Kuninda kingdom

The kingdom of Kuninda (or Kulinda in ancient literature) was an ancient central Himalayan khasas kingdom documented from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, located in the southern areas of modern Himachal Pradesh and far western areas of Uttarakhand in northern India and Doti Gadwall in Nepal.

Kingdom

The first mention of Kuninda appears in Pāṇini's Ashtadhyay where he mentions it as an Ayudhajivi Sangha, meaning a warrior republic. Though, the kingdom may have existed earlier as it is also mentioned in Mahabharat to be situated in the east of Kuru kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The history of the kingdom is documented from around the 2nd century BCE. They are mentioned in Indian epics and Puranas. The Mahabharata relates they were defeated by Arjuna.

One of the first kings of the Kuninda was Amoghbhuti, who ruled in the mountainous valley of the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers (in today's southern Himachal and far western Uttarakhand in northern India).

The Greek historian Ptolemy linked the origin of the Kuninda to the country where the rivers Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, and Ganges originate.<ref>Ptolemy, Geography 7.1.42: ὑπὸ δὲ τὰς Βιβάσιος καὶ τοῦ Ζαράδρου καὶ τοῦ Διαμούνα καὶ τοῦ Γάγγου ἡ Κυλινδρινή, "and enclosed by the Bibasis, the Zaradros, the Diamuna, and the Ganges is Kylindrinē."</ref>

One of the Edicts of Ashoka on a pillar is also present at Kalsi, Dehradun, in the region of Garhwal, indicating the spread of Buddhism to the region from the 4th century BCE.

The Kuninda kingdom disappeared around the 3rd century, and from the 4th century, it seems the region shifted to Shaivite beliefs.

Coinage

There are two types of Kuninda coinage, the first one issued around the 1st century BCE, and the second around the 2nd century CE. The first coins of the Kuninda were influenced by the numismatic model of their predecessor Indo-Greek kingdoms, and incorporated Buddhist and Hindu symbolism such as the triratna and images of Lakshmi. These coins typically follow the Indo-Greek weight and size standards (drachms, of about 2.14 g in weight and 19 mm in diameter), and their coins are often found together with Indo-Greek coins in hoards, such as those of the Yaudheyas, or the Audumbaras.

The finds of Kuninda coins have often been associated with finds of Indo-Greek coins, particularly those of Appolodotus.<ref name="Bhattacharyya">A pageant of Indian culture: art and archaeology by Asoke Kumar Bhattacharyya p.156ff</ref>

A very large portion of the Kuninda coins are in the name of king Amoghabhuti, and it is believed that coinage under his name continued after his death.<ref name="Bhattacharyya"/>

Some later coins of the 2nd century CE bear the symbol of the Hindu god Shiva.<ref name="Bhattacharyya"/>

Gallery

• Kunindas with Shiva.jpg

  Coin of the Kunindas.
  Obv Shiva standing with battle-axe trident in right hand and leopard skin in left hand. Legend Bhagavato Chatreswara Mahatana.
  Rev Deer with symbols.

• Shiva with trident Kuninda 2nd century.jpg

  Shiva with trident, Kuninda, 2nd century CE.

Rulers

• Amoghabhuti (late 2nd century-1st century BCE)

See also

• Indo-Greek Kingdom

External links

• Scripts in Kuninda coinage

Timeline and cultural period Indus plain (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu-Gujarat) Gangetic Plain Central India Southern India Upper Gangetic Plain (Ganga-Yamuna doab) Middle Gangetic Plain Lower Gangetic Plain IRON AGE Culture Late Vedic Period Late Vedic Period Painted Grey Ware culture Late Vedic Period Northern Black Polished Ware Pre-history  6th century BCE Gandhara Kuru-Panchala Magadha Adivasi (tribes) Assaka Culture Persian-Greek influences "Second Urbanisation" Rise of Shramana movements Jainism - Buddhism - Ājīvika - Yoga Pre-history  5th century BCE (Persian conquests) Shaishunaga dynasty Adivasi (tribes) Assaka  4th century BCE (Greek conquests) Nanda empire HISTORICAL AGE Culture Spread of Buddhism Pre-history  3rd century BCE Maurya Empire Satavahana dynasty Sangam period (300 BCE – 200 CE) Early Cholas Early Pandyan kingdom Cheras Culture Preclassical HinduismTemplate:Efn - "Hindu Synthesis"Template:Efn (ca. 200 BC - 300 CE)Template:EfnTemplate:Efn Epics - Puranas - Ramayana - Mahabharata - Bhagavad Gita - Brahma Sutras - Smarta Tradition Mahayana Buddhism  2nd century BCE Indo-Greek Kingdom Shunga Empire Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty Satavahana dynasty Sangam period (300 BCE – 200 CE) Early Cholas Early Pandyan kingdom Cheras  1st century BCE  1st century CE Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthians Kuninda Kingdom  2nd century Kushan Empire  3rd century Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom Western Satraps Kushan Empire Kamarupa kingdom Adivasi (tribes) Culture "Golden Age of Hinduism"(ca. CE 320-650)Template:Efn Puranas Co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism  4th century Kidarites Gupta Empire Varman dynasty Andhra Ikshvakus Kalabhra dynasty Kadamba Dynasty Western Ganga Dynasty  5th century Hephthalite Empire Alchon Huns Vishnukundina Kalabhra dynasty  6th century Nezak Huns Kabul Shahi Maitraka Adivasi (tribes) Vishnukundina Badami Chalukyas Kalabhra dynasty Culture Late-Classical Hinduism (ca. CE 650-1100)Template:Efn Advaita Vedanta - Tantra Decline of Buddhism in India  7th century Indo-Sassanids Vakataka dynasty Empire of Harsha Mlechchha dynasty Adivasi (tribes) Badami Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan kingdom (revival) Pallava Karkota dynasty  8th century Kabul Shahi Pala Empire Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan kingdom Kalachuri  9th century Gurjara-Pratihara Rashtrakuta Empire Eastern Chalukyas Pandyan kingdom Medieval Cholas Chera Perumals of Makkotai 10th century Ghaznavids Pala dynasty Kamboja-Pala dynasty Kalyani Chalukyas Eastern Chalukyas Medieval Cholas Chera Perumals of Makkotai Rashtrakuta Template:Hidden