Prithvisena I was succeeded by Rudrasena II (c. 300-395); he was, however, a Vaishnava. He married Prabhavati, the daughter of Chandragupta II and Kuberanaga. This Prabhavati became regent for a minor son after her husband’s death.
Since she came from the imperial Gupta family, the influence of the Guptas on the affairs of the Vakatakas was immense during the period of her regency. Perhaps the Guptas, even at the time of the marriage of Prabhavati, had planned to conquer Western India with the active help of the Vakatakas.
Rudrasena II was succeeded by Pravarasena II (c. 395-420) but it is difficult to say precisely when Prabhavati’s regency ended and when Pravarasena II attained the status of an independent ruler.
The Chammak inscription of Pravarasena II, issued in his 18th regnal year, gives the genealogy of the dynasty and describes him as the most devout worshipper of Mahasvara. The relative political positions of the Vakataka ruler and the Gupta emperor are well brought out by the inscription which calls the Vakataka a Maharaja and the Gupta the Maharajadhiraja.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
Historians and literary men who believe that Kalidasa belonged to the Gupta period connect Pravarasena II with the Guptas through Kalidasa. This king is credited with the authorship of Setubandha, a poem in Prakrit. Prithvisena II (420-445) and Devasena (445-465) were the grandsons of Pravarasena II.
The rulers cut themselves away from the imperial Gupta influence and joined hands with the Pushyamitras and were, along with them, defeated by Skandagupta. This defeat was possibly sustained by the Vakatakas in the reign period of Devasena.