Avantivarman (Varman dynasty)

Avantivarman
PredecessorBhaskaravarman
DynastyVarman dynasty
ReligionHinduism

Avantivarman is believed to be the last king of the Varman dynasty of Kamarupa in present-day North-East India.

No direct evidence of this king exists, nor does this name appear anywhere in a historical record — the name Avanti Varma itself is reconstructed from the benedictory verses of a Sanskrit play Mudrarakshasa by Vishakhadatta.[1] According to some scholars, the "Avantivarma" of Mudrarakshasa is actually another king of the Maukhari dynasty.[2]

According to Bargaon grant of Ratnapal, Mlechchha king Salasthambha took over the rule of Kamarupa from the descendants of Naraka.[3] K.L. Barua states that there was a Mlechha revolt in Kamarupa and the leader of the Mlecchas usurped the throne by deposing Bhaskaravarman's immediate successor Avantivarman.[4] Mukunda Madhava Sharma theorizes that Salasthambha must have overthrown the immediate successor of Bhaskaravarman.[5] P.C Choudhury opines that Salasthambha, the founder of Mlechchha dynasty was known as Avantivarman.[6]

  1. ^ Sharma 1978, pp. xxxid.
  2. ^ Baij Nath Puri (1968). Studies in early history and administration in Assam. Gauhati University. p. 48.
  3. ^ Sharma 1978, p. xxx.
  4. ^ Sarkar, Ichhimuddin (1992). Aspects of historical geography of Prāgjyotiṣa-Kāmarūpa (ancient Assam). Naya Prokash. p. 295.
  5. ^ Sharma 1978, p. xxxi.
  6. ^ Pathak, Guptajit; Pathak, Niranjan Ch (2008). Assam's history and its graphics. Mittal Publications. p. 56.