Vikramaditya or Vikram (Vikramâditya = vikrama - ledge, step, strength, courage, from the root kram - to step + vi and âditya - the sun) - one of the most famous names of Indian history, King Ujjayna in Western India , on the northern slope of the Vindhya ridge. This name, like the name of Caesar in Europe, became a symbol and title, and many subsequent rulers appended it to their names.
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Content
Timeline
The reign of historical Vikram cannot be determined precisely, especially since this name was given, apparently, to several different kings. The reckoning of the era of Vikram begins with 57 BC. e. It follows from this that Vikramaditya ruled in the 1st century BC. e.
Folklore
Vikramaditya is the favorite hero of various Indian tales. According to the traditions of one monument in Telugu, Vikramaditya was the son of a brahmana who neglected his upbringing and forced him to do all kinds of dirty work. Unhappy with this, he secretly left his father’s house and after many adventures reached Ujjain, married the daughter of the king there, and himself became the king.
With severe ascetic exercises, he entered the grace of the goddess Kali , who promised to make him invulnerable from all enemies (with the exception of one) and give him a thousand-year serene rule. This legend is obviously composed by the brahmanas who wanted to appropriate the beloved national hero. According to other legends, Vikramaditya was the son of one of the Gandharvas (lower deities).
The victories of Vikram over the Indoskifs expanded the boundaries of his kingdom; literary legends ascribe to him dominance over Bengal, Hindustan, Dean and Western India, although, as it seems, only Kashmir , Punjab and the eastern part of Rajaputana can be considered his real conquests.
Chandragupta
The most widely accepted view is that Chandragupta II was originally hiding behind the title of Vikramaditya. The silver coins of Chandragupta are known on which this title is minted. His reign was an era of flourishing sciences, poetry, and the arts. According to Indian legends, there were nine famous men of India at his court, the so-called “nine Navaratnas ”:
- Kshapanaka , a writer whose writings have not reached our time;
- Kalidasa , playwright;
- Varahamihira , astronomer;
- Amara Sinha , grammar and poet.
Literature
- Dmitry Gaiduk completed a free retelling of “ Twenty-Five Vetala Stories ” edited by Navasuma (Vikram Betaal Stories. Bangalore, Vasant Book Depot, 1995).
- Vikramaditya // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.