(
Hinduism:
Vaishnavism)
A list of Vaishnavite Dynasties in Indian History:
Vaishnavism in Orissa,
S.K. Patel
In
Orissa the
Matharas, closely linked culturally to the
Guptas of North
Koshala, patronised
Vaishnavism in
Kalinga and
Koshala, and supported
the
Brahmins. However,
Vaishnavism received a setback under the East
Gangas,
Sailodbhavas (
Kongoda),
Somavamsis (
Koshala and
Utkala) as
these patronised
Shaivism, and the
Bhaumakaras of
Toshali supported
Buddhism.
Chodaganga revived
Vaishnavism because he followed
Ramanuja,
but after him different faiths were patronised by different kings.
Vaishnavism rose to it pinnacle of glory in
Orissa under the
Suryavamsi
Gajapatis in the form of
Jagganathism.
The Sungod (Surya) was not adored by Vaishnavites in the 5th Century
AD, as evidence by the degradation of Samba, a champion of the Surya cult,
and sometimes identifified with the Sun-God, in the estimation of
Vaishnavas, and also in the Gangdha Inscription, verses 21-22 (c. AD 423).
Sri-Lakshmi worship may be the equivalent to the cult of the Indo-Greek
goddesses, e.g. Pallas, Athene, introduced by the Indo-Greeks as
seen on their coins circa 2nd Century AD.
The early Chalukyas of Badami has the boar (Varaha) as their family
emblem, obtained by the grace of Narayana. Most of their inscriptions and
subordinates begin with stanzas in praise of this boar incarnation of
Vishnu. The early Chalukya Emperors bor the title
Shri-Prithivi-Vallabha (Lord of Sri and Prithivi) apparently claiming
to be the incarnations of Vishnu.
The Ikshvaku kings used to worship Vishnu in the 6th Century.
The 5th Century Vakataka Queen, Prabhavati, daughter of Chandragupta
II, was devoted to Ramagiriswamin ("lord of Ramagiri" [Ramtok, near
Nagpur]).