Thread by @Aheerajan

The 980 CE Gwalior Inscription of "Madhavavanshi Vachchhilla Abhira" of the Nandakula, a Minister of the Kachchhapa Dynasty: The Earliest Epigraphically Attested Claimant of Krishna Descent Whose Tribe Still Exists Today - A Thread 🧵

Keyword- Informative

For ease of understanding, the inscription has been presented chronologically, with headings marking each section.

• Discovery, Location & Date
• Purpose of the Inscription
• Opening Invocation and Benediction
• The Nanda-Kula Abhiras and Mādhava (Krishna)

• Construction of the Temple of Viśvamūrti
• Recorded Lineage and Descent from Mādhava (Krishna)
• Nandvanshi Gugga and the Kachchhapa Dynasty
• Political Status and Influence of this Nanda-kula Family
• Viśvamūrti as Vishnu-Krishna

• The Enduring Relevance of the Abhiras in Gopadri (Gwalior) From Samudragupta to the Kachchhapas
• Conclusion

- Discovery, Location & Date:

The inscription was first noticed by Hirananda Sastri, and is now deposited in the Gwalior Museum.

It is dated Samvat 1038, Vaiśākha su di 5, which correspond to Monday, 11th April, 981 A.D. of the Gregorian calendar.

- Purpose of the Inscription:

The purpose of the inscription is to record the construction of (a number of) wells with tasteful water, a pond (vāpi), a well (kūpa) and a temple of god Viśvamürtti surrounded by twelve other temples by Vachchhilla Abhira son of Kakkuka.

- Opening Invocation and Benediction:

As for the contents, the inscription begins with the symbol for siddham followed by the auspicious word svasti and two dandas.

The details of the date, discussed above, are next given (line 1) followed by verses 1-3 (lines 1-5) invoking the deities Gajanana (i.e. Vināyaka), Sarasvati and Mahēśa (i.e. Śiva) in that order.

- The Nanda-Kula Abhiras and Mādhava (Krishna):

Verse 4 (lines 5-7) alludes to the incarnation of Vishņu as Madhava (i.e. Krishņa) in the Nanda-kula in order to rescue the helpless earth +

+ from under the trampling feet of the demons and states that he bestowed upon the Abhiras, who were adept in nomadic wandering, the gift of Uddraṅga, thereby making them Drāmgikas.

Verse 5 (lines 7-8) states that in this (i.e. Nanda) family was born the great (mahān) +

+ and merciful (dayāvān) chief (prabhuh) Gugga (Ancestor of Vachchhilla) who was extremely intelligent and was revered by the rulers of the earth and whose advice was constantly sought by the kings of the Kachchhapa dynasty.

His son was Jūbhila, the vanquisher of foes who was as pure as the moon and was a great bene-factor of all kith and kin (verse 6; lines 9-10).

According to verse 7 (lines 10-12) the innumerable virtues of the righteous Jūbhila, who had made gifts of cows, land and gems to the brahmaņas and was greatly concerned with the welfare of the weak and the destitute, defied easy description.

His son was Kakkuka whose fame had brightened all the three worlds, who was respected by kings and was foremost among the good; he hunted down, even as a tiger would, the elephant-corps of his enemies on the battle-fields (verse 8; lines 12-14).

- Construction of the Temple of Viśvamūrti :

The next verse (verse 9; lines 14-15) states that many temples and step-wells were caused to be constructed by this Kakkuka.

To him was born a son, named Vachchhilla, who had obtained the fruit of the merits earned by him (i.e. Vachchhilla) in his previous birth (first half of verse 10; lines 15-16).

The second half of this verse (lines 16-17) is incomplete owing to the damaged nature of the slab, but seems to be in praise of this Vachchhilla.

Only the first half (line 17) of verse 11 (lines 17-18) is somewhat legible, the rest of the letters being erased.

It eulogises an individual (in all probability Vachchhilla himself) as the store-house of good qualities and as a source of bounty to the learned.

The whole of lines 18-20 and the first half of line 21 do not lend themselves to any plausible reading.

A part of line 18 belongs to verse 11 and the second half of line 20 forms the first quarter of verse 13.

It is likely therefore that only one verse, in Śārdūlavikrīdita metre, is totally lost in lines 18-20. Verse 13 (lines 20-22), of which only the second half is preserved, +

+ seems to record the construction of a temple (sura-sadma) and expresses the wish that this strong temple, built without joints (or built with its joints invisible) may endure through the ages, causing happiness to the immortal and mortal beings.

It is likely that the builder of this temple was Vachchhilla.

The next verse (verse 14; lines 22-23) records the construction (obviously by Vachchhilla himself) of (a number of) tanks with tasteful water, a pond and a well and the temple of god Viśvamürtti, surrounded by +

+ twelve (subsidiary) temples. Verse 15 (lines 23-24) is badly mutilated but seems to contain a benediction that works of piety may endure for ever.

- Recorded Lineage and Descent from Mādhava (Krishna):

The inscription traces the lineage of this family, identifying Mādhava (Krishna) as the ancestral progenitor & recording the direct genealogical succession.

Nanda → Mādhava (Krishna)

Direct ancestral line of Vachchhilla: Gugga (गुग्गा) → Jūbhila (जुभील) → Kakkuka (कुक्कक) → Vachchhilla (वच्छिल्ल) (c. 981 A.D.)

- Nandvanshi Gugga and the Kachchhapa Dynasty:

Of these, Gugga is stated to have served as a minister (san-mantrin) to the rulers of the Kachchhapa dynasty (verse 5).

The expression bhupaik Kachchhapa-vamsajaih implies that Gugga was the contemporary and minister of more than two Kachchhapa kings.

- Political Status and Influence of this Nanda-kula Family:

The reference to Gugga as prabhu (chief) and the description +

+ of Gugga (manyo bhūmi-bhujām) and Kakkuka (kshitibhritām vandyah) as respected by kings show that the members of the Nanda-kula family were influential and powerful rulers of some principality.

Also the reference to the military exploits of Jübhila (ripujana-kshaya-dhūmakētuh), Kakkuka (verse 8) and Vachchhilla (ahita-bhupa-chandah) goes to show that they were actively involved in the political developments of their times.

- Viśvamūrti as Vishnu-Krishna:

Viśvamürti the god for whom according to this inscription, a temple was built, is an epithet of Vishnu-Krishna, since his family descent is traced back to Madhava it is only natural that Vachchhilla had a temple for Višvamürti built.

Sanskrit Verses (Original Text) with Scholarly Translation (1)

Sanskrit Verses (Original Text) with Scholarly Translation (2)

- From Samudragupta to the Kachchhapas: The Enduring Relevance of the Abhiras in Gopadri (Gwalior):

Notably, Samudragupta's (c. 335–375 CE), Prayaga Prashasti mentions the Abhira republic with Prarjunas and Sanakanikas in in this very (Gwalior) region.

In the medieval period, the same area was known as Ahirwada ("Country of the Ahirs"), corresponding to the earlier Abhiravataka ("Country of the Abhiras").

From the Abhira republic of Samudragupta's age, through the prominence of the Nanda-kula, to the region later known as Ahirwada, the historical record bears witness to a continuous and influential Abhira (Ahir) presence in the region spanning well over a millennium.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the Gwalior inscription stands as an important epigraphic testimony to:

1 - The existence of a powerful Nanda-kula Abhira family in 10th-century India.

2 - Their political prominence with Kachchhapa rulers.

3 - A Testament to the Continued Prominence of the Abhiras in the Gopadri (Gwalior) Region

4 - Their patronage of temples and public works, highlighting the religious and social status of the Abhiras in northern India.

5 - Their recorded descent from Mādhava (Krishna) through the Nanda tradition.

Most significantly, it represents one of the earliest known epigraphic claims of Krishna descent by a historically attested Abhira lineage whose community continues to exist today.

Source: Epigraphia Indica Vol 40 No., 5 April 1974, Page No: 191 to 196 (Available on Wikimedia Commons/Wikimedia. org)

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