Thread by @The__Chalukya

96 Kulin Nikam / Nikumbha is one of the most ancient yet an underrated Maratha clan in deccan history

A thread on The Nikams

Earliest found inscriptions of Ikshvakuvanshi king Nikumbha's descendants are from Khandesh in Maharashtra. 7 Inscription of Nikumbh Marathas are found . Nikumbha kings Bhanushakti, Adityashakti, Allashakti etc are mentioned in inscription

Nikumbh / Nikam Marathas were ruling over Khandesh by aquiring throne of Sendraka/Shinde Maratha clan by Dauhitra tradition

653 ce inscription of Allasakti Nikumbha a vassal king of Salunkhe/Chalukyas of Badami

Next we find 702 ce inscription of Vairadeva Nikumbha. This inscription is decisive. Until the discovery of this inscription,archaeologist,who were unaware about dauhitra dharma tradition of Nagavamsa,were confused about whether these kings were Nikumbhas or title used by Shindes

But in this inscription Vairadeva is clearly called as Nikumbha Shikhamani (Crest-Jewel of Nikumbha race)

Nikumbh Marathas again rose to prominence during Seuna-Jadhavrao reign

1153 CE inscription of Govana Nikumbha. Genealogy of this family is given in insription. 9 kings of Nikumbhavamsa dynasty are mentioned, this family was ruling from Patnadevi-Chalisgaon in southern khandesh

Nikam / Nikumbh Marathas Clearly called themselves descendants of Ikshvaku vamsi King Nikumbha

1209 ce Marathi+Sanskrit inscription of Yadupati Singhana Jadhavrao & his Nikam Feudatories from Patnadevi Chalisgaon.
4) Ruins of ancient Patnadevi temple

Not to be confused between Maratha Nikumbh Dynasty of Patnadevi & Northern Nikumbs both these are different clans with different origin tradition

Among 5 inscription of Badami Salunke/Chalukya era Nikumbha dynasty, 3 are from Patnadevi-Chalisgaon region of southern khandesh & Both the 2 inscriptions of Kalyan Salunkhe + Seuna-Jadhavrao era Nikumbhavamsa dynasty are also from The Patnadevi itself

Interestingly Nikumbh / Nikam Deshmukh Maratha families are still found in Chalisgaon Patnadevi region The Capital of Nikumbhavamsa. Nikumbh Marathas were important pillars of Bhosale Empire

Like the Senapati Yesajirao Kank Nikam

https://twitter.com/TMahrattas/status/1492003545712783363?t=nrN-BU-tU8DDJEvR3gye1A&s=19

There are Many Nikumbh Sardar Maratha families in Khandesh, Marathwada & west MH like Sardar Barge Nikam. Apart from these,
Nikumbh Maratha chiefs were in North Karnataka also

Military Apshinge village in Maharashtra is among the few Military villages in India. This is a village of Nikam / Nikumbh Marathas. Martial tradition of Nikumbhavamsa did never
came to an end

()

dnaindia.com/pune/report-we…

https://twitter.com/IndiaRemembers/status/809020511787184129?t=rTaCBijjmREbtU8dOMVgXw&s=19

Subedar Narayan Rao Nikam
a Nikumbhavamsi Maratha from Mysore, Karnataka
& Jemadar Gajendra singh from Uttarakhand

Two Indian soldiers who were honoured with the Order of Red star by soviet unioun

As per NrityaRatnaKosha, a text composed during late 15th CE in the court of Maratha Raja of Trimbakeshwar, Kalasena aka Kāluji of the VyaghraCamikaraVamsa (Wagh-Pawar), his wife Lakshmidevi came from the house of Nikumbhavansha of Pimpalgaon(In Chalisgaon).

Kaloji is also said to have helped the house of Suryavanshi (Nikumbha) Indrasenaraja to gain independence. 
The Nikumbhas had accepted vassalage as Deshmukhs of Ahmednagar kingdom. Kaloji may have helped them rebel.

There are many Nikumbha villages in southern Jalgaon, Ahmedabad and Nasik region

Nikumbhas of Pimpalgaon received the jagir of the then Nevasa pargana(Ahmednagar) (comprising three talukas today) as a reward for their contribution in the Devagiri war. Their villages are ,...

...Kukana,
Shirasgaon,
Salabatpur,
Nevasa Shahr,
Antarwali,
Jeur Haibati,
Dighi. (Nikam Deshmukhs of Dighi settled there after establishing Shirasgaon)

Nikumbha villages in Chalisgaon(Jalgaon)

Pimpalgaon Nikumbh, Deshmukh wadi,
Pimparkhed,
Mehunbare,
Dhamangaon

This 702ce epigraph of Vairadeva Nikumbh itself found in Mehunbare & Nikumbh Marathas of Chalisgaon region still uses the exact name Nikumbh (Vernacularized as 'Nikam')

Nikumbha villages In Nasik -
Lohoner,
Nandurdi,
Bokate.
The fort of Rajdher in Nasik was a Nikumbha property till 1818. On 15 april 1818 it was captured by Colonel protter from Nikumbh Deshmukhs

1115 CE Kolhapur ins. of Shelar Marathas mentions a Nikumbha/Nikam Maratha feudatory ruling from Miraj in Satara.They carried Matsya & Naga banner like Patana Nikumbhas

Nikumbh/Nikam Deshmukhs of 32 Shirala(Sangli) & Nikams of Military Apshinge(Satara) r descent from this branch

96 Kulin Nikumbh/Nikam Marathas of Chalisgaon are clearly mentioned in Salyaparva by Navarasanarayana and in NrityaRatnaKosha by Kaloji Wagh-Pawar the Raja of Trimbakeshwar (both texts are approx 14-15th ce).

Until 1450 ce most of the Khandesh was ruled by the Nikam Marathas (V.K. Rajwade. vol 8)

Even during the Bhosale empire period Khandesh affairs were controlled by Nikumbh Maratha chiefs of Chalisgaon like Manaji Nikam, Narayanji Nikam, Shankaraji Nikam etc 

https://x.com/The__Chalukya/status/1818975264614858927?t=mpu-EDJMO6dZ1J-MKUn7ow&s=19

Nikumbha Maratha villages in Chalisgaon Taluq

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