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The Seuna dynasty (Kannada: ಸೇವುಣರು)(850 - 1334), also called the Sevuna or Yadava dynasty during their peak ruled present day Maharashtra, north Karnataka and parts of Madhya Pradesh from their regal capital at Devgiri (Daulatabad) in Maharashtra. They initially ruled as feudatories of the Kalyani Chalukyas and around the middle of the 12th. century, declared their independence. While Sanskrit and Kannada were in official usage from the begining of their rule, the later part of their rule saw the rise of Marathi as an important language of literature. At their peak under Singhana II, they ruled a large kingdom stretching from the Tungabhadra to the Narmada rivers. Devagiri became their capital during the rule of Bhillama V.

Origin of Seunas

While many works by Muslim writers call them the Yadavas, inscriptions of this dynasty as well as those of contemporary kingdoms, the Hoysala, Kakatiya and Chalukyas call them Seunas. The name is probably derived from the name of their second ruler Seunachandra.

Legends

Legend has it the Seunas were originally from Mathura and later moved to Dwaraka as some of their inscriptions call them Dvaravatipuravaradhishvaras, masters of Dvaravati or Dwaraka

Records

The history of this dynasty is chielfly constructed with the help of literary works like Chaturvarga Chintamani by Hemadri in Sanskrit, Lilacharita in Marathi, other Sanskrit works Suktimuthavali of Jalhana and Hammiramadhana by Jayasimha Suri and their over five hundred inscriptions which are mostly in Kannada language. The first inscription which is in Kannada is from the rule of Bhillama II.

Research Notes

While some works call them as immigrants from the north, many scholars dont agree with this though they initially ruled the Naski-Ahmednagar region. Most of their inscriptions were in Kannada. Many others are in Kannada language but Devanagari script. Marathi gained court presence only during the later part of the rule as proven by dates on the Marathi inscriptions. Its is also argued that that Kannada was popular in this part of central India during those times.

The Seuna coins from the early part of the rule itself have Kannada legends and it is thus certian that Kannada was a court language along with Sanskrit during Seuna times.

Many Seuna rulers had pure Kannada names like "Dhadiyappa", "Bhillama", "Rajugi", "Vadugi" and "Vasugi", "Kaliya Ballala". Other kings had names like "Singhana" and "Mallugi" which were also used by the Southern Kalachuri dynasty. Records show that one of the early rulers "Seunachandra II" had a Kannada title Sellavidega. The Seunas had very close matrimonial relationships with royal Kannada familes through out their rule. Bhillama II was married to Lachchiyavve from a Rashtrakuta decendent family in Karnataka area, Vaddiga was married to Vaddiyavve, daughter of Rashtrakuta chieften Dhorappa. Wives of Vesugi and Bhillama III were Kalyani Chalukya princesess. It is thus opined that the Seunas must have been originally from Kannada country and migrated northwords due to political situation in the Deccan at that time.

During the rule of the Seunas, many ruling chieftens who were related to the Seuna Kings were from Kannada families like the Seunas of Masavadi-140 in present day Dharwad. Further it is claimed that during the later part of the Rashtrakuta rule from Manyakheta, Seuna chieftens were despatched from the Karnataka region to rule near Nasik.

The Seuna Clan

feudatory of Kalyani Chalukya

• Dridhaprahara
• Seunachandra 850 - 874 C.E.
• Dhadiyappa 874 - 900 C.E.
• Bhillama I 900 - 925 C.E.
• Vadugi (Vaddiga) 950 - 974 C.E.
• Dhadiyappa II 974 - 975 C.E.
• Bhillama II 975 - 1005 C.E., helped Chalukya Tailapa II in battle against Paramara Munja.
• Vesugi I 1005 - 1020 C.E.
• Bhillama III 1020 - 1055 C.E. , ruled near Sinnar, Nasik. Helped Chalukya Somesvara against Paramara
• Vesugi II 1055 - 1068 C.E.,
• Bhillama III 1068 C.E.
• Seunachandra II 1068 - 1085 C.E., overcame civil war, defeated Bhillama IV to become king.
• Airamadeva 1085 - 1115 C.E.
• Singhana I 1115 - 1145 C.E.
• Mallugi I 1145 - 1150 C.E., period of internal family feud up to 1173
• Amaragangeyya 1150 - 1160 C.E.
• Govindaraja 1160
• Amara Mallugi II 1160 - 1165 C.E.
• Kaliya Ballala 1165 - 1173 C.E.

Independent kingdom

• Bhillama V 1173 - 1192 C.E., a great Seuna King. His period saw Seuna expansion.
• Jaitugi I 1192 - 1200 C.E.
• Singhana II 1200 - 1247 C.E., considered the greatest ruler of the clan. during his rule the the kingdom expanded from Narmada to Tungabhadra. He patronised Changadeva, Kannada poet Kamalabhava and Shrangadeva, an authority on music.

• Kannara 1247 - 1261 C.E.
• Mahadeva 1261 - 1271 C.E.
• Amana 1271 C.E.

• Ramachandra 1271 - 1312 C.E., famous Marathi writer Sant Jnaneshvar wrote Jnaneshvari.

Defeated by Mallik Kafur and became their vassal. Helped Mallik Kafur in his invasion of Hoysala and Kakatiya territory.

• Singhana III 1312 - 1313 C.E.
• Harapaladeva 1313 - 1318 C.E.
• Mallugi III 1318 - 1334 C.E.

Literature

Sanskrit

Hemadri patronised by king Ramachandra wrote Chaturvarga Chintamani, the great Mathematician Bhaskaracharya wrote Siddhanta Shiromani and Karnakutuhala. anantadeva wrote a commentary on Varahamihira's Brijajjataka and Brahmagupta's Brihatsputa siddhanta.

Kannada

Kamalabhava , patronised by Bhillama V wrote Santhishwarapurana, Achanna composed Varadhamanapurana in 1198, Amugideva composed many Vachanas or devotional songs. he was patronised by Singhana II. Chaundarasa of Pandharapur wrote Dashakumara Charite.

Marathi

Mukundaraja, the first great Marathi writer wrote Vivekasindhu. His earliest works were completed in 1190 C.E. Mahimabhatta wrote Lilacharita in 1238, Jnaneshvara, wrote Jnaneshvari, a commentary on the Bhagavadgita in 1290. he also composed devotional songs called abhangas.

Notes

1. According to Sanskrit work by Hemadri.
2. Dr. S.U. Kamat has pointd out this in his research (2001).
3. Dr. O.P. Varma has pointed out this in his research.
4. It has been identfied by Dr. Ritti in his research.
5. Dr. A.V. Narasimha Murthy is of the opinion.

Reference

• Dr. Suryanath U. Kamat, A concise History of Karnataka, 2001, MCC, Bangalore (Reprinted 2002)

• History of Karnataka
• Ruling clans of India
• Empires and kingdoms of India