organization:
– Practiced a Republican form of government.
– Categorized as a Sangha Janapada or Ayudhajivi Sangha (republic of warrior tribes).
– The King was Elected, showing democratic governance.
Coinage and Inscriptions:
– Discovery: Found in Pathankot, Kangra, Jwalamukhi, Gurdaspur, and Hoshiarpur.
– Materials: Copper and Silver.
– Scripts: Brahmi (Front/Obverse) and Kharoshthi (Back/Reverse).
– Known Rulers: Dharaghosha, Rudradasa, Sivadasa.
– Legend: “Mahadevasa Rana Sivadasa Odubarasia”.
– Lineage: Second lineage used the title Mitra.
Religious Beliefs and Symbolism:
– Described by Chandragomin in book titled Vritti (5th Century A.D.) as a section of the Shalvas.
– Ardent Shaivites (worshippers of Lord Shiva).
– Symbols on Coins: Bull (Nandi), Trishul (Trident), Audumbara Tree, Elephant forepart, and Wavy Lines.
– Architecture: Depict a Two-storied Temple with pillars on coins.
Economy and Occupation:
– Base economy was Agriculture.
– Highly developed Trade and Commerce due to route location.
– Sheep Rearing was a major occupation.
– Grew wealthy by selling Woolen Clothes.
2. Trigarta Janapada (The Oldest State)
Location and Geography:
– Heartland: The Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh.
– Rivers: The name signifies “land of three rivers”—namely the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
– Alternative Etymology: May also refer to the three tributaries of the Beas located in Kangra.
– Extent: Stretched from the Sutlej to Ravi in the outer hills and included the Jalandhar Doab in the south.
Historical Origins & Foundation:
– Timeline: Established around the 8th–9th century BCE.
– Founder: Bhuma Chandra.
– Prominent Ruler: Susharma Chandra (the 234th ruler), who was initially based in Multan.
– Capitals: Kangra and Jalandhar.
– Fortifications: Nagarkot (Kangra Fort) was built by Susharma Chandra.
– Greek Reference: The geographer Ptolemy referred to Kangra as Kalindarine.
– Allegiance: Susharma Chandra fought on the side of the Kauravas.
– Military Feats: Launched an attack on the Matsya Kingdom (Virata).
– Battle of Kurukshetra: Distracted Arjuna on the 13th day of the war during the Chakravyuha formation.
– Fate: Ultimately killed by Arjuna along with his brothers.
Political Organization:
– Early Mention: Panini (5th century BCE) described the inhabitants as an Ayudhajivi Sangha (warrior community).
– Confederation: Known as the Trigarta-Shashthas, a six-member union consisting of:
1. Kundoparatha 2. Kraushakti 3. Dandaki 4. Janaki 5. Jalmani 6. Brahmagupta.
– Governance: Functioned as an Independent Republic.
– Alternative Names: Referred to as Trigarta in the hills and Jallandhara in the plains.
– Neighbors: The Audumbaras (mentioned in the Vishnu Purana).
Economy and Culture:
– Coins: Issued Square-shaped coins inscribed with Brahmi and Kharoshthi scripts.
– Agriculture: Utilized fertile plains for a well-developed agricultural economy.
– Military: Known for being skilled warriors frequently involved in regional conflicts.
Significance:
– Recognized as the oldest princely state in Himachal Pradesh.
– Holds major importance in both mythological (Mahabharata) and historical records.
3. The Kunindas (2nd Century BCE – 3rd Century CE)
Location and Geography:
– Region: Occupied the area between the Beas, Sutlej, and Yamuna rivers.
– Territory: Included the Shimla and Sirmaur hills (Himachal Pradesh) and parts of western Uttarakhand.
– Ancient Capital: Kalasi/Kalsi (Garhwal), known in ancient times as Kalkoot.
Historical References and Sources:
– Panini (5th Century BCE): Mentions them as Kuluna and classifies them as an Ayudhjeevi Sangha (warrior republic).
– Mahabharata: Records they were located east of Kuru and were defeated by Arjuna.
– Literary Sources: Mentioned in the Vishnu Purana, Vayu Purana, and Markandeya Purana.
– Scholarly Records: Referenced by the geographer Ptolemy and the astronomer Varahmihira.
– System: They functioned as a Republic despite the use of administrative titles.
– Raja: A title held by all members of the tribal assembly, rather than a single monarch.
– Maharaja: The title held by the President or Chief of the House.
– The Amoghabhuti Theory: Historical evidence suggests Amoghabhuti was not a personal name but an official title (similar to “Caesar”) adopted by successive rulers.
Socio-Economic Lifestyle:
– Pastoralism: Practiced transhumance, utilizing the plains as grazing grounds for cattle during specific seasons.
– Modern Parallel: Their lifestyle is considered highly similar to the Gaddi tribe of Himachal Pradesh.
Political Geography & Contemporaries:
– Himalayan Neighbors: They existed alongside the Audumbaras, Trigartas, and Kulutas.
– Plains Contemporaries: Their network included the Yaudheyas, Malavas, and Arjunayas.
Kuninda Coinage: A Study of Identity & Evolution
General Specifications:
– Language: Coin legends were written in Prakrit.
– Silver Coins: Features Bilingual scripts—Brahmi (Obverse) and Kharosthi (Reverse).
– Silver Purpose: High value; used for trade beyond boundaries, likely with Indo-Greek or Western territories.
– Copper Coins: Predominantly used Brahmi script.
– Copper Purpose: Lower value; intended for local use.
– Key Deduction: Since local copper coins used by the common people used Brahmi, it was likely the prevalent script of the Kuninda people themselves.
Chronological Shift (Comparative Analysis):
The coinage reveals significant shifts in political and religious identity over 300-400 years:
| Feature | Group 1 (Early) | Group 2 (Late) |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Late 1st Century B.C. | Late 2nd to Early 3rd Century A.D. |
| Sovereignty | King Amoghabhuti | Issued in the name of Lord Shiva |
| Material | Silver & Copper (Intricate) | Large Copper (Kushana style) |
| Legend | Amoghabhutisya Maharajasya | Bhagavata-Chatresvara-Mahatman |
| Imagery | Buddhist symbols | Shaivite (Shiva with a trident) |
- Theocratic Shift: Later coins suggest the deity (Shiva) was the true sovereign, with rulers acting as regents.
- Kushana Influence: Late copper pieces show heavy stylistic influence from the Kushana Empire.
- Economic Status: Silver issuance confirms the Kunindas were economically strong due to strategic northern trade routes.
- Religious Fluidity: Transition from Buddhist to Shaivite symbols reflects broader Northern Indian religious evolution.
1. Kushan Domination & Internal Sovereignty
While tribal republics like the Kunindas fell under Kushan domination, they maintained a unique political status:
- Status: Remained internally sovereign despite the empire’s reach.
- Evidence: Coins of both the Kushans and the local Janapadas have been found together, suggesting co-existence.
2. Archaeological Proof of Conquest
The discovery of large hoards of copper (Cu) coins confirms the Kushan presence in the hill regions:
| Location | Coins Found |
|---|---|
| Kalka-Kasauli Road | 382 Cu coins of Wima Kadphises; 40 Cu coins of Kanishka. |
| Kanihara (Kangra) | 2 coins of Wima Kadphises; 1 of Kanishka; 1 of Vasudeva. |
3. The 4th Buddhist Council Ambiguity
The location of the council conducted by Kanishka remains a subject of historical debate:
- Theory A: Kundalvana Vihara in Kashmir.
- Theory B: Kuvana Monastery in Jalandhar, the capital of Trigarta.
4. The Great Expulsion (3rd Century AD)
As the Kushan power waned, the tribal republics formed a powerful coalition to reclaim their land:
- The Alliance: Yaudheyas, Arjunayas (Punjab), and the Kulindas combined their forces.
- The Outcome: They successfully pushed the Kushans beyond the Sutlej River.
1. The Collapse of the Ancient Republics
By the 4th Century AD, constant wars under the rising Gupta Empire led to the total collapse or fragmentation of the major Janapadas:
- Audumbara Collapse: Crushed between an attack by Trigarta from the east and Madrakas from the west.
- Kuninda Fragmentation: The kingdom broke into small regions including Brahmaputra (Ramganga valley), Govisana (near Kasipur), and Kartipur (Katyur valley).
- Kuluta Encroachment: The Kulutas took advantage of the chaos to seize Kuninda lands in the Upper Beas and Sutlej.
2. Emergence of New Hill States
Widespread conflict allowed for the rise of new power centers and dynasties:
- New Powers: Rise of Bushahr and Sirmaur.
- Singpur Kingdom: Established in 150 AD in the Jaunsar Bawar region; documented by the Lakha Mandal Inscription (6th Century AD).
- Varman Suffix: Rajas of the Singpur kingdom began using the Varman suffix.
- Chamba Foundation: Maru Varman migrated from the Upper Ganga Valley to establish a dynasty in the Upper Ravi Valley with its capital at Brahmaputra (Bharmour).
3. Trigarta’s Survival Strategy
Facing both foreign aggression and Gupta attacks, Trigarta expanded aggressively to survive:
- Westward: Encroached into Audumbara lands.
- Northward: Into Gabdikas/Bharmour.
- Eastward: Into the Sukshetra/Sutlej region.
4. Ethnic Shifts & Political Change
The Gupta era brought fundamental changes to the social and political fabric of the hills:
- The Huns: Invasions by the Huns forced many to settle; those who remained are today represented by the Gaddis and Gujjars.
- Shift to Monarchy: As the Guptas were Monarchs, the traditional Republican structure of the Janapadas shifted to a Monarchical system.
- Final Status: Audumbara and Kuninda disappeared; Trigarta and Kuluta remained in a weakened state.