Heheya Kingdom
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In the
Haihaya clans
The Haihayas (
Foundation of Mahishmati
In the Harivamsha (33.1847), the honour of founding their future capital city of
According to the Padma Purana (VI.115), the city was actually founded by a certain Mahisha.[5]
Arjuna Kartavirya and his successors
According to the
The Vitihotras
Later, the Haihayas were mostly known by the name of the dominant clan amongst them, the Vitihotras (or Vitahotras or Vitahvyas). According to the Puranas, Vitihotra was the great-grandson of Arjuna Kartavirya and the eldest son of Talajangha. The Puranas also mention the names of two Vitihotra rulers: Ananta, son of Vitihotra and Durjaya Amitrakarshana, son of Ananta.
It is said that many of the Haihayas were learned in the Vedas.[13]
Medieval Haihayas
A number of early medieval dynasties, which include the
References in Mahabharata
Disputes with the Ikswaku Kings
The
The Haihayas and Talajanghas of Vatsa Kingdom
- (MBh 13,30)
The Haihayas and Talajanghas likely had their origins in the
Under Haryaswa's reign
In Saryati's lineage (Saryati and Ikshwaku were two among the many sons of Manu (MBh 1,75)), two kings took their birth, viz. Haihaya and Talajangha, both sons of
Under Sudeva
Meanwhile, Haryyaswa's son Sudeva was installed on the throne of Kasi as its new ruler. That righteous-souled prince ruled his kingdom for some time before the hundred sons of Vitahavya once more invaded his dominions and defeated him in battle. Having vanquished King Sudeva thus, the Haihaya victors returned to their own city.
Under Divodasa
After that Divodasa, the son of Sudeva, was next installed on the throne of Kasi. Realising the prowess of those high-souled princes, the sons of Vitahavya, King Divodasa, endued with great energy, rebuilt and fortified the city of Baranasi (Varanasi or
Divodasa's son Pratarddana retaliates
Divodasa wished for a brave son who could avenge the Vitahavyas. With his priest Bharadwaja's, blessings he obtained a son named Pratarddana, would become well skilled in battle. Divodasa installed his son on the throne of Kasi and asked him to march against the sons of Vitahavya. He speedily crossed the Ganges on his car followed by his army and proceeded against the city of the Vitahavyas. The Vitahavyas issued out of their city in their cars and poured out on Pratarddana, showered of weapons of various kinds. Pratarddana slew them all in battle. The Haihaya king Vitahavya then, all his sons and kinsmen dead, sought protection of his priest Bhrigu. Bhrigu converted him a Brahmana. Sage
Haihaya King Kartavirya Arjuna
Kartavirya Arjuna (Sahasrabahu Arjun or Sahasrarjun) is described as a noble king and a devotee of Lord Dattatreya. Endowed with a thousand arms (thought to symbolise a thousand attendants acting as his hands, executing his commands) and great beauty the mighty Kartavirya, in days of yore, became the lord of all the world. He had his capital in the city of
Other Haihaya Kings
- King Vitahavya is mentioned as the son of Vatsa (MBh 13,30)
- King Udvarta became the exterminator of his own race (MBh 5,74)
- The conversation between a Haihaya king and a sage named Tarkshya is mentioned at MBh 3,183
- As a royal sage of the Haihaya, Sumitra by name is mentioned by name at MBh 12,124. Sumitra is mentioned as the son of Mitra at MBh 12,125.
Enmity with the Bhargavas
The Haihaya tribe's dispute with
In acquiring the unrivaled "battleaxe of fiery splendour and irresistible sharpness" from
The King Arjuna, mighty lord of the Haihaya tribe, would be killed by Rama. (MBh 3,115)
Signs of a tribal war
"Even though only the leaders
Once upon a time the
Summary of the dispute
With his bow he slew 64 times 10,000 Kshatriyas. In that slaughter were included 14,000 Brahmana-hating Kshatriyas of the Dantakura country. Of the Haihayas, he slew a 1000 with his short club, a 1000 with his sword, and a 1000 by hanging. Rama slew 10,000 Kshatriyas with his axe. He could not quietly bear the furious speeches uttered by those foes of his. And when many foremost of Brahmans uttered exclamations, mentioning the name of Rama of Bhrigu’s race, he proceeding against the
Videhas, the Tamraliptakas, the Rakshovahas, the Vitahotras, the Trigartas, the Martikavatas, counting by thousand, slew them all by means of his whetted shafts. Proceeding from province to province, he thus slew thousands of scores of Haihaya-Kshatriyas. Creating a deluge of blood and filling many lakes also with blood and bringing all the 18 islands under his subjection, he performed a 100 sacrifices. (MBh 7,68)
See also
- Chedi
- Surasena (Vraja)
- Dasarna
- Karusha
- Kunti
- Avanti
- Malava
- Gurjara
- Anarta
- Saurashtra
- Dwaraka
- Vidarbha
References
- ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972) [1922]. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.87.
- ^ a b c Pargiter, F.E. (1972) [1922]. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.102.
- ^ Raychaudhuri, H.C. (1972) Political History of Ancient India, Calcutta: University of Calcutta, pp.130–1.
- ISBN 978-81-208-3394-4.
- ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972) [1922]. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp.263,263fn3.
- ^ a b c Pargiter, F.E. (1972) [1922]. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.265-7
- ISBN 81-7276-413-8, pp.157–8
- ^ Dowson, John (1984). A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology, and Religion, Geography, History. Calcutta: Rupa & Co. p. 152.
- ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972) [1922]. Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, p.229.
- ISBN 81-250-0808-X, p.299
- ISBN 978-81-208-3394-4. The ISBN printed in the book (0-8426-909-1) is invalid, causing a checksum error.
- ^ Raizada, Ajit (1992). Ujjayini (in Hindi), Bhopal: Directorate of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Madhya Pradesh, p.21
- ^ Sarmah, Thaneswar The Bharadvajas in Ancient India, p.69
- ISBN 81-250-0808-X, p.282
- ^ Rajaguru, Satyanarayan. History of the Gaṅgas, p.59
- Kisari Mohan Ganguli, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Translated into English Prose, 1883–1896.
- ISBN 81-208-0465-1