History of India, c. 150 A.D. to 350 A.D.: Naga–Vakataka Imperial Period c16.s1.5

c16.s1.5

110. The Lichchhavis, having once occupied Pāṭaliputra for about a century, must have felt a sort of claim to re-possess Magadha on the liberation of the Gangetic valley by the Bhārasivas. But when the Bhārasiva reorganisation comes into play, we find Magadha not in the possession of the non-Brahmanical Lichchhavis but of an orthodox Kshatriya family. This family is called 'the Magadha family' in the Kaumudi-mahotsava, and by Samudra Gupta it is called 'the Dynasty of Kota' (Kota-kula). The founder's name seems to have been Kota; the descendant of Kota who was a contemporary of Samudra Gupta and whose name is lost in the earlier part of the Allahabad inscription, is called Kota-kulaja. The names of these Magadha kings ended in varman.² This family must have come into existence about 200-250 A.D.