Bhaskaravarman

Bhaskaravarman
The 7th-century Kamarupa kingdom under Bhaskaravarman. The kingdom extended to the east up to the hills leading to China, according to the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang who visited Bhaskarbarman's court during his reign around 643 CE.
King of Kamarupa
Reign	600–650 CE

Bhaskaravarman (600–650 CE) was the king of Kamarupa and the last ruler of the Varman dynasty. He restored the Varman rule after his father, Susthitavarman, was defeated and allied with Harshavardhana of Thaneswar against Gauda and East Malwa.

Background

Bhaskaravarman succeeded his brother Supratisthitavarman and was the first Kamarupa king to claim descent from Narakasura, Bhagadatta, and Vajradatta. He issued the Dubi and Nidhanpur copper plate grants. A clay seal bearing his name was found at Nalanda.

After Susthitavarman’s defeat by Mahasenagupta, Supratisthitavarman briefly ruled but died without an heir. Bhaskaravarman then took the throne around 600 CE.

Rivals

Mahasenagupta allied with Shashanka and controlled northern and central Bengal after defeating Susthitavarman. After Mahasenagupta’s death, Shashanka ruled Bengal. Bhaskaravarman’s principal rivals were Shashanka and Prabhakaravardhana, the father of Harshavardhana.

Alliance with Harsha

After Shashanka killed Harshavardhana’s brother and successor, Rajyavardhana, Bhaskaravarman sent an envoy, Hangsavega, to Thaneswar to form an alliance. The event is recorded by Bana and Xuanzang.

Chinese accounts

Xuanzang's account

Chinese pilgrim, Xuanzang visited Bhaskaravarman’s court around 643 CE, describing the capital's circumference as thirty Li (~9 miles (14.48 km)). He described Bhaskaravarman as a Brahmana who patronized Buddhism, although he was not a Buddhist himself. Diverging from the account presented in the book She-Kia-Fang-Che, which describes Bhaskaravarman as a Kshatriya of Chinese ancestry.

Wang Xuance's account

After 648 CE, the envoy Wang Xuance visited Harshavardhana’s court but was expelled by Yashovarman. Wang returned with an army, captured Yashovarman, and brought him to China. Bhaskaravarman aided Wang with supplies. Chinese records call Bhaskaravarman Ch-Kieu-mo (Sri-Kumara) and Kamarupa Kia-mu-lu. He gave Wang a map and requested an image of Laozi.

Kamarupa of Bhaskaravarman

Xuanzang, in his travelogue, noted that he crossed the river Karatoya before entering Kamarupa. The eastern boundary was a line of hills close to the Chinese frontier. He also said that Kamarupa was nearly 1,700 miles (2,735.88 km) in circumference. He mentioned that the people were of short height and yellow complexion, and Bhaskaravarman was Hindu and not Buddhist. He also noted that people's speech differed little from that of Central India. They were of violent disposition but also persevering students. They worshipped the Devas and didn't believe in Buddhism. There were hundreds of Deva-temples, and the various systems had some myriads of professed adherents. The few Buddhists in the country performed their acts of devotion in secret. The pilgrim heard from the locals that to the east of the country was a series of hills which reached as far as the confines of China. The inhabitants of these hills were akin to the “Man of the Lao”.

Description

Xuanzang notes that Kamarupa was low and moist and that the crops were regular. Coconuts and jackfruits grew abundantly and were appreciated by the people. The described location is around present-day Guwahati.

According to the account given in the Si-yu-ki, the circumference of Kamarupa was about 1,700 miles (2,735.88 km). As Edward Albert Gait has pointed out, this circumference must have included the whole of the Assam valley, Surma valley, parts of North Bengal, and parts of Mymensingh.

Religion

Bhaskaravarman was primarily a worshiper of Shiva but showed respect towards Buddhist monks and scholars, reflecting an inclination towards Buddhism. The general populace worshipped various Devas in temples, while Buddhist followers often practiced their devotion in secret.

Culture

During his reign, the Nidhanpur copper plate grant documents unique local literary forms, while Chinese accounts describe diplomatic exchanges with Harshavardhana's court. The Karnasuvarna copper plate grant also features distinct regional literary styles not found in later inscriptions.

Art and industry

His gifts to Harshavardhana included land products such as a royal umbrella studded with gems, puthis on sachi-bark, cane mats, agar essence, musk, molasses, utensils, paintings, and silk fabrics, as recorded in contemporary accounts.

Nidhanpur inscription

Main article: Nidhanpur copperplate inscription

File:Nidhanpur Inscription of Bhaskar Varman.jpg

Nidhanpur inscription of Bhaskaravarman

The Nidhanpur copper plate inscription describes him using traditional royal epithets, stating he “dispelled the darkness of the Kali age” and “upheld Arya religion with his revenues”—typical ceremonial language found in contemporary royal inscriptions. He is metaphorically adorned with fame from defeated kings’ praises and compared to legendary figures for charity and wisdom. The inscription attributes to him qualities typical of royal panegyrics, including learning and military strength.

Nalanda seal

File:Seal of Bhaskar Varman Found at Nalanda dated 643 A.D.jpg

The Nalanda seal of Bhaskaravarman (dated 643 CE)

Bhaskaravarman’s seal, dated 643 CE, was discovered at Nalanda with Harshvardhana seals during the 1917–18 excavations. The inscription lists royal names and may have accompanied an invitation to Xuanzang. The presence of both kings’ seals suggests they visited Nalanda

Sri Ganapati Varma Sri Yajnavatyam Sri Mahendra Varma.
Sri Suvratayam Sri Narayanavarma Sri Devavatyam Sri Mahabhuta Varman.
Sri Vijnana Vatyam Sri Chandramukha Varman Sri Bhogavatyam.
Sri Sthitavarma tena Sri Nayana Sobhayam (Sri Susthitavarman)
(Sri Syama Lakshmyam) Sri Supratisthita Varman.
Sri Bhaskara Varmeti.

K.N. Dikshit, in his “Epigraphical notes of the Nalanda finds”, proposes that the seal probably accompanied Bhaskaravarman's letter to Śīlabhadra inviting Xuanzang. Bhaskaravarman's seal was found in the company of the two Harsha seals. It is likely that both Harsha and Bhaskaravarman traveled from Rajmahal to Kanauj, specifically to visit the university of Nalanda. Besides inviting the Chinese pilgrim, they commemorated their visits by leaving their respective seals at the university.

Death

The date and circumstances of Bhaskaravarman’s death are unknown; his reign likely ended on ~650 CE.

Post-death events

Historian Kanaklal Barua suggests a revolt by the Mlechhas took place after Bhaskaravarman’s death, leading Salastambha to seize the throne from Bhaskaravarman's successor Avantivarman.

Legacy

Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit and Ancient Studies University in Nalbari, Assam, is named after him.

See also

• Pala Dynasty

References

• Kāmarūpa-Kaliṅga-Mithilā:a politico-cultural alignment in Eastern India : history, art, traditions by Chandra Dhar Tripathi, Indian Institute of Advanced Study