Jain Journal 1981 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 13

Sasanka, the Enemy and Oppressor of Jainism
CHITTARANJAN PAL
Sasanka was the first sovereign of Gauda who having consolidated his hold over greater parts of Bengal, made a bold bid for the conquest of the Northern India. But his endeavour was met with dismal failure, after a brief spell of success. The cause of the set-back suffered by him, was the formation of the dual alliance between Harsavardhana, king of Kanauj and Bhaskaravarmana, king of Kamrup. The formation of this dual alliance, emboldened Harsavardhana to undertake a massive expedition against Sasanka, king of Gauda. But the result of the expedition is not stated clearly either in Harşacarita of Banabhatta or Si-yu-ki of Hiuen-Tsang. We are indebted to Arya-Mañjuśrt-Mula-Kalpa, a medieval Buddhist chronicle for the piece of information that Harsavardhana defeated the Gauda king Sasanka and confined him within the boundary of his home-country.
Some historians do not regard Ārya-Mañjuśrī-Mula-Kalpa as a true historical document because of its lateness of composition. Two very peculiar features of the book are that (1) it narrates political events in the guise of prophecies like the Brahmanical Purānas and (2) it never refers to the kings by their proper names, but only mentions the first letter of their names or use a synonym. But the book enshrines in its bosom a collection of old and genuine Buddhist traditions, inspite of the fact that the chronicle is not treated by some scholars as an authentic historical work.
The king Soma referred to in the book may be the celebrated king of Gauda, Sasanka, because Soma and Sasanka are synonyms of the moon. His adversary has been mentioned as Ha which may stand for the name, Harsavardhana, king of Kanauj. If we assume that Ha stands for Harsavardhana and Soma for Sasanka, king of Gauda, the following