Pravarasena I

Pravarasena I is described in the Indian Puranas as Pravir. He was one of the powerful kings and adopted the title of `Samrat. ` He had performed four house sacrifices. He had enhanced his power and influence by marrying his son, Gautamiputra with the daughter of the king Bhavanga of the Naga-Bhara-Siva dynasty. He succeeded his father Vindhya Shakti.

According to some inscriptions he had converted his ancestral property into a big empire. His empire extended to Belaghat in the east-southern, Berar in the south and the province of Hyderabad in the north. He had shifted his capital later on from Chanakato Purika. It appears that he had conquered Malwa, Berar, Northern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Hyderabad, Kathiawar, Bundelkhand and some portions of southern Kosala.

He was the only emperor in the dynasty, with his kingdom embracing a good portion of North India and whole of Deccan. The puranas assign him a reign of 60 years. As per V.V. Mirashi, it is unlikely that he made any conquest in Northern Maharashtra, Gujarat or Konkan. But, he may have conquered parts of North Kuntala comprising Kolhapur, Satara and Sholapur districts of Maharashtra. In the east, he may have carried his arms to Dakshina Kosala, Kalinga and Andhra. He was a follower of Vedic religion and performed several Yajnas (sacrifices) which include Agnishtoma, Aptoryama, Ukthya, Shodasin, Atiratra, Vajapeya, Brihaspatisava, Sadyaskra and four Asvamedhas. He heavily donated to the Brahmins during the Vajapeya sacrifice as per the Puranas. He also took up the title of Dharmamaharaja in addition to Samrat. He called himself as Haritiputra. His Prime Minister Deva was a very pious and learned Brahmin. The Puranas say that Pravarasena I has four sons. He married his son Gautamiputra to a daughter of King Bhavanaga of the powerful Bharashiva family, which might have proved to be helpful. However, Gautamiputra predeceased him and he was succeeded by his grandson Rudrasena I, the son of Gautamiputra. His second son, Sarvasena set up his capital at Vatsagulma (the present day Washim). Nothing is known about the dynasties set up by the other two sons

Soundarya Lahari was a poem written by Pravara Sena of Vakadaka Kingdom (4th century AD).