Different regions were distributed amongst various Maratha Sardars for such revenue collection campaigns. The king’s chief military contingent used to be under the Peshwa’s and Commander-in-Chief’s control. They had Shahu’s standing orders, to secure the regions by quickly campaigning to wherever needed.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2023/05/20/distribution-of-responsibilities/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Era of Bajirao Uday S Kulkarni ISBN-10-8192108031 ISBN-13-978-8192108032.

My first guess would be that they were too far from Pataliputra, but Mauryans literally had parts of Iran under them, so I doubt if distance would be an issue.

Samudragupta of Gupta Empire did capture Kanchipuram but for some reason not the entire deep south.

1. Origins

In the shadowed mists of ancient India, a mysterious dynasty emerged — the Western Gangas. While the mighty Pallava empire waned, local clans vied for power, yet it was the Western Gangas who seized their chance. Legends whisper of their founders claiming descent from the Solar Dynasty, tracing their roots to distant lands and bringing with them a strange blend of faith and ambition. Their capital, Kolar, lay hidden amid rugged terrains, but it wouldn’t be their final stronghold. Soon, they would shift their power to Talakadu by the banks of the Kaveri River, an enigmatic move that would cement their rule

2. Greatest ruler

With the ascension of King Durvinita, the Western Ganga dynasty found its most formidable ruler. Durvinita was no ordinary king; his knowledge spanned music, Ayurveda, even the art of taming wild elephants. But his ascent was steeped in blood and betrayal. His father’s preference for Durvinita’s younger brother plunged the kingdom into a violent succession battle, pitting brother against brother. To secure his throne, Durvinita didn’t hesitate to clash with powerful foes, including the Pallavas. His victories earned him a reputation of near-mythical proportions — the people saw in him a ruler as wise as Yudhishthira and as just as Manu .

3. Alliance

The Gangas navigated alliances with precision. Feuding with ancient dynasties like the Chalukyas and Pallavas, they later found an uneasy alliance with the Rashtrakutas. A marriage between Ganga prince Butuga and a Rashtrakuta princess sealed their bond, intertwining their fates. Yet this was no mere political convenience — it was an alliance forged for survival in the brutal landscape of ancient India, where a single misstep could mean annihilation. With each battle fought and each alliance secured, the Gangas tightened their hold over their territory, knowing that danger lurked just beyond the horizon

4. End

As the 10th centurark clouds loomed over Gangavadi. From the south, the fierce Chola dynasty, newly empowered under Rajaraja Chola I, marched northward with relentless ambition. Despite fierce resistance, the Gangas’ power waned under the Chola onslaught, and in a final, desperate struggle, they fell. The dynasty’s rule, which had spanned over six centuries, came to an end in blood and fire. With the conquest of Gangavadi, the Cholas took control of the Western Ganga territories, and an era of mystery, power, and intrigue faded into history — yet the legacy of the Western Gangas, etched into temples and texts, endures as a haunting echo from Karnataka’s distant past

Sources:

1. Ramesh, K.V. History of South I. University Press, 2002.

2. Sastri, Nilakanta. A History of South India from Prehistoric Times to the Fall of Vijayanagar. Oxford University Press, 1955.

3. Kamath, Suryanath U. A Concise History of Karnataka: From Prehistoric Times to the Present. Jupiter Books, 2001.

4. Sen, Sailendra. Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International, 1999.

5. Narasimhacharya, R. History of Kannada Literature. Asian Educational Services, 1988.

6. Jain, A.K. Jainism in Southern Karnataka. Sharada Publishing House, 2001.

7. Rice, B.L. Mysore: A Gazetteer Compiled for Government. Asian Educational Services, 1996.

8. Majumdar, R.C. Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 2016.

The Mahajanapadas i.e the set of kingdoms that existed in ancient India from the sixth to fourth centuries BCE (like Kuru, Magadha etc). Was there any sense of unity between them? Of course not like the modern sense of unity as a country but at least a sort of cultural unity which might lead to a European Union kind of situation? The usage of Sanskrit as the court/elite language might be a factor which could differentiate them from places like Iran.

If they called each other's kingdom "Mahajanapada" and not kingdoms outside of the Indian subcontinents, there must be a mutual understanding among them.

Who spoke the Dravidian languages, was it the AASI? Did the Iranian farmers speak Indo-European languages? Please do explain

Did Medieval Indians know about Mauryan empire and Gupta empire during the rule of Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire?

Is this theory actually true?

When did this theory came to existence and how?

There has been claims that Nalanda burnt to 6 months, some even more. There has to be many documents which have been lost to that fire which are lost forever. What could have been in those documents and how their existence would have altered our current history?

Mohanjodaro

@mods can we please restrict "if this would have happened, how would today look like" kind of questions like r/history does?

Thes round of questions basically ask how today would look like if we would change a single variable while ignoring the rest of the variables and randomosity. These questions just lead to more idiocy in questions and answers.

For the sake of providing good answers and keeping this community solid, I urge you to consider this.

What would have been the case if india became a Buddhist majority. How will the politics change?

What is the 'Mahratta Desh' mentioned in Al Biruni's record? Is it similar in meaning to "Rajputana" for the Rajputs, as in "Mahratta Desh" for the Mahrattas (an early form of the word Maratha)?

So I was just sitting at home, and this thought crossed my mind: North Indian weddings always include a Mehendi ceremony as a key ritual, but as you go further south—like in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and other states—it’s not considered a mandatory function in the same way. Yes, people still apply Mehendi, but it’s not an essential part of the wedding rituals.

So my question is, did Mehendi originate in India? And how did it become a part of wedding rituals here?

https://preview.redd.it/iz1tei0cavzd1.png?width=841&format=png&auto=webp&s=4c3890c926fb0e27b6f635eab74dcdd3aa659ee9

why are they all smiling in the courtroom?

I think if there had been no partition of India and Pakistan, India today would definitely be a superpower, and could even surpass China, with a population of 1.8 billion, the Indus and Ganges rivers, big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lahore, Karachi, and wealthy provinces like Punjab, Bengal, and Maharashtra, and sufficient labor, which would allow it to complete industrialization well. Its geopolitical influence would also be much greater than it is now, and it could intervene in the affairs of the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and even East Asia...

However, all imaginations vanished in 1947. After the partition of India and Pakistan, India lost a large part of its territory, and provinces such as Punjab and Bengal were fragmented...

Although India is a powerful country today, it is geographically incomplete and no longer has the possibility of becoming a superpower. Their political influence is limited to South Asia, and they are entangled with their brother country Pakistan. They are not as concerned about international affairs as China...

I feel that the disastrous consequences of the partition of India and Pakistan are absolutely comparable to the establishment of Israel in the Palestinian region or the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is one of the most influential geopolitical events in the 20th century, but it has been ignored by many people...

What is the real history behind Adam's Bridge/Ram Setu?

three of them defeated the Islamic invaders and others but their contributions are not so discussed compared to that of shivaji,maharana pratap and krishnadevaraya etc.

In this alternate timeline, Hemchandra misses the arrow by a few inches and survives the battle. The Suri army, being superior to Bairam Khan's forces, wins the war, forcing Akbar to flee to Safavid Persia, much like his father, Humayun.

Would Hemchandra remain king, or would Islam Shah take the throne?

How would this outcome affect Indian history?

I will admit that I have a shallow knowledge of this topic in particular but from what I've read, Jinnah was concerned about Muslims being outnumbered by a Hindu Majority in India but what if India had an Electoral College for Lok Sabha too to maybe ensure that majority does not dominate the muslims directly? How would such a system in the subcontinent work?

What happened to him?

Some say that he was crowned as King in Delhi, but others say that he remained as a Army chief.

How was the Delhi Sultanate successful in doing the same thing while the Mughal Empire went bankrupt?

As there are hindus who have converted to other religions throughout the period but its opposite isnt well known.

Mayurasharma was a young priest, living in a simple life of study and spiritual practices within the green valleys of ancient Karnataka. Inseparable in his thirst for knowledge, he traveled to the grand city of Kanchi(controlled by pallavas) to further his education at a famed Ghatika which was renowned for its scholarship. Destiny otherwise had other plans in store for him.

During this sojourn at Kanchi, a most unfortunate event occurred, one that would change his life forever. A pallava soldier humiliated mayura(reason unknown) and he was smoldered in hatred in his heart. As he trudged back to his place, he vowed to punish the tyrannical Pallava forces. The priest turned into a warrior gathering a devoted band of followers from different tribes that had come seeking freedom and justice.

The early skirmishes of Mayurasharma were characterised by guerrilla warfare. He launched daring attacks against the Pallavas in the jungles around Banavasi. Innovative strategies and determined fighting began to pay off for him. Every victory impressed his followers more and more and established him as a leader of repute.

However, the Pallavas were not to be underestimated. As they despatched seasoned armies to quell this uprising, the stakes rose. Mayurasharma, known now as a fierce warrior-priest, faced increasingly tough challenges, leading to epic clashes ringing through the valleys. The suspense thickened with each clash, rumors of betrayal and secret alliances occupying the struggle for independence.

In a decisive battle, Mayurasharma faced a known Pallava general. A master tactician whose brutality spoke all about his efficiency, he clashed furiously in this battlefield while the forest roared with clashing of swords and cries of warriors, though it seemed with all courage and guile Mayurasharma unleashed his full potential at the general and forced the Pallavas to recognize his sovereignty.

His victories established the bases of the first indigenous Kannada empire; he, therefore, laid the foundation for the Kadamba Dynasty. Tales of this priest-warrior spread far and wide; his stories inspired many to rise against tyranny and strive for their land.

Source:

1. K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, A History of South India This book covers much about the early South Indian dynasties, including the Kadambas.

2. Moraes, George M., The Kadamba Kula - A detailed account of the Kadamba dynasty.

3.Kamath, Suryanath U., A Concise History of Karnataka This is a comprehensive source for the history of Karnataka, including the rise of the Kadamba empire.

4.Majumdar, R.C., Ancient India - For broader context on early Indian kingdoms and dynasties.

I'm curious why some ancient deities would diminish lower degree, and even disappear! While some secondary deities would grow to higher level and eventually be well-beloved by the public.

For instance, Indra, Varuna, Agni, Soma, Surya, Brahmanaspati, etc. these deities were highly worshipped and written down in Rig Veda many times. Especially Indra, who even described "This is Brahman, this is Indra, this is Prajapati." in Aitareya Upanishad chapter 3 - 3.

However, in the Puranic period, these deities demoted and were replaced by the inconspicuous deities at that time. Take the famous example, Vishnu and Rudra, who after evolved into Shiva.

Initially, Vishnu was the god of Div and one of the Adityas, who was described as three strides across the whole world in Rig Veda, which was represented the Sun shining everywhere. In Rig Veda, he was lower than Indra, the god of the lord and belonging to Antarikṣa. He was Indra's ally, younger brother, or subordinate based on different texts.

Nevertheless, through the advent of the Puranas in the Gupta period over time, Vishnu got higher and in the end, he became the Supreme One. On the other hand, Indra was downgraded and flawed by weak, craven, greedy, etc. with ethical lapses in Puranas.

Next, let's talk about Rudra. He wasn't a well-known and intermediate level god in Rig Veda. Sometimes, he was thought of as one god, while the other situations, it's eleven Rudras that they were regarded as.

He had strong arms with bow and arrows, then his described as hair twists and adorned with golden decorations. Rudra was considered to kill people, animals and plants by his weapon, thunderbolt arrows, in towering rage. Meanwhile, he would rescue to heal people and animals with illnesses and consequently be as jalāṣa-bheṣaja, which means healer. In the Puranic period, Rudra was changed his name, Shiva, which means auspicious in literally.

As noted above, originally main deities in ancient time were altered, and their virtues and glory were transferred to puranic deities, particularly Vishnu and Shiva, the two Supreme gods nowadays.

Therefore, I'm confused about how this evolution of deities change based on what? Politics and Clans power struggle behind? The caste and class conflict? Or social structure and economic system changes?

Initially, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj would only collect the Sardeshmukhi revenues as his own Watan-rights. But later, as his enterprise began expanding, he went on establishing relations with other kingdoms. It was not possible to simply capture such kingdoms and include them in Swarajya. Any victor does not capture foreign lands straightaway. He brings them under his control step-by-step. Shivaji Maharaj thought of this novel idea to impose the Chauth tax in such kingdoms. This Chauth meant, that these kingdoms would pay Shivaji Maharaj one-fourth of the total revenue collections, and in return, Maharaj would keep his own forces in these regions and protect them from any foreign enemies.

https://ndhistories.wordpress.com/2023/05/19/chauth/

Marathi Riyasat, G S Sardesai ISBN-10-8171856403, ISBN-13-‎978-8171856404.

The Era of Bajirao Uday S Kulkarni ISBN-10-8192108031 ISBN-13-978-8192108032.

Rajputs were an important part of the Mughal Empire, contributing significantly to their court, diplomacy, and military but how did they gain so much importance in the empire.

What were the reasons?