Tribes in Ancient India c77.103

c77.103

**Kukuras** The Kukuras as a tribe find mention in the *Bhāgavatapurāṇa*. They seem to have occupied the Dvārakā region which is described as: ‘*Kukur-Andhaka-Vṛṣṇibhiḥ Juptāḥ*’. The *Vāyupurāṇa* also seems to refer to the tribe when it represents Ugrasena, the king of the Yādavas as ‘Kukurodbhava’ or ‘originated from Kukura’. The *Bṛhatsaṃhitā* seems to locate the tribe in western or central India (XIV, 4). According to the Nāsik Cave Inscription of Queen Gautamī Balaśrī, her son conquered the Kukuras, Suraṭhas, Mūlakas, Aparāntas, Anūpas, Vidarbhas and others. From the Junāgaḍh Rock Inscription of Mahākṣatrapa Rudradāman we learn that most of these peoples along with the Kukuras were again conquered by him. These provinces were in all probability wrested from the hands of the contemporary Sātavāhana ruler of Deccan. According to Sir R. G. Bhandarkar, the Śātakarṇi lord of Dakṣiṇāpatha from whom Rudradāman conquered these provinces was Gautamīputra Śātakarṇi.¹ According to Rapson the Sātavāhana ruler of Deccan, whom Rudradāman defeated, was Puḷumāyi.