The Yadaavaas (12th To 13th Century)

The Tungabhadra to the Narmada Rivers were the boundaries of the Yadava or Seuna dynasty's realm, which included modern-day Maharashtra, north Karnataka, and portions of Madhya Pradesh. Initially serving as Western Chalukya feudatories, they later proclaimed their independence and established an independent state. Up to the beginning of the 14th century, when the Delhi Sultanate seized it, the Yadava kingdom was thriving. Simhana II's era marked the apex of Yadava power. Marathi developed became the primary language of the area during their rule, and they made substantial contributions to cultural activities. 

 

•    The Seuna/Yadava dynasty's earliest known monarch dates to the middle of the ninth century, but nothing is known about their early history; court poet Hemadri, who lived in the 12th century, preserves the names of the family's early kings.

 

•    Early Yadava kings ruled across what is now Maharashtra, and numerous academics have asserted that the dynasty was "Maratha" in origin.

 

•    Marathi started to take over as the primary language used in the dynasty's inscriptions during this time. Prior to this, Kannada and Sanskrit were the main languages used in their inscriptions.

 

•    According to Hemadri's ancient genealogy, the Yadavas are descended from Visnu, the Creator, and Yadu was one of his later offspring.

 

•    Dridhaprahara (860-880 AD), who is credited with constructing Chandradityapura (modern Chandor), is the dynasty's first historically documented king. He was a Chalukya feudatory.

 

•    The Yadava dynasty's first independent king in the Deccan was Bhillama (1175–1191 CE).

 

•    Around 1187, Bhillama forced Ballala to flee, took control of the old Chalukya city Kalyani, and anointed himself as the supreme monarch.

 

•    Devagiri, which he later founded, rose to prominence as the new Yadava capital.

 

•    The first independent king of India's Yadava (Seuna) dynasty in the Deccan was Bhillama (1175–1191 CE).

 

•    At first, he governed as the Chalukyas of Kalyani's nominal vassal. He declared independence soon after the Chalukya Empire was overthrown in 1187 CE and engaged in conflict with Hoysala king Ballala II over control of the erstwhile Chalukya realm in modern-day Karnataka.

 

•    Around 1189 CE, he overcame Ballala in a combat at Soratur, but Ballala triumphed over him two years later.

 

•    He seized control of the Chalukya city of Kalyani in 1190 and erected Devagiri (now Daulatabad) as the seat of the Yadava dynasty.

 

•    In the Mutugi inscription from 1189–1190 CE (1111 Shaka) records, Bhillama was referred to as "Chakravartin Yadava".

 

•    Of all the Yadava kings, Singhana II (1200–1246 AD) possessed the greatest power.

 

•    The Yadava Empire reached its height under his rule. None of the Hoysalas, Kakatiyas, Paramaras, Calukyas, or Kakatiyas ventured to oppose his Deccan rule.

 

•    Sangita Ratnakar's author, Sarangadeva, was an accountant in Singhana II's court.

 

•    In Sinhana's court, two renowned astrologers flourished: Cangadeva (who founded an astrological college) and Anantadeva (who published commentary on Brahmagupta's Brahmasphutasiddhanta and Varahamihira's Brhajjataka).

 

•    Ramachandra, the son of Yadava king Krishna, ruled from 1291 until 1309 AD.

 

•    Around 1270 CE, he staged a coup at the capital city of Devagiri and took his cousin Ammana's throne to become the new ruler.

 

•    He expanded his dominion by waging war against the Hindu Paramara, Hoysala, Vaghela, and Kakatiya dynasties.

 

•    In 1296 AD, when the Delhi Sultanate launched an attack on him, he retaliated by offering to give Alauddin Khalji an annual tribute in exchange for peace.

 

•    Alauddin Khalji sent a troop to Ramachandra in the year 1308 AD, under the command of his general Malik Kafur. Ramchandra was captured in Delhi by Kafur's army, which had defeated Ramchandra's.

 

•    Hereditary monarchy served as the system of government.

 

•    Yadavas had a powerful bureaucracy in place to assist the government.

 

•    Prior to issue any land charters, the king used to consult his ministers.

 

•    Ancient political theorists viewed the Ministry or a council of advisers as a key organ of the state, despite the king being the most significant member of the political body.

 

•    With 5 or 7 members at times, the Yadavas' ministry seems to be smaller.

 

•    Mahapradhana was a strong minister who oversaw frequently a province or even a district.

 

•    Rajaguru was probably the king's preceptor, advising him on questions of faith.

 

•    The minister in charge of the treasury was named Lakshmipati.

 

•    Among the other royal officers of the court are Mudraprabhu, the officer in charge of seals, Kusumarachanadhyaksha, the superintendent of flower arrangements, the commander of hill forts, and the royal hunter.

 

•    The Gondeshwar temple is a Hindu temple that was built between the 11th and 12th centuries in Sinnar, Maharashtra, India.

 

•    It has a Panchayatana plan, with the primary temple dedicated to Shiva and four auxiliary temples to Surya, Vishnu, Parvati, and Ganesha.

 

•    Although no precise dates have been discovered, the Gondeshwar temple is believed to have been built in the 11th or 12th centuries during the reign of the Yadava dynasty.

 

•    The Yadava dynasty was in power when Devagiri Fort was constructed. It is regarded as one of India's strongest forts.

 

•    The Yadavas were the first important Indian kingdom to declare Marathi as its official tongue.

 

•    A Yadava court minister named Hemadri worked to formalize Marathi using Sanskrit terminology to enhance its standing as a court language.

 

•    Dnyaneshwari is a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita written in the Marathi language by the revered poet Dnyaneshwar.

 

•    Kannada was the Yadavas' court language in addition to Marathi until the late Seuna period, as shown by a number of Kannada inscriptions.

 

•    Shrangadeva authored the renowned Sanskrit book Sangita Ratnakara, which is about Indian music, during Simhana's rule. It is regarded as the original book on music.

 

•    Hemadri compiled the comprehensive Sanskrit work Chaturvarga Chintamani. Hemadapanti style, which bears his name, is thought to have been used in the construction of numerous temples.

 

•    He encouraged the production of bajra and authored various books on vaidhyakshastra (medical science).

 

•    Ramachandra was the last notable ruler.

 

•    After Alauddin Khalji's attacks, Ramchandra weakened, and in 1308 A.D., Alauddin Khalji sent a force to Ramachandra under the command of his general Malik Kafur.

 

•    Ramachandra was taken to Delhi by Malik Kafur's army, which had defeated the Yadava prince's force.

 

•    Ramachandra was reinstated as a vassal in Devagiri because Ramachandra had earned the favour of Alauddin in Delhi.

 

•    His son, Simhana III (Shankaradeva), was put to death after failing in his attempt to overthrow Alauddin Khalji.

 

•    This brought an end to the Yadava dynasty. 

 

Following the decline of the Chalukyas of Kalyani, the Yadavs, who were feudatories of the Western Chalukyas, gained prominence in the final quarter of the twelfth century. The Yadava dynasty's greatest king was Singhana II. They had a monarchical system of government. The king or monarch held absolute authority. They laid the groundwork for Marathi culture, and Maharashtra's social life developed in distinctive ways throughout their rule. Along with various forms of art, literature was also created under the reign of Yadava. But Alauddin Khalji's series of assaults ultimately brought to the destruction of this realm.