The fall of the Yadavas of Devagiri
marks a turning point not only in the history of the Deccan but also
in that of the Peninsular India. Their fall facilitated Islam's
penetration deep into the South.
The Yadavas dominated the Deccan
politics in the thirteenth century. They claimed descent from Yadu of
Puranic fame. Dridhaprahara was the first member of the family to
attain some distinction in about 860 AD His successor founded the city
of Seunapur probably modern Sinnar in the Nasik district. Later in the
struggle between the Rastrakutas and the Chalukyas, the Yadava King
Bhillama II took the side of latter. He also participated in the
overthrow of the Paramara King Munja. For this help the Rastrakuta
King granted Ahmadnagar district to Bhillama. Bhillma assumed the
title Vijayabharana - Ornament of Victory - for himself.
It was Bhillama V who for the first
time assumed imperial titles for his dynasty in about 1187 A.D. He
gained victories after victories but in the end met with a tremendous
set-back in after victories but in the end met with tremendous
set-back in the struggle to maintain a hold over the Doab region
between the Krsna and the Tungabhadra. In this struggle he was pitched
against the Hoyasala King Ballala II on the battlefield of Soratur
near Dharvar. The famous Yadava general Jaitrapala lost his life while
fighting against the Hoyasala King. This event took place towards the
end of 1191 AD It is to the credit of Bhillama V that he consolidated
the Yadava rule over Maharashtra, carried successful inroads into
Malva and Gujrat and occupied the whole of the Raicur Doab.
The sorrowful defeat of Soratur was
avenged by Singhana Yadava (C 1210 to 1247). The Yadava empire reached
its meridian under this most able ruler. In the struggle for the
hegemony of the Deccan Singhana was successful over this rivals the
Hoyasalas to his north. Roughly his territory extended to the south of
the line joining Nagpur and Broac and was limited by the line
connecting Girisappa and Karnul. According to Hemadri the minister of
Mahadeva Yadava and the inventor of the temple architecture known as
Hemadpanti style, Singhana’s empire included the Chattisgad area.
Some of the inscriptions claim that the kings of Mathura and Kashi
felt the power of Singhana and one of his generals defeated a Muslim
ruler. They also state that either King Singhana himself of his
generals Kholesvara, Rama or Bicana defeated the kings of Sindh.
Rohilkhand, Bengal, Bihar, Kerela and Pandya. All these high claims
for Singhana appear to be more imaginary than real in the absence of
independent and trustworthy evidence. However, it is significant to
note that the arm of the Yadava power under Singhana had reached as
far as Nagpur in its eastward expansion. Ramachandra Yadava
(1227-1311) extended his sway over Vajrakar (probably Vairagad, eithty
miles north east of Nagpur. He then marched northward and took Tripuri
near Jabalpur. From here he proceeded to Benaras and restored it to
Hindu rule. This event must have taken place after the death of Balban
in AD 1286 and prior to the accession of Jalal-ud-din Khilji, when the
hold of Islam over the outlying provinces was slack. This is evidenced
by the famous Purushottamapuri plates of Ramachandra.
The eastern border of the Yadava
kingdom under Ramachandra extended beyond the Wardha river, the
traditional boundary line of Berar. Hemadri probably took a leading
part in the conquest of Nagpur, Bhandara and Chanda beyond the Wardha
river. Nagpur, Bhandara and Chanda comprised the Jhadimandala i.e.,
the wooded territory. From the Lilacaritra i.e., the biography of the
saint Chakradhara it seems that the Jhadimandala where he wandered was
not far off from Acalapur i.e., Ellicpur.
Thus we gather from the Ramtek
inscription and the Lilacharitra that the district of Nagpur was at
one time under the Yadavas of Devagiri. It formed part of the thickly
wooded country-Jhadimandala. It is quite natural that the region to
the east of the Wardha river should be thickly wooded as it has had
better rainfall than the region to its west. Nagpur under the Yadavas
does not seem to have attained any political importance, like the
western wing of the Yadava Kingdom.
By 1292 AD the Yadava power was at the
height of its glory. It, however, began to decline fast when Devagiri
was invaded by Ala-ud-din Khilji in 1294. Ramachandra Yadava was taken
by surprise and completely defeated. He purchased peace by offering
vast quantity of gold, the revenue of Ellicpur as annual tribute and
one of his daughters to the victor. Ala-ud-din. The pride of the
Yadavas was humbled.
Shankaradeva, the son of Ramachandra,
tried in vain to regain the lost independence. He was easily defeated
by Malik Kafur the distinguished general of Ala-ud-din. The last ruler
of the Yadavas Harapaladeva, was defeated and killed in 1318 A.D. by
Qutub-ud-din Mubarak sah. By this defeat Maharashtra passed into the
hands of the Muslim rulers and Devagiri became a center of Islamic
culture.