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Karnats of Mithila
The Karnats of Mithila[3] or Karnata dynasty (Karṇāṭa) was a dynasty established in 1097 CE by
Nanyadeva. The dynasty had its main stronghold in the citadel of Simraungadh which was
situated on the Bihar-Nepal border with excavations showing that parts of the fort were situated
in what is now Indian territory while the rest falls within what is now Nepalese territory.[4] The city
of Darbhanga also became the second capital during the reign of Gangadeva.[5] The kingdom
controlled the areas we today know as Tirhut or Mithila in the Bihar state of India and Nepal. This
region is bounded by the Mahananda River in the east, the Ganges in the south, the Gandaki
River in the west and by the Himalayas in the North.[6][7] Under the Karnats, Mithila enjoyed
almost full sovereignty from 1097 until 1324.[8]

According to French orientalist and indologist Sylvain Lévi, Nanyadeva established his supremacy
over Simraungadh probably with the help of the Chalukya king Vikramaditya VI.[9][10][11] After the
reign of Vikramaditya VI in 1076 CE, he led a successful military campaign against the Pala
dynasty and the Sena dynasty.[12][13] During the reign of Harisimhadeva, the Karnats also carried
out raids into Nepal with the Karnat army under the leadership of the general and minister,
Caṇḍeśvara Ṭhakkura.[14]

History

Origins

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Karnatas of Mithila
Karnata dynasty
1097 CE–1324 CE

MONGOL South Asia

EMPIRE 1250 CE
LOHA
QARLUGHIDS RAS MARYUL
GUGE

KUMAON
DELHI
SULTANATE
MAKRAN JAISALM ER
SULTANATE SOOMRAS M ARWARAM BER
(MAMLUKS) KARNATAS AHOM
KHANGARS
AM ARKOT CHEROS
GUHILAS BUNDELAS
CHANDELAS
VAGHELAS PARAMARAS
NAGVANSIS
CHUDASAMAS
EASTERN
YADAVAS GANGAS

KAKATIYAS
KADAMBAS
CHODAS
HOYSALAS
CHOLAS
CHERAS
PANDYAS
Pillar at Simroungarh
◁▷
The origins of the Karnats of Mithila (Karnas)
Approximate location of the Karnata dynasty,
lie within South India. Sena dynasty with contemporary polities circa 1250.[1][2]
inscriptions refer to Nanyadeva as Karnata- Capital Nanapura,
Champaran (First
Kulabhusana indicating that he had his origins
capital during
in the South (Vatapi, Karnataka) and likely Nanyadeva's reign)
Simraungadh (Main
arrived in the North through the Chalukya capital)
invasions. His ancestors were petty chieftains Darbhanga (Second
capital)
and adventurers in Eastern India and
Nanyadeva carved out his own kingdom in Common languages Maithili

Mithila.[15] Religion Hinduism

Government Monarchy
When Nanyadeva first arrived in the region in
Historical era Medieval India
1093 A.D., he originally established his
• Established 1097 CE
stronghold in Nanapura in Champaran, Bihar
• Disestablished 1324 CE
and referred to himself as
Preceded by Succeeded by
Mahashamantadhipati as confirmed by the
Pala Empire Delhi Sultanate
local traditions of Mithila. The title suggests
Oiniwar dynasty
that he was likely originally a commander in
the Chalukaya army. He later shifted his capital
to Simraungadh.[16]

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Nanyadeva's reign

The reign of Nanyadeva can be precisely dated by an inscribed stone pillar at Simraungadh which
says, translated into English, "In the Śaka year 1019, on Saturday, the 7th of śrāvaṇa, in the śvāti
(https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A
4%E0%A4%BF#Sanskrit) nakṣatra (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%95%E
0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0#Sanskrit) , king Nānyadeva took
the land."[17]: 234 This corresponds to a date of 10 July 1097 CE.[18]: 35 [note 1]

The Mithila region had formerly belonged to the Kalachuris of Tripuri. At some point (probably c.
1122), the Kalachuri king Yashahkarna appears to have invaded in an attempt to recapture the
territory. Based on the Berighati inscription, it seems that Yashahkarna's invasion caused
significant devastation to the region but was ultimately unsuccessful, and after his retreat in 1124
or 1125, the Kalachuris made no more attempts to reconquer the region.[17]: 240–1

Another event that happened during Nanyadeva's reign was a clash of some sort with the Sena
ruler Vijayasena, possibly because both of them were trying to win territory in the east. The
Deopara inscription, authored by the poet Umapatidhara under Vijayasena's direction, describes
Nanyadeva as a "defeated hero" who Vijayasena took as a prisoner. It says nothing about
Vijayasena conquering Mithila, though, so while he may have inflicted a major defeat on
Nanyadeva, Nanyadeva remained an independent ruler. Whatever the exact nature of this event,
it seems to have left Nanyadeva a "negligible factor in North Indian politics" compared to the
Senas and Gahadavalas.[17]: 243–51

At some point, possibly after the tussle with Vijayasena, Nanyadeva got involved in the Nepal
region. According to Upendra Thakur, Nanyadeva may have championed Śivadeva, a prince of
the Thakuri dynasty (which had been dethroned by another branch by around 1080), in his bid for
the throne. By doing so, he expanded his own influence in Nepal.[17]: 251 According to Sinha, the
relationship between Nanyadeva and Śivadeva (who ruled between c. 1118 and 1123) is more
uncertain – Nanyadeva may have supported Śivadeva, but they may have also been rivals.[18]: 49
The nature of Nanyadeva's authority in Nepal is also unclear. According to Thakur, Nanyadeva
probably had "a loose sort of hegemony over the princes of Nepal", with the local princes
recognising his nominal suzerainty but otherwise remaining mostly independent.[17]: 252–3

According to local tradition, Nanyadeva's original capital was at Nānyapura in the present-day
Champaran districts of Bihar, where ruins are still visible. Nepalese tradition, on the other hand,
says Nanyadeva had his capital at Simraungadh. Whenever the shift happened, Simraungadh

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went on to serve as the main capital for the later Karnat rulers, while Nānyapura ended up
becoming abandoned, and no later traditions or documents mention it.[17]: 241, 51–2

Nanyadeva also apparently wrote a commentary on the Nāṭyaśāstra.[18]: 50

Downfall

Harisimhadeva (r. 1295 to 1324 CE), the sixth descendant of Nanyadeva was the last Karnat
sovereign of Tirhut. During the later years of his reign, the Tughlaq dynasty came to power, which
ruled the Delhi Sultanate and most of Northern India from 1320 to 1413 CE. In 1324 CE, the
founder of the Tughlaq dynasty and Sultan of Delhi, Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, turned his attention
towards Bengal.[19][14] The Tughlaq army invaded Bengal. On his way back to Delhi, the Sultan
heard about Simraungarh, which was flourishing inside the jungle.[20] Harisimhadeva turned out
to be the last king of the Karnata dynasty as he didn't show his strength and left the fort when he
heard the news of an army of the Tughlaq Sultan approaching Simraungarh.[21] The Sultan and
his troop stayed there for 3 days and cleared the dense forest. Finally on day 3, the army attacked
and entered into the huge fort whose walls were tall and surrounded by 7 big ditches.[22]

The remains are still scattered all over the Simroungarh region. The king Harisimha Deva fled
northwards into what is now Nepal. The son of Harisimhadeva, Jagatsinghadeva, married the
widow princess of Bhaktapur, Nayak Devi.[23]

12th century Stone Inscription in the

Tirhuta script made during the reign
of Narsimhadeva

Architecture

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Statue of Brahma recovered from

Simraungadh

Inscriptions and artefacts related to Karnat dynasty have been found throughout the Mithila
region including in both Simraungadh and Darbhanga. From Simraungadh, steles have been
recovered that resemble Pala-Sena art. This was likely due to the close contact the kingdoms had
with each other due to being neighbours, which allowed for cultural exchange. Many of these
steles depict various Hindu goddesses and are typical of Bihar's artistic output in the second half
of the 12th century, especially in relation to the ornaments.[24]

Society

Under the Karnatas, Mithila operated as a feudal state. The landowning class held much of the
power and the Kings held absolute authority.[25] The writings of poet, Sridhara contain poems
detailing the depressed conditions of the peasantry who were subject to coercion from the
landlord class. Agriculture was the main profession practiced during this period as confirmed by
the writings of Jyotirishwar Thakur. Crafts and trade guilds were also present.[25]

The culture of Mithila was also orthodox and conservative and this conservatism was reinforced
by the institution of Kulinism which as per local tradition, was introduced by the final Karnat King,
Harisimhadeva.[25] This system provided an elite position to those belonging to certain
communities and is also linked with the introduction of the Panji Prabandh system which tracked
the genealogy of certain castes and this system still survives today. The introduction of Panjis can
be traced even further back and goes back to the reign of Nanyadeva.[25]

Religion

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As they belonged to warrior-class immigrants from the region of Karnataka, the Karnats generally
supported and patronised Hinduism. This is made clear from the inscriptions and images
associated with the dynasty that have been reported so far.[26] An inscribed of Vishnu has been
recovered from the village of Andhra Tharhi in Madhubani district and records that it was
donated by a Karnat minister by the name of Śrīdharaṇadāsa during the rule of Nanyadeva.[26]

Another inscribed was located in the village of Bhithbhagwanpur, this time of Lakshmi Narayana
and containing the writing, Om Sri Malladevasya which was left by the Karnat prince, Malladeva
who kept his stronghold in the village. Brahmanical sculptures have continued to be found
throughout Mithila during the Karnat period.[26]

Legacy

Under the Karnatas, Mithila experienced a period of relative peace which allowed for authors,
poets and artists to receive royal patronage. The Maithili language grew strongly during this
period as new literature and folk songs were created. The philosopher, Gangeśa Upādhyāya,
introduced the Navya-Nyāya school of thought which remained active in India until the 18th
century. The general religious attitude of the people was conservative and the priestly aristocracy
of Maithil Brahmins dominated the royal court.[27] The Varna Ratnakara of Jyotirishwar Thakur
was also composed during the reign of Harisimhadeva.[28]

Later Karnats

After Harisimhadeva fled Mithila, evidence exists of Karnat Kings still ruling some parts of the
region up to the 15th century during the same time when the Oiniwar dynasty controlled central
Mithila. In Champaran, the ruler was Prithvisimhadeva and his successors including
Madansimhadeva. Their territory extended up to Gorakhpur district. Prithvisimhadeva was
considered to be a descendant of Harisimhadeva. Other remnants of the Karnat dynasty were
also found in Saharsa and Madhepura districts, where inscriptions have been found that refer to a
ruler called Sarvasimhadeva.[29]

Descendants

It is said that after his defeat, Harisimhadeva fled to Kathmandu where his descendants became
the founders of the Malla dynasty of Kathmandu. The Mallas were noted to be great patrons of

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the Maithili language.[30]

It is also said that another branch of the Karnats remained in Mithila and their descendants
became the Gandhavariya Rajputs of North Bihar who held many chiefdoms in the region.[31][32]

Rulers

There is debate as to who succeeded Nanyadeva as ruler of the Karnat dynasty of Mithila as he
had two sons, Gangadeva and Malladeva. Most scholars agree that Gangadeva was the ruler.
However, it is generally accepted that Malladeva formed his own stronghold in the village of
Bheet-Bhagwanpur.[5] The rulers of Karnat dynasty are as follows:

S.N. Name of the rulers Timeline Notes

1 Nanyadeva[33] 1097 - 1147 CE[34]

2 Gangadeva[33] 1147 - 1187 CE[34]

3 Narsimhadeva[33] 1187 - 1227 CE[34]

4 Ramasimhadeva[33] 1227 - 1285 CE[34]

5 Shaktisimhadeva[33] 1285 - 1304 CE[34]

6 Harisimhadeva[33] 1304 - 1324 CE[34]

See also

• Simraungadh

Notes

1. A slightly different date – 18 July 1097 – is given in the Nepalese Muditakuvalayāśva, which was written
by Jagjyotiramala in 1628.[18]: 35

References

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net.505783/mode/2up) . Darbhanga: Mithila Institute. Retrieved 30 August 2023.

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s://www.jstor.org/stable/44145321) . Proceedings of the Indian History Congress. 33: 118–125.

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