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[[File:Kamakhya_Guwahati.JPG|thumb|260px|right|<div style="text-align: center;">'' [[Kamakhya Temple]] is the central shrine of Kamarupa''<ref name="shin2010-mlecchas">{{harvcol|Shin|2010|p=8}}:"Along with the inscriptional and literary evidence, the archaeological remains of the Kamakhya temple, which stands on top of the Nilacala, testify that the Mlecchas gave a significant impetus to construct or reconstruct the Kamakhya temple."</ref></div>]] |
[[File:Kamakhya_Guwahati.JPG|thumb|260px|right|<div style="text-align: center;">'' [[Kamakhya Temple]] is the central shrine of Kamarupa''<ref name="shin2010-mlecchas">{{harvcol|Shin|2010|p=8}}:"Along with the inscriptional and literary evidence, the archaeological remains of the Kamakhya temple, which stands on top of the Nilacala, testify that the Mlecchas gave a significant impetus to construct or reconstruct the Kamakhya temple."</ref></div>]] |
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The |
The Salastambha Dynasty (c. 650 - 900) ruled [[Kamarupa]] from their capital at Harruppesvar in present-day [[Tezpur]], [[Assam]], after the fall of the [[Varman dynasty] .According to historical records, there were twenty one rulers in this dynasty, but the line is obscure and names of some intervening rulers are not known.<ref name=":0">{{Harvcol|Ray|1931|p=242}}</ref>Like all other Kamarupa dynasties which extended till central Assam,<ref>"And this supposition is supported by the reference of the sixteenth century Yogini tantra describing the eastern limit |
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of Kamarupa as the abode of Dikkaravasini. Based on these textual references, the so-called traditional boundary of Kamarupa is |
of Kamarupa as the abode of Dikkaravasini. Based on these textual references, the so-called traditional boundary of Kamarupa is |
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postulated. However,no inscriptional and material evidence confirms this conjecture."{{harvcol|Shin|2018|p=40}}</ref><ref>"Although some scholars posit that the boundary of Kamarupa extended up to |
postulated. However,no inscriptional and material evidence confirms this conjecture."{{harvcol|Shin|2018|p=40}}</ref><ref>"Although some scholars posit that the boundary of Kamarupa extended up to |
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the Himalayas in the north in that period, it is an utterly literal interpretation. The modern concept of fixed territory cannot be applied to such an early state. What can be assumed at themost is that the line between the places imagined and experienced seems to have blurred in the description of Kamarupa in the Raghuvamsa, thereby juxtaposing two different spatial contexts in the poetic expression."{{harvcol|Shin|2018|p=34-35}}</ref><ref>"The early period of the development of Assamese can be traced to two main centers and two different scripts. One was the kingdom of Kamrupa in western Assam, which had close ties with north Bengal"{{harvcol|Saikia|2004|p=6}}</ref> |
the Himalayas in the north in that period, it is an utterly literal interpretation. The modern concept of fixed territory cannot be applied to such an early state. What can be assumed at themost is that the line between the places imagined and experienced seems to have blurred in the description of Kamarupa in the Raghuvamsa, thereby juxtaposing two different spatial contexts in the poetic expression."{{harvcol|Shin|2018|p=34-35}}</ref><ref>"The early period of the development of Assamese can be traced to two main centers and two different scripts. One was the kingdom of Kamrupa in western Assam, which had close ties with north Bengal"{{harvcol|Saikia|2004|p=6}}</ref>. the Salastambha Dynasty i.e. the kings in it were Bhaumavanshi Kshatriya Aryan Dynasty which had lagre number of Mlechcha soldeiers in its Army. That is why its also called Mlechcha Dynasty sometimes and the kings have been glorified as "Mlechchadhipati" i.e. the Lord of the Mlechchas. The Mlechchha dynasty in Kamarupa was followed by the [[Pala dynasty (Kamarupa)|Pala kings]]. The Salastambha Dynasty was the next Bhaumavanshi Kshatriya Dynasty after the Bhauma Varman Dynasty. |
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== Sources == |
== Sources == |
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Salasthambha is first mentioned in an inscription 175 years into the rule of the dynasty.<ref>{{harvcol|Sircar|1990|p=125}}</ref> |
Salasthambha is first mentioned in an inscription 175 years into the rule of the dynasty.<ref>{{harvcol|Sircar|1990|p=125}}</ref> |
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The Hayunthal Copper Plates, dated to the middle of 9th Century CE, mentions multiple kings from the dynasty in a chronological fashion — Salastamba, Vijaya, Palaka, Kumara, Vajradeva, Harsavarman, Balavarman, [unnamed], Harjaravarman, and Vanamala.{{sfn|Sharma|1978|pp=89,93}} The Tejpur Copper Plates (since lost), roughly dated to the same spans, primarily chronicles Vanamala — other rulers like Pralambha, and Harjaravarman are mentioned.{{sfn|Sharma|1978|pp=89,93}} The Parbatiya Copper Plates, again roughly dated to the middle of 9th Century CE, chronicles Vanamala.{{sfn|Sharma|1978|pp=89,93}} |
The Hayunthal Copper Plates, dated to the middle of 9th Century CE, mentions multiple kings from the dynasty in a chronological fashion — Salastamba, Vijaya, Palaka, Kumara, Vajradeva, Harsavarman, Balavarman, [unnamed], Harjaravarman, and Vanamala.{{sfn|Sharma|1978|pp=89,93}} The Tejpur Copper Plates (since lost), roughly dated to the same spans, primarily chronicles Vanamala — other rulers like Pralambha, and Harjaravarman are mentioned.{{sfn|Sharma|1978|pp=89,93}} The Parbatiya Copper Plates, again roughly dated to the middle of 9th Century CE, chronicles Vanamala.{{sfn|Sharma|1978|pp=89,93}}. |
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==Origins and etymology== |
==Origins and etymology== |
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It is not clear how Salasthambha, the first of this dynasty, came to power.<ref>"(W)hen exactly Salasthambha occupied (the throne of Kamarupa) and under what circumstances cannot be determined in the present state of insufficient information." {{harvcol|Sircar|1990|p=122}} </ref> |
It is not clear how Salasthambha, the first of this dynasty, came to power.<ref>"(W)hen exactly Salasthambha occupied (the throne of Kamarupa) and under what circumstances cannot be determined in the present state of insufficient information." {{harvcol|Sircar|1990|p=122}} </ref> |
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An inscription from the reign of a king from the later Pala dynasty claims him to be a ''mlecchādhināth'' (Lord of The Mlecchas).<ref>"Salasthambha is called ''mlecchādhinath'' or lord of the Mlecchas in Ratnapalal's grant of the first half of the 10th century." {{harvcol|Sircar|1990|p=124}}</ref> The sixth king of the dynasty, a powerful Bhaumavanshi Kshatriya King, Sri Harsha or Harshadeva (c.725-50 A.D) who was the most famous, being credited with the overlordship of Gauda, Odra, Kalinga, Kosala and other lands. It is recorded in the Pasupati epigraph of the Nepal king, Jayadeva II, that Sri Harshadeva who was the lord of these lands gave his daughter Rajyamatiin marriage to this king. Thus though for a short period, Kamarupa, during the rule of Harshadeva reached the highest point of its military glory ”when its suzerain power extended from Sadiya in the east to Ajodhya in the west, and from the Himalayas in the north as far as the Bay of Bengal and Ganjam in the south”. Under Shri Harshadeva, glory of Kamrupa was at its peak in India. This showed the mighty of the Bhaumavanshi Kshatriya Leadership of Kamrupa. |
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[[Suniti Kumar Chatterji]] as well [[Dineshchandra Sircar]] propose that Salastambha was a [[Bodo-Kachari peoples|Bodo-Kachari]] chief of [[Mech tribe|Mech]], which was later sanskritized to Mleccha;<ref>{{harvcol|Chatterji|1951|pp=97}}The distinct mention of Sala-stambha as being a lord of the Mlecchas, as in the Bargaon copper-plate of the 19th century, would appear to make it clear that he was a Bodo chief of the Mèch tribe (Sanskritised as Mlēccha), who followed Bhaskara-varman in assuming the rulership of Assam</ref><ref>{{Harvcol|Shin|2011|p=178}} According to D.C. Sircar, 'Mleccha' may be sanskritized form of tribal name 'mech'</ref> an inscription from the reign of a king from the later Pala dynasty claims him to be a ''mlecchādhināth'' (Lord of The Mlecchas).<ref>"Salasthambha is called ''mlecchādhinath'' or lord of the Mlecchas in Ratnapalal's grant of the first half of the 10th century." {{harvcol|Sircar|1990|p=124}}</ref> An illegible explanation of their's being called [[Mleccha|mlecchas]] was provided over the Hayunthal Plates, too.{{sfn|Sharma|1978|pp=89,93}} |
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Symbolically, Mleccha designation could mean suppression of Vedic Brahmanical religion and the predominance of tantric vamacara practised by [[Shaivism|saivites]] and [[Sakta|sakta]]s. So, ethnic identity of Salastambha family could be same as Varmans but came to be known as mlecchas.{{sfn|Sharma|1978|p=35}} |
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It is presumed by Gait that the family of Salastambha came to an end with the death of Harshadeva. But according to the Hayunthal epigraph, Harshadeva was succeeded by his son Balavarman II (c.750-765A.D.),who was also a powerful monarch. Pralambha the great-grandson of Harshadeva was contemporary of Gopala, the first king of the Pala Dynasty of Gauda. Pralambha’s son Harjaravarman was perhaps the first of this line of kings to perform his coronation ceremony according to Vedic rites. He assumed the High-sounding title "Maharajadhiraja Parameswara Paramabhattaraka." He was left us two inscriptions, the Hayunthal copper plates found at Nagaon and the Tezpur rock epigraph. The second one is dated Gupta era 510=829-30 A.D. Harajaras reign is tentatively placed between c.815-35 A.D. |
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According to some historians, the remnant of the Mlechchha kingdom formed the later [[Kachari kingdom]].<ref>{{Harvcol|Bhattacharjee|1992|p=393}}</ref> |
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Choudhury opines that Salastambha was probably established,as a ruler of the Nalanda region by Bhaskara and immediately after the latter’s death without leaving an heir,he came to Pragjyotisha and declared himself as king .Hajaravarman’s son Vanamalavarman (c.835-65A.D.)was perhaps the last powerful king of Salastambha dynasty .He recovered Kamarupa’s lost possession of Pundravardhana and to signalise this victory donated lands to a Brahmana near about the area where Bhutivarman of the Varman dynasty made land-grants in the middle of the 6thcentury A.D. This is recorded in the Tezpur grant issued in his 19th regal year. He made several other land-grants. He rebuilt the Siva temple erected by his father and made grants of lands,elephants and temple girls to it. From his Nagaon grant it is learnt that his capital city was inhabited by virtuous men, merchants and learned scholars and people of all classes lived there happily. |
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Vanamala, a devout worshipper of Siva abdicated the throne in favour of his son Jayamala (c.865-85A.D.) and himself fasted unto death.Vanamala’s grandson Balavarman III (c.885-910A.D.)also made several land grants in different parts of his kingdom. In his grants he too assumed the high-sounding epithet Maharajadhiraja Parameswara Paramabhattaraka. Nothing is known about the successors of Balavarman III. There is a gap in the historical account of the period between the reign of Balavarman III and Tyagasingha, the last king of the family. They possibly ruled during the period c.910-970 A.D., after which Brahmapala started the rule of Pala line of kings. |
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Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History |
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Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History |
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Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History |
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Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History |
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Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History |
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==Rulers== |
==Rulers== |
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The grants of [[Ratna Pala|Ratnapala]] give the list of 21 kings from Salastambha to his line. <ref name=":0" /> |
The grants of [[Ratna Pala|Ratnapala]] give the list of 21 kings from Salastambha to his line. <ref name=":0" /> |
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* Balavarman III (860-880) |
* Balavarman III (860-880) |
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* Tyagasimha (890-900) |
* Tyagasimha (890-900) |
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==References == |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Bibliography == |
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{{refbegin|}} |
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*{{Citation| last = Shin| first = Jae-Eun| contribution = Region Formed and Imagined: Reconsidering temporal, spatial and social context of Kamarupa| year = 2018| title = Modern Practices in North East India: History, Culture, Representation| editor-last = Dzüvichü| editor-first = Lipokmar |editor2-last=Baruah |editor2-first=Manjeet |pages = 23–55| place = London & New York| publisher = Routledge}} |
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* {{Citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wg6MDwAAQBAJ|last=Urban|first=Hugh |title=The Power of Tantra: Religion, Sexuality and the Politics of South Asian Studies|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|year=2009|isbn=9780857715869}} |
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* {{cite journal |last1=Shin |first1=Jae-Eun |year=2010 |title=Yoni, Yoginis and Mahavidyas : Feminine Divinities from Early Medieval Kamarupa to Medieval Koch Behar |journal=Studies in History |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=1–29 |doi=10.1177/025764301002600101 |s2cid=155252564 }} |
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* {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ECxUOSudNGYC|title=History of the Koch Kingdom, C. 1515-1615|last=Nath|first=D.|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=1989|isbn=9788170991090}} |
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* {{citation |type=book |last=Baruah |first=S L |title=A Comprehensive History of Assam |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers |place=New Delhi |year=1986}} |
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* {{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.39542|title=Dynastic History Of Northern India Vol. 1|last=Ray|first=H.C.|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers.|year=1931|location=New Delhi}} |
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*{{Citation |
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|last=Bhattacharjee |
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|first=J. B. |
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|contribution=The Kachari state formation |editor-last=Barpujari |
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|editor-first=H. K. |
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|title=The Comprehensive History of Assam |
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|volume=2 |
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|pages=391–397 |
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|publisher=Assam Publication Board |
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|place=Guwahati |
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|year=1992 |
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}} |
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* {{Citation |
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|last=Sharma |
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|first= M M |
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|title=Inscriptions of Ancient Assam |
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|place=Guwahati |
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|year=1978 |
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|publisher=Gauhati University |
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|url=https://archive.org/details/inscriptionsofancientassammmsharmagauhatiuniversity1978c |
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}} |
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* {{Citation |
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|last=Sircar |
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|first= D. C. |
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|contribution=The Mlechchha Dynasty of Salasthambha |
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|editor-last=Barpujari |
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|editor-first=H. K. |
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|title=The Comprehensive History of Assam |
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|volume=1 |
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|place=Guwahati |
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|year=1990 |
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|publisher=Assam Publication Board |
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}} |
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*{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32096|title=Kirata-Jana-Krti|last=Chatterji|first=S.K|publisher=The Asiatic Society|year=1951|location=Calcutta}} |
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*{{Cite journal|last=Shin|first=Jae Eun|date=2011|title=Changing Dynasties, Enduring Genealogy: A Critical Study on the Political Legitimation in Early Medieval Kāmarūpa|url=https://www.academia.edu/13609819|journal=Journal of Ancient Indian History|volume=27|pages=173–187}} |
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*{{Cite book|title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization|last=Sen|first=S.N.|publisher=New Age International|year=1999|isbn=9788122411980}} |
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*{{Cite journal|last=Shin|first=Jae Eun|date=2016|title=Searching for Kāmarūpa:Historiography of the Early Brahmaputra Valley in the Colonial and Post Colonial Period|journal=Journal of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of West Bengal|volume=1|pages=115–32}} |
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{{refend}} |
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[[Category:Dynasties of India]] |
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[[Category:People from Kamarupa]] |
Revision as of 06:50, 10 April 2022
Kamarupa Kingdom Mlechchha dynasty | |||||||||
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650 CE–900 CE | |||||||||
Capital | Harruppesvar (present-day Tezpur) | ||||||||
Religion | Hinduism,Polytheism | ||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
Maharajadhiraja | |||||||||
• c. 650 - c. 670 | Salasthamba | ||||||||
• c. 815 – c. 832 | Harjjaravarman | ||||||||
• c. 890 – c. 900 | Tyagasimha | ||||||||
Historical era | Classical India | ||||||||
• Established | 650 CE | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 900 CE | ||||||||
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Part of a series on the |
History of Kamarupa |
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Ruling dynasties |
Part of a series on the |
History of Assam |
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Categories |
The Salastambha Dynasty (c. 650 - 900) ruled Kamarupa from their capital at Harruppesvar in present-day Tezpur, Assam, after the fall of the [[Varman dynasty] .According to historical records, there were twenty one rulers in this dynasty, but the line is obscure and names of some intervening rulers are not known.[2]Like all other Kamarupa dynasties which extended till central Assam,[3][4][5]. the Salastambha Dynasty i.e. the kings in it were Bhaumavanshi Kshatriya Aryan Dynasty which had lagre number of Mlechcha soldeiers in its Army. That is why its also called Mlechcha Dynasty sometimes and the kings have been glorified as "Mlechchadhipati" i.e. the Lord of the Mlechchas. The Mlechchha dynasty in Kamarupa was followed by the Pala kings. The Salastambha Dynasty was the next Bhaumavanshi Kshatriya Dynasty after the Bhauma Varman Dynasty.
Sources
Salasthambha is first mentioned in an inscription 175 years into the rule of the dynasty.[6]
The Hayunthal Copper Plates, dated to the middle of 9th Century CE, mentions multiple kings from the dynasty in a chronological fashion — Salastamba, Vijaya, Palaka, Kumara, Vajradeva, Harsavarman, Balavarman, [unnamed], Harjaravarman, and Vanamala.[7] The Tejpur Copper Plates (since lost), roughly dated to the same spans, primarily chronicles Vanamala — other rulers like Pralambha, and Harjaravarman are mentioned.[7] The Parbatiya Copper Plates, again roughly dated to the middle of 9th Century CE, chronicles Vanamala.[7].
Origins and etymology
It is not clear how Salasthambha, the first of this dynasty, came to power.[8]
An inscription from the reign of a king from the later Pala dynasty claims him to be a mlecchādhināth (Lord of The Mlecchas).[9] The sixth king of the dynasty, a powerful Bhaumavanshi Kshatriya King, Sri Harsha or Harshadeva (c.725-50 A.D) who was the most famous, being credited with the overlordship of Gauda, Odra, Kalinga, Kosala and other lands. It is recorded in the Pasupati epigraph of the Nepal king, Jayadeva II, that Sri Harshadeva who was the lord of these lands gave his daughter Rajyamatiin marriage to this king. Thus though for a short period, Kamarupa, during the rule of Harshadeva reached the highest point of its military glory ”when its suzerain power extended from Sadiya in the east to Ajodhya in the west, and from the Himalayas in the north as far as the Bay of Bengal and Ganjam in the south”. Under Shri Harshadeva, glory of Kamrupa was at its peak in India. This showed the mighty of the Bhaumavanshi Kshatriya Leadership of Kamrupa.
It is presumed by Gait that the family of Salastambha came to an end with the death of Harshadeva. But according to the Hayunthal epigraph, Harshadeva was succeeded by his son Balavarman II (c.750-765A.D.),who was also a powerful monarch. Pralambha the great-grandson of Harshadeva was contemporary of Gopala, the first king of the Pala Dynasty of Gauda. Pralambha’s son Harjaravarman was perhaps the first of this line of kings to perform his coronation ceremony according to Vedic rites. He assumed the High-sounding title "Maharajadhiraja Parameswara Paramabhattaraka." He was left us two inscriptions, the Hayunthal copper plates found at Nagaon and the Tezpur rock epigraph. The second one is dated Gupta era 510=829-30 A.D. Harajaras reign is tentatively placed between c.815-35 A.D.
Choudhury opines that Salastambha was probably established,as a ruler of the Nalanda region by Bhaskara and immediately after the latter’s death without leaving an heir,he came to Pragjyotisha and declared himself as king .Hajaravarman’s son Vanamalavarman (c.835-65A.D.)was perhaps the last powerful king of Salastambha dynasty .He recovered Kamarupa’s lost possession of Pundravardhana and to signalise this victory donated lands to a Brahmana near about the area where Bhutivarman of the Varman dynasty made land-grants in the middle of the 6thcentury A.D. This is recorded in the Tezpur grant issued in his 19th regal year. He made several other land-grants. He rebuilt the Siva temple erected by his father and made grants of lands,elephants and temple girls to it. From his Nagaon grant it is learnt that his capital city was inhabited by virtuous men, merchants and learned scholars and people of all classes lived there happily.
Vanamala, a devout worshipper of Siva abdicated the throne in favour of his son Jayamala (c.865-85A.D.) and himself fasted unto death.Vanamala’s grandson Balavarman III (c.885-910A.D.)also made several land grants in different parts of his kingdom. In his grants he too assumed the high-sounding epithet Maharajadhiraja Parameswara Paramabhattaraka. Nothing is known about the successors of Balavarman III. There is a gap in the historical account of the period between the reign of Balavarman III and Tyagasingha, the last king of the family. They possibly ruled during the period c.910-970 A.D., after which Brahmapala started the rule of Pala line of kings.
Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History
Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History
Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History
Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History
Mlechchha dynasty – Ancient Assam History
Rulers
The grants of Ratnapala give the list of 21 kings from Salastambha to his line. [2]
- Salastamba (650-670)
- Vijaya alias Vigrahastambha
- Palaka
- Kumara
- Vajradeva
- Harshadeva alias Harshavarman (725-745)
- Balavarman II
- Jivaraja
- Digleswaravarman
- Salambha[10]
- Harjjaravarman (815-832)
- Vanamalavarmadeva (832-855)
- Jayamala alias Virabahu (855-860)
- Balavarman III (860-880)
- Tyagasimha (890-900)
- ^ (Shin 2010:8) :"Along with the inscriptional and literary evidence, the archaeological remains of the Kamakhya temple, which stands on top of the Nilacala, testify that the Mlecchas gave a significant impetus to construct or reconstruct the Kamakhya temple."
- ^ a b (Ray 1931:242)
- ^ "And this supposition is supported by the reference of the sixteenth century Yogini tantra describing the eastern limit of Kamarupa as the abode of Dikkaravasini. Based on these textual references, the so-called traditional boundary of Kamarupa is postulated. However,no inscriptional and material evidence confirms this conjecture."(Shin 2018:40)
- ^ "Although some scholars posit that the boundary of Kamarupa extended up to the Himalayas in the north in that period, it is an utterly literal interpretation. The modern concept of fixed territory cannot be applied to such an early state. What can be assumed at themost is that the line between the places imagined and experienced seems to have blurred in the description of Kamarupa in the Raghuvamsa, thereby juxtaposing two different spatial contexts in the poetic expression."(Shin 2018:34-35)
- ^ "The early period of the development of Assamese can be traced to two main centers and two different scripts. One was the kingdom of Kamrupa in western Assam, which had close ties with north Bengal"(Saikia 2004:6)
- ^ (Sircar 1990:125)
- ^ a b c Sharma 1978, pp. 89, 93.
- ^ "(W)hen exactly Salasthambha occupied (the throne of Kamarupa) and under what circumstances cannot be determined in the present state of insufficient information." (Sircar 1990:122)
- ^ "Salasthambha is called mlecchādhinath or lord of the Mlecchas in Ratnapalal's grant of the first half of the 10th century." (Sircar 1990:124)
- ^ Pralambha, read from the Tezpur plates, can be corrected to Salambha, in light of the Parbatiya plates, (Sarma 1978, p. 105)