Tripuri : History and Culture
Contents: Preface. History: 1. Tripuri and its environments. 2. Traditional history and antiquity. 3. Political history from Maurya to Gupta period. 4. The Kalachuris of Mahismati. 5. The Kalachuris of Tripuri-I. 6. The Kalachuris of Tripuri-II. 7. The Kalachuris of Tripuri-III. Culture: 8. Society. 9. Economic conditions. 10. Religion. 11. Literature. 12. Art. 13. Coinage. Appendices. Bibliography. Index.
"The track covered by Tripuri and the adjacent areas is undoubtedly one of the oldest regions known to Indian tradition. Recognized as the land of the Chedis, which formed one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas, the site and the legends associated with it has repeatedly been referred to in the Mahabharata, the Matsya, Padma and Skanda Puranas and several literary works of later age. Repeated archaeological excavations conducted at the site has proved its antiquity at least up to 1000 B.C.
The site came into prominence when inscribed coins with legend "Tipuri" datable to c. 2 cent. B.C. were discovered in explorations and excavations. Earlier, the discovery of the Rupnath edict of Asoka had proved dominance of Mauryan rule over this region. Numismatic evidences have proved the rule over this region during the post-Mauryan period by the Satavahanas, the Bodhis, the Dattas, the Senas, the Maghas, the Guptas and their feudatories -- the Parivrajaka Maharajas.
It was in the middle of the 9 century A.D., that the Kalachuris established their rule over this region and made Tripuri as their capital. Their unbroken rule for five hundred years till the fall of the dynasty in the second half of the 14 century A.D. is the golden chapter in the history not only of this region but the entire Central India. The power and prestige of rulers like Gangeyadeva and Karna (the Hindu Napolean) was felt all over the country. Many are the issues related to the decline and fall of this dynasty and these have been ably discussed by the author with latest archaeological evidences.
The book covers not only the Political History of Tripuri but throws flood of light on the various aspects of cultural history. No stone has been unturned by the author to make the book as up-to-date as possible." (jacket)
