A historical Review of the Nalvansh of Bastar

Abstract

The development of civilization starts from the Stone Age. During this period, the people living in Bastar also used to make sharp tools of stone and lived in river drains and caves. This is evidenced by the equipment available on the banks of Indravati and Narangi rivers. In the Vedic age, Bastar was included in the Dakshinapatha. Dandakaranya finds mention in the Ramayana period. Ashoka, the great ruler of the Maurya dynasty, attacked Kalinga (Orissa),  In this war, the soldiers of Dandakaranya supported Kalinga. Even after the conquest of Kalinga, Ashok could not get the kingdom of Dandakaranya. Samudragupta attacked in Dandakaranya during the time of Vakataka ruler Rudrasen I. He defeated 12 kings of Dakshinapatha. In 350 AD, Samudragupta defeated King Mahendra of South Kosala (who was the Karad feudator of Vakataka) and King Vyaghraraj of Mahakantar. The kingdom of Nalvansh in Bastar is believed to be from 290 AD to 950 AD.