Gopa Rashtra

In the Sanskrit epics, the Gopa Rashtra (Gopa kingdom) of central and western India is believed to have been ruled by Krishna. Inscriptions indicate the presence of a region by this name in the Chalukya empire (present day Maharashtra and Goa).[1] In the Junagarh inscriptions of Skandagupta and Chalukyan records, Gopa rasthra is mentioned as the colony inhabited by the cowherd people.[2][3] Kautilya states that the region was tribal corporation following the profession of agriculture and arms both.[2] According to Mahabharata's list of kingdoms given in Bhishma Parva, chapter-9,Pandu Rashtra, Gopa Rashtra, Malla Rashtra and Ashmaka together formed the modern Maharashtra.[4] The term Goa is derived from Goparashtra i.e. the area of cowherds and shepherds.[5]

History

The name of Gopa rashtra forms part among the various kingdoms of Ancient India as narrated in the epic Mahabharata.[6]

The state of Goa is described as ancient Goparashtra and it takes its present name from earlier used terms like- Gomant, Gomantaka, Govarashtra or Goparashtra. All these names are prefixed with "Go" means "cow". Mahabharata refers it to as the country of cowherds.[7]

Inscriptions of Chalukya age mention about grant of Balegrama village in the Goparashtra to worship Kapaleshvara.[8]

See also

References

  1. Mahajan, Malati (1989). A cultural history of Maharashtra and Goa: from place name inscriptions. Sundeep Prakashan. p. 79.
  2. 1 2 Shastri, Ajay Mitra (1992). The Age of the Vākāṭakas. Harman Publishing House. p. 69. ISBN 9788185151519. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  3. India Today International. Living Media India Limited. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  4. Vaidya, Chintāmana Vināyaka (1921). History of Mediæval Hindu India: (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) ... Oriental Book Supplying Agency. p. 259. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  5. Anthropological Survey of India (1995). The Scheduled Castes. Oxford University Press. p. xxiv. ISBN 9788171547609. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  6. Debroy, Bibek (2015). The Mahabharata. Penguin UK. pp. Chapter 870(10). ISBN 9788184756814. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  7. Souza, edited by Teotonio R. de (1990). Goa through the ages. New Delhi: Concept Pub. Co. p. 4. ISBN 9788170222590. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  8. Chapekar, Laxman Narayan (1966). Thakurs of the Sahyadri. University of Bombay; distributors: P.C. Manaktala. p. 3. Retrieved 18 June 2016.

External links

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