Ancient History of Kashmir

Kalhana was the first historian who wrote about Kashmir in his book Rajatarangini during 1148-1150 AD. It is earliest source on Kashmir that can be labelled as a reliable 'historical text'. According to Rajatarangini, Kashmir had been ruled by various kings and remained a home to many dynasties which are 

Gonanda Empire

🔺️According to Rajatarangini, Gonanda I was the first ruler of Kashmir in 3000 BC. . He was a relative of Raja Jarasandh and fought in Mahabharat war for Jarasandh against Krishna and was killed by Balrama (elder brother of Krishna).

🔻His son Damodar succeeded the throne after him. Damodar died in battle with Krishna and his son Gonanda II ascended the throne. After him, the Pandavas ruled in Kashmir.

🟩Pandavas Empire

⚫ Kashmir was ruled by Pandavas for a short period. After Gonanda-II, 35 Pandav kings ruled the valley. Harandev, son of Parikshit andgrandson of Arjuna was the first Pandava king. who ruled over Kashmir.

⭕The Pandava rule is believed to end with the occurrence of a powerful earthquake that submerged the ancient city of Sandimat Nagar with the submergence of Sandimar Nagar, the place became hollow and lake Wular was created at that place. 

Achaemenid Empire (600-400Bc)

🟢Rajatarangini, the book on Kashmir's history, details about the rule of Achaemenid Empire in Kashmir. According to this book, Kashmir came under the rule of Achaemenians of Persia and ruled by King Cyrus from 600-400 BC.

🟠After Cyrus, the next king to rule was Darius. He extended upto Punjab region. After that, Achaemenid Empire started loosing its control over Kashmir.

⚫ Areas around river Indus, north-western parts of Indian sub-continent upto Hindukush and Gandhara were ruled by Achaemenid kings of Persia.

⭕ It is probable that during Alexanders' invasion in India in 326 BC, Achaemenians had lost Kashmir as it was ruled by King Abhisara.

Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC)

🟩Kashmir became the part of Mauryan Empire

 To preach Buddhism, he appointed Buddhist Gonanda ) missionaries Majjhantika and Urvasa in Kashmir.

🔴After the death of Ashoka, his son Jaluka became the king who defeated the Malecchas and restored peace in the region.

🟪The Malecchas were the people of Indo-Greek tribes. After defeating them, Jaluka restored peace in the region.

🟣He was succeeded by his son Damodar II who was a Shaivite (devotee of Shiva).

✳According to many scholars, after Damodar II the Kashmir region was ruled by Indo-Greek kings for a period of 200 years before Kushan Dynasty.

Kushan (Turushka) Dynasty(30 BC-178 AD)

⚫ This dynasty was ruled by three Kushana rulers. According to Kalhana's account, these three rulers were Kanishka, Hushka and Jushka.

🔴Kanishka (127-150 CE) established many Temples and Viharas (monasteries) in Kashmir.

🔵According to historians, the 4th Buddhist Council was held by Kanishka at Kundalvana (Harwan) in Kashmir.

🟢In this Council, Buddhism was divided into 2 Sects i.e. Mahayana and Hinayana.

⭕Kashmir became a seat of learning for Buddhism as well as Hinduism. Buddhism was spread to Tibet, China and other parts of India by the Kashmiri Buddhist missionaries.

🟤Important Kashmiri Buddhist missionaries were Kumarjiva, Yasa, Gautam Sangha, Dharamputra, Shyama Bhata, etc.

🟦Jushka, the last ruler of this dynasty ruled till 178 AD. 

 

🟢After Kushan, the Gonanda family again started ruling Kashmir.

Gonanda Empire 

🟡After the downfall of Kushan or Turushka dynasty, the Gonandas who ruled Kashmir earlier, regained their power.

🟣 One of the Gonanda King, Abhimanyu I shifted his capital from Kashmir to Rajouri during winters.

🔵Some other rulers of this empire were Gonanda III and Vibhishin 1.

Huns Empire (500-600 AD)

🔶️During 5th and early 6th century, Hephthalites Huns (Central Asian people) also known as White Huns conquered Northern and Central India including Kashmir. The White Huns governed Kashmir for nearly 100 years.

🔷️Mihirakula (502-530 CE) was a Hun invader who wanted to conquer all of North India but was defeated by Yasodharman (ruler of Malwa) in Malwa

🔲After his defeat, he moved to Kashmir and conquered Gandhar where he destroyed many shrines and committed atrocities.

🔳He favoured Shaivism and constructed Shiva Shrine near Srinagar. After Mihirkula's death, the influence of Huns declined.

💠Other rulers of this dynasty were Baka, Naka, Aksha. Gopaditya. Gokarna, Gopalditya and Yudisthira.

◽Alsha founded the town of Achhabal.

 ⭕Yudhisthira was the last Hun ruler who was forced to flee from Kashmir. The land was then taken over by Ujjain rulers.

Vikramaditya's Empire

🔴Kashmir came under the Ujjain rulers after Huns for a brief period. Pratapaditya, relative of the grear King Vikramaditya of Ujjain became the next ruler of Kashmir. He was succeeded by kings from his lineage.

🟠Samdhimati was the last ruler of Vikramaditya's lineage to rule over Kashmir. He renounced his kingdom and devoted himself to the promotion of Shaivism. He assumed the title of Aryaraja.

🟡Samdhimati voluntarily quit the throne of Kashmir in favour of Meghavahana and became a monk.

Gonanda Dynasty

🟫The Gonanda dynasty in Kashmir that ruled during the 2-5 century AD, emerged again after the downfall of Ujjain rulers in Kashmir.

🟪An important ruler was Meghavahana (grandson of Yudhisthira) who was a firm believer of Buddhism and Ahimsa (non-violence). He prohibited the hunting and slaughtering of animals for sacrifices and rituals

🟦Meghvahana's chief queen was Amrit Prabha who built Amrit Bhawan Vihar'.

🟩 After Meghvahana, the throne of Kashmir was again taken by King Vikramaditya of Ujjain. He maintained peace in the region. After ruling for 5 years, he gave the throne to his son Praversena-II.

🟨 Praversena - II was an able ruler and he extended the state boundaries till Saurashtra. He built his capital at Pravarsenpura (modern city of Srinagar).

. 🟧After ruling successfully for 60 years. Praversena-II was succeded by Yudhistra-II. Ranaditya and Baladitya

 🟥Baladitya was the last ruler of this dynasty. He married his daughter to Durlabhvardhana and passed the throne into his hands who then founded the Korkota dynasty,

Karkota Dynasty (598-800 AD) 

⭕This dynasty was founded by Durlabhvardhana in 598 AD.

⭕During the reign of Durlabhvardhana, Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang visited Kashmir and stayed there for nearly 2 years (1629-1631 AD) and studied Sanskrit and Hindu scriptures.

⭕Pratapaditya, son of Durlabhavardhana founded the town of Partapapura, now called Tapar, He was succeeded by his three sons.

🟢They were Chandrapida (711-719 AD), Tarapida (720-724 AD) and Lalitaditya Muktapida (724-760 AD).

⚪The greatest ruler of Karkota dynasty was Lalitaditya Muktapida (724-760 AD).

🟤He was known as Samudragupta of Kashmir who conquered many regions in Asia and India i.e. Punjab, Kannauj, Tibet, Ladakh, Badakshan, Iran, Bihar, Gauda (Bengal), Kalinga (Odisha), South India, Gujarat, Malwa, Marwar and Sindh. He also reduced the power of Arabs in Sindh.

🟢He built the famous Sun Temple at Martand and Parihaspur (City of Pleasure).

🟣He gave patronage to Bhavbhuti, Vakpatiraja, Udhata, Bhata, Damodhar Gupta and others. many

🔵Lalitaditya's grandson, Jayapida was also a capable ruler. He built the City of Jayapura and Andarkot Fort. After Jayapida, Karkota dynasty declined.