Yadavas Dynasty

Yadavas, also known as the Seuna dynasty, held sway over a vast realm extending from the Tungabhadra to the Narmada rivers during the 12th and 13th centuries. Their dominion encompassed present-day Maharashtra, northern Karnataka, and parts of Madhya Pradesh, with Devagiri (now Daulatabad) serving as their capital. Initially serving as vassals to the Western Chalukyas, the Yadavas asserted their autonomy as Chalukya influence waned in the mid-12th century, led by the assertive king Bhillama V.

Background

The earliest historical ruler of the Seuna/Yadava dynasty can be traced back to the mid-9th century but little is known about their early history, their 12th-century court poet Hemadri records the names of the family’s early rulers.
The territory of the early Yadava rulers was in present-day Maharashtra, and several scholars have claimed that the dynasty had a “Maratha” origin.
During this time, the Marathi language emerged as the dominant language in the dynasty’s inscriptions.
Prior to this, the primary languages of their inscriptions were Kannada and Sanskrit.
Hemadri’s traditional genealogy of the Yadavas traces their descent from Visnu, the Creator and Yadu were his later descendants.
The dynasty’s first historically attested ruler is Dridhaprahara (860-880 AD), who is credited with founding the city of Chandradityapura (modern Chandor).
He was a feudatory of Chalukyas. Bhillama ( 1175-1191 CE) was the first sovereign ruler of the Yadava dynasty in the Deccan region.
Bhillama forced Ballala to retreat around 1187, conquered the former Chalukya capital Kalyani, and declared himself a sovereign ruler.
He then founded the city of Devagiri, which became the new Yadava capital.

Rulers of Yadavas Dynasty

Bhillama (1175-1191 CE):

Bhillama, the first sovereign ruler of India’s Yadava (Seuna) dynasty in the Deccan region, ascended to the Yadava throne around 1175 CE, deposing his uncle’s descendants and a usurper.
Initially, he ruled as a nominal vassal of the Chalukyas of Kalyani, engaging in raids on Gujarat’s Chalukya and Paramara territories.
Around 1187 CE, after the decline of Chalukya power, Bhillama declared sovereignty and contested with the Hoysala king Ballala II for control of former Chalukya territory in Karnataka.
Bhillama defeated Ballala at Soratur in 1189 CE but was later defeated by him in a subsequent battle.
In 1190, he took over the Chalukya capital of Kalyani and established Devagiri (now Daulatabad) as the Yadava dynasty’s capital.
Referred to as “Chakravartin Yadava” in the Mutugi inscription from 1189-90 CE, Bhillama patronized the scholar Bhaskara.

Singhana II (1200-1246 AD):

Singhana II, born in Sinnar in 1186, became the most powerful ruler of the Yadavas.
Crowned as heir in 1200, Singhana II conquered Hoysala territories in 1210, reaching the pinnacle of the Yadava empire during his reign.
He successfully defeated rivals such as the Hoysalas, Kakatiyas, Paramaras, and Chalukyas, establishing Deccan dominance.
Sarangadeva, the author of Sangita Ratnakar, served in Singhana II’s court, contributing significantly to Hindustani and Classical music.
Astrologers Cangadeva and Anantadeva flourished in Singhana’s court.

Raja Ramchandrahbl (1291-1309 AD):

Ramachandra, son of Yadava ruler Krishna, seized the throne around 1270 CE after a coup in Devagiri.
Engaging in battles with Hindu neighbors like the Paramaras, Hoysalas, Vaghelas, and Kakatiyas, Ramachandra expanded his empire.
In 1296 AD, he faced a Muslim invasion from the Delhi Sultanate and agreed to pay an annual tribute to Alauddin Khalji.
In 1308 AD, Malik Kafur, leading Alauddin Khalji’s force, overpowered Ramachandra’s army, resulting in his imprisonment in Delhi.
Ramachandra, a devoted Shiva worshipper, anointed eight Shiva images “with the milk of his glory.”

Administration

The administration of the Yadava Dynasty was similar to that of the other Deccan kingdoms.
The monarchy served as the main governmental structure for the Yadava dynasty.
Feudatories were also an extremely common addition to this.
Under the Yadava dynasty, effective military commanders, known as nayakas, were selected to head the provinces.
A number of ministers were in charge of the kingdom’s numerous divisions.
The lowest administrative unit was the village, which was run by the local panchayat under a headman.
The brahmadeya system was still in place, and the temples had some influence over politics and the economy.

Economy

The Yadava economy featured an intricate system of taxes, with Aruvana being the term used for the tax imposed on farmland.

Market tax income was referred to as santhey-aya, reflecting the comprehensive taxation structure in place during that time.
Various professions, including carpenters, blacksmiths, cobblers, and washermen, were subject to professional taxes known as bannige.
Talevana may have been a personal tax imposed at specific locations or times, adding a nuanced dimension to the taxation system.
The primary tax collector, known as Sunkadhikari, held the crucial responsibility of collecting taxes from subordinates and remitting them to the state treasury.
The title Mahabhandari designated the official in charge of the royal treasury, underscoring the importance of financial management in the Yadava administration.
Settis and vyavaharas referred to individuals engaged in trade and business, highlighting the diverse economic activities within the Yadava society.
Merchants in various goods were categorized, with names like gatrigas or hannavanigas (dealers in betel leaves and nuts) and teligas (dealers in oil), showcasing the specialization in trade.
The Virabalanja, headquartered in Aihole with branches in significant cities across South India, stood out as the most powerful trading organization, contributing to the economic prowess of the Yadava civilization.

Culture

The Yadava kings supported religion and literature with open arms. Let’s discuss religion, culture and architecture in detail.

Religion

Jainism continued to enjoy royal support even during the decline of Buddhism, although the emergence of the Virasaiva sect had some impact on the standing of the Jainas.
In the Seuna nation, the Mahanubhavas, followers of Hindu god Krishna, emerged as a new religious sect. While traditionally credited to god Dattatreya, the Mahanubhava sect was officially founded by Chakradhara in 1273 after attaining self-realization. The Bhakti movement associated with Sri Vitthala or Panduranga gained prominence in the Deccan by the late 13th century.

Literature

The Yadava dynasty played a pivotal role in the growth of Sanskrit literature. Bhaskaracharya, a renowned mathematician and astronomer, contributed significantly, with his notable works including Siddhanta Siromani (1150) and Karanakutuhala.
Sarangadeva, residing in Simhana’s palace, composed the famous musical piece Sangitaratnakara. Hemadri, a prolific writer from the Yadava Dynasty, wrote extensively on Dharmasastra, with his Chaturvarga Chintamani being a significant compilation of rituals and religious customs.
The Seuna period marked a crucial era in Marathi literature. Mukundaraja’s Vivekasindhu, the first existing book in Marathi, explains the Advaita school of thought. Jnanesvari stands out as the most significant piece of Marathi literature. Saint poets like Namadeva and Muktabai enriched Marathi literature with devotional songs.
Sisupalavadha by Bhanubhata, Rukminisvayamvara by Narendrapandita, Nalopakhyana by Nrisimhakesari, and Lilacharita by Mahendra are noteworthy literary works, primarily focusing on religious matters.

Architecture

Located in Nashik, Maharashtra, the Gondeshwar Temple showcases a panchayatana design. The main shrine honors Shiva, while four subsidiary shrines pay homage to Surya, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha. This Hindu temple is a testament to the architectural richness of the region.

Conclusion

The Yadava Dynasty in India did not actively pursue the invasion of Dwaraka or establish political and cultural ties with the city. Instead, as they gained political prominence, the rulers of the Yadava dynasty asserted their lineage from Yadu and presented themselves as immigrants from Dwaraka. Their claim of affiliation with the city seems to be more rooted in their assertion of descent from Yadu rather than an accurate reflection of their actual place of origin.