Rajarsitulyakula

This article is about the dynasty in India also called Sura. For other uses, see Sura (disambiguation).

Rajarsitulyakula was a royal house that controlled Dakshina Kosala in India. They were also known as the Sura dynasty and were succeeded by the Parvatadvarkas.

Rajarsitulyakula of Arang
4th century-5th century (Vassal of the Gupta Empire) 5th century-6th century (Independent kingdom)
Capital	Arang
Religion	Hinduism
Government	Monarchy
History
• Established	4th century
• Disestablished	6th century
Preceded by Succeeded by Gupta Empire Vakataka dynasty Parvatadvaraka dynasty Nala dynasty
Today part of	India

History

South Kosala had been in control of the Vakatakas for almost 60 years. After the death of Harishena, the last Vakataka king, South Kosala went into the hands of the regional Rajarsitulyakula.^[1] Their capital was located at Arang. The founder of the Rajarsitulyakula dynasty was Sura.^[2][3] This dynasty flourished in the 6th or 5th century.^[4][3]

The rulers used the Gupta Samvat or calendar, which shows that the rulers of this dynasty accepted the Gupta authority.^[5][6] 2 coins of the Gupta rulers have been found here, of Samudragupta and Kumaragupta I.^[4][5] Maharaja Bhimasena II issued the Arang copper plate inscription through which we get to know about the rulers of the dynasty.^[2][3] V. V. Mirashi identifies Bhimasena as the enemy of Skandavarman Nala. Skandavarman perhaps occupied their territory about 500 A.D.^[7]

The Rajarsitulyak was succeeded by the Parvatadvarkas.^[1]

List of rulers

The known Rajarsitulyakula rulers are-^[3][4]

• Maharaja Sura
• Maharaja Dayita I alias Dayitavarman I
• Maharaja Bhimasena I
• Maharaja Dayitavarman II
• Maharaja Bhimasena II (c. 501 or 601–?)^[2]