A New Light on the Nalas of Chhattisgarh

Summary

This article reconstructs the history of the Nala dynasty, which ruled parts of Chhattisgarh (South Kosala) during the fifth and sixth centuries CE. Building on newly discovered inscriptions and copper‑plate charters, the author aims to clarify the genealogy and chronology of Nala kings and reassess their political significance. The dynasty is traditionally associated with kings such as Bhavadatta and Arthapati, but recent finds allow a more precise sequence. The article discusses the Podagada and Ghumli plates and inscriptions from Bastar and surrounding regions that shed light on the Nalas’ territorial extent and relations with neighbouring dynasties. The author argues that the Nalas were contemporaries of the Vakatakas and that Bhavadatta was a contemporary of the Vakataka prince Narendrasena (r. c. 440–460 CE). The article examines titles used by the Nala kings—such as “Maharaja” and “Paramabhattaraka”—and interprets their epithets as evidence of sovereignty rather than vassalage. The narrative suggests that Skandavarman, son of Bhavadatta, repopulated the town of Pushkari (modern Podagada) and commissioned temples and inscriptions. After the reign of Skandavarman, the dynasty declined and retreated into the forests of Bastar, where they are mentioned only indirectly in later inscriptions. The author emphasises that the new evidence shows the Nalas played a more prominent role in central Indian politics than previously thought. By situating the Nala dynasty within the broader context of Indian history, the article provides insights into the fluidity of regional power dynamics and the importance of epigraphy in reconstructing early medieval history.