History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c14.s4.t1.68

c14.s4.t1.68

It is significant that the other Purāṇas omit Kāntipurī. The reason for this may be the absorption of the line of Bhava Nāga into the Vākāṭaka line. In place of the ‘Bhāraśivas’ the Purāṇic designation is the ‘Nava Nāgas’. The first, the Vidiśā Nāgas, i.e. Śeṣa to Vangara, are the earlier Nāgas; from Bhūta Nandi, when the style of the name changes to Nandi (‘Vṛiṣa’), then or certainly at their re-rise about 150-170 A.D., they are the Bhāraśivas. The coins of King Nava and his successors are marked off from the earlier coins of the Nāgas by dropping ‘dāta’ and adopting ‘Nāga’. The Bhāgavata does not mention the Nava Nāgas but concerns itself with the princes from Bhūta Nandi to Pravīraka. The Nava Nāgas, to the author of the Bhāgavata, are therefore covered by the line of Bhūta Nandi and the rule of Pravīraka. Pravīra-Pravarasena was guardian to Rudrasena ‘the Infant’, and according to the other Purāṇas they two ruled together. The Viṣṇu Purāṇa which had some materials not used by others, gives the order of the Capitals as Padmāvatī-Kāntipurī-Mathurā. It probably implies that the original seat of the Nāgas was Padmāvatī and the next seat was Kāntipurī and the third was Mathurā. This is verified by the known facts. Bhūta Nandi's line, up to Śiva Nandi and about half a century later, was at Padmāvatī. Padmāvatī then passes to the Kushan viceroys [§§33-34]. The Bhārasivas in the latter days of the imperial Kushans, about 150 A.D., reach Kāntipurī on the Ganges. They performed their aśvamedhas¹ and coronations at or near Benares where the place Nagwā, the present site of the Hindu University, seems to be associated with their name. From Kāntipurī they move westwards and under Virasena, who strikes coins extensively and whose coins are found from the east of Ahichhatra up to Mathurā, regains Padmāvatī and Mathurā. The early coins with the letters 'Vi'² and 'V(.)' amongst the Padmāvatī coins are the first of the Padmāvatī series, and belong to Virasena. The peacock on the reverse of these two coins is the well-known symbol of Virasena who seems to be the same as Mahāsena, meaning the general of the Gods. As Bhīma Nāga and Skanda Nāga both follow the peacock design,³ these two princes seem to have followed Virasena. For though with Skanda the peacock is connected, with Bhīma it is unconnected. Virasena having reached Mathurā and even beyond, Indor Kherā, where his coins have been largely dug out⁴, would have naturally recovered the old Nāga territories in western Bundelkhand which had passed under the Kushan rule a century back.