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The Asmakas tribe of ancient south India formed an important kingdom that played a significant role in the Kurukshetra war. The Asmakas in the Kurukshetra war supported the Pandavas, who were half the size of their opponents, the Kauravas. The Asmakas were also significant before the Mahabharat because their forefathers made essential contributions to the pre-historic events of India.
Asmakas: The South Indian Tribe in Kurukshetra War
During the Vedic period, c.1500 – c. 500 BCE, ancient India was divided into sixteen kingdoms. The kingdoms were divided based on tribes. The term Mahajanapadas means “great countries.” The mention of these ancient kingdoms can be found in the Vedic scriptures and also the Buddhist text, Anguttara Nikaya.
Location of the Assaka Kingdom
Assaka, also known as Ashmaka or Asmaka, was one such kingdom of ancient India. These kingdoms, called the Maha Janahpadas, were situated across the Indo-Gangetic plain. The kingdom of Assaka was present in central India, near the river Godavari. Assaka is now said to be the modern-day Indian states of Maharashtra and Telangana. Therefore, it was a vast kingdom that extended to the south of India. The capital of the kingdom was called Potana.
Asmakas in Kurukshetra War
The Asmakas in the Kurukshetra war were not a neutral party like the kingdom of Bhojakata and Balarama. Asmakas in the Kurukshetra war or Mahabharata are historically significant for their role. In the war, there were two sides, the Kauravas and the Pandavas. The kingdoms of ancient India had to choose one side or the other and most sided with the Kauravas. Hence, the Kauravas had a larger army which consisted of eleven Akshauhinis or divisions.
The Pandavas had only a handful of kingdoms as their allies, with Dhristadyumna and one of them was the Asmaka kingdom. They were given the control of one of six Akshauhinis of the Pandava army. Therefore, the support to the Pandavas of Asmakas in the Kurukshetra war was crucial.
Asmakas and the Epic Mahabharata
The Asmakas have appeared six times in the Sanskrit epic, Mahabharata.
- Firstly, at verse 7.83, the author mentions how the Asmakas sided with the Pandavas because the Pandavas were fighting for their right against the Kauravas who had wronged them.
- The second time, Asmakas in Kurukshetra war are mentioned. In verse 7.35 of Mahabharata, Abhimanyu, the son of Arjun, came face to face with the “son of Asmaka,” meaning the king of the Asmaka kingdom. Both fight with one another bravely and cleverly, but the king of Asmaka loses his life. The death results in the troops scattering on the battlefield.
- The third time Asmakas is mentioned in the epic is at verse 8.8, when Karna’s conquests are mentioned, among which is the kingdom of Asmaka as well.
- The fourth time Asmakas is mentioned in verse 12.47 of the Mahabharata, where an Asmaka sage is mentioned as one of the sages gathered in the Kurukshetra at the time of the death of the warrior, Bheeshma.
The last two times that the kingdom of Asaka is discussed in the Mahabharata is when talking about Asmaka, the adopted son of Saudasa.
Asmaka: The Adopted Son of Saudasa
In the verses of Mahabharata, 1122 and 1197, it is mentioned about Saudasa whose ancestors were responsible for bringing the river Ganges from the heavens to Earth. However, Saudasa was destined to be a rakshas who could not bore children.
His wife, Madayanti, gave birth to Vasistha , a sage child, who was adopted by Saudasa and named Asmaka. Madayanti could not deliver the child for a long time and got impatient. A stone was thrown at her belly which resulted in the child’s birth. The name, Asmaka, means the throwing of stone at the belly.
Asmaka became the forefather to the Ishvaku kings whose lands, later on, became Karna’s conquests, according to one theory. Another says that Asmaka established his own kingdom, which was named after him. Some of the other Karna’s conquests include the Madrakas, the Pancalas, the Kambojas, the Taralas, the Suhmas, the Matsyas, the Pundras, the Kalingas, the Kaikeyas, the Videhas, the Rishikas, the Angas, the Gandharas, the Tanganas, the Kasi-Kosalas, the Nishadhas, the Trigartas, the Vatsas, the Ambasthas, the Kichakas and the Matsyas.
Conclusion
The Assaka kingdom or the Asmakas was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas of ancient India who ruled in the south Indian region. The Asmaka tribe is mentioned in the Puranas and other Vedic Scriptures, also in the Buddhist scriptures. The tribe is said to have lineage from Asmaka, the adopted son of Saudasa. The Asmakas in Kurukshetra were a tribe that supported the Pandavas, who the Kauravas wronged. The king of Asmaka was killed at the hands of Abhimanyu, which weakened the army of the Pandavas. Asmaka region was also one amongst the important Karna’s conquests.
