Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 161

AUGUST, 1922] DATE OF LAKSHMANASENA AND HIS PREDECESSORS
153
DATE OF LAKSHMANASENA AND HIS PREDECESSORS. BY DINESH CHANDRA BHATTACHARYYA, M.A. (Continued from p. 148.)
Vijayasena's Barrackpur plate was issued from Vikramapura. In order to comprehend the full force of this bit of historical truth we have to discuss at some length the chronology of the dynasties of Vikramapura. Before the Sena Kings had sway over Vikramapura there is epigraphic evidence of two dynasties having reigned there one after another. The Chandra dynasty is represented by the copperplates of Srichandra 17 which from palæographic considerations are referred to circa 1000 A.D. Śrichandra was probably succeeded early in the 11th cent. by Govindachandra who fled before Rajendra Chola in 1023 A.D. comes the Varman dynasty represented by the copperplates of Bhojavarmâ and Harivarmâ. 18 Bhojavarmâ's date can be approximately fixed by the following synchronistic table :Nayapala (1030-1053) Karnachedi (1041-circ. 1100) Vajravarma
Then
Vigrahapala (1053-1067)- Vijayaśrî
I
Ramapâla (1069-1111)
Vîrasri Jâtavarmâ Sâmalavarmâ I
Bhojavarmâ
19
Jâtavarma was a true contemporary of Vigrahapâla III. and his son Sâmalavarmâ's traditional date of accession to the throne, 994 Saka (1072-3 A.D.) seems to be a genuine record. The date of the first king of the dynasty falls therefore about 1040 A.D. if not earlier, when probably Vajravarma usurped the kingdom of the Chandras. Let us now see if Harivarmâ with his long reign of at least 42 years can be adjusted in the 11th cent. A.D. in the scheme of Mr. Banerjea. Supposing Harivarmâ's father Maharajadhiraja Jyotirvarmâ immediately followed Govindachandra, we have approximately the following succession list: Govindachandra (1023 A.D.). Jyotirvarmâ (1023-25 A.D.) Harivarmâ (1025-1067). His son (1067-70). Vijayasena on the other hand must be taken to have usurped Vikramapura, defeating Bhojavarma sometime before his 32nd year, say in 1105. We have thus to impact four generations of kings in the remaining period, which by the greatest possible stretch barely counts to be 35 years. This is on the face of it improbable, and there is, moreover, strong literary évidence which goes against placing Harivarmâ in the 11th cent. A.D. Bhatta Bhavadeva, the celebrated Smriti writer of Bengal, was a minister of this long-lived king as well as of his son 20. In his Prayaschittaprakaraṇam21 Bhavadeva quotes Viśvarûpa, who again flourished sometime after Bhoja of Dhâra-say in 1060 A.D. at the earliest. At least a few decades must be allowed to have elapsed before Visvarûpa could have been quoted by Bhavadeva. Thus
17 Ep. Ind., Vol. XII, p. 136. ff. Dacca Review, 1912, pp. 250-51.
18 For Bhojavarma's plate of his 5th regnal year vide Ep. Ind., Vol. XII. p. 37. Harivarma's plate is dated in his 42nd year-Vangera Jatiya Itihasa: Brahmanakânda: Vol. II., pt. I., p. 216. Colophons of two Mss. refer to his reign, one copied in his 19th year and the other in his 39th year (Vángálára Itihasa by R. D. Banerjea, Vol. I., p. 275).
19 "eftà
20 Ep.Ind., Vol. VI, p. 205 ff. 31 JASB., 1912, p. 345. JASB., 1915, p. 323, note 1. deva has been alluded to in the Prabodhachandrodaya: the fact however is that a commentator of the 16th
"Vangera Jatiya Itihasa: Brahmanakânda, Vol. II., Pt. II., p. 18. Cf. यन्मन्त्रशक्तिसचिवः सुचिरं चकार, राज्यं स धर्मविजयी हरिवर्मदेवः । For Visvarapa's posteriority to Bhoja, vide Cat. Catalog. II., p. 58 and According to the late Mr. Chakravarti (JASB., 1912, p. 346). Bhava
Cent. in his gloss on a well-known verse of the drama merely adds the name of Bhavadova (Fury लिखितमपि अस्माभिरुक्तं ) as popular in his own time ( इदानीं ).