MYTHOLOGICAL HISTORY OF HIMACHAL
information about Himachals ancient history is given in epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and other scriptures like in the Vedas and the Puranas.
HIMACHAL IN MAHABHARATA
The tract which forms the present day Himachal Pradesh was made up of number of small republics known as Janapadas (small kingdoms) of Kuluta (Kullu), Trigarta
(Kangra), Kulind (Shimla hills and Sirmaur), Yugandhar (Bilaspur and Nalagarh), Gobdika (Chamba) and Audumbar (Pathankot).
One significant happening during the time of the great war of Mahabharata (1400BC) was the founding of the Katoch Monarchy of Kangra by King Susharma Chandra. This Susharma Chandra was supposed to have sided with the Kaurava brothers in their war against the Pandavas. Kangra was probably named as Bhim Kot (fort of Bhim) after Bhima, one of the Pandavas.
HIMACHAL IN RIGVEDA
The Rigveda mentions the rivers which flow through Himachal Pradesh. The text also talks about Shambar, the powerful king of these hills before the advent of the
Aryans and his 99 strong forts in the region between the Beas and the Yamuna rivers. His war with the Aryan Chief, Divo Das, lasted 12 long years, wherein the later emerged victorious.
THE MAURYAN EMPIRE
The vast Mauryan empire of old (4th to 2nd BC) extended its boundaries well into Himachal. Chandragupta's grandson. Ashoka (3rd BC), introduced Buddhism herd
and erected many stupas. One of those stupas existed in Kullu valley, which the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang (AD 630-45) talks about in his writings.
THE THAKURS AND RANAS
After the Mauryas, the land came to be ruled by petty chiefs known as Thakurs and Ranas. Their states were small in size and boundaries constantly changing due to
wars with neighbours. However, in Mandi and the adjoining areas of Suket (present day Sundernagar) and Kullu, these Ranas and Thakurs were quite powerful and retained their independence for a long time of these principalities. Trigarta (Kangra) is known to have had great administration and reached a high level of development.
It came to be regarded as the land of legendary wealth. Kuluta (Kullu) is also known to have had an organised administration under the Pal kings. Their capital was at
Jagatsukh.
THE HARSHA PERIOD
The next great king after the Mauryans to establish an empire of worth was Harshavardhana (early 7th century). Most of the small states in Himachal Pradesh
acknowledged his overall supremacy. Harsha's capital was at Thaneshwar (now in Haryana) and later at Kannauj (in Uttar Pradesh). After the break-up of his empire,
there was, once again, great political upheaval. In two successive wars with Kullu, Meru Varman (AD 700) killed the Pal kings and expanded his kingdom from the
Ravi valley to as far as the present capital. Hiuen Tsang (the Chinese traveller) reported around this time that Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi were still the
important states, though Kullu remained subject to Brahmapura for a considerable period.
THE RAJPUT PERIOD
A few decades after Harsha's death (AD 647), many Rajput states ascended in Rajasthan and Indus plains. They fought amongst themselves and the vanquished
moved to the hills with their followers, where they set-up small states or principalities. These states were Kangra, Nurpur, Mandi, Baghal, Bilaspur, Nalagarh, Dhami, Sirmaur, Keonthal, Bushahar, Kunihar, Kutlehar and Suket.
In the meantime, Harihar Chand from Bundelkhand landed in Bilaspur (circa AD 900). This marked the origin of the Kahluria clan of Rajputs. The Chands remained the ruling family of Kahlur and the credit of making it a strong state goes to Bir Chand. The Kiras, who came from Baijnath (which was also known as Kirangama or land of the Kiras) in Kangra, occupied Brahmapura for a while around AD 800, but the next Varman promptly won it back. Chamba (the present town) was made thenew capital in AD 930.
information about Himachals ancient history is given in epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana and other scriptures like in the Vedas and the Puranas.
HIMACHAL IN MAHABHARATA
The tract which forms the present day Himachal Pradesh was made up of number of small republics known as Janapadas (small kingdoms) of Kuluta (Kullu), Trigarta
(Kangra), Kulind (Shimla hills and Sirmaur), Yugandhar (Bilaspur and Nalagarh), Gobdika (Chamba) and Audumbar (Pathankot).
One significant happening during the time of the great war of Mahabharata (1400BC) was the founding of the Katoch Monarchy of Kangra by King Susharma Chandra. This Susharma Chandra was supposed to have sided with the Kaurava brothers in their war against the Pandavas. Kangra was probably named as Bhim Kot (fort of Bhim) after Bhima, one of the Pandavas.
HIMACHAL IN RIGVEDA
The Rigveda mentions the rivers which flow through Himachal Pradesh. The text also talks about Shambar, the powerful king of these hills before the advent of the
Aryans and his 99 strong forts in the region between the Beas and the Yamuna rivers. His war with the Aryan Chief, Divo Das, lasted 12 long years, wherein the later emerged victorious.
- Rulers of the ancient period are as follow
THE MAURYAN EMPIRE
The vast Mauryan empire of old (4th to 2nd BC) extended its boundaries well into Himachal. Chandragupta's grandson. Ashoka (3rd BC), introduced Buddhism herd
and erected many stupas. One of those stupas existed in Kullu valley, which the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang (AD 630-45) talks about in his writings.
THE THAKURS AND RANAS
After the Mauryas, the land came to be ruled by petty chiefs known as Thakurs and Ranas. Their states were small in size and boundaries constantly changing due to
wars with neighbours. However, in Mandi and the adjoining areas of Suket (present day Sundernagar) and Kullu, these Ranas and Thakurs were quite powerful and retained their independence for a long time of these principalities. Trigarta (Kangra) is known to have had great administration and reached a high level of development.
It came to be regarded as the land of legendary wealth. Kuluta (Kullu) is also known to have had an organised administration under the Pal kings. Their capital was at
Jagatsukh.
THE HARSHA PERIOD
The next great king after the Mauryans to establish an empire of worth was Harshavardhana (early 7th century). Most of the small states in Himachal Pradesh
acknowledged his overall supremacy. Harsha's capital was at Thaneshwar (now in Haryana) and later at Kannauj (in Uttar Pradesh). After the break-up of his empire,
there was, once again, great political upheaval. In two successive wars with Kullu, Meru Varman (AD 700) killed the Pal kings and expanded his kingdom from the
Ravi valley to as far as the present capital. Hiuen Tsang (the Chinese traveller) reported around this time that Chamba, Kangra, Kullu and Mandi were still the
important states, though Kullu remained subject to Brahmapura for a considerable period.
THE RAJPUT PERIOD
A few decades after Harsha's death (AD 647), many Rajput states ascended in Rajasthan and Indus plains. They fought amongst themselves and the vanquished
moved to the hills with their followers, where they set-up small states or principalities. These states were Kangra, Nurpur, Mandi, Baghal, Bilaspur, Nalagarh, Dhami, Sirmaur, Keonthal, Bushahar, Kunihar, Kutlehar and Suket.
In the meantime, Harihar Chand from Bundelkhand landed in Bilaspur (circa AD 900). This marked the origin of the Kahluria clan of Rajputs. The Chands remained the ruling family of Kahlur and the credit of making it a strong state goes to Bir Chand. The Kiras, who came from Baijnath (which was also known as Kirangama or land of the Kiras) in Kangra, occupied Brahmapura for a while around AD 800, but the next Varman promptly won it back. Chamba (the present town) was made thenew capital in AD 930.
Hp history , anc
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