| Toramana | |
|---|---|
| Ruler of theAlchon Huns | |
 | |
| Reign | 493-515 |
| Predecessor | Mehama |
| Successor | Mihirakula |
| Religion | Vaishnavism[3] |
Toramana also called Toramana Shahi Jauvla[4] (Gupta script:
𑀢𑁄𑀭𑀫𑀸𑀡To-ra-mā-ṇa,[5] ruled circa 493-515 CE) was a king of theAlchon Huns who ruled in northern India in the late 5th and the early 6th century CE.[6] Toramana consolidated the Alchon power inPunjab (present-dayPakistan and northwesternIndia), and conquered northern and central India includingEran inMadhya Pradesh. Toramana used the title "Great King of Kings" (Mahārājadhirāja
𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀭𑀸𑀚𑀥𑀺𑀭𑀸𑀚), equivalent to "Emperor",[7] in his inscriptions, such as theEran boar inscription.[8]
TheSanjeli inscription of Toramana speaks of his conquest and control over Malwa and Gujarat. His territory also includedUttar Pradesh,Rajasthan andKashmir.[9] He probably went as far asKausambi, where one of his seals was discovered.
According to theRīsthal inscription, discovered in 1983, theAulikara kingPrakashdharman ofMalwa defeated him.[10][11] Toramana’s inscriptions show his transition from an independent ruler to a vassal after his defeat in 515 CE. Initially titled "Mahārājadhirāj," he later served underPrakashdharman andYasodharman. This shift reflects the declining power of the Hunas in early medieval India.[12]
Toramana is known fromRajatarangini, through coins and inscriptions.
An inscription found at Kura in theSalt Range inPakistan records the building of a Buddhist monastery by a person named Rotta Siddhavriddhi during the reign of theHuna ruler Toramana. The donor expresses the wish that the religious merit gained by his gift be shared by him with the king and his family members.[13] In theKhurā inscription (495-500, from theSalt Range inPunjab and now in Lahore), Toramana assumes the Indian regnal titles in addition to central Asian ones:Rājādhirāja Mahārāja Toramāṇa ShahiJauvla.[4][14][15] Among which Shahi is considered to be his Title and Jauvla being an epithet or Biruda. This is a Buddhist record in hybrid Sanskrit, recording the gift of a monastery (vihāra) to members of theMahīśāsaka school.[16][17]
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Gupta script:Toramāṇa, appears in the 1st line of the inscription
In theGwalior inscription of Mihirakula, fromGwalior in northernMadhya Pradesh, India, and written inSanskrit, Toramana is described as:
"A ruler of [the earth], of great merit, who was renowned by the name of the glorious Tôramâna; by whom, through (his) heroism that was specially characterized by truthfulness, the earth was governed with justice."
TheEran Boar inscription (inEran, Malwa, 540 km south ofNew Delhi, state ofMadhya Pradesh) of his first regnal year indicates that easternMalwa was included in his dominion. The Eran Boar inscription was erected in honor of the deityVishnu as his avatar,Varaha.
Om ! Victorious is the god (Vishnu), who has the form of aBoar; who, in the act of lifting up the earth {out of the waters}, caused the mountains to tremble with the blows of {his} hard snout ; {and) who is the pillar {for the support) of the great house which is the three worlds !
— Eran Boar Inscription
The statue is of the deity in form of a boar, with engravings display it protectingrishis and upholdingDharma. Additionally, the statue containsSanskrit inscriptions inscribed on the neck of the boar, in 8 lines of inBrahmi script. It also records the building of the temple in which the currentVaraha image stands, byDhanyaviṣṇu, the younger brother of the deceased MaharajaMātṛviṣṇu.[20] The first line of the inscription, made after 484/85 CE mentions the "Maharajadhiraja Toramana" ("The great king of king Toramana")[2] and reads:
"In year one of the reign of the King of Kings Sri-Toramana, who rules the world with splendor and radiance...."
The presence of seals in the name of "Toramana" and "Hunaraja" inKausambi, suggests that the city was probably sacked by the Alkhons under Toramana in 497–500.[2][22][23][24]
"Tora" inBrahmi script appear in large letters on the reverse, under the solar wheel design.[25][26]
𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀭𑀸𑀚𑀥𑀺𑀭𑀸𑀚 𑀰𑁆𑀭𑀻 𑀢𑁄𑀭𑀫𑀸𑀡Mahārājadhirāja Shrī Toramāṇa ("Great King of Kings, Lord Toramana"), in theGupta script, in theEran boar inscription.[8]
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According to theRishtal stone-slab inscription, discovered in 1983, theAulikara king Prakashadharma ofMalwa defeated him in 515 CE.[10][2] Historian Thaplyal suggests that this seal confirms Toramana's status as a vassal king following his defeat byPrakashdharman around 515 CE. Toramana likely continued in this role underYasodharman, Prakāśadharman's successor. Evidence supporting Toramana’s independent rule prior to his defeat includes theSanjeli copper plate inscription (dated 502–503 CE), which refers to him as "paramabhațțaraka mahārājadhirāja sioramane" ("The most holy and supreme one, the Great King of Kings Toramana"). Additionally, the Eran boar inscription, dated between 510 and 513 CE, also uses the title "Mahārājadhirāj." These titles, however, predate his loss to Prakāśadharman, as documented in the Risthal inscription from 515 CE.[12]
Toramana may also have been defeated by the Indian EmperorBhanugupta of theGupta Empire in 510 A.D. according to theEran inscription, although the "great battle" to which Bhanagupta participated is not explicited.[31][32][33]
A few silver coins of Toramana closely followed the Gupta silver coins. The only difference in the obverse is that the king's head is turned to the left. The reverse retains the fantailed peacock and the legend is almost similar, except the change of name to Toramana Deva.[34][35]
A Jaina work of the 8th century, theKuvalayamala states that he lived in Pavvaiya on the bank of theChandrabhaga and enjoyed the sovereignty of the world.[36]
Toramana was succeeded by his sonMihirakula.[37]
Toramana, who was well-disposed towards the Vaisnava faith, may have thought it appropriate to the occasion.
| Preceded by | King of theAlchon Huns | Succeeded by |
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