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 KHARAVELA ( 193 BCE - 170 BCE)
• Full name - Mahameghabahana Aira Kharavela.
Popularly known as Kharavela.
• Born - 1st century BC. He ascended throne of kalinga at the age of
twenty-four.
• Kharavela belonged to Chedi dynasty. Initially this Chedi dynasty
ruled over Madhyadesha. Later this dynasty extended their
supremacy over kalinga.
• Religion – Jainism
 KHARAVELA ( 193 BCE - 170 BCE)

• After the kalinga expedition of Ashoka in 261 BC, the most

important event in Odisha was the rise of the Chedi ruler
Kharavela. Of course the gap between these two events was
quite long.

• Kharavela was the third and greatest emperor of the

Mahameghavahana dynasty of kalinga
 KHARAVELA ( 193 BCE - 170 BCE)
• The main source of information about Kharavela is his
famous 17 lines rock-cut Hatigumpha inscriptions in a cave in the
Udaigiri hills near Bhubaneswar. This inscriptions was discovered
by the famous historian Andrew Sterling in 1820 A. D.

* This inscriptions give information about the life and

achievements of Kharavela. This is inscribed in Brahmi script and
Prakriti language.
 KHARAVELA ( 193 BCE - 170 BCE)
• Besides the Hatigumpha inscription there are thirteen other
inscriptions on the Khandagiri and Udaigiri hills - discovered by
Markherm kito in 1837 AD.
 ACHIEVEMENTS OF KHARAVELA

• During the reign of Kharavela, the chedi dynasty of kalinga

ascended to eminence and restored the lost power and glory of
kalinga which had been downed since the devastating war with
Ashoka.

• Kalinga came under Magadh. Later when Pushyamitra sunga of

sunga dynasty ascended the thrown of Magadh , accepted the
suzerainty of Kharavela and became a vassal of kalinga.
 ACHIEVEMENTS OF KHARAVELA

• Pushyamitra also returned the Jina statue of Mahaveer to

Kalinga. Although religiously tolerant,but Kharavela patronized to
Jainism.

• Under Kharavela's generalship, the kalinga state had a

formidable maritime reach with trade route linking it to the then
Simhala ( Sri Lanka), Burma ( Myanmar), Siam ( Thailand) ,
Kamboja( Cambodia), Malaysia, Borneo, Bali, Samudra( Sumatra)
and Jabadwpa( Java).
Kharavela's achievements can better understand from his
first 13 years reign.

1.In the First year of his reign he Re innovated and beautified his
capital.

2.The second year of his reign was a year of military conquest. In

this year he led his military camping against the Satavahan ruler
Satakarani with his huge army of cavalry, infantry, elephantry and
chariots. But the result of the war is not mentioned in
Hatigumpha.
Kharavela's achievements can better understand from his
first 13 years reign.
3. In the third year Kharavela organised various festivals and feast
to made his subject happy.

4. In the fourth year of his reign, he conquered the territories of

Rastrikas and Bhojakas. These defeated rulers accepted the
suzerainty of Kharavela by offering him jewels and ornaments.

5. In the 5th year of reign Kharavela constructed Canals, water

tank for irrigation.
Kharavela's achievements can better understand from his
first 13 years reign.

6. In the sixth year of reign proved Kharavela's benevolence by

remitting taxes of the subjects of both urban and rural areas.

7. Seventh year was auspicious year for the ruler because he got
fatherhood and chedi dynasty got it's successor. His chief queen
gave birth to the successor.
Kharavela's achievements can better understand
from his first 13 years reign.

8. In the Eighth year Kharavela attacked Gorathagiri of Magadha.

The yaman king occupied the Jain center mathura and proceed
towards Magadha. Kharavela chased the Yavana ruler and freed
Mathura. Then Kharavela brought a branch of Kalpabriksha ( sacred
tree of Jainism) from Mathura to Kalinga.

9. In the ninth year to commemorate his victory in North India he

constructed ' The great Victory or Maha vijay Prasad'. The remains at
is at Sisupalagarh
Kharavela's achievements can better understand from
his first 13 years reign.
10. In the tenth year he conquered few territories in
North India.

11. In the eleventh year he conquered the kingdom of '

Pithunda'. In the same year he destroyed consisting of
Cholas, Pandyas, Keralaputras, Satyaputras and
Tamraparni.
Kharavela's achievements can better understand from
his first 13 years reign.

12. In the twelfth year Sunga king of Magadha was defeated

by Kharavela and brought back the image of Kalinga Jina
which was taken by Magadha ruler Mahapadmananda.

13. In the thirteen year Kharavela gave up military conquest

and concentrated on religious activities.
16. The capital of the king Kharavela of Kalinga was
A) Kalinganagara
B) Taxila
C) Pataliputra
D) Pushpapura

Correct Answer: A)
17. The Hatigumpha inscription in Odisha contains:
A) The record of entire span of Kharavela's reign
B) The last 12 years of Kharavela's reign
C) The important facts of Kharavela's reign
D) The first thirteen years of Kharavela's reign .

Correct Answer: D)
18. Kharavela the great belongs to:
A) Jina Dynasty
B) Chedi Dynasty
C) Maurya Dynasty
D) Kushana Dynasty

Correct Answer : B)
19. The language of the Hatigumpha inscription is:
A) Tamil
B) Telugu
C) Pali
D) Magadhi

Correct Answer: C)
20. In which inscription Kharavela declares himself
the Aira Maharaja or Aira King?
A) Junagarh Inscription
B) Toshali Inscription
C) Hathigumpha Inscription
D) Koshala Inscription

Correct Answer: C)
21. Maha Meghabahana literally means:
A) The rider of mighty clouds
B) The sailor of mighty oceans
C) The undisputed emperor of the universe
D) The rider of lightning

Correct Answer: A)
22. Who among the following was not a contemporary
of Kharavela?
A) King Brihaspatimitra
B) King Satakarni I
C) Samudragupta
D) None of the above

Correct Answer: C)
23. Who is Kudepasiri?
A) He was king of Magadha when Kharaveal invaded it
B) He took away the Image of Kalinga Jina
C) He was the successor of Emperor Kharavela
D) None of the above

Correct Answer: C)
 GUPTA DYNASTY

a) The Guptas are believed to have been

feudatories of the Kushanas.

b) The original kingdom of the Guptas

comprised Uttar Pradesh and Bihar with
their centre of power at Prayag (U.P).

c) The fall of Kushana empire towards the

middle of A.D 3rd century led to the
establishment of empire of Guptas.
d) This Dynasty was founded by Sri Gupta & who
was succeeded by his son Ghatotkacha.

e) The Gupta period in ancient India is referred to

as the “Golden Age” because of the numerous
achievements in the field of arts, literature, science
and technology.
 CHANDRA GUPTA-I: - (319A.D-335 A.D)

a) He was first important king of this dynasty.

He started the Gupta Era in 319A.D.

b) He married to the lichchhavi princes

Kumara Devi & issued gold coin in the joint
names of kumar devi & Chandra Gupta-I.

d) He got the title “MaharajaDhiraja”

 SAMUDRA GUPTA: - (335 A.D-380 A.D)

a) Chandra gupta-I was succeeded by

Samudra Gupta.

b) He is known as “Napoleon of India” due to

his believe in wars.

c) Some of his coins represent Samudra gupta

playing veena.

d) He also performed “Ashvamedha

sacrifices”
e) Meghavarman the ruler of sri lanka, sent a
missionary to Samudra gupta for a permission to
build a Buddhist temple at Gaya, Bihar.

f) Famous “Allahabad Pillar inscriptions” by

Harisena, mention the title “Dharma Prachar
Bandhu”, i.e. he was the upholder of Brahmanical
religion.
 CHANDRA GUPTA-II: - (380 A.D-451A.D)
a) According to Devi Chandraguptam of
Vishakhadutta, Samudra Gupta was succeeded
by Rama Gupta.

b) Rama Gupta was the only gupta ruler to issue

Copper coins.

c) He succeeded Rama Gupta after killing him &

married his queen Dhruvadevi.

d) He got the title “Vikramaditya”

e) His court was full of nine gems (Nabaratna)

f) He was the first ruler to issue Silver Coin.

g) “Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription” claim his authority

over north-western India & a good portion of Bengal.

h) ‘FA-HIEN’ visited India at his time.

 KUMAR GUPTA: - (415 A.D-455 A.D)

a) He got the title “MAHENDRA DITYA”

b) He was the founder of Nalanda University
c) In the last year of his reign, the empire was
invaded by Turko-Mongol tribe, the Hunas.
During the war with Hunas, Kumar Gupta
died.
 SKANDA GUPTA: - (455A.D-467 A.D)

a) He was succeeded by Kumar Gupta-I

b) He faced hunas attacks twice & died during the war with Hunas.
c) Junagarh Inscription tells about public
works & Sudarshana Lake was second
time repaired by him.

d) After his death the great days of Gupta

were over.

e) VISHNU GUPTA was the last ruler of

gupta dynasty, he also killed during the
wars with Hunas.
 Development of science & literature during Gupta Dynasty

a) Idol worship of Buddhism was started during Gupta Dynasty.

b) Kalidas the great Sanskrit dramastics belong to this period. He

wrote Abhijnanashakuntala, Vikramorvashi,
Malavikagnimitra, The epic poems Raghuvamsha,
Kumarasambhava, Meghaduttam

c) Vishakhadatta wrote Mudrarakṣhasa, Devi Chandraguptam

d) Vishnu Sharma wrote Pachatantra & Hitoupadesha.

e) Amarkosha was written by Amarsima in which Buddha had been
described as “Ocean of Wisdom”

f) Baraha mihira wrote Brihad Samhita.

g) “Aryabhata” the great Mathematician belongs to this period who

wrote “Aryabhatika” & “Surya Sidhanta”

h) In Aryabhatika he invented ZERO & calculated the value of π,

describe the place of first 9 number & also invented ALGEBRA.
i) In Surya Siddhanta he proved that the earth
routed & revolved around on his own access &
Sun.

j) He discover the SOLAR & LUNAR ECLIPSES

k) “Dhanvantri” – Famous for Ayurvedic

knowledge also during his time
PUSHYABHUTI/VARDHANA DYNASTY
a) Pushyabhutis were feudatories of Guptas, but had assumed
independence after Hunas invasion.

b) PRABHAKAR VARDHANA was the founder of this dynasty.

He had 3 children –

• Rajyavardhana

• Harshavardhana

• Rajyashri.
c) RAJYASHRI had been married to GRAHAVARMAN (Maukhari ruler
of Kaunauj), husband of Rajyashri was murdered by DEVAGUPTA (Ruler
of Malwa) & Rajyashri had been kept as prisoner.

d) On hearing this Rajya vardhana marched against him with his friend
“SHASHANKA” (Ruler of Bengal).

e) But “SHASHANKA” was in secret alliance with DEVAGUPTA, so

Shashanka killed Rajya Vardhana.

f) On hearing this “Harshavardhana” marched against “Devagupta” &

killed Devagupta & Shashanka.
 HARSHAVARDHAN: - (606 A.D-647A.D)
a) He was also known as Siladitya, ascended the throne in
606A.D & from this year, Harsha Era began.
b) He shifted his capital Thaneswar to Kannauj.
c) Hiuen Tsang visited the court of Harshavardhan.
d) In eastern India, he faced opposition from Shaivite king
Shashanka of Gauda, who cut off the Bodhi tree of
Bodhgaya.
e) He was defeated by Pulakesin-II (Chalukyan
king) on the bank of river Narmada.

f) Famous Buddhist assembly held in Nalanda

University during his time.

g) He started “Solemn festival” at prayagraj in

every 5years

h) “BANA BHATTA” was his court poet who

wrote “Harsha Charita” the biography of
“Harshavardhan”.