Kamarupa Kingdom Varman dynasty | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 350 CE–655 CE | |||||||||
 The traditional map of Kamarupa. | |||||||||
| Capital | Pragjyotishpura | ||||||||
| Official languages | Sanskrit,Kamarupi Prakrit | ||||||||
| Religion | Hinduism,Tribal religion[1] | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Maharajadhiraja | |||||||||
• c. 350 – c. 374 | Pushyavarman | ||||||||
• c. 518 – c. 542 | Bhutivarman | ||||||||
• c. 600 – c. 650 | Bhaskaravarman | ||||||||
| Historical era | Classical India | ||||||||
• Established | 350 CE | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 655 CE | ||||||||
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TheVarman dynasty (350–650) was the first historical dynasty of theKamarupa kingdom. It was established byPushyavarman, a contemporary ofSamudragupta.[2][3] The earlier Varmans were subordinates of theGupta Empire,[4] but as the power of the Guptas waned,Mahendravarman (470–494) performed twohorse sacrifices and the status of Kamarupa as an independent state remained unimpaired.[5] As per the Apsad Inscription of Adityasen, Susthivarman was defeated by Mahasengupta on the bank of Lauhitya.[6] The first of the three Kamarupa dynasties, the Varmans were followed by theMlechchha and then thePala dynasties.[7]
The first king in this dynasty wasPushyavarman, possibly a contemporary ofSamudragupta (c. 335/350-375 CE).[3] The kingdom which he established with much effort, grew in the periphery of theGupta Empire, adopted the north Indian political model, and its kings took on names and titles of the Gupta kings and queens.[9] Nothing much is known directly about the initial kings till the sixth king, Mahendravarman, who established a rock temple and assumed the title ofMaharajadhiraja (king-of-kings) in the last quarter of the fifth century.[9] The dynastic line from Pushyavarman first appear in the 7th century, inDubi andNidhanpur copperplate inscriptions issued by Bhaskaravarman and in theHarshacharita and not earlier in any inscription from his ancestors.[7][9] In these inscriptionsBhaskaravarman claims that he was a descendant ofNarakasur,Bhagadatta andVajradatta.[7] 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 withHarshavardhana, to helplegitimise his sovereignty. The use of Naraka/Bhagadatta lineage to establish sovereignty continued under theMlechchha and thePala dynasties, a practice which is in keeping with the trend in the post-Gupta period in India.[9]
She-Kia-Fang-Che claiming him to be a kshatriya whose ancestors came from China.[10] Though some modern scholars have opined that the Varman dynasty is probably of Indo-Aryan descent,[11][12]
%2c_Kamarupa_-_Panel_on_Plinth.jpg)
The capital was moved at least once, the last time bySthitavarman (566-590) with the older city not named but presumed to bePragjyotishpura,[13] located at the south-eastern slope of the Narakasur hill nearDispur. The new capital was possibly some location inGuwahati.[14] Though the claim is not supported by any archaeological findings.
The Varman's modeled themselves after the Gupta's and named themselves after the Gupta kings and queens.[15]
The dynastic line, as given in the Dubi and Nidhanpur copperplate inscriptions:
| 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[17] | (unknown) | (unknown) |
| Varman dynasty |
|---|
The status of Kamarupa remained unimpaired as the grandson of Bhutivarman also performed two Asvamedha sacrifices
Again the Apsad Inscription of Adityasen refer to his grandfather Mahasengupta's defeat of Susthivarmand on the bank of Lauhitya. Susthivarman was the King of Kamarupa
