Nasik

Nasik (also spelt as Nashik) is a city in western India in the state of Maharashtra. Nashik is located in the north-west of Maharashtra near Gujarat state, 171 km (106 mi) from Mumbai and 210 km (130 mi) from Pune and is the administrative headquarters of the Nashik District and Nashik Division. With a population of 1.9 million, Nasik is the third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune.

In terms of area it is second largest city after Mumbai. and Nashik district is the eleventh most populous district in India.

Nashik is said to be the abode of Lord Rama during his 14 years in exile here. It is located on the banks of the Godavari which originates in the south-west of the city at Trimbakeshwar. It is one of the four places in the world where the Kumbh Mela is held making it one of the holiest Hindu cities. The city is a site for more than 100 ancient temples including the Kalaram Temple and Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple.

The Anjaneri (or Anjneri) mountain, located 7 km from Trimbakeshwar in the Nasik district, is also claimed as the birthplace of Hanuman.

Nashik ranks 16th in a global study of fastest developing city conducted by The City Mayors Foundation, an international think tank on urban affairs and has witnessed significant economic progress in the last decade. The Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project has earmarked the Sinnar and Igatpuri regions of Nashik district as a region for development of dedicated freight corridors. The city is also known as the Wine Capital of India since it accounts to a large amount of the country’s grape export and there are many vineyards in and around Nashik. It also plays an utmost important role in agriculture. Onion, tomatoes and many other vegetables are exported from Nashik to various parts of the world. In addition, Nashik is known for its picturesque surroundings, climate and tourism.

The city got its present name in 1818 when the Peshwas got control of the city. The Peshwa rule however, did not last long and the British captured Nashik in the very same year. In 1840, one of the first modern libraries of Maharashtra (then, the Presidency of Bombay) was founded at Nashik.

Mauryan Dynasty :

Nashik region was included in Mauryan Kingdom, As per inscription issued by Dharma Maha Matra of Ashoka found at Devtek in Chandrapur district . The inscription states capturing and killing of animals . Also rock-edicts of Ashoka mention the Rashtrika-Petenikas and the Bhoja-Petenikas. According to many scholars, Petenikas were inhabitants of Pratishthana, the Rashtrikas ruled as Maharathis, while the Bhojas held Vidarbha. This region was ruled by vassals of mauryan kingdom (Satvahan ancestors-regional chieftain of Mauryan Empire).

Satavahana Dynasty (207 BC – 199 AD) :

Just 50 years after king Ashoka death Satavahana came into prominence in Western Maharashtra. its founder was Simuka. Just after Simuka ended his rule, his brother Krishna took control of the throne. It was during reign of Krishna, Nashik region was included in the Satavahana Empire. Krishna left an inscription in the cave which he excavated for budhist monks near nashik. Next Ruler for Dynasty was Satakarni I. After his death his wife, Nayanika/naganika Satakarni took control of throne on Behalf his sons, Vedishri and Shaktishri, Naneghat inscription describes Vedishri as a very brave king, who was a unique warrior on the earth and was the lord of Dakshinapatha (Deccan). Many years after vedishree reign, most of Satavahana territories like Malwa, Nashik, Kathiawar of Maharashtra were conquered by Shaka Kshatrapas . Nahapana a Shaka Kshatrapa probably appointed by the contemporary Kushana Emperor, was ruling over Konkan, Poona, Nasik and some other districts of Maharashtra as well as some portion of Central India as far north as Ajmer.

It was Nahapana who excavated pandav-leni . Several inscriptions of his son-in-law Ushavadata (Sanskrit, Rishabhadatta) have been incised in the Pandu-lena caves near Nasik. Ushavadata was the son of Dinika and had married Dakshamitra, the daughter of Nahapana. These records in the Nasik caves describe the charities and conquests of Ushavadata, who was evidently governing Northern Maharashtra and Konkan on behalf of his father-in-law. He got a cave excavated in the Trirashmi hill near Nasik and assigned it to the Buddhist monks.Later Gautamiputra Satakarni defeated Nahapana of shaka dynasty and regained the satavahana honour. He made a daring dash into Vidarbha and occupied Benakata (or the Wainganga district). Thereafter, he invaded Western Maharashtra and defeated Nahapana somewhere in the Nasik district. the Shaka king accepts satavahna vassalage. This is shown by his inscription in one of the Nasik caves, wherein he is called Benakatakasvami or the lord of Benakata (Wainganga district). According to inscription, the king’s mother, Gautami Balsari, writes about her son as follows: ‘…who crushed the pride and conceit of the Kshatriyas [the native Indian princes / Rajputs of Rajputana, Gujarat and central India]; who destroyed the Shakas [Western Kshatrapas], Yavanas [Indo-Greeks] and Pahlavas [Indo-Parthians]… who rooted out the Khakharata family [the Kshatrapas of Nahapana]…’. After defeating Nahapana, Gautamiputra called back his silver coins and restruck them. The hoard discovered at Jogal Tembhi in the Nasik district contained more than 10,000 silver coins so restruck.

After Gautamiputra Satakarni most noteworthy successor was Yajnashri Satakari. He conquered all Maharashtra. this can be seen in inscriptions and coins that have been found over a large area. They show that he ruled over a large kingdom extending from Konkan in the west to Andhra desha in the east. He issued among other types the ship-type lead coins indicative of his rule on the maritime province of the Coromandel coast. Within fifty years after Yajnashri Satakarni the rule of the Satavahanas came to an end.By mid of 3rd century the Satvahan Kingdom fragamented into various parts, each having ruler who claims to be Satvahan descendent . The Satavahanas were liberal patrons of learning and religion. The early kings of the family performed Vedic sacrifices and lavished gifts on the Brahmanas. Krishna, Gautamiputra, Pulumavi and Yajnashri excavated caves and donated villages to provide for the maintenance, clothing and medicines of the Buddhist monks. During this period Nashik was very prosperous. It laid on trade route from Tagara and Pratishthana to Broach and was an important trading centre. The Nashik silk was so famous that so many European historian believe that the stylo of silk and gold brocade that Marco Polo (1290) found being woven at Baghdad and called as nasich and nac originally came from Nashik. These silks were known in Europe in the fourteenth century as nac, nacquts, nachis, naciz, and nasis.

Abhira And Ahir Dynasty (220-377 AD) :

After fall of Satavahana empire, Abhira Dynasty came into prominence, the Abhiras or Ahirs ruled in the north east and the Chutus in Maharashtra and Kuntala. The Puranas state that ten Abhiras ruled for, 67 years. The Nashik inscription peaks of king Madhuriputra Ishvarasena, the Abhir and a son of Shivadatla. This dynasty originated in A.D. 249-50, an era called Kalachuri or Chedi in later times. During this time Nashik was called as Triashmi by some Sanskrit poets of Tribes.The founder of the Abhira dynasty was Rajan Ishvarasena, the son of Shivadatta, who has left an inscription in cave IX at Nasik. It records the investment of hundreds of Karshapanas in certain guilds at Nasik for providing medicines for the sick among the Buddhist mendicants residing in the Viharas of Trirashmi. Ishvarasena started an era commencing in A.D. 250, which later became known as the Kalachuri-Chedi era. The earlier dates of this era come from Northern Maharashtra, Gujarat, Central India and Vidarbha. Judging by the expansion of this era, Ishvarasena and his descendants seem to have ruled a large territory comprising Gujarat, Konkan and Northern Maharashtra. Ishvarasena was followed by nine other kings of the family . They state that they rule for 167 years.

Traikutakas (490 AD) :

The Traikutakas took their family name from the mountain Trikuta which borders the Nasik district on the west. The names of three Traikutaka kings, viz., Indradatta, Dahrasena and Vyaghrasena have become known from their inscriptions and coins found in the Nasik district and Gujarat. Dahrasena performed an Ashvamedha and was, therefore, an independent king. A copper-plate grant discovered at Pardi in the Surat district records the donation, by Dahrasena, of the village Kaniyas-Tadakasarika in the Antarmandali vishaya to a Brahmana residing at Kapura.Dahrasena was succeeded by his son Vyaghrasena who had to acknowledge the supremacy of the Vakataka king Harishena. His copper-plate grant, dated in the year 241 (A.D. 490) of the Abhira era was discovered at Surat and records the donation of the village Purohita-palIika.

Vishnukundins :

After the downfall of the Vakatakas in the beginning of the sixth century A.D. Vidarbha was occupied for some time by the Vishnukundin king Madhavavarman I. He married a Vakataka princess who was probably a daughter or some other near relative of the last known Vakataka Emperor Harishena. He took advantage of the opportunity afforded by the downfall of the Vakatakas and extended his dominion far and Wide. He performed several Vedic sacrifices including eleven Ashvamedhas. That he had brought even Western Maharashtra under his rule is shown by his copper-plate grant discovered at Khanapur in the Satara district. His grandson Madhavavarman II describes himself as the lord of Trikuta and Malaya. So he may have ruled in Western Maharashtra for some time.

Kalachuris (550-573 AD) :

The Vishnukundins were, however, ousted from Maharashtra and Vidarbha by the Kalachuri king Krishnaraja, who rose to power in about A.D. 550. He ruled from Mahishmati, modern Maheshvara, in the former Indore State. His coins have been found over a wide territory extending from Rajputana in the north to Maharashtra in the south in the village Devlana in the Baglan taluka of the Nasik district. The hoard comprised 82 coins. The coins were known as Krishnarajarupakas and have been mentioned in the Anjaneri plates dated in the year 461 of the Abhira era (corresponding to A.D. 710-11). They were therefore in circulation for at least 150 years after the time of Krishnaraja.Krishnaraja was succeeded by his son Shankaragana, whose copper plate, grant has been discovered at Abhona in the Nasik District.It is dated in the year 347 of the Abhira era, corresponding to A.D. 597.The grant shows that Shankaragana was, like his father, ruling over an extensive kingdom stretching from Malva in the north to at least the Nasik and Aurangabad districts in the south.Shankaragana was succeeded by his son Buddharaja, who was involved in a struggle with the Chalukya king Mangalesha on the southern frontier of his kingdom soon after his accession.

Chalukyas of Badami (543 AD-754 AD) :

The Chalukyas of Badami rose to power in the first half of the sixth century A.D. The Badami stone inscription of Pulakeshin I, who is the first independent ruler of this dynasty, is dated in A.D.543. He performed the Ashvamedha and several other Shrauta sacrifices. He was succeeded by his son Kirtivarman I, who made some conquests in South India and is described as the night of destruction to the Nalas (of the Bastar district), the Mauryas of Konkan and the Kadambas of Vanavasi (in North Kanara).When Kirtivarman died,his younger brother Mangalesha succeeded him. Mangalesha’s reign ended in disaster and he lost his life in a civil war with his nephew Pulakeshin II.The capital of Pulakesin II in the beginning of his reign was Badami in the Bijapur district.The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang calls him the lord of Maharashtra. This shows that he must have visited him somewhere in Maharashtra.Several identifications of his capital have been proposed by scholars from the description of it given by the Chinese pilgrim, but the most likely view seems to be that of Fleet and Burgess, who identify it with Nasik. Pulakeshin’s grant dated in the Shaka year 552 (A.D. 630) was found at Lohaner in the Baglana taluka of the Nasik district. It is dated in the Shaka year 552 (A.D. 630) and records Pulakeshin’s grant of the village Goviyanaka to a Brahmana residing at Lohanagara (modern Lohaner).

Pulakeshin was killed in battle at Badami in circa A.D. 642 by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman, who conquered Vatapi and assumed the title of Vatapi-konda (the conqueror of Vatapi).Pulakeshin II was succeeded by his son Vikramaditya I (A.D. 655-681), after a long continued struggle. He appointed his younger brother Dharashraya-Jayasimha to govern South Gujarat, North Konkan and the Nasik district. Jayasimha’s Nasik plates are dated in the Abhira year 436 (A.D. 685) and record his grant of the village Dhondhaka on the occasion of the Vishuva or vernal equinox. Dhondhaka is identical with Dhondegaon, 12 miles north by west of Nasik. From two land-grants recently discovered at Anjaneri, a village near Trimbak in the Nasik district, we have come to know of a feudatory family which ruled over Northern Konkan and the Nasik district in the seventh and eighth centuries A.D. This family claimed descent from Harishchandra, the famous legendary king of the Solar race. Svamichandra, who rose to power in the reign of Vikramaditya I, was the founder of this family, and flourished in circa A.D. 660. Three generations of this family are known from the two sets of Anjaneri plates-Svamichandra, his son Simhavarman and the latter’s son Bhogashakti alias Prithivichandra, who made the two grants. One of them is dated in the year 461 of the Abhira era, corresponding to A.D. 710-11. It records the grant of eight villages and certain rites, dues and taxes in favour of the god Narayana, who was named Bhogeshvara evidently after king Bhogashakti, and was installed in a temple at Jayapura, modern Jarwar Budrukh near Anjaneri.The second set of Anjaneri plates tells us that Bhogashakti granted certain right, privileges and exemptions to the merchants of Samagiripattana when he resettled the town and the neighbouring villages some time after their devastation. Bhogashakti’s successor was probably overthrown by the Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga, who, from his Ellora plates, is known to have occupied the Nasik district some time before A.D. 715. Kirtivarman, the last of the Early Chalukyas, was defeated by Dantidurga some time before A.D. 754, when lie issued his Samangad plates. Kirtivarman continued to rule for a few years more, but he had lost the paramount position in the Deccan.

Rashtrakuta Dynasty (754 AD-950 AD) :

The Rashtrakutas who succeeded the Chalukya in the Deccan originally hailed from Lattalura. When they rose to power they were probably residing in the Aurangabad district, where their earlier records have been found. Dantidurga was the real founder of the Rashtrakuta imperial power. Dantidurga made extensive conquests. Dantidurga was succeeded by his uncle Krishna I. who completed the conquests and shattered the power of the Early Chalukyas completely. Krishna I was not only a great conqueror but also a great builder. The Rashtrakuta family produced several great conquerors who boldly invaded North and South India and achieved memorable victories such as Druva, Govinda II. Several copper-plate grants of Govinda III have been found in the Vidarbha and Marathwada Divisions of Maharashtra. It is not possible to give a description of all of them, but we may refer to that discovered in the Nasik district. A set of plates was discovered at Wani in the Dindori taluka of the Nasik district. It was issued by Govinda III and is dated in the Shaka year 730 (A.D. 808) and records the grant of Ambakagram in the Vatanagara vishaya in the Nasikadesha to Brahmana Damodarabhatta, an inhabitant of Vengi, who belonged to the community of the Chaturvedins of that place . Govinda III was succeeded by his son Amoghavarsha I. who was a man of peaceful disposition, but whose reign was full of troubles. In later years The Rashtrakuta feudatories, who rose in rebellion against Govinda IV, deposed him and placed his uncle Baddiga-Amogha varsha III on the throne. The latter was a man of quiet nature and spiritual temperament, who left the administration of the kingdom entirely to his ambitious and able son Krishna III. Like some of his illustrious ancestors, Krishna III also led an expedition in North India and captured the forts of Kalanjara and Chitrakuta. He succeeded his father in A.D. 939.

Chalukyas (?A.D-1157AD) :

The Rashtrakuta power became weak after the death of Krishna III. Within six years his large empire crumbled to pieces like a house of cards. Tailap II, the founder of the Later Chalukya dynasty, who was a Mahasamanta of the Rashtrakutas, suddenly came into prominence. The Paramara king Vakpati Munja planned to invade the Chalukya dominion but his wise minister Rudraditya advised him not to cross the Godavari, which was the boundary between the Chalukya and Paramara dominions. Munja did not heed his advice and was taken prisoner by Tailapa. He was placed in a prison where he was waited upon by Tailapa’s sister Mrinalavati. He fell in love with her and foolishly disclosed to her the plan of his escape. She communicated it to Tailapa, who is said to have made him beg from door to door and then beheaded him. One of the noteworthy successor after Talipa II was the most famous is Vikramaditya VI, the founder of the Chalukya-Vikrama Samvat. He ascended the throne in A.D. 1075. Tailap III, the last Chalukya king, was overthrown by the Kalachuri Bijjala, who was his Commander-in-Chief, in A.D. 1157.

Yadavas ( ?-1318 AD) :

In the last quarter of the twelfth century A.D. the Yadavas of Devagiri came into prominence. They had previously been ruling over Seunadesha (Khandesh) as feudatories of the Chalukyas of Kalyani. The founder of the family was Dridhaprahara, the son of Subahu. His capital was Shrinagara as stated in the Vratakhanda, while from an early inscription it appears to have been Chandradityapura, which is identified with the modern Chandor in the Nasik district. His son and successor was Seunachandra, from whom the country ruled over by him came to be known as Seunadesha. This corresponds to modern Khandesh. It comprised the country extending from Nasik to Devagiri.King Seunachandra established city called Seunpur/Sindiner (sinnar). From a stone inscription found at Anjaneri near Nasik it appears that there was a minor branch of the Yadava family ruling at Anjaneri. Seunadeva of this branch made some grant to a Jain temple. Seunadeva calls himself Mahasamanta and evidently was dependent on the main branch. This family ruled over a small district of which Anjaneri was the chief city. there were many noteworthy rulers in the Yadava dynasty . In A D. 1294 Ala-ud-din Khilji invaded the kingdom of Ramachandra and suddenly appeared before the gates of Devagiri. Ramachandra was taken unawares and could not hold out long. He had to pay a heavy ransom to the Muslim conqueror. He continued, however, to rule till A.D. 1310 at least; for the aforementioned Purushottampuri plates are dated in that year. He was succeeded by his son Shankaragana some time in A.D. 1311. He discontinued sending the stipulated tribute to Delhi. He was then defeated and slain by Malik Kafur. Some time thereafter, Harapaladeva, the son-in-law of Ramachandra, raised an insurrection and drove away the Muhammedans, but his success was short-lived. The Hindu kingdom of Devagiri thus came to an end in A.D. 1318.During their rule a peculiar style of architecture called Hemadpanti after Hemadri or Hemadpant, a minister of Mahadeva and Ramachandra came into vogue. Temples built in this style are found in all the districts of Maharashtra.Marathi literature also flourished in the age of the Yadavas. Chakradhara, who propagated the Mahanubhava cult in that age, used Marathi as the medium of his religious teaching. Following his example, several of his followers composed literary works in Marathi.

Maratha period :

Nashik area was under control of Mughals till ‘Aurangjeb’s death i.e. 1747A.D. After 1747 A.D. Nashik area fully came under Maratha kingdom.

Chieftain Naroshankar Raje Bahadar built Rameshwara temple and hung Naroshankar bell over there.
Kapaleshwara temple was built in 1738 A.D.
Chieftain Chandrachud built Sundar Narayana temple in 1756A.D.
Chieftain Aadekar rebuilt Kalaram temple in 1790A.D.
Nijam Ul Mulk Asaf Jahan’ died in 1748A.D. and his son Nasir Jung became king. After Bajirao’s death his elder son Nanasaheb became new Peshava. But in this new kingdom era also, Nijam and Maratha conflicts were continued. Nasir Jung got murdered in 1751A.D. and Nijam’s third son took the authority. He attacked Marathas from Aurangabad with the help of French people. But Marathas and Nijam’s third son were agreed on peace talks and battle got cancelled in 1752A.D. According to these peace talks Marathas received all Khandesh area between Godavari and Tapi river under their rule. In 1751A.D, after Nijam’s death Marathas started using the name ‘Nashik’ for the city. As it was called ‘Gulshanabad’ in Nijam’s rule. In 1760-61 A.D, after ‘Salabat Jung’s defeat, Nashik was an important city for Peshavas.
In 1761 A.D. Madhavrao became new Peshava, after Nanasaheb’s death.
1763A.D. – Vinayak Rao abandoned Nashik, Junnar and Sangamner cities. Peshavas appointed Balaji Sakharam as governor of a Bagal province.
Peshava’s were ruling this area till 1818A.D. Thomas Hyslow andbritish army conquered Kopargaon and north side of Chandwad in 1818A.D.
They conquered Thalner from Khandesh area, Chandwad fort on 7th March 1818. At the end of March 1818A.D, British army conquered total Nashik area in battle with Holkars.