Nagavamsa Kshatriyas played vital role in the Indian history. They claim to belong to the Nagavamsa, (i.e) Naga (Cobra) race and the Kasyapa Gotra. Several records of them reveals about their exact history and also paved the way to identify about their community to which they belonged. They claim that, they belongs to "Agni Kula Kshatriyas" (i.e) "Vanniya Kula Kshatriyas".
Nagavamsi Kshatriyas had more branches such as "Bastar Chhindaka Family", "Sindha Family of Yelburga", "Bagaklot Branch" etc. They used both "Nagari" and "Telugu" characters as their languages.
Narayanpal stone inscription (1111 A.D) of queen "Gunda Mahadevi", the mother of "King Somesvaradeva", records the grant of village Narayanapura to the god Narayana and the god Lokesvara. Narayanpal is a village 23 miles north-west of Jagdalpur the capital of the Bastar feudatory state attached to the Chattisgarh Division of the central provinces. It is situated on the river bank Indravathi, one of those minor rivers of India.
The donor was "Gunda Mahadevi", the chief queen of the "Maharaja Dharavarsha", the mother of the "King Somesvaradeva" and grandmother of "King Kanharadeva", who was then ruling after the death of his father. The chief queen "Gunda Mahadevi" granted the village Narayanapura during her grandson's reign in the year 1111 A.D.
The dynasty claims to be "Nagavamsi of Kasyapa Gotra" and to have a tiger with a calf as their crest and to be the "Lords of Bhogavati", the best of cities. Bastar Nagavamsi Kings were closely associated with the Sindha Family of Yelburga. The birudas of the two families are strikingly similar. The Sindas also claims to be "Nagavamsodbhava", born of the race of the Naga (Cobra) and the "Lord of Bhogavati". The Narayanpal stone inscription states as follows :-
"(Line, 1 - 6), Hail - The Patta Mahadevi of the Maharaja Dharavarsha Deva, who was born of the Nagavamsa, resplendent with the mass of rays of thousand hood jewels ; who was the lord of Bhogavati, the best of towns ; whose crest was a tiger with a calf ; who was of the Kasyapa Gotra". (Epigraphia Indica, Vol - IX, page - 315).
"(Line, 12 - 17), After the Maharaja Somesvaradeva, who was known as her son ; who was born of the Nagavamsa, resplendent with the mass of rays of thousand hood jewels ; who was the lord of Bhogavati, the best of town ; whose crest was a tiger with a calf ; who was of the Kasyapa Gotra". (Epigraphia Indica, Vol - IX, page - 316).
The Rajapura copper plate of the King Madhurantaka Deva mentions about the village Rajapura, which was granted by him in the year 1065 A.D. The Rajapura village is still now situated in Jagdalpur, the capital of Bastar, on the bank of the Indravati River. The copper plate mentions the name "Madhurantakadeva", "Prince Kanharadeva", "Queen Nagala Mahadevi", "Prince Nayaka", "Nayaka Sudraka", "Prince Tungaraja" and "Sreshthin Puliama". The copper plate (1065 A.D) further specifies that, the King Madhurantaka Deva belonged to the Chhindaka Family of the Naga (Cobra) race. Therefore, the Bastar Nagavamsi Kings belongs to Chhindaka Family.
The King Madhurantaka Deva's, Chhindaka Family is one among the 36 Agni Kulas mentioned by Chand Bardai, the Court Poet of King Prithviraja. (Prithviraja Raso, Canto 1, Page-54, Nagari Pracharini Granthamala Series).
Therefore, it is very clear that, the Nagavamsi Kshatriyas hails from "Agni Kula Kshatriyas Community" (i.e) "Vanniya Kula Kshatriya Community".
Another stone inscription is situated in Sunarpal, which is 10 miles of Narayanpal. The inscription states about the gift made by "Mahadevi", the chief queen of the "King Jayasimhadeva" of the Naga (Cobra) Race, the supreme Lord of Bhogavati, having the tiger with a calf as crest (symbol). The king is called "Rajadhiraja Maharaja Sri Jayasimhadeva".
Barsur inscription (1108 A.D) of "Ganga Mahadevi", the chief queen of "Nagavamsi Kshatriya King Somesvaradeva", is now in the Nagpur Museum. The inscription in the Telugu character and the language is also in Telugu prose. The titles of the King is mentioned in Sanskrit, which is almost same as Narayanpal Sanskrit inscription. The inscription records the gift of a village to two siva temples, which was built by the chief queen Ganga Mahadevi.
The Dantesvari Gudi Telugu inscription (1218 A.D), of the Nagavamsi King Narasimhadeva states that, "Maharaja Narasimadeva", the ornament of the race of the best of serpents was ruling. (Sri - bhujaga - vara - bhushana - Maharajul = aina Sriman - Narasimhadeva - Maharajula Rajyamu).
The Nagavamsi Kshatriya King's origin is from Andhra Pradesh is well established with the help of inscriptions. They belong to "Agni Kula Kshatriya Community" (i.e) "Vanniya Kula Kshatriya Community". Several branches of the Nagavamsa Kshatriyas ruled many parts of the present Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh.
Ramtak in the Nagpur District, five miles from this place there is a village called Nagardhan, which was known as Nandivardhana in olden times, and local traditions assert that the surrounding country was ruled from that place by Kshatriya Rajas.
The "PALEWARS", the "Agni Kula Kshatriya Pallis" are still living in Nandivardhan (Nagardhan) from ancient times. They had migrated from Andhra Pradesh to Nandivardhan (Nagardhan) during the period of Agni Kula Kshatriya Kings such as "Nagavamsa Kshatriyas" and "Vakatakas".
The Nagavamsa Kshatriya Kings were also mentioned in the sangam age Tamil Literature. The "Perumpaanaatrupadai" (2nd century B.C) mentions about the king, "Tondaimaan Ilantiraiyan", who born to Cholas and Naga Princess. The Tamil Language term, "Tondaiman" and "Kadavas" clearly denotes to Pallava Kings.
Similarly, another ancient Tamil Literature, the "Manimegalai" speaks about the relationship between Nagas and Cholas. The early Pallavas had the matrimonial affairs with the "Chutu Nagas" of Andhra Pradesh. The Pallava King Sivaskanda Varman was called as "Siva Skanda Naga Sri" in the Banavase inscription (Contribution of South Indian to Indian culture, page - 13, S.K. Ayengar). The saint "Thirumangai Azhwar" of 8-9 th century A.D. states that, the Pallava Kings had the "Serpent - Banner" :-
"தேம்பொழில் குன்றையில் தென்னவனைத்
திசைப்பதிச் செருமேல் வியந்து அன்று சென்ற
பாம்புடைப் பல்லவர்கோன் பணிந்த
பரமேச்சுர விண்ணகரம் அதுவே"
The Pallavas (Kadavas) are "Vanniya Kula Kshatriyas" (i.e) "Agni Kula Kshatriyas". The Kadavas mentioned in the Cholas inscriptions as "Pallis" (Vanniyas) by caste. They had very close matrimonial affairs with the Cholas.
The Vanniya Kula Kshatriyas still have the name "Nagavada Palli" in the Dharmapuri Region of Tamil Nadu. The Vanniya Kula Kshatriya Royal Kings of Udaiyar Palaiyam Zamin clearly mentioned in their Genealogical tree that, the "Zamin Family of Udaiyar Palaiyam of Bargava Gotram in Ganganooja Family that took its origin from Vanniya Kulam (the family of the God of Fire)". This proves that, the "Fire Race of Kings" existed through out India.
The pride history of "Nagavamsi Kshatriyas" reveals that, they not only ruled the "Tamil Nadu" and "Andhra Pradesh" but also ruled the parts of "Maharashtra" and "Chattisgarh". The name "Nagpur" might have derived from the term "Nagavamsi Kshatiyas". Moreover, the "Agni Kulas" not only to "Southern India" but also to "Northern India". They all are comes under the clans of Kshatriyas (i.e) the family of the God of Fire.
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Thanks:N.Murali Naicker
Nagavamsi Kshatriyas had more branches such as "Bastar Chhindaka Family", "Sindha Family of Yelburga", "Bagaklot Branch" etc. They used both "Nagari" and "Telugu" characters as their languages.
Narayanpal stone inscription (1111 A.D) of queen "Gunda Mahadevi", the mother of "King Somesvaradeva", records the grant of village Narayanapura to the god Narayana and the god Lokesvara. Narayanpal is a village 23 miles north-west of Jagdalpur the capital of the Bastar feudatory state attached to the Chattisgarh Division of the central provinces. It is situated on the river bank Indravathi, one of those minor rivers of India.
The donor was "Gunda Mahadevi", the chief queen of the "Maharaja Dharavarsha", the mother of the "King Somesvaradeva" and grandmother of "King Kanharadeva", who was then ruling after the death of his father. The chief queen "Gunda Mahadevi" granted the village Narayanapura during her grandson's reign in the year 1111 A.D.
The dynasty claims to be "Nagavamsi of Kasyapa Gotra" and to have a tiger with a calf as their crest and to be the "Lords of Bhogavati", the best of cities. Bastar Nagavamsi Kings were closely associated with the Sindha Family of Yelburga. The birudas of the two families are strikingly similar. The Sindas also claims to be "Nagavamsodbhava", born of the race of the Naga (Cobra) and the "Lord of Bhogavati". The Narayanpal stone inscription states as follows :-
"(Line, 1 - 6), Hail - The Patta Mahadevi of the Maharaja Dharavarsha Deva, who was born of the Nagavamsa, resplendent with the mass of rays of thousand hood jewels ; who was the lord of Bhogavati, the best of towns ; whose crest was a tiger with a calf ; who was of the Kasyapa Gotra". (Epigraphia Indica, Vol - IX, page - 315).
"(Line, 12 - 17), After the Maharaja Somesvaradeva, who was known as her son ; who was born of the Nagavamsa, resplendent with the mass of rays of thousand hood jewels ; who was the lord of Bhogavati, the best of town ; whose crest was a tiger with a calf ; who was of the Kasyapa Gotra". (Epigraphia Indica, Vol - IX, page - 316).
The Rajapura copper plate of the King Madhurantaka Deva mentions about the village Rajapura, which was granted by him in the year 1065 A.D. The Rajapura village is still now situated in Jagdalpur, the capital of Bastar, on the bank of the Indravati River. The copper plate mentions the name "Madhurantakadeva", "Prince Kanharadeva", "Queen Nagala Mahadevi", "Prince Nayaka", "Nayaka Sudraka", "Prince Tungaraja" and "Sreshthin Puliama". The copper plate (1065 A.D) further specifies that, the King Madhurantaka Deva belonged to the Chhindaka Family of the Naga (Cobra) race. Therefore, the Bastar Nagavamsi Kings belongs to Chhindaka Family.
The King Madhurantaka Deva's, Chhindaka Family is one among the 36 Agni Kulas mentioned by Chand Bardai, the Court Poet of King Prithviraja. (Prithviraja Raso, Canto 1, Page-54, Nagari Pracharini Granthamala Series).
Therefore, it is very clear that, the Nagavamsi Kshatriyas hails from "Agni Kula Kshatriyas Community" (i.e) "Vanniya Kula Kshatriya Community".
Another stone inscription is situated in Sunarpal, which is 10 miles of Narayanpal. The inscription states about the gift made by "Mahadevi", the chief queen of the "King Jayasimhadeva" of the Naga (Cobra) Race, the supreme Lord of Bhogavati, having the tiger with a calf as crest (symbol). The king is called "Rajadhiraja Maharaja Sri Jayasimhadeva".
Barsur inscription (1108 A.D) of "Ganga Mahadevi", the chief queen of "Nagavamsi Kshatriya King Somesvaradeva", is now in the Nagpur Museum. The inscription in the Telugu character and the language is also in Telugu prose. The titles of the King is mentioned in Sanskrit, which is almost same as Narayanpal Sanskrit inscription. The inscription records the gift of a village to two siva temples, which was built by the chief queen Ganga Mahadevi.
The Dantesvari Gudi Telugu inscription (1218 A.D), of the Nagavamsi King Narasimhadeva states that, "Maharaja Narasimadeva", the ornament of the race of the best of serpents was ruling. (Sri - bhujaga - vara - bhushana - Maharajul = aina Sriman - Narasimhadeva - Maharajula Rajyamu).
The Nagavamsi Kshatriya King's origin is from Andhra Pradesh is well established with the help of inscriptions. They belong to "Agni Kula Kshatriya Community" (i.e) "Vanniya Kula Kshatriya Community". Several branches of the Nagavamsa Kshatriyas ruled many parts of the present Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chattisgarh.
Ramtak in the Nagpur District, five miles from this place there is a village called Nagardhan, which was known as Nandivardhana in olden times, and local traditions assert that the surrounding country was ruled from that place by Kshatriya Rajas.
The "PALEWARS", the "Agni Kula Kshatriya Pallis" are still living in Nandivardhan (Nagardhan) from ancient times. They had migrated from Andhra Pradesh to Nandivardhan (Nagardhan) during the period of Agni Kula Kshatriya Kings such as "Nagavamsa Kshatriyas" and "Vakatakas".
The Nagavamsa Kshatriya Kings were also mentioned in the sangam age Tamil Literature. The "Perumpaanaatrupadai" (2nd century B.C) mentions about the king, "Tondaimaan Ilantiraiyan", who born to Cholas and Naga Princess. The Tamil Language term, "Tondaiman" and "Kadavas" clearly denotes to Pallava Kings.
Similarly, another ancient Tamil Literature, the "Manimegalai" speaks about the relationship between Nagas and Cholas. The early Pallavas had the matrimonial affairs with the "Chutu Nagas" of Andhra Pradesh. The Pallava King Sivaskanda Varman was called as "Siva Skanda Naga Sri" in the Banavase inscription (Contribution of South Indian to Indian culture, page - 13, S.K. Ayengar). The saint "Thirumangai Azhwar" of 8-9 th century A.D. states that, the Pallava Kings had the "Serpent - Banner" :-
"தேம்பொழில் குன்றையில் தென்னவனைத்
திசைப்பதிச் செருமேல் வியந்து அன்று சென்ற
பாம்புடைப் பல்லவர்கோன் பணிந்த
பரமேச்சுர விண்ணகரம் அதுவே"
The Pallavas (Kadavas) are "Vanniya Kula Kshatriyas" (i.e) "Agni Kula Kshatriyas". The Kadavas mentioned in the Cholas inscriptions as "Pallis" (Vanniyas) by caste. They had very close matrimonial affairs with the Cholas.
The Vanniya Kula Kshatriyas still have the name "Nagavada Palli" in the Dharmapuri Region of Tamil Nadu. The Vanniya Kula Kshatriya Royal Kings of Udaiyar Palaiyam Zamin clearly mentioned in their Genealogical tree that, the "Zamin Family of Udaiyar Palaiyam of Bargava Gotram in Ganganooja Family that took its origin from Vanniya Kulam (the family of the God of Fire)". This proves that, the "Fire Race of Kings" existed through out India.
The pride history of "Nagavamsi Kshatriyas" reveals that, they not only ruled the "Tamil Nadu" and "Andhra Pradesh" but also ruled the parts of "Maharashtra" and "Chattisgarh". The name "Nagpur" might have derived from the term "Nagavamsi Kshatiyas". Moreover, the "Agni Kulas" not only to "Southern India" but also to "Northern India". They all are comes under the clans of Kshatriyas (i.e) the family of the God of Fire.
----- xx ----- xx ----- xx -----
Thanks:N.Murali Naicker
