MAITRAKA DYNASTY

Indian dynasty that ruled in Gujarat and Saurashtra (Kathiawar) from the 5th to the 8th century AD. Its founder, Bhatarka, was a general who, taking advantage of the decay of the Gupta empire, established himself as ruler of Gujarat and Saurashtra with Valabhi (modern Vala) as his capital. Although the early Maitraka kings were loosely feudatory to the Guptas, they were in fact independent. Under the powerful Siladitya I (c. late 6th century), the kingdom became very influential; its rule extended into Malwa and Rajasthan. Later, however, the Maitrakas suffered at the hands of the Calukyas (Chalukyas) of the Deccan and of the emperor Harsa of Kannauj. After Harsa's death, the Maitrakas revived, but the Arabs who had established themselves in Sind in 712 killed the last Maitraka king, Siladitya VI, and razed his capital about 780. Bhatarka and his successors were great patrons of religious foundations. Their kingdom was an important centre of Buddhism, and, according to tradition, it was in Valabhi that the Svetambara Jaina canon was codified.