Short Essay on the Decline and Achivements of Vakataka

The last great Vakataka was Harisena (465-500), the son of Devasena. He is said to have conquered Kuntala, Malva, South Kosala, Kalinga, Trikuta, Lata and Andhra.

The Hun invasions which weakened Gupta power must have helped the Vakatakas to regain temporarily their power. But he was the last flicker of a dying out light. The Vakatakas were a partly South Indian and partly North Indian dynasty.

We consider the fortunes of this dynasty in this work because geographically their territories lay partly to the south of the Vindhyas and some of their conquests affected the southern powers.

But more important than these, we should mention the fact that they were a cultural link between the Guptas and South India. Some of the caves and paintings of Ajanta are indebted to the Vakatakas.

One of their inscriptions is found there and the caves were within their territorial jurisdiction. The last two Vakatakas were served by two Brahmin ministers Hastibhoja and Varahadeva.

They contributed to the art of Ajanta. It is evident from the facts that one of the Vakataka rulers wrote a Sanskrit (Prakrit) work and that some of their inscriptions are written in polished Sanskrit, that they competed with the imperial Guptas in spreading classical Sanskrit culture. The art of Ajanta was to some extent inspired by the Guptas and this influence was certainly transmitted through the Vakatakas.

The basim branch

It may be noticed that there was a collateral branch of the Vakataka dynasty ruling at Basim since the days of Rudrasena II. The first ruler there was Sarvasena, the son of Pravarasena I. His son Vindhyasena or Vindyasakti consolidated his position on southern Maharashtra. His son was Pravarasena II who ruled for fifteen years and died leaving behind a minor son eight years old.

His son Devasena did not care for the government of the kingdom but left it for his ministers to manage. His successor was Harisena who ruled for 35 years from 480 to 515. He may be considered to be the most powerful king among the Vakatakas. After him the dynasty declined. The decline continued till 550 when the Chalukyas of Vatapi destroyed its power.