HISTORY

[(a) The Sectjon on Early History was contributed by Dr. Moreshwar G. Dikshit. (b) The Sections from Muslim Period were contributed by Prof. M. S. Agaskar, Ram Narayan Ruia College, Bombay.]

EARLY HISTORY

 [ The section on Pre-history has been newly added.]

MUCH OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE REGION now known as Ja]gaon district is still obscure. It is the eastern part of what was formerly called Khandesh. The early name of Khandesh was Rsika. In 10-12th century A.D. the region formed part of the Seuna-desa under the Yadavas and later became known as Khandesh with the advent of the Muslim Rule. In 1906, the district was divided into East Khandesh and West Khandesh for administrative convenience under the British Rule. The districts were renamed in 1960 as Jalgaon and Dulia respectively

The earliest mention of Rsika occurs in the Ramayana [Ramayana, Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 41, Sloka 10.] where Sugriva is said to have ordered the search of Sita to be made in Rsika associated with Vidarbha and Mahisaka. The tract is mentioned as Asika in the 2nd century A.D. inscriptions at Nasik, [Epigraphia nndica, VIII,p. 60 ff.] where it is associated with Asmaka (Modern Aurangabad district).

Pre-history.

Until a few years ago very little was known about the pre-history of Jalgaon, but recent surveys of the Tapi and the Girna valleys have brought to light a mass of material which is in keeping with the adopted norms in the evolution of material culture and the history of man as a tool-using animal since his nomadic state.

Paleolithic tools made from Deccan trap and quartzite are known to occur on the banks of the Tapi in the regions now comprised in Dhulia, and it is natural to conclude that these may be present in Jalgaon also for which a careful search has yet to be made. Achulian hand.axes and cleavers are known from Changdev in the open bed of the river.

Neolithic.

No neolithic tools of any description are known from Jalgaon.

Microlithic.

A comparatively recent form of a dimunitive tool, which was in use well into historic times till about the beginning of the Christian era, popularly known as the microlith, is known to occur at a number of places both in the Tapi and the Girna river systems. The material for these tools is generally agate, chalcedony, jasper and crystal; the tools comprise of several forms like scrapers, points, trapeze, long blades, arrow-heads and fluted cores. In Jalgaon these are from Changdev [Information from Dr. S. B. Deo of Deccan College, Poona.]. Patan,[ Indian Archaeology—a review for 1953.54, p. 37.] near Chalisgaon, at the foot of the Satpuda hills, is the only place where these occur in a locality which is far removed from riverine tracts. Fluted cores of agate are found in a very large number.

No intensive search for pre-historic tools has ever been made in Jalgaon, but restricted surveys in Dhulia show that the land is full of promise and would afford a good deal of scope for the future archaeologists.

Chakolithic 1st Millennium B.C. 5th cent. B. C.

The valleys of both Girna and the Tapi have in recent years yielded a very valuable material for the Chakolithic period (1st Millennium B.C.—500 B.C.). Excavations at Bahal and Tekevada [Indian Archaeology—a review for 1956.57, pp. 17—20.] (both on the right and left banks of Girna) lying about 18 miles north of Chalisgaon, have revealed that during the Chalcolithic times a painted black-on-red pottery was extensively used in association with a long blade industry. The painted designs on the pottery consist of hatched diamonds, criss-cross and wavy lines, ladders, etc., executed on necks and rims of domestic vessels. Shells and semi-precious stone beads were commonly used. Copper was very scarce and was used for artistic work and a few non-descript objects found in the excavations. The work at Tekevada has brought to light several new features such as urn. burials and painted pottery with incised graffiti designs. Pitburials were also practised. The vestiges lay directly on the black, cotton soil which is typical of Jalgaon district.

In 1960, another Chakolithic site was accidentally discovered near Vakad, about 12 miles south of Pahur on the Pahur.Ajintha road, during the construction of a bridge over the Vakad river. A preliminary examination of the finds shows infant burials in twin jars placed alongside, painted pottery and microliths closely resembling those from the Godavari and Pravara basins in Nasik and Ahmednagar districts.

Mauryan Period 4th-2nd cend B. C.

The excavations at Bahal have also produced in the upper levels a kind of glass-ware, popularly known as the northern black polished (N. B. P.) were, attributed to 4th.3rd cent. B.C. roughly corresponding to the period of Asoka, the Mauryan ruler. It belongs to an epoch about which. nothing is otherwise known in the history of Jalgaon except for a meagre evidence of punch. marked coins obtained at Bahal [Jour. Numismalic Society of India, VIII, pp. 119 ft.] and other places in Jalgaon district. [Coins from Shendurni, East Khandesh (Jalgaon).]

Early inscriptions at Pitalkhora, [Of the five early inscriptions from Pitalkhora (Luders' List Nos. 1187.1192) two inscriptions state that the donors were from Paithan.] roughly lying on a straight line joining Paithan and Bahal, indicate that the Satpuda range on the southern border of Jalgaon was in early times selected by Buddhist for the carving of these caves. The Mahamayuri texts refer to Pitarigalya as the place of residence of the Yaksa Sankarin, by which probably Pitalkhora is meant. [ Cf. "The rock cut caves of Pitalkhora" in Ancient India, No. 15.] The early series of Caves X.XII at Ajintha well nigh show the prevalence of Hinayana Buddhism in the Jalgaon region.

Satavahanas.

Very little is known about the extent of the kingdom of the Early Satavahana rulers (2nd B.C. to 1st cent. A.D.) but the recent discoveries in the caves at Pitalkhora [ Cf. Indian Archaeology—a review for 1957.58, Plates LXXV—LXXVTI, also Ancient India, No. 15, pp. 66—93.] indicate that the Jalgaon region was probably included in their domain. King Satakarni I (Circa 194.185 B.C.) is said to have conquered Western Malva and the territory to the south of it including Anupa (the Narmada region) and Vidarbha (Berar). Very probably Jalgaon was also included in it as is indicated by the high.sounding title Daksinapatha.pati assumed by him. [ Nanaghat inscription of Naganika (Luders' List No. 1112).] Brisk trading activity between the western sea.ports and the Indian peninsula are indicated in Periplus of the Erythrean Sea (A.D. 90.95). [ Schoff, Periplus of the Erytiuean Sea (New York 1912).] Wagon.loads of goods were brought down to Barygaza (Broach) from Paithan and Tagara (Ter) [ Tagara has now satisfactorily been identified with Ter, in the Osmanabad District. A large number of Terracotta figurines, all ascribable to the Satavahana period have been found in the recent excavations at Ter. Cf. Indian Archaeology—a review for 1957.58, pp. 23.24.] and it is now more or less certain that the old trade was diverted through the important passes in the Satpuda range which marks the southern boundary of Jalgaon.

In the middle of the 1st century, or towards the close of it, there was a Ksatrapa invasion in Western India and Malva. Like the rest of the Satavahana empire, Jalgaon was probably held for a short time by Mahaksatrapa Nahapana. [ Inscriptions of Nahapana's son.in.law Usavadata are known from the caves at Nasik, Karle and Junnar.] Gautamiputra Satakarni (A.D. 106.190) wrested the kingdom and amongst the territories conquered by him Asika (Rsika), Asaka (Asmaka) and Mulaka are specifically mentioned in the Nasik cave inscriptions. [ Epi. Ind. VIII, p. 60 ff. (Luders' List No. 1113).] It is undoubted that these regions are now represented by Jalgaon and the modern Aurangabad distrits. GautamTputra was succeeded by his son Vasisthiputra Sami Siri Satakarni. It is likely that the Jalgaon region remained in the hands of the Satavahana dynasty till its decline in about 250 A.D. Discovery of some new names of Satavahana kings in the Tarhala hoard [ Jour. Numismatic Society of India, II, p.p. 83 ff.] (Dist. Akola, Berar) suggests that probably some portions of Jalgaon adjoining Berar were in the hands of a collateral Vidarbha family for a short duration.

Buddhism received a very great impetus in the Deccan during the Sataviihana period and a majority of the Buddhist caves in Western India were a creation of this period. Jalgaon had its quota in the Pitalkhora group, where four new vihdrds of this period have recently been found. Some Satavahana pottery has also been found there during clearance.

Abhiras.

Of the successors of the Satavahanas no records are available till about the fifth century (410) but inscriptions show that Nasik was being governed by Viransena an Abhira king. [Epigraphia Indica, VIII.] The Abhiras or Ahirs are of considerable importance in the history of Jalgaon as their chiefs are said to have held many leading forts (Gadhis) [ Manv small fortresses, styled as Gadhis abound in Jalgaon and a characteristic feature of many a village. Built from large mud bricks or pise work, these structures are assigned to local powerful chieftains. They are generally late Mediaeval in date or some even late as I7th.i8th Century A.D. Jalgaon District has manv legends curient about them.] in Jalgaon and still form one of the main elements in the population.

Vakatakas.

In about the fifth century A.D. a portion of Khandesh seems to have been ruled by the Vakatakas. The main branch of this family was matrimonially connected with the Imperial Gupta dynasty and were a powerful force in Vidarbha. It is, however, the Vatsagulma branch of the family which seems to have dominated the southern portion of Khandesh, from their capital at Vatsagulma (modern Vasim, Dist. Akola). Their inscriptions arc the first authentic records in the history of Jalgaon.

Ajintha Cave No. XVI contains a record of Varsadeva, [A. S. W. I., IV (1883), p. 124; and Hyderabad Archaeological Series, No. XIV, (1941)] a Minister of king Harisena; another inscription occurs in the cave at Ghatotkacha, [A. S. IK. /., IV, p 138; and Hyderabad Archaeological Series, No. XVI.] about 11 miles from Ajinta. Both these are attributed to about A.D. 475. Cave XVII at Ajintha, which is one of the finest caves in the Ajintha range, records that it was caused to be made during the reign of a Vakataka king (whose name is lost) by a certain Ravisamba, in the last quarter of fifth century A.D. [ A. S. W. I., IV, p 128; and Hyderabad Archaeological Series, No. XV.] This king is believed to be Harisena. The ancestors of Ravisamba may have served some rulers of Khandesh towards the end of 4th century A.D. but, who they were, cannot be said with certainty.

It may incidentally be noted that some copper.plate grants [Epigraphia Indica, XV, p. 286; and Indian Antiquary, XVI, p. 98.]of certain rulers named Svamidasa, Bhulunda and Rudradasa, dated in their regnal years, are believed to have nourished between A.D. 316.367. Two of these plates are issued from Valkha, which is identified as Vaghll, near Chalisgaon. [ Cf. Samshodhana Muklavali, Vol. II, pp 72—78. The arguments in this paper are solely based on the identification of the place names, which though probable, are not very convincing] Their contribution though useful for the reconstruction of the history of Khandesh is still problematical.

Towards the close of the fifth century, the Chalukyas, under Pulaks I (Circa 489 A.D.), passing south from Gujarat, conquered the Deccan and established their power as far south as Vatapi (Badami). Their sway in Khandesh is indicated by the Lohaner Plates [ Epigraphia lndica, XXVII, pp. 37.48.] of Pulkesi II, dated Saka 552 (A.D. 630) which mentions places from the contiguous portion in the Malegaon taluka of the Nasik district.

Sendrakas.

The Sendrakas, who were related to the Chalukyas, are some. times erroneously identified with the Nikumbha family. Four copper.plate grants of this family have been found in Khandesh (three in Jalgaon and one in Dhulia) and a fifth one in Gujarat. A feudatory ruler named Allasakti, who held the birnda Nikumbha is found to donate a village called Pippalakheta in his Kasare (Dhulia) plates, [Epigraphia lndica, XXVIII, p. 197 ff.] dated in Kalachuri Samvat 404, corresponding to 653 A.D. His Nagad (taluka Chalisgaon) plates, [ Samshodhaka (in Marathi), Vol. VIII (Octobci 1939).] dated Saka 577 (653 A.D.) record the donation of a village situated in the Nandipuradvari vishaya (district) identified with modern Nandurhar. The Mundakhede (taluka Chalisgaon) plates [Epi. lndica, XXIX, pp. 116—121.] of Allasakti's son Jayasakti are dated Saka 602 (A.D. 680.81) and seem to record grant of villages on the western border of Jalgaon. The Mehunbare (Taluka Chalisgaon) plates, [ Cf. Indian Archaeology—a review for 1957.58, p. 56.] dated in Saka 624 (A.D. 702) reveal Dandiraja as the name of the son of Devasakti, who must have been a descendant of Jayasakti above mentioned. This charter was issued by Vairadeva, son of Dandiraja, for the donation of certain villages now located in the Chalisgaon taluka. It would thus seem that this family ruled over portions of the Chalisgaon taluka in Jalgaon for fifty or sixty years, with contacts in Gujarat along with their overlords, the Chalukyas.

Rashtrakutas.

Jalgaon, next seems to have come under the sway of the Imperial Rastrakuta dynasty, with their capital at Manyakheta (modern Malkhed in Mysore State). Powerful rulers of this family extended their kingdom into the Deccan, Konkan, part of Gujarat and Central India up to the Vindhyas and remained in power till overthrown by Chalukya Tailapa in about 970 A.D. A copper.plate grant of Govinda III, found near Bhadgaon [ Sources of the Mediaeval History of the Deccan (in Marathi), Vol. II, pp. 13 ff.] (taluka Pachora) is dated in Saka 732 (809 A.D.) and records the donation of a village called Bhaulavara in the Bahula vishaya, corresponding to the modern Pachora district. Earlier records of this family from Vidarbha [Cf. Bhandaka plates of Krishna, Saka 694, Epi. Ind., XIV, p. 121. These were issued from Nandipura.dwari (Nandurbar).] indicate the possibility of Jalgaon being under the control of the dynasty even earlier. Contemporaneous inscriptions are known from Ajintha and in a less known Brahamanical cave of Jogesvari [Cf. Sahyadri (in Marathi), September 1941, pp. 679—681.] in the Ajintha range, about 12 miles west of Ajintha. Two small Jain excavations near Patan[ Fergusson and Burgess, Cave Temples of India, pp. 492.493.] (taulka Chalisgaon) probably belong to the same period.

Feudatories of the Yadavas.

After the downfall of the Rastrakutas, Jalgaon was ruled over hy some minor feudatory dynasties who owed allegiance to a new power, viz., the Yadavits. Early inscriptions of this dynasty are distributed in the Nasik and Ahmednagar districts, but in Saka 991 (1069 A D) we find a ruler named Govindaraja, of the Maurya family, paying homage to Seunachandra II, as mentioned in the Vaghli (taluka Chalisgaon) inscription. [ Epigraphia Indica, Vol. II, p. 225 ff.]

Three inscriptions from Patan n,ear Chalisgan, mention the Nikumbha.vamsa, which was perhaps a feudatory family of considerable importance in the region. The earliest record, dated Saka 1075 (1153 A.D.) records the construction of a temple, [Indian Antiquary, Vol. VIII, p. 39 ft.] begun by Indraraja, father of Govana of the Nikumbha.vamsa and finished after his death. Another inscription [Epigraphia Indica, I, p. 3341 ff.] of Saka 1128 (1205 A.D.) states that Changdeva, an astrologer of Yadava Seuna and the grandson of Bhaskaracharya, had founded a college for the study of astronomical works, which was endowed with lands by Soideva and Hemadideva, two members of the Nikumbha family. A third inscription found in the dry river bed at Patan [Prabhat published at Dhulia, Vol. I, No. 5.] is fragmentary and its date, lost.

Of the time of Singhana, we have yet another record at Bahal, [Epigraphia Indica, Vol. III, p. 112 ff.] dated Saka 1144 (1222 A.D.) which mentions the construction of a temple by Anantadeva, the astrologer of Singhana.

No records of Ramchandra, the last of the Yadava rulers have been found in Jalgaon. But Chakradhara, the founder of the Mahanubhava sect and a contemporary of Ramchandra, is stated to have visited a number of places, which lie in the Jalgaon district. [Sthana-pathi (ed. V. B. Kolte), pp. 102-103.] Sae Gavhan (near Chalisgaon) Vaghli, Kanasi, Bhad. gaon, Pachora (all in Pachora taluka) and Shendurni (Taluka Jamner) were included in his tours and thus show an interesting sidelight on the spread of that cult, which has many adherents to it in Khandesh even today.

A large number of temples, built without any mortar and erected by a very careful assemblage of large stone blocks piled one upon another, are popularly attributed to Hemadri, a minister of Yadava Ramachandra. Vestiges of such Hemadpanti temples [ Cf. Cousens, Mediaeval Temples of the Dakhan, pp. 27—35 and Plates XXV.XL.] are known from Patan (Chalisgaon), Vaghli (Pachora), Sangame. svara (Chalisgaon), Shendurni (Jamner), Lohara (Jamner), Kurhad (Jamner). Changadeva (Bhusaval) and Dighi (Pachora). In Jalgaon these are often ascribed to the Bavli rajas, legendary rulers of Khandesh and in spite of their general simplicity' these temples mark an important stage in the temple architecture of the Deccan.

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