The Vakataka was an Indian dynasty. They ruled in the today's parts of Maharashtra and Madya Pradesh from third century to fifth century and are the the most important follow-up dynasty of the Satavahana and are contemoraries to the Gupta.

The dynasty founder was called Vindhyashakti (250-270), which also the name of the goddess Vindhya mountains was. It was Brahman and probably came from there.

The next ruler was Pravarasena I. (270-330), which 60 years long, formed the realm governed to a great power and called themselves as a "all ruler". It has war with the Naga kings under course way.

Even the large conquerer of the Gupta , Samudragupta (335-380) seems to have avoided a war with the Vakataka. It is possible that the Rudradeva is identical in Samadraguptas victory inscription of Allahabad to Pravarasenas I's son Rudrasena I ( 330-355). But it can have concerned thereby no lasting success Samadraguptas. Samudragupta, ruler of the Gupta Empire (c. ...

Rudrasena I has son named Prithvisena I (355-380), and Prithvisena I has the son Rudrasena II At that time the state seems to have occasionally divided. Rudrasena II (380-385) married Prabhavatigupta, the daughter of the Gupta King Chandragupta II. (375-413/15). Rudrasena II died fortuitously after a very short reign in 385 AD, following which Prabhavatigupta ( 385 - 405) ruled as a regent on behalf of her two sons Divakarsena and Damodarsena ( Pravarsena II) for 20 years long. During this twenty year period the Vakataka realm was practically a part of the Gupta empire. Many historians refer to this period as the Vakataka-Gupta age. The period of prominence of the Gupta dynasty is very often referred to as the Golden Age of India. ... Silver coin of the Gupta King Kumara Gupta I (414-455) CE (Western territories). ...

Pravarsena Narendrasena (440-460), Vakataka influence spread to some central Indian states. Prithvisena II , the last known king of the line, who acceded to the throne around 470.

Rulers of Vakataka

• Vindhyashakti (250-270)
• Pravarasena I ( 270- 330)
• Rudrasena I ( 330 - 355 )
• Prithvisena I( 355 - 380 )
• Rudrasena II ( 380- 385 )
• Divakarasena ( 385- 400 )
• Prabhavatigupta (fem.), Regent (385- 405)
• Damodarasena (Pravarasena II) (400- 440)
• Narendrasena (440- 460)
• Prithvishena II (460- 480)

• Sarvasena
• Harishena ( 480- 510)

• emergence of the Chalukyas of Karnataka...
• To the Karnataka Empire 543-1317

Vatsagulma branch

After Pravarasena I the second line of his younger son Sarvasena was the Vatsagulma branch in Basim, in Akola district and occupied the area between the Sahydri Range and the Godavari River. They patronized some Buddhist caves at Ajanta. Ajanta takes the name after the village Ajinţhā in Aurangabad district in the state of Maharashtra(N. lat. ...

Harishena , a prince came later from a collateral line into Berar to power and . The end of the dynasty is unknown.

External links

• Rulers of Maharashtra
• History of Maharashtra