Shashanka
Encyclopedia
Shashanka is often attributed with creating the first separate political entity in a unified Bengal
called Gauda
and as such is a major figure in Bengali history. He reigned in 7th century AD, and some historians place his rule approximately between 590 AD and 625 AD. He is the contemporary of Harsha
vardana. His capital was called Karnasuvarna (কর্ণসুবর্ণ Kôrnoshubôrno or কানসোনা Kanshona) and is located in modern Murshidabad
. The development of the Bengali calendar
is also often attributed to Shashanka as the starting date falls squarely within his reign.
while in the east, his kingdom bordered Kamarupa. Prior to Shashanka, Bengal was divided into three regions, Banga, Samatata and Gauda and was ruled by a feeble ruler belonging to the later Gupta dynasty, Mahasengupta. Shashanka was one of his chieftains who rose to power taking the advantage of the weak ruler. After the death of Mahasengupta, Shashanka drove the later Guptas and other prominent nobles out of the ground to establish his own kingdom Gauda
with the capital Karnasubarna.
), copperplates of his rivals Harshavardhana and Bhaskarvarmana, and the accounts of the Chinese monk Xuanzang
as well as coins minted in Shashanka's reign. The informations provided by Bana and Xuanzang cannot be considered as true or very reliable as both belonged to Buddhism
and Shashanka was known to be a staunch Hindu
. Moreover the patron of Bana and Xuanzang was a sworn enemy of Shashanka. So both were bound to be biased towards him. They have described Sasanka as the "vile Gauda serpent". In his account Xuanzang has elaborated that Shashanka has destroyed the Buddhist stupas of Bengal and declared an award of hundred gold coins for the head of every Buddhist monk in his kingdom. Though the modern day historians have rejected these views as purely biased ones. According to the other sources available Shashanka was an efficient and tolerable ruler who ruled justly.
, Harshavardhana, and his allies. The result of the battle was inconclusive as Shashanka is documented to have retained dominion over his lands. The king of Malwa, Devgupta had an enmity with the ruler of Kannauj
, Grahavarman who was also the brother-in-law of the Vardhan princes, by his marriage with the princess of Thanesar, Rajyashri. Devgupta attacked Kannauj and killed Grahavarman in the battle and imprisoned his wife Rajyashri. Hearing the news Prabhakarvardhan, the king of Thaneswar dies of shock and his elder son Rajyavardhan is crowned as the king. Rajyavardhan immediately marched towards Kannauj to avenge the death of his brother-in-law. The battle was followed by sudden assassination of Rajyavardhan. Though very conclusive proofs are not found, but a treachery is suspected on the part of Sasanka who joined the battle as an ally of Devgupta. Only source available in this matter is the "Harshacharita" by Banabhaata, who was a childhood friend and constant companion of Emperor Harsha. But one thing should be kept in mind that neither Bana nor Harsha were present at the site.
Harsha-Vardhan, then was crowned the ruler of Thaneswar and he once again gathered the army and attacked Kannauj. Though the results are not known clearly, but it is evident that Devgupta and Shashanka had to retreat from Kannauj. Sasanka continued to rule Gauda with frequent attacks from Harsha which he is known to have faced bravely.
, who ruled the kingdom for 8 months. However Gauda was soon divided amongst Harshavardhana and Bhaskarvarmana, the latter even managing to conquer Karnasuvarna.
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
called Gauda
Gauda
*Sanskrit ' :**Gauḍa region is a historical country in eastern India, which included Gaur in Bengal, of its eponymous capital, and of its inhabitants .**The ' , a branch of Panch-Gauda...
and as such is a major figure in Bengali history. He reigned in 7th century AD, and some historians place his rule approximately between 590 AD and 625 AD. He is the contemporary of Harsha
Harsha
Harsha or Harsha Vardhana or Harshvardhan was an Indian emperor who ruled northern India from 606 to 647 AD. He was the son of Prabhakara Vardhana and younger brother of Rajya Vardhana, a king of Thanesar, Haryana...
vardana. His capital was called Karnasuvarna (কর্ণসুবর্ণ Kôrnoshubôrno or কানসোনা Kanshona) and is located in modern Murshidabad
Murshidabad
Murshidabad is a city in Murshidabad district of West Bengal state in India. The city of Murshidabad is located on the southern bank of the Bhagirathi, a distributary of the Ganges River. It was the capital of undivided Bengal during the Mughal rule. Nawabs of Bengal used to rule Bengal from this...
. The development of the Bengali calendar
Bengali calendar
The Bengali calendar or Bangla calendar is a solar and sidereal Hindu calendar used by the Bengali people. It is used in the eastern Indian states of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura and in Bangladesh...
is also often attributed to Shashanka as the starting date falls squarely within his reign.
Extent of Kingdom
While Shashanka was known and referred to as the Lord of Gauda, his kingdom included more than just the region of Gauda. By the end of his reign, his domain stretched from Vanga to BhuvaneshaBhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar is the capital of the Indian state of Orissa, officially Odisha. The city has a long history of over 2000 years starting with Chedi dynasty who had Sisupalgarh near present-day Bhubaneswar as their capital...
while in the east, his kingdom bordered Kamarupa. Prior to Shashanka, Bengal was divided into three regions, Banga, Samatata and Gauda and was ruled by a feeble ruler belonging to the later Gupta dynasty, Mahasengupta. Shashanka was one of his chieftains who rose to power taking the advantage of the weak ruler. After the death of Mahasengupta, Shashanka drove the later Guptas and other prominent nobles out of the ground to establish his own kingdom Gauda
Gauda
*Sanskrit ' :**Gauḍa region is a historical country in eastern India, which included Gaur in Bengal, of its eponymous capital, and of its inhabitants .**The ' , a branch of Panch-Gauda...
with the capital Karnasubarna.
Contemporary Sources
There are several major contemporary sources of information on his life, including copperplates from his vassal Madhavavarma (King of GanjamHistory of Orissa
The history of Orissa spans over 3,500 years and it is atypical from the history of the northern plains in many ways. Many of the common generalizations that are made about Indian history doesn't apply to the Oriya region...
), copperplates of his rivals Harshavardhana and Bhaskarvarmana, and the accounts of the Chinese monk Xuanzang
Xuanzang
Xuanzang was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who described the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period...
as well as coins minted in Shashanka's reign. The informations provided by Bana and Xuanzang cannot be considered as true or very reliable as both belonged to Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and Shashanka was known to be a staunch Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
. Moreover the patron of Bana and Xuanzang was a sworn enemy of Shashanka. So both were bound to be biased towards him. They have described Sasanka as the "vile Gauda serpent". In his account Xuanzang has elaborated that Shashanka has destroyed the Buddhist stupas of Bengal and declared an award of hundred gold coins for the head of every Buddhist monk in his kingdom. Though the modern day historians have rejected these views as purely biased ones. According to the other sources available Shashanka was an efficient and tolerable ruler who ruled justly.
War with Harsha-Vardhana
Shashanka and his allies fought a major war with the then Emperor of ThanesarThanesar
Thanesar is an old and historic town on the banks of the Sarsawati Ghaggar river in the state of Haryana in northern India. It is located in Kurukshetra District, approximately 160 km northwest of Delhi...
, Harshavardhana, and his allies. The result of the battle was inconclusive as Shashanka is documented to have retained dominion over his lands. The king of Malwa, Devgupta had an enmity with the ruler of Kannauj
Kannauj
Kannauj , also spelt Kanauj, is a city, administrative headquarters and a municipal board or Nagar Palika Parishad in Kannauj district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The city's name is traditionally derived from the term Kanyakubja . Kannauj is an ancient city, in earlier times the capital...
, Grahavarman who was also the brother-in-law of the Vardhan princes, by his marriage with the princess of Thanesar, Rajyashri. Devgupta attacked Kannauj and killed Grahavarman in the battle and imprisoned his wife Rajyashri. Hearing the news Prabhakarvardhan, the king of Thaneswar dies of shock and his elder son Rajyavardhan is crowned as the king. Rajyavardhan immediately marched towards Kannauj to avenge the death of his brother-in-law. The battle was followed by sudden assassination of Rajyavardhan. Though very conclusive proofs are not found, but a treachery is suspected on the part of Sasanka who joined the battle as an ally of Devgupta. Only source available in this matter is the "Harshacharita" by Banabhaata, who was a childhood friend and constant companion of Emperor Harsha. But one thing should be kept in mind that neither Bana nor Harsha were present at the site.
Harsha-Vardhan, then was crowned the ruler of Thaneswar and he once again gathered the army and attacked Kannauj. Though the results are not known clearly, but it is evident that Devgupta and Shashanka had to retreat from Kannauj. Sasanka continued to rule Gauda with frequent attacks from Harsha which he is known to have faced bravely.
Legacy
Following his death, Shashanka was succeeded by his son, ManavaManava (king)
Manava was the son and successor to the king of Gauda, Shashanka. He was the last recorded ruler of the dynasty and was likely deposed by Harshavardhana or Bhaskaravarman . He ruled as king for 8 months....
, who ruled the kingdom for 8 months. However Gauda was soon divided amongst Harshavardhana and Bhaskarvarmana, the latter even managing to conquer Karnasuvarna.