Varman dynasty

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Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Indian English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Assam History The Varman dynasty (350–650) was the first historical dynasty of the Kamarupa kingdom. It was established by Pushyavarman, a contemporary of Samudragupta.Template:Sfnp[1] The earlier Varmans were subordinates of the Gupta Empire,[2] but as the power of the Guptas waned, Mahendravarman (470–494) performed two horse sacrifices and the status of Kamarupa as an independent state remained unimpaired.[3] As per the Apsad Inscription of Adityasen, Susthivarman was defeated by Mahasengupta on the bank of Lauhitya.[4] The first of the three Kamarupa dynasties, the Varmans were followed by the Mlechchha and then the Pala dynasties.[5]

Origin

File:Kamarupa in the Allahabad Pillar inscription.jpg
The name "Kāmarūpa" in later Brahmi script, in the Allahabad Pillar inscription of Samudragupta (350-375 CE).[6]

The first king in this dynasty was Pushyavarman, possibly a contemporary of Samudragupta (c. 335/350-375 CE).[1] The kingdom which he established with much effort, grew in the periphery of the Gupta Empire, adopted the north Indian political model, and its kings took on names and titles of the Gupta kings and queens.Template:Sfnp Nothing much is known directly about the initial kings till the sixth king, Mahendravarman, who established a rock temple and assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja (king-of-kings) in the last quarter of the fifth century.Template:Sfnp The dynastic line from Pushyavarman first appear in the 7th century, in Dubi and Nidhanpur copperplate inscriptions issued by Bhaskaravarman and in the Harshacharita and not earlier in any inscription from his ancestors.[5]Template:Sfnp In these inscriptions Bhaskaravarman claims that he was a descendant of Narakasur, Bhagadatta and Vajradatta.[5] Modern scholars consider this claim to be a fabrication, jae-eun shin suggests that this genealogy was created in the context of Bharkarvarman's alliance with Harshavardhana, to help legitimise his sovereignty. The use of Naraka/Bhagadatta lineage to establish sovereignty continued under the Mlechchha and the Pala dynasties, a practice which is in keeping with the trend in the post-Gupta period in India.Template:Sfnp

She-Kia-Fang-Che claiming him to be a kshatriya whose ancestors came from China.Template:Sfnp Though some modern scholars have opined that the Varman dynasty is probably of Indo-Aryan descent,[7][8] it is now believed that the Varmans were originally non-Indo-Aryans. Suniti Kumar Chatterjee calls Bhaskaravarman a Hinduised Mlechcha king of Indo-Mongoloid origin.[9] Hugh B. Urban also infers that the Varmans descended from non-Aryan tribes.[10]

File:Ruins of Pragjyotishpura (Guwahati), Kamarupa - Panel on Plinth.jpg
Relics of Pragjyotishpura, the capital of Varmans
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Capital

The capital was moved at least once, the last time by Sthitavarman (566-590) with the older city not named but presumed to be Pragjyotishpura,[11] located at the south-eastern slope of the Narakasur hill near Dispur. The new capital was possibly some location in Guwahati.[12] Though the claim is not supported by any archaeological findings.

Politics and diplomacy

The Varman's modeled themselves after the Gupta's and named themselves after the Gupta kings and queens.[13]

The dynasty

The dynastic line, as given in the Dubi and Nidhanpur copperplate inscriptions:

Template:Magnify icon
Location of the Varmans and neighbouring polities circa 400-450 CE.[14]
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Reign Name succession Queen
1 350-374 Pushyavarman (unknown)
2 374-398 Samudravarman son of Pushyavarman Dattadevi
3 398-422 Balavarman son of Samudravarman Ratnavati
4 422-446 Kalyanavarman son of Balavarman Gandharavati
5 446-470 Ganapativarman son of Kalyanavarman Yajnavati
6 470-494 Mahendravarman son of Ganapativarman Suvrata
7 494-518 Narayanavarman son of Mahendravarman Devavati
8 518-542 Bhutivarman son of Narayanavarman Vijnayavati
9 542-566 Chandramukhavarman son of Bhutivarman Bhogavati
10 566-590 Sthitavarman son of Chandramukhavarman Nayanadevi
11 590-595 Susthitavarman son of Sthitavarman Syamadevi
12 595-600 Supratisthitavarman son of Susthitavarman (Bachelor)
13 600-650 Bhaskaravarman brother of Supratisthitavarman (Bachelor)
14 650-655 Avantivarman[15] (unknown) (unknown)

Family tree

Varman dynasty
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References

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  1. a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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  5. a b c Sircar, D C (1990), "Political History", in Barpujari, H K (ed.), The Comprehensive History of Assam, vol. I, Guwahati: Publication Board, Assam, pp. 94–171
  6. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". "The Varman dynasty, which was probably the first Indo-Aryan dynasty in Assam was overthrown by Salastambha, a man of Mleccha or non-Aryan (Mongolian) origin."
  8. Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". "K.N. Dutta seems to be right in concluding that the Varman dynasty, which was probably the first Indo-Aryan dynasty in Assam, was overthrown by Salastambha, (Mongoloid) origin, who then made himself the king of Kamarupa."
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  11. "The older city is not given by name...(it) might have been Pragjyotisha."Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  12. "This verse refers to the act of abandoning the old capital city and building of a new metropolis on the bank of the holy river. The holy river seems to be none other than the Brahmaputra and the site of the city must have been located in the present Gauhati region."Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
  13. "the early kings of Kamarupa freely implemented the political model of north India, particularly following that of the Guptas, rather suggests their relative autonomy in the periphery. They adopted the imperial title of the Gupta, and the name of a Gupta king and queen, and performed a horse sacrifice...The resemblance between the names of Pushyavarman's son, Samudravarman, and daughter-in-law, DattadevI, on the one hand and those of Gupta emperor Samudragupta and his queen Dattadevl on the other may not be accidental. It was probably a conscious adoption."Script error: No such module "Footnotes".
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  15. "Though there exists no direct evidence, there are indirect evidence of a king who ruled for a short period after Bhaskaravarman, but was ousted by Salasthamba."Script error: No such module "Footnotes"..

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Bibliography

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