Kuninda Kingdom

Silver coin of the Kuninda Kingdom, c. 1st century BCE.
Obv: Deer standing right, crowned by two cobras, attended by Lakshmi holding a lotus flower. Legend in Prakrit (Brahmi script, from left to right): Rajnah Kunindasya Amoghabhutisya maharajasya ("Great King Amoghabhuti, of the Kunindas").
Rev: Stupa surmounted by the Buddhist symbol triratna, and surrounded by a swastika, a "Y" symbol, and a tree in railing. Legend in Kharoshti script, from righ to left: Rana Kunidasa Amoghabhutisa Maharajasa, ("Great King Amoghabhuti, of the Kunindas").

Outline of South Asian history

Riwatian people (1,900,000 BCE)

Riwatian people (1,900,000 BP)

Soanian people (500,000 BCE)

Soanian people (500,000 BP)

Stone Age (50,000–3000 BCE)

Bhirrana Culture	(7570-6200 BCE)
Mehrgarh Culture	(7000–3300 BCE)

Bronze Age (3000–1300 BCE)

Indus Valley Civilization	(3300–1700 BCE)
– Early Harappan Culture	(3300–2600 BCE)
– Mature Harappan Culture	(2600–1900 BCE)
Ochre Coloured Pottery culture	(from 2000 BCE)
Vedic period	(1750–1200 BCE)
– Late Harappan Culture	(1700–1300 BCE)
Swat culture	(1600–500 BCE)
– Black and Red ware culture	(1300–1200 BCE)

Iron Age (1200–230 BCE)

Vedic period	(1200–500 BCE)
– Black and Red ware culture	(1200–1000 BCE)
– Painted Grey Ware culture	(1200–600 BCE)
– Janapadas	(1200–600 BCE)
– Northern Black Polished Ware	(700–200 BCE)
Haryanka Kingdom	(684–424 BCE)
Three Crowned Kingdoms	(6th Century BCE - 1650 CE)
Maha Janapadas	(600–300 BCE)
Achaemenid Empire	(550–330 BCE)
Magadha Kingdom	(500–321 BCE)
Ror Kingdom	(450 BCE–489 CE)
Nanda Empire	(424–321 BCE)
Shishunaga Kingdom	(413–345 BCE)
Macedonian Empire	(330–323 BCE)
Maurya Empire	(321–184 BCE)
Seleucid Empire	(312–63 BCE)
Pandya Empire	(300 BCE–1345 CE)
Chera Kingdom	(300 BCE–1102 CE)
Chola Empire	(300 BCE–1279 CE)
Pallava Empire	(250 BCE–800 CE)
Maha-Megha-Vahana Empire	(250 BCE–400 CE)
Parthian Empire	(247 BCE–224 CE)

Classical period (230 BCE–1279CE)

Satavahana Empire	(230 BCE–220 CE)
Kuninda Kingdom	(200 BCE–300 CE)
Indo-Scythian Kingdom	(200 BCE–400 CE)
Shunga Empire	(185–73 BCE)
Indo-Greek Kingdom	(180 BCE–10 CE)
Kanva Empire	(75–26 BCE)
Indo-Parthian Kingdom	(21–130s CE)
Western Satrap Empire	(35–405 CE)
Kushan Empire	(60–240 CE)
Bharshiva Dynasty	(170–350 CE)
Nagas of Padmavati	(210–340 CE)
Sasanian Empire	(224–651 CE)
Indo-Sassanid Kingdom	(230–360 CE)
Vakataka Empire	(250s–500s CE)
Kalabhras Empire	(250–600 CE)
Gupta Empire	(280–550 CE)
Kadamba Empire	(345–525 CE)
Western Ganga Kingdom	(350–1000 CE)
Kamarupa Kingdom	(350–1100 CE)
Vishnukundina Empire	(420–624 CE)
Maitraka Empire	(475–767 CE)
Huna Kingdom	(475–576 CE)
Rai Kingdom	(489–632 CE)
Shahi Empire	(500s–1026 CE)
Chalukya Empire	(543–753 CE)
Maukhari Empire	(550s–700s CE)
Harsha Empire	(606–647 CE)
Tibetan Empire	(618–841 CE)
Eastern Chalukya Kingdom	(624–1075 CE)
Rashidun Caliphate	(632–661 CE)
Gurjara-Pratihara Empire	(650–1036 CE)
Umayyad Caliphate	(661–750 CE)
Pala Empire	(750–1174 CE)
Rashtrakuta Empire	(753–982 CE)
Paramara Kingdom	(800–1327 CE)
Yadava Empire	(850–1334 CE)
Solanki Kingdom	(942–1244 CE)
Western Chalukya Empire	(973–1189 CE)
Lohara Kingdom	(1003–1320 CE)
Hoysala Empire	(1040–1346 CE)
Sena Empire	(1070–1230 CE)
Eastern Ganga Empire	(1078–1434 CE)
Kakatiya Kingdom	(1083–1323 CE)
Kalachuri Empire	(1130–1184 CE)

Late medieval period (1206–1596)

Delhi Sultanate	(1206–1526 CE)
– Mamluk Sultanate	(1206–1290 CE)
– Khilji Sultanate	(1290–1320 CE)
– Tughlaq Sultanate	(1320–1414 CE)
– Sayyid Sultanate	(1414–1451 CE)
– Lodi Sultanate	(1451–1526 CE)
Ahom Kingdom	(1228–1826 CE)
Reddy Kingdom	(1325–1448 CE)
Vijayanagara Empire	(1336–1646 CE)
Gajapati Kingdom	(1434–1541 CE)
Deccan Sultanates	(1490–1596 CE)

Early modern period (1526–1858)

Mughal Empire	(1526–1858 CE)
Maratha Empire	(1674–1818 CE)
Durrani Empire	(1747–1823 CE)
Sikh Empire	(1799–1849 CE)

Colonial period (1510–1961)

Portuguese India	(1510–1961 CE)
Dutch India	(1605–1825 CE)
Danish India	(1620–1869 CE)
French India	(1759–1954 CE)
Company Raj	(1757–1858 CE)
British Raj	(1858–1947 CE)
Partition of India	(1947 CE)

Other states (1102–1947)

Zamorin Kingdom	(1102–1766 CE)
Sutiya Kingdom	(1187-1673 CE)
Deva Kingdom	(1200s–1300s CE)
Chitradurga Kingdom	(1300–1779 CE)
Garhwal Kingdom	(1358–1803 CE)
Mysore Kingdom	(1399–1947 CE)
Keladi Kingdom	(1499–1763 CE)
Koch Kingdom	(1515–1947 CE)
Thondaiman Kingdom	(1650–1948 CE)
Madurai Kingdom	(1559–1736 CE)
Thanjavur Kingdom	(1572–1918 CE)
Marava Kingdom	(1600–1750 CE)
Sikh Confederacy	(1707–1799 CE)
Travancore Kingdom	(1729–1947 CE)

Kingdoms of Sri Lanka

Kingdom of Tambapanni	(543–505 BCE)
Kingdom of Upatissa Nuwara	(505–377 BCE)
Anuradhapura Kingdom	(377 BCE–1017 CE)
Kingdom of Ruhuna	(200 CE)
Kingdom of Polonnaruwa	(300–1310 CE)
Jaffna Kingdom	(1215–1624 CE)
Kingdom of Dambadeniya	(1220–1272 CE)
Kingdom of Yapahuwa	(1272–1293 CE)
Kingdom of Kurunegala	(1293–1341 CE)
Kingdom of Gampola	(1341–1347 CE)
Kingdom of Raigama	(1347–1415 CE)
Kingdom of Kotte	(1412–1597 CE)
Kingdom of Sitawaka	(1521–1594 CE)
Kingdom of Kandy	(1469–1815 CE)
Portuguese Ceylon	(1505–1658 CE)
Dutch Ceylon	(1656–1796 CE)
British Ceylon	(1815–1948 CE)

Nation histories

Regional histories

Specialised histories

The Kingdom of Kuninda (or Kulinda in ancient literature) was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century, located in the modern state of Uttarakhand and southern areas of Himachal in northern India.

Kingdom 1
Coinage 2
Rulers 3
See also 4
References 5
External links 6

Kingdom

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 Yamuna and Sutlej rivers (in today's Uttarakhand and southern Himachal in northern India).

The Greek historian Ptolemy linked the origin of the Kuninda to the country where the rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and Sutlej originate.^[1]

One of the Edicts of Ashoka on a pillar is also present at Kalsi, in the region of Garhwal, indicating the spread of Buddhism to the region from the 4th century BCE.The Koli Rajput's of Garhwal and Kumaon traces ancestry from Kulindas.Kulin word came from Koli which means a person of high status and da denotes powerful man.

The Kuninda kingdom disappeared around the 3rd century, and from the 4th century, it seems the region shifted to Shaivite beliefs. According to Hari Krishan Mittoo author of numerous books on Himachal, the Kanets are descendents of Kunindas.

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 symbolism such as the triratna. These coins typically follow the Indo-Greek weight and size standards (drachms, of about 2.14g 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. They represent the first effort by a native Indian king to produce coins that could compare with those of the Indo-Greeks.

The finds of Kuninda coins have often been associated with finds of Indo-Greek coins, particularly those of Appolodotus.^[2]

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.^[2]

Some later coins bear the symbol of the Hindu god Shiva.^[2]

Rulers

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

References

^ 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."
^ ^a ^b ^c ff by Asoke Kumar Bhattacharyya p.156A pageant of Indian culture: art and archaeology

External links

Kuninda Coins :: Himvan Blog :: www.himvan.com
Scripts in Kuninda coinage

Middle kingdoms of India
Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Indo-Gangetic Plain			Central India	Southern India
Timeline and cultural period	Northwestern India (Punjab-Sapta Sindhu)	Western Gangetic Plain (Kuru-Panchala)	Northern India (Central Gangetic Plain)	Northeastern India (Northeast India)	Central India	Southern India
IRON AGE
Culture	Late Vedic Period	Late Vedic Period (Brahmin ideology)^[1] Painted Grey Ware culture	Late Vedic Period (Kshatriya/Shramanic culture)^[2] Northern Black Polished Ware		Pre-history
6th century BC	Gandhara	Kuru-Panchala	Magadha		Adivasi (tribes)
Culture	Persian-Greek influences	"Second Urbanisation" Rise of Shramana movements Jainism - Buddhism - Ājīvika - Yoga			Pre-history
5th century BC	(Persian rule)		Shishunaga dynasty		Adivasi (tribes)
4th century BC	(Greek conquests)		Nanda empire Kalinga		Adivasi (tribes)
HISTORICAL AGE
Culture	Spread of Buddhism				Pre-history	Sangam period (300 BC – 200 AD)
3rd century BC	Maurya Empire					Early Cholas Early Pandyan Kingdom Satavahana dynasty Cheras 46 other small kingdoms in Ancient Thamizhagam
Culture	Preclassical Hinduism^[3] - "Hindu Synthesis"^[4] (ca. 200 BC - 300 AD)^[5]^[6] Epics - Puranas - Ramayana - Mahabharata - Bhagavad Gita - Brahma Sutras - Smarta Tradition Mahayana Buddhism					Sangam period (continued) (300 BC – 200 AD)
2nd century BC	Indo-Greek Kingdom		Shunga Empire		Adivasi (tribes)	Early Cholas Early Pandyan Kingdom Satavahana dynasty Cheras 46 other small kingdoms in Ancient Thamizhagam
1st century BC		Yona	Maha-Meghavahana Dynasty
1st century AD		Indo-Scythians Indo-Parthians	Kuninda Kingdom
2nd century		Pahlava		Varman dynasty
3rd century		Kushan Empire	Western Satraps	Kamarupa kingdom		Kalabhras dynasty Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras)
Culture	"Golden Age of Hinduism"(ca. AD 320-650)^[7] Puranas Co-existence of Hinduism and Buddhism
4th century	Gupta Empire					Kalabhras dynasty Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras) Kadamba Dynasty Western Ganga Dynasty
5th century			Maitraka		Adivasi (tribes)	Kalabhras dynasty Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras) Vishnukundina
6th century					Adivasi (tribes)	Kalabhras dynasty Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras)
Culture	Late-Classical Hinduism (ca. AD 650-1100)^[8] Advaita Vedanta - Tantra Decline of Buddhism in India
7th century	Indo-Sassanids		Vakataka dynasty Empire of Harsha	Mlechchha dynasty	Adivasi (tribes)	Pandyan Kingdom(Under Kalabhras) Pandyan Kingdom(Revival) Pallava
8th century		Kidarite Kingdom				Pandyan Kingdom Kalachuri
9th century	Indo-Hephthalites (Huna)		Gurjara-Pratihara			Pandyan Kingdom Medieval Cholas Pandyan Kingdom(Under Cholas) Chalukya Chera Perumals of Makkotai
10th century				Pala dynasty Kamboja-Pala dynasty		Medieval Cholas Pandyan Kingdom(Under Cholas) Chera Perumals of Makkotai Rashtrakuta
References and sources for table References ^ Samuel ^ Samuel ^ Michaels (2004) p.39 ^ Hiltebeitel (2002) ^ Michaels (2004) p.39 ^ Hiltebeitel (2002) ^ Micheals (2004) p.40 ^ Michaels (2004) p.41 Sources Flood, Gavin D. (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge University Press Michaels, Axel (2004), Hinduism. Past and present, Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press Samuel, Geoffrey (2010), The Origins of Yoga and Tantra. Indic Religions to the Thirteenth Century, Cambridge University Press

Kuninda Kingdom

Kuninda Kingdom

Contents

Kingdom

Coinage

Rulers

See also

References

External links

Categories

Vedic period

Encyclopedia Article

Suggestions

Amoghabhuti

Encyclopedia Article