Ruling Dynasties OF THE Ancient Assam PDF

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You learned about the myths and legends about Naraka and his successors in the previous unit, which are part of Assam's pre-historical period. Naraka's legends have been recounted in numerous Puranas, Epics, and other texts. Naraka is said to have been Assam's legendary ruler.
This unit will i...

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RULING DYNASTIES OF THE ANCIENT ASSAM INTRODUCTION

You learned about the myths and legends about Naraka and his successors in the previous unit, which are part of Assam's pre-historical period. Naraka's legends have been recounted in numerous Puranas, Epics, and other texts. Naraka is said to have been Assam's legendary ruler. This unit will introduce you to the beginnings of ancient Assam's political history. In this unit, we'll learn about the ruling dynasties that ruled over the ancient Assamese kingdoms known as Pragjyotisha and Kamarupa. This unit will also cover the rulers of ancient Assam's internal and external policies, as well as significant events from that time period. While the rulers of ancient Assam referred to their kingdom as "the land of Pragjyotisha," contemporary accounts, such as that of Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, referred to it as "Kamarupa." The Varmans (c.350-650 A.D.), Salastambhas (c.655-900 A.D.), and Palas were the three main ruling dynasties in ancient Assam (c.900- 1100 A.D.). The Varmans were ancient Assam's first known ruling dynasty. They began their rule when the imperial Gupta dynasty ruled northern India and was India's most powerful ruling family. As such, the Varmans were Guptas' contemporaries.

THE VARMANS

The Varmans were able to carve out a kingdom in ancient Assam's Kamarupa region in the middle or later half of the 4th century A.D. The Pushyavarman was the first historical ruler of the Varman dynasty, which ruled for approximately three centuries. It's worth noting that the chronology of the Varman rulers of Kamarupa is difficult to pin down, so we've used a fixed period of 25 years as the ruling period of every Varman ruler until Sthiravarman for the sake of our study. The reign of Pushyavarman is generally dated between 350 and 374 A.D. He was a contemporary of the Gupta Emperor of Magadha, Samudragupta (c.335-376 A.D.). It's

impossible to say when or how Pushyavarman came to power. His origins are unknown, but he claimed descent from Naraka. We can only assume that Pushyavarman was a daring chief who took advantage of the political unrest in Kamarupa at the time to establish himself as ruler of the land. He traced his lineage back to the family of Naraka- Bhagadatta or Naraka, the Bhauma, to support his claim to the throne. As a result, Pushyavarman's dynasty is known as the Naraka- Bhauma dynasty. The dynasty is also known as the Varman dynasty because all of the dynasty's kings had names that ended in the word Varman. Pushyavarman was regarded as a Gupta ruler's subordinate ally. The king of Kamarupa is named Pratyanta Nripati in Samudragupta's Allahabad Pillar Inscription. Kamarupa, like Samatata, Davaka, Nepala, and Kartipura, was a frontier kingdom whose kings owed allegiance to Samudragupta by paying all kinds of tribute, obeying his commands, and attending his court. However, the Kamarupa ruler's name is not mentioned. Pushyavarman, a contemporary of Samudragupta, may have offered Samudragupta's submission voluntarily. Pushyavarman is referred to as Maharajadhiraja and the Lord of Pragjyotisha in the seal of Bhaskaravarman found on the Doobi Plates. Pushyavarman's assumption of the title of Maharajadhiraja denotes his independence. Pushyavarman appears to have been a Gupta vassal ruler at first. However, he later became an independent ruler and promoted Kamarupa to a high position. As king of Kamarupa, Samudravarman succeeded his father Pushyavarman (c.374398 A.D.). He continued to consolidate the Varmans' rule and ruled without incident. He, too, was given the title Maharajadhiraja, implying that he, like his father, ruled as an independent monarch. Balavarman-I (c. 398-422 A.D.), the son of Samudravarman, was the next Varman ruler and a man of remarkable abilities. In the Doobi plates, he is credited with the celebration of a number of sacrifices. "His force and armour never broke up, and his army could easily march against the enemies," according to the Nidhanpur grant. Kalyanavarman, Balavarman's son, succeeded him (c.422-446 A.D.). It's possible that Kalyanavarman conquered the Kapili Valley, which was associated with the kingdom of Davaka, and dispatched a diplomatic mission to China. The Shung-Shu (a Chinese

account) refers to an Indian king named Yu-Chai, who was the lord of the Kapili country, sending an embassy to China in 428 A.D. This king, Yu-Chai, could be Kalyanavarman, as the mission's date corresponds to the king's chronology, and the king is described as "moon-faced," an epithet applied to Kalyanavarmana in source. Ganapativarman, or Ganapativarman, was Kalyanavarman's successor (c.446- 470 A.D.). His rule isn't very important. He was a generous ruler in his reign. Ganapativarman most likely abdicated the throne in favour of his son Mahendravarman or Surendravarman (c.470-494 A.D.), whose reign was full of ups and downs. It's possible that Mahendravarman expanded his sphere of influence to include South-East Bengal. As recorded in the Doobi seal Inscription, he sacrificed two horses (Asvamedha) to consecrate his achievements. He was the first of his line's rulers to do so, establishing himself as the supreme ruler of Eastern India. He paved the way for Kamarupa's greatness under Bhaskaravarman by his brilliant career of conquest and glory. He is referred to as a Maharajadhiraja in the Umachal Rock Inscription. Narayanavarman, Mahendravarman's son, followed him (c.494- 518 A.D.). His reign was

characterised

by

relative

tranquilly.

His

successor,

Bhutivarman

or

Mahabhutivarman (c.518-542 A.D.), continued his grandfather Mahendravarman's policy of expansion. He expanded his territories in Pundravardhana by taking advantage of the Guptas' decline in power. He most likely also ruled over the outlying areas of Samatata, Sylhet, and Tripura. Bhutivarman is credited with performing an Asvamedha (horse sacrifice) according to the Barganga Rock Inscription. He was the first king of Kamarupa to extend the kingdom's western border beyond the Karatoya River. Bhutivarman had a circle of feudatories, according to the Nidhanpur Copper Plates. Bhutivarman donated land to a large number of Brahmanas in North Bengal, demonstrating his conquests and patronage of learning. Bhutivarman was succeeded as ruler of Kamarupa by Chandramukhavarman (c.542566 A.D.). He didn't do anything with the kingdom he inherited from his father. Instead, he built on his father's conquests in south-east Bengal. According to the Doobi Plates, Chandramukhavarman abdicated the throne voluntarily in favour of his son Sthira varman or Sthita varman (c. 566-590 A.D.). Sthiravarman was a wise man

who knew the Vedas inside and out. He was Kamarupa's first ruler to have his coronation ceremony conducted according to Vedic rites. He is credited with two horse sacrifices according to the Doobi Clay Seal. Sthiravarman also built a new capital city on the banks of the "holy river," which was most likely the Brahmaputra. Sthiravarman's son and successor, Susthitavarman (c.590-595 A.D.), was known as Mriganka after ascending the throne. Susthitavarman is depicted on the Doobi Plates as a learned man who is said to be a master of grammar, polity, logic, and other subjects. He is described as a powerful monarch in the Harshacharita of Banabhatta, and he is even given the imperial title of Maharajadhiraja. The later Gupta monarch Mahasenagupta of Malava (East Malwa) led an expedition against Susthitavarman and defeated him on the bank of the Brahmaputra, according to Adityasena's Aphsad inscription. Kamarupa lost her possessions in North Bengal (Pundravardhana) as a result of this defeat, and her western boundary was pushed back to the Karatoya. Susthitavarman appears to have died as a result of his battle wounds. Susthitavarman was the father of two young sons at the time of his death. Supratisthitavarman, the elder, ascended the throne (c.595- 600 A.D.). According to the Doobi Plates, the Gauda army was invading the kingdom of Kamarupa at the time. Mahasenagupta had most likely returned to Malava by this time, and it was his Mahasamanta Sasanka from Gauda who led the second invasion of Kamarupa. Supratisthitavarman fought bravely alongside his younger brother Bhaskaravarman against the invading army. They were eventually defeated and taken prisoner by Gauda. However, the two brothers quickly regained control of their kingdom and returned to Kamarupa. Susthitavarman died soon after, without causing any problems. So, in c 600 A.D., his brother Bhaskaravarman ascended the throne of Kamarupa and ruled for fifty years, until c 650 A.D. Of all the Varman rulers, he was the most illustrious. His activities were not limited to his kingdom's borders. In the first half of the seventh century A.D., he played a significant role in the political history of northern India. The defeat of Pundravardhana at the hands of Mahasenagupta and Sasanka had severely harmed the

kingdom of Kamarupa at the time of his accession. Bhaskaravarman could not stand Sasanka of Gauda, who quickly ascended to the throne of Magadha and Kanauj. In such a situation, Bhaskaravarman sought the friendship of Thaneswar's king Harshavardhana, who was also at odds with Gauda's king Sasanka. He dispatched an embassy to Harshavardhana in order to enlist the latter's help against their common foe. Harsha, too, was in desperate need of a friend, and he eagerly accepted the offer. As a result, the two independent monarchs of northern and eastern India formed an offensive and defensive alliance. Sasanka was most likely attacked by their combined forces. Bhandi, Harshavardhana's cousin and general, attacked Gauda from the west, while Bhaskaravarman attacked him from the east. Sasanka fled to Orissa, where he ruled until 619-620 A.D., unable to face the combined attack. Gauda, along with its capital city of Karnasuvarna, fell into Bhaskaravarman's hands as a result of this victory. To mark the occasion, he issued the famous Nidhanpur grants from his victorious camp at Karnasuvarna, reconfirming the land grants made by Bhutivarman in Pundravardhana. By forming an alliance with Harshavardhana, Bhaskaravarman not only reclaimed the kingdom of Kamarupa's lost glory and possession, but also carried Kamarupa's political glory to new heights. Later, Bhaskaravarman took part in Harshavardhana's religious assembly in Kanauj and religious convocation in Prayaga. Hiuen-Tsang, a Chinese pilgrim, visited the kingdom of Kamarupa and stayed at King Bhaskaravarman's court. The Chinese pilgrim was overjoyed by Bhaskaravarman's hospitality as well as the peace and prosperity that reigned in Kamarupa's kingdom. Bhaskaravarman was a celibate who died without an heir to the throne, signalling the end of the Varman dynasty.

THE SALASTAMBHAS

The Mlechchhas took over the kingdom of Kamarupa after Bhaskaravarman died. In fact, because Bhaskaravarman died without leaving a successor, the kingdom of Kamarupa descended into chaos. Salastambha (c. 655-670 A.D.), the chief of the Mlechchhas, took advantage of the anarchy, as depicted on the Bargaon Copper Plate

of Ratnapala (a king of the Pala dynasty who succeeded the Salastambhas). Salastambha (c. 655-670 A.D.) laid the foundation for the rule of a new dynasty known as the Salastambhas The Salastambha dynasty had 21 rulers and ruled for nearly 250 years, from around 655 A.D. to 900 A.D. According to the Ratnapala Copper Plates of Bargaon, the Salastambha dynasty had 21 kings, the last of whom was Tyagasimha. However, we only know about 15 Salastambha dynasty rulers. Salastambha is thought to be a native chief. However, the Mlechchha dynasty's kings soon claimed Naraka as their ancestor. A rock inscription and a small fragment of Harjaravarman's Copper Plate grants were the first records of the Salastambha dynasty. Salastambha is described as "a tiger-like king" in this passage, implying that he was a powerful ruler. Salastambha was followed by Vijaya, Palaka, Kumara, and Vajradeva, whose rule was of no consequence, according to the text. Vijaya, Palaka, Kumara, Vajradeva, Harshavarman, Balavarman, Chakra, Arathi, and Harjaravarman, who is mentioned as the king of Pragjyotisha, are all mentioned on the Hayungthal Copper Plate of Harjaravarman (c.815- 837 A.D.). Until the time of Harjaravarman (c.815-837 A.D.), whose Tezpur Rock Inscription is dated 829 A.D., little is known about Salastambha and his successors. We lack proper information about the names and numbers of the dynasty's rulers for about 175 years, from the middle of the 7th century A.D. to the first quarter of the 9th century A.D. Harshavarman (c.725-745 A.D.) was a pre-Harjara king of the Salastambha dynasty who, aside from Salastambha, wrote another glorious chapter in the history of the kingdom of Kamarupa. Harshavarman is described as a king of great prowess and piety in the Hayungthal Copper Plate of Harjaravarman, who protected his subjects as if they were his own children. King Harshadeva is described as Gaudradi-KalingaKosala-pati (lord of Gauda, Odra, Kalinga, Kosala, and other lands) in the Pasupatinath Temple Inscription of king Jayadeva II of Nepal, whose daughter Rajyamati, a descendant of Bhagadatta's race, was married to king Jayadeva II of Nepal. This king Harshadeva is the same as King Harshavarman, under whom Kamrupa briefly rose to power. Balavarman (c.745-765 A.D.) succeeded Harshavarman as ruler of Kamarupa. Balavarman was succeeded by Chakra (c.765-790 A.D.) and Arathi (c.765-790 A.D.)

(c.790-815 A.D). Harjaravarman, however, was the most powerful ruler after Harshavarman (c.815-837 A.D). His feudatory chiefs performed his coronation ceremony, indicating their growing importance. He was the first of the Kamarupa kings to be given the title Maharaja-dhiraja Paramesvara Paramabhattaraka, which means Maharaja-dhiraja Paramesvara Paramabhattaraka. Harjaravarman is said to have occupied a position of distinction, as he is said to have been surrounded by subordinate kings and to have been approached by the rulers of the hilly regions to settle their disputes, according to the Hayungthal Copper Plate. Regulations regarding the plying of boats are found in the Tezpur Rock Inscription to settle a dispute between fishermen's boats and those of the royal navy. This indicates that Harjaravarman commanded a large navy. He was a contemporary of King Devapala of Gauda, with whom he had a dispute when the latter attempted to invade Bengal, but was defeated. Harjaravarman built a lofty temple for Hetuka Sulin and a row of buildings in Haruppeswara, which is now known as Tezpur. Vanamalavarman, Harjaravarman's son, succeeded him (c.837- 855 A.D.). Vigrahapala and Narayanapala of Gauda were his contemporaries. We have two records from his reign: the Tezpur Copper Plates and the Parbatiya Copper Plates, both of which show him assuming lofty titles. During the weak rule of Vigrahapala of Gauda, Vanamalavarman reclaimed Kamarupa in Bengal and donated lands nearly in the same area where earlier Bhutivarman had donated lands in the middle of the 6th century A.D., as recorded in the Tezpur Copper Plate issued in his 19th regnal year. The kingdom of Kamarupa's dominion was also said to extend over the hilly regions of the north and east, as well as south-east Bengal. Vanamalavarman, like his father, attempted to spread Aryan culture to the east by granting Brahmans land in Uttarakula. He, too, was a proponent of trade and commerce. The feudatories paid regular tributes to king Vanamalavarman, as evidenced by the Nagaon copper Plates of Balavarman, enriching his material wealth, which he spent on rebuilding the temple of Hetuka Sulin and erecting rows of palatial buildings. He was a devout Siva worshipper. Vanamalavarman fasted to death and abdicated the throne in favour of his son Jayamala.

Jayamala (c.855-860 A.D.) ruled for only a few years. He consolidated his father's conquests and did not extend them any further. After succumbing to a fatal disease, Jayamala abdicated the throne in favour of his son Balavarman after only five years on the throne. Virabahu was another name for him. Balavarman II (c.860-890 A.D.) was the Salastambha dynasty's last powerful ruler. The Howraghat Copper Plates, Nagaon Copper Plates, and Ulubari Copper Plates are three records of his reign. According to the Nagaon Copper Plates, king Narayanapala of Gauda made new conquests in North Bengal and made land grants in that area during his reign. He, like his forefathers, assumed lofty titles to demonstrate his power and dominance. Vigrahastambha became the ruler of Kamarupa after that. But there isn't much to say about his reign. Tyagasimha (c.890-900 A.D.), the last ruler of the Salastambha dynasty, succeeded Vigrahastambha. He was the Salastambha line's twenty-first member. Because he died without leaving any children, the dynasty died out after him. He is only mentioned as an illustrious chief on Ratnapala's Bargaon Copper Plate.

THE PALAS

The death of Tyagasimha, who had left no heir, posed a threat of anarchy in the kingdom of Kamarupa. It was decided that the ruler of Kamarupa should be of the Naraka race. Due to his proclaimed kinship with the Bhauma-Naraka clan, Brahmapala (c.900-920 A.D.) was elected king in this situation. The dynasty was known as the Pala dynasty because the descendants of Brahmapala had the title 'Pala' at the end of their names. To show their ties to the earlier Bhauma-Naraka kings, the Pala rulers added the word 'Varman' after Pala in their names. Brahmapala was given the title 'Pala' most likely in imitation of the Bengali Palas. Brahmapala was possibly a governor in the western part of the kingdom prior to becoming the ruler of Kamarupa, and the officials elected him as the king because of his administrative experience. From 900 A.D. to 1100 A.D., eight kings in his line reigned for 200 years, ruling from 900 A.D. to 1100 A.D. His reign has left no trace. Brahmapala, on the other hand, is described as a great warrior and styled

Maharajadhiraja in the inscriptions of his son Ratnapala. Brahmapala abdicated in favour of his son Ratnapala, according to the Bargaon Copper Plate of Ratnapala. Ratnapala (circa 920-960 A.D.) was a powerful Pala dynasty ruler. He built his capital on the Brahmaputra's bank, encircling it with a rampart and a strong palisade that he named Durjaya, which means "impenetrable." Ratnapala is described as ParamesvaraParamabhattaraka-Maharajadhiraja in his three grants, Caratbari Copper Plates, Bargaon Copper Plates, and Soalkuchi Copper Plates. Ratnapalavarmandeva demonstrates his imperial power. Within the kingdom of Kamarupa, he put down rebellious chiefs. Ratnapala defeated King Rajyapala of Gauda, according to the Gachtal Copper Plates of his great grandson Gopala. Ratnapala's son and Pundarapala died before him, so his grandson Indrapala took over. Indrapala (c.960-990 A.D.) succeeded his grandfather Ratnapala to the Kamarupa throne and ruled for a long time. We have his reign's Guwahati Copper Plates and Guakuchi Copper Plates, which depict his imperial status as paramesvaraParamabhattaraka- Maharajadhiraja. Indrapala defeated king Kalyanachandra, son of Sri Chandra of Vanga (Bengal) of the Chandras, who was the vanquisher of a king of Gauda, according to the Gachtal Copper Plates of Gopala. He bolstered his position by forming a matrimonial alliance with the Rashtrakutas. His Guakuchi grant attests to his command of the North Bengal region. His reign can be inferred from the Gauhati grant as one of peace and plenty. Gopala (c.990-1015 A.D.), the son of Indrapala and the Rashtrakuta princess Rajyadevi, was the next Pala ruler. According to the Khonamukh Copper Plates and Dharmapala's Subhankarapataka grant, the king had personal charm, merit and intelligence, munificence, and war success. He appears to have consolidated his father's conquest in Pundravardhana, which led to the invasion of Jatavarman, an East Bengal king, during the reign of his son and successor Harshapala. Harshapala (circa 1015-1035 A.D.) was a learned man. However, he was not a powerful ruler. As previously stated, king Jata...