Bhaskaravarman

Bhaskaravarman
The 7th century Kamarupa under Bhaskaravarman.[1] The kingdom extended to the east up to the hills that led to China,[2] according to the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang who visited Bhaskarbarman's court during his heydays around 643 CE.
King of Kamarupa
Reign600–650

Bhaskarbarman (bʱaːskərə'vərmən; 600–650) was king of medieval Kamarupa and the last of the Barman dynasty. After being captured by the Gauda king during the reign of his father, he was able to re-establish the rule of the Varmans. He made political alliances with Harshavardhana of Thaneswar, against the alliance of the Gauda and East Malwa.[3] He was visited by Xuanzang and Wang Xuance, the envoys of the Tang dynasty who have left accounts of the king and the kingdom.

Bhaskarbarman came to power after his brother Supratisthitavarman died. He was the first Kamarupa king to claim descent from the mythical Narakasura, Bhagadatta and Vajradatta.[4] After his death, Salasthambha, who established the Mlechchha dynasty, acquired power in Kamarupa Kingdom.[citation needed]

Bhaskarbarman issued the Dubi and Nidhanpur copper plate land grants,[5] and a clay seal found in Nalanda.[citation needed]

  1. ^ (Dutta 2008:282), reproduced from (Acharya 1968).
  2. ^ "He travelled from Pun-na-fa-tan-na (Pundravardhana) on the east more than 900 li or 150 miles; crossed a large river and reached Kia-no-leu-po (Kamarupa). The T'ang Shu refers to this large river as Ka-lo-tu which undoubtedly meant the Karatoya. The pilgrim further states that to the east of the country was a series of hills which reached as far as the confines of China." (Baruah 1986:75)
  3. ^ Sen, Sailendra (2013). A Textbook of Medieval Indian History. Primus Books. p. 39. ISBN 978-9-38060-734-4.
  4. ^ "The mythical ancestors of (the Varman) line of rulers were Naraka, Bhagadatta and Vajradatta." (Sharma 1978:0.29)
  5. ^ Shin, Jae-Eun (2018), "Region Formed and Imagined: Reconsidering temporal, spatial and social context of Kamarupa", in Dzüvichü, Lipokmar; Baruah, Manjeet (eds.), Modern Practices in North East India: History, Culture, Representation, London & New York: Routledge, pp. 23–55