History of Gujarat and its

Culture
UNIT- 1
 Overview
• The first settlers in the State of Gujarat were Gujjars who happened to be
an ethnic group of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Ancient Gujarat was ruled by the Maurya Dynasty.
• Emperor Chandragupta Maurya conquered a number of states in Gujarat
while his grandson, King Ashoka extended his domain in Gujarat. The
reigns of the first three Mauryas were significant but with Ashoka’s death
in 232 B C the Mauryan empire began to crumble, leading to political
defragmentation.
• After the fall of the Maurya Empire, the Sakas controlled the region from
A.D. 130 to 390. Under Rudra-daman, their empire contained Malwa (in
Madhya Pradesh), Saurashtra, Kutchh and Rajasthan. During the 300s
and 400s, the area formed a part of the Gupta Empire which in turn was
succeeded by the Maitraka Dynasty. It was during the rule of Dhruvasena
Maitrak that the great Chinese traveler and philosopher Huien Tsang
visited India in 640AD.
 Maurya period and Gujarat
• The Mauryan Empire was the first major empire in the history of India,
ruled by Maurya dynasty from 321 BC to 185 BCE.
• At that time, Magadh was ruled by the Nanda dynasty. Chanakya, also
known as Kautilya was a pious, learned and determined brahman, who
didn’t have a pleasant appearance but had an intelligent brain. He managed
to terminate the existing King Mahapadm Nand and his eight sons and
made Chandragupt the King of Magadh.
• Chandragupta founded the Mauryan Empire by overthrowing the Nanda
dynasty with the help of Chanakya who was an important minister in the
court of the Nanda rulers. Chanakya was ill treated by the Nanda king and
he vowed to destroy their kingdom. He met the young Chandragupta in the
Vindhya forest. Chanakya was well versed in politics and the affairs of the
state. He groomed Chandragupta and helped him raise and organize an
army.
• Thus, with the help of Chanakya, Chandragupta overthrew the last Nanda
ruler and became the king and Chanakya became the chief minister in his
court.
• Important rulers of this dynasty were Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara,
and King Ashoka. This empire reached its peak under King Ashoka.
However, this mighty empire crumbled rapidly, under its own weight, soon
after the death of Ashoka.
• Chandragupta:
• Chandragupta had united the whole of northern India under one rule.
Mauryan Empire was the first large, powerful, centralized state in India.
• Magadh was the fourth dynasty after the Mahabharat war (3139 BC).
Chandragupt Maurya was the first king and founder of the Maurya dynasty.
His mother’s name was Mur, so he was called Maurya in Sanskrit which
means the son of Mur, and thus, his dynasty was called Maurya dynasty.
• Chandragupt Maurya ruled for 34 years. It is generally thought that
Chandragupta married Seleucus's daughter, or a Greek Macedonian
princess.
• During Chandragupta reign, the state regulated trade, levied taxes, and
standardized weights and measures. Trade and commerce also flourished
during this time. The state was responsible for providing irrigational
facilities, succor, sanitation, and famine relief to its masses.
• Emperor Chandragupta Maurya became the first major Indian monarch to
initiate a religious transformation at the highest level when he embraced
Jainism.
• Bindusara
• Bindusara Maurya was the second Mauryan Emperor. He succeeded to the
throne on 298 B.C. His father was Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of
Maurya dynasty. The mother of Bindusara was Durdhara, who was one of
the wives of Chandragupta. He was born in 320 B.C.
• Chanakya, the famous minister of Chandragupta continued to be one of the
principal ministers of Bindusara Maurya. Chanakya further extended the
extent of Mauryan Empire during the rule of Bindusara Maurya.
• he people of Taxila and the mountain people of the North revolted against
the rule of Bindusara Maurya. Bindusara commissioned his son Ashoka to
suppress the rising. The people of Taxila explained to Ashoka that they
were not opposed to the king, but they had revolted as a protest against the
oppression by “evil ministers.”
• Asoka did not faced any difficulty in winning the loyalty of the people of
Taxila. Ashoka officially warned his minister and officials against
oppressing the people.
• Bindusara died probably in 272 B.C. after a reign of 30 years.
• Ashoka
• Samrat Ashoka, also known as Ashoka the Great, is regarded as one of the
greatest emperor in Indian History. He was the son of Bindusara Maurya
and grandson of Chandragupta Maurya. He was born on 304 B.C.
• Bindusara was succeeded by his son Ashoka, the most famous of the
Mauryan Kings. He ruled for 36 years. The Mauryan Empire reached its
peak under the rule of Ashoka.
• He undertook military campaign against Kalinga and, after defeating it in a
bloody war, extended it. The war of Kalinga was the turning point in the
life of Ashoka to the extent that he shunned all forms of violence and
became a strict vegetarian.
• Ashoka believed in high ideals, which, according to him, could lead people
to be virtuous, and peace loving. This he called Dhamma (Dharma)
• He established peace and order within his kingdom with the help of highly
organized administrative machinery.
• The war with Kalinga transformed Ashoka both on a personal as well as
public level. He made a number of changes in the administration. Ashoka
introduced a new cadre of officials, by the name of Dhamma Mahamatta,
who was sent across the empire to spread the message of Ashoka's
Dhamma (dharma).
• Sudarshan Lake
• Chandragupta Maurya who conquered a number of earlier states of
Gujarat. Pushyagupta, a Vaishya, was appointed Governor of Saurashtra by
the Mauryan regime. He ruled Giringer (present Junagadh) and built a dam
on the Sudarshan lake. Emperor Ashoka, the grandson of Chandragupta
Maurya, not only ordered engraving of his famous edicts on the rock
at Junagadh, but asked his Governor to take out canals from the lake where
an earlier Mauryan Governor had built a dam.
 Shak ruler

• Saka rulers played prominent part in Gujarat history for nearly 400 years
from the start of the first century. Weather beaten rock at Junagadh gives a
glimpse of the Ruler Rudradaman I (100 AD) of the Saka satraps known as
Western Satraps, or Kshatraps. Mahakshatrap Rudradaman I founded the
Kardamaka dynasty which ruled from Anupa on the banks of the Narmada
up to Aparanta region which bordered Punjab.
 Gupta Period
• The Gupta period marks the important phase in the history of ancient India.
The long and efficient rule of the Guptas made a huge impact on the
political, social and cultural sphere. Though the Gupta Empire was not
widespread as the Maurya Empire, but it was successful increating an
empire that is significant in the history of India. The Gupta period is also
known as the “golden age” because of progress in literature and culture.
• The lifestyle and culture of the Gupta dynasty is known through the
availability of various ancient coins, scriptures, inscriptions, texts, etc.
belonging to that era.
• The rulers of the Gupta Empire were efficient administrators who knew
how to govern with a firm hand without being despotic.
• During this age, art and education flourished and many great discoveries
were made in these fields.
• Aryabhatta and Varahamihira, the two great mathematicians
contributed much during this period in the field of Vedic Mathematics.
Aryabhatta estimated the value of "Pi" to the fourth decimal place.
• Algebra was developed to a great extent and the concepts of zero and
infinity were found. The symbols of numbers 1 to 9 were devised which
was a great contribution in mathematics.
• Gupta Empire The Gupta Age is also known for its advances in
astronomy. During the reign of the Gupta rulers, astronomers and
philosophers proposed the theory that the earth was not flat but round.
• The theory of gravity was also propounded during this time.
• The field of medicine also advanced a lot during this time and doctors
used to perform operations even during that era.
• Since so many discoveries and advances were made in arts, medicine,
literature and science during Gupta period, it has been called the Golden
Age of India.
• The Guptas gave to India a powerful imperial dynasty. From
Chandragupta I to Skandagupta, the dynasty contained five emperors
who ruled one after another, covering a period of one century and a
half.
 The Ajanta and Ellora caves were created during the
Golden Age. They were decorated with paintings of
religious figures; some Hindu and some Buddhist.

 An inscription tells us that Sri Gupta was the first king and Ghatotkacha
was the next to follow him with the title Maharaja.
• Chandragupta I (A.D. 319-320 to 335):
• The first Gupta ruler of consequence was Chandragupta I, son of
Ghatotkacha.
• Chandragupta was a very powerful Gupta ruler who waged many battles to
attain his title. He married Kumaradevi after which the Gupta dynasty
came into eminence. He assumed the title of Maharajadiraja, which means
king of kings.
• Samudragupta (335 - 375 A.D): Samudragupta was the son and successor
of Chandragupta. Samudragupta was popularly known as the "Indian
Napoleon" as he conquered many territories without making much of an
effort. It is said that after Emperor Ashoka, the empire of Samudragupta
was the supreme.
• The coins found in excavation reveal much information about his empire.
• He performed the Asvamedha Yagna and gained much fame and power.
• Many great discoveries and advancements were made in different fields
like astronomy, mathematics, medicine, etc.
• Chandragupta II (375 - 414 A.D): Also known by the name of
Vikramaditya, Chandragupta II was chosen by his father as the successor
and the future ruler.
• Chandragupta II was an able ruler and a great conqueror.
• His conquest of the peninsula of Saurashtra via the Arabian Sea is
considered to be one of his greatest military successes. With the annexation
of Saurashtra and Malwa, he opened up sea ports to facilitate trade and
commerce.
• His capital city was Pataliputra.
• Kumaragupta I (415 - 455 AD): Kumaragupta ruled for forty years and he
was considered to be one of the most powerful rulers of the Gupta Period. He
was known by different names such as, Shri Mahendra, Ajita Mahendra,
Simha Mahendra, Asvamedha Mahendra, Mahendra Karma, etc. During his
reign, the whole of India was united as one single entity.
• Skandagupta (455 - 467 A.D): Skandagupta was a very powerful conqueror
and is considered to be at par with God Indra. His empire included the whole
of North India from west to east and the peninsular regions of Gujarat.
• He soon had to face with the formidable enemy, the Huns (Hepthalites). He
successfully repelled their early invasions and proved to be able king and
administrator in time of crisis.
• In spite of heroic efforts of SkandaGupta, Gupta empire did not survive long
the shock it received from invasion of the Huns and internal uprising of
Pushyamitras.
 Maitraka dynasty

• The Maitraka dynasty ruled Gujarat in western India from 475 to 767 CE
The founder of the dynasty, general Bhatarka, a military governor of
Saurashtra peninsula under the Gupta empire, established himself as the
independent ruler of Gujarat approximately in the last quarter of 5th
century.
• He laid the foundation of his kingdom of Valabhi what came to be known
as the Maitrak kingdom. He shifted his capital from Girinager to
Valabhipur, near Bhavnagar, on Saurashtra's east coast.
• They became powerful in Gujarat as well as Malwa. Maitrakas set up a
university which came to be known far and wide for its scholastic pursuits
and was compared with the famous Nalanda University.
• This period is regarded as the golden age of vallabhipur, Gujarat.
• Maitrak of Valabhi became very powerful and their writ prevailed over
large parts of Gujarat.
• Bhataraka was succeeded by his son Dharasena-I, both of them called
themselves, Senapatis.
• The next five rulers namely Dronasimha, Dhruvasena-I, Darpatta,
Guhasena and Dharasena-II were called Maharajas. Dharasena-II was
succeeded by his son Siladitya-I Dharmaditya. He ruled between 606 AD
and 612 AD, covered an extensive territory and Valabhi was the most
powerful kingdom in Western India.
• Bhatarka (c. 475- ?)
• Bhatarka, was a military governor of Saurashtra peninsula under Gupta
Empire, who had established himself as the independent ruler of Gujarat.
He was the founder of Maitraka Dynasty. He used the title of Senapati
(general).
• Dharasena I: Dharsena I also used the title of Senapati (general).
• Dronasimha (c. 500-c. 525): He declared himself as the Maharaja.
• Dhruvasena I (c. 525-c. 545)
• Dharapatta (c. 545-c. 556)
• Guhasena (c. 556-c. 570):
• Dharasena II (c. 570-c. 606): Guhasena was succeeded by his son
Dharasena II, who used the title of Mahadhiraja.
• Siladitya I (c. 606-c. 616): Siladitya I was the son of Dharsena II,
Dharmaditya was described by Hiuen Tsang as a "monarch of great
administrative ability and of rare kindness and compassion".
• Kharagraha I (c. 616-c. 623)
• Dharasena III (c. 623-c. 640): During the reign of the next ruler, his son
Dharasena III north Gujarat was included in this kingdom.
• and so on.....
 Chavda Period
• The Chavda dynasty (Chawda, Chavada, Chapa, Chaparana, Chapokata)
was a Hindu Kshatriya family line that ruled what is now northern Gujarat
from 746 to 942.
• The Chavda Kingdom or Chapa dynasty also known as Gujar Chaparana
was an ancient Hindu Kshatriya dynasty which ruled northern Gujarat from
746 to 942. It is stated in Bombay Gazetteer that Chavdas/chapa were
Gurjars.
• The first king of the Chavda Kingdom was Jayshikhari Chavda.
Jayshikhari Chavda, whose capital city was at Panchasar in North Gujarat.
• Vanraj: Vanraj Chavda's father was Jayshikhari Chavda, a king of
northern Gujarat was assassinated before Vanraj was born. His capital of
state was Panchasar (first capital of Gujarat) (right now located near
Shankheswar, District-Patan).
• Vanraj's mother fled to the forests where she gave birth to a boy, who was
named Vanraj (King of the forest). The young Vanraj was educated by Jain
priests and gained an academic as well as a military education.
• He eventually raised an army of Bhil tribals and helped by his friend and
lieutenant Anhil, regained his father's lost kingdom.
• Vanraj Chavda founded the city of Anhilpur Patan, naming it in honour of
Anhil, and made it the capital of his kingdom. It went on to be the most
prosperous city of its time in India. He also founded the city of Champaner.
• There were five Chavda kings after Vanraj, the last of whom,
Samantsinh Chavda, did not have any children. He adopted his
nephew Mulraj Solanki who overthrew him in 942 and set up what
came to be known as the Solanki dynasty.
• Rulers of Chavada Dynasty: Seven Kings in Chavada Dynasty
• Vanaraj: ruled for 60 years
• Yogaraj: Vanaraj was succeeded by his son Yogaraj. He ruled for 35 years and
at the age of 120 years stepped down the throne and died offering himself to
fire.
• Kshemaraj: Yogaraj was succeeded by his son Kshemaraj. He ruled for 25
years.
• Bhuyad: Kshemaraj was succeeded by his son Bhuyad. He ruled for 29 years.
• Virsinh: Bhuyad was succeeded by his son Virsinh. He ruled for 25 years.
• Ratnaditya: Virsinh was succeeded by his son Ratnaditya. He ruled for 15
years.
• Samantsinh: After Ratnaditya, Samantsinh, the last king of Chavada dynasty
came to the throne and ruled for seven years only.
 Solanki Period
• The Solanki dynasty comprised of a royal Hindu Indian empire that ruled
parts of western and central India during the 10th century to the 13th century
AD. This was the last Hindu dynasty. This dynasty was established by
Mulraja I in 942. He was the adopted son of Samantsinh, the last ruler of the
Chavada dynasty.
• Mulraja further extended his kingdom by bringing the regions of Saurashtra
and Kutch under his way. His capital was the present town Patan. He was
succeeded by other illustrious rulers, notable among were Siddharaj Jaysimha
and Kumampala, who further extended the Kingdom.
• The present name Gujarat was adopted during this period.
• The period had tremendous development in architecture, language and
scripts. Numerous artistic temples were built, famous among them being the
Rudramala Temple and the Sun Temple at Modhera.
 Rulers of Solanki Period
• Mulraj
• Mulraj Solanki was the first ruler of the Solanki Dynasty. He established the
dynasty after overthrowing Samantsinh Chavda in 942. Mulraj Solanki's
father was Raji. Mulraj also established several temples and initiated
construction of Rudra Mahalaya in Siddhpur. He was a kind hearted and
brave ruler.
• During Mulraj Solanki's rule the Gujarati culture flourished. The art,
architecture, language and script of Gujarat also prospered under the rule of
the Solankis. It is described as the golden period of Gujarat's history.
• After Mulraj, Chamund ascended to the throne. He could not extend his
kingdom. Later he was dethroned by his sister Chachinidevi who placed her
son Vallabhraj on the throne. After Vallabhraj his brother Durlabhraj became
the king. He married the sister of Chauhan Baliraj's son Mahendra of
Naddul. After his death, his nephew Bhimdev became king in 1022.
• Bhimdev I
• Bhimdev I was the son of Nagraj and Laxmidevi. He was married to
Udaymati, a princess of Saurastra Narvahan Khengar from whom he had a
son, Karndev. He had also married to Bauladevi from whom he had two sons
named Xemraj and Mulraj. Bhimdev I is credited with constructing of
famous temples like the Modhera Sun Temple and Stepwell of Udaymati.
Bhimdev died in 1064 and Karndev ascended to the throne.
• Karndev
• Karndev, son of Bhimdev proved to be a successful king. He had married
Karnataka's king Tribhuvanmalla's friend Jaykeshi's daughter Mayanalladevi.
Karndev is credited with building many temples, lakes and cities. He was killed
in the battle with Shakambhari's king Dushshal Chauhan.
• Siddhraj Jaisinh
• Siddhraj Jaysinh, also known as Siddhraj Solanki was the next king to ascend to
the throne. He is considered as the most prominent Solanki king. Siddhraj
Jaysinh was bestowed with the title of 'Barbarak Jishnu' and 'Siddhraj.' He
undertook the construction of many lakes. He also renovated Rudramahal.
Thereafter Kumarpal was declared the King of Patan.
• Kumarpal
• He had fled from Siddhraj for a span of 30 years but later Udayan Mehta and
Hemchandracharya helped him during his exile. He built Jain Vihars and also
renovated the Somnath temple. In his old age he reduced interest in
administration and left it to his faithful samants and mantries. Perhaps
Kumarpal died due to poison given to him.
• Ajaypal
• Ajaypal was the nephew of Kumarpal. Ajaypal proved to be a cruel and ruthless
king. After Ajaypal his son Mulraj II became the next king. He ruled for two
years and died in 1178. He was succeeded by his brother Bhimdev II.
• His son, Tribhuvan pal, was the next king. Kingdom passed on to Visaldev with
which the Solanki Dynasty came to an end. The Vaghela dynasty ruled Patan
there after.
 Vaghela period
• Visaldev and Tejpal ruled Patan. During this period, Tejpal persuaded
ambitious Visaldev from dethroning Tribhuvan pal and continue ruling in
his name. Tribhuvan pal died in 1244. Visaldev took over the throne as a
king. Thus the Solanki dynesty came to an end. Visaldev being a decedent
from Arnoraj Vaghela's son Lavanprasad, Vaghela dynesty ruled Patan
there after.
• The Vaghelas were an Indian dynasty of Gujarat. The Vaghelas were based
in the town of Dholka, and were feudatories of the Solanki dynasty, who
ruled Gujarat from the 10th to the 13th centuries. The Solanki went into
decline in the thirteenth century, and by 1243 the Vaghelas were firmly in
control of Gujarat.
• Virdhaval (Visala) (c. 1243 - c. 1262)
• Virdhaval was the first Vaghela king, and two of his Jain minister brothers,
Vastupal and Tejpal, built the exquisite Dilwara Temples on Mount Abu in
Rajasthan, and temples at the Girnar and Shetrunjay hills.
• Arjuna (Vishaldev) (c. 1262 - c. 1275)
• Virdhaval’s successor Vishaldev built temples at Dabhoi and founded
Vishalnagar.
• Sarangadev (c. 1275 - c. 1297)
• Karandev (II) (c. 1297-1304)
• Karandev was the last Vaghela king, who died in the 1304 conquest of
Gujarat by Ala-ud-din Khilji, Sultan of Delhi.

• Vaghela is a Kshatriya name. It is one of the four varnas (Social Orders)

in Hinduism. It constitutes the military and noble order of the traditional
Vedic-Hindu social system as outlined by the Vedas and the Laws of Manu.
Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira all belonged
to this social order.
 Gujarat Climate

• Gujarat is a coastal state lying on the west coast of India. The state is
enclosed by Pakistan and the state of Rajasthan in the north-west and north
respectively. To the east it borders Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The
Union Territories of Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli lie to the south
of Gujarat. The state is also bounded by the Arabian Sea in the west and
the south-west.
• Summer: (March - May) : The summers are extremely hot and dry in
Gujarat. The day temperature is as high as 46°C while at night it is 34 °C.
• Winter: (November - February) : In the winters, the weather is mild,
pleasant and dry. The average temperature during day time is 29 °C and 12
°C during the night. The days are usually sunny and the sky is clear.
• Monsoon: (June - September) : The monsoon season extends from mid
June to September. The temperature falls down to 38 °C with high
humidity, during the day and 27 °C at night.
• Autumn season (October)
 Forest in Gujarat

• There are 4 National parks and 21 wild lilfe sanctuaries.

Gujarat has 9.7% of its total geographical area under forest
cover, which is much below the national average.

 Wildlife sanctuaries include: Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary, Nal

Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Porbandar Bird Sanctuary, Kutch
Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary,
Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary,
Anjal, Balaram-Ambaji, Barda, Jambughoda Wildlife
Sanctuary, Khavda, Paniya, Purna, Rampura, Ratanmahal,
and Surpaneshwar.
 Main Rivers of Gujarat

• There are more than 70 rivers in Gujarat.

• There are Famous Major Rivers Name in Gujarat:
– Saraswati River: is one of the main Rigvedic Rivers mentioned in very old
Sanskrit texts. The Saraswati River starting point is Gir forest. It has a maximum
length of 50 km. Total catchment area of the 370 square kilometers (140 sq mi).
Saraswati River is connecting the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the west.
– Narmada: is one of most famous river in Gujarat. Narmada is also called the rewa
and located by Amarkantak and Madhya Pradesh. Narmada is the third longest river
that flow entirely within India after the Godavari and the Krishna. It is length of
1312 km.
– Tapti River: original name Tapi River is a river in central India. Tapi River is one
of the major rivers of Gujarat India.Tapti comes from the Satpura ranges near Betwa
and enters Gujarat at Kakarapar. It flow around Surat and Rander and falls into the
sea. It is length of around 724 kilometres. Tapi River in Thailand was named after
India’s Tapi River in August 1915.
– Mahi River: is Madhya Pradesh and after flow all the way through the Vagad
district of Rajasthan enters Gujarat. Mahi Riveris joined by the Bhadar, the Anas,
the Panam and the Meshri.
– And many more......
 Mountains and Hills

• Gujarat's mountains are rich in scenic beauty and have been closely
associated with religious and historical currents of Gujarat's life.