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96
Sudarshan Kumar Sharma
of a parasol of Varuna and a garland. Bans refers to this parasol sent through Hamsavega to Harga by Bhaskaravarma. Kalyanavarma, Ganapativarma, Mahendravarma and Narayana Varma were not so renowned. Ganapativarma was generous in his gifts while Narayaṇavarmā was like king Janaka. Mahābhutivarma has been named as Bhutivarma by Bana. It was he who granted to a large number of Brahmaṇas lands in the Candrapuri Visaya; the copper plate relating to this grant having been destroyed by fire his geat grandson Bhaskaravarma recorded what is known as the Nidhanapura Grant to confirm the gift made by his ancestor. The inscription as well as the Harṣacarita agree on the point that the kings of Kamarupa were devotees of Siva. Even Bhaskaravarma was a staunch devotee of Śiva. The Agrahara mentioned in the inscription was also a Śiva temple. The land grant record issued by Mahabhütivarmā and destroyed by fire and later on revived in Nidhanapura copper plates makes it evident that the lands granted as per these grants were on the banks of the old Channels of River Kausika or Kosi that virtually changed over to an, easterly course and following to the West of Purnea fell into Ganga at Rajamahala in the reign of Bhaskaravarma. Rai K.L. Barua Bahadur takes this Kosi of Nidhanapura inscription in modern Bihar and not the Kusiara river in Sylhet. Another vital point of importance has been disclosed by Rai K.L. Barua Bahadur who says:
"Towards the close of the sixth century A.D. the dynasty of the later Guptas produced a powerful king named Mahäsenagupta who checked the Maukharis in mid India and re-established the Gupta power to some exten. After this he turned his attention towards the East where Kamarupa Kings had appropriated to themselves the whole of the Pundravardhana Bhukti. He was therefore compelled to declare war against the then Kamarupa king Susthitavarm, the father of Bhaskaravarma. It appears that Susthita Varma sustained a crushing defeat and Mahasenagupta earned a great victory which was glorified by his grandson in the Aphsad inscription. Bhaskaravarma regained these lands after Sasanka's extripation."
Hence Mahisenagupta's contemporaneity with Susthitavarma places Mahasenagupta in the period between 580-600 A.D. and Bhaskaravarm's reign period has been established by Barua Bahadur as ranging between 600 and 650 A.D. the period practically synchronising with the reign. period of Harsa and the writing period of Bana (606-648 A.D. etc.). Bhaskaravarma has also been established as an elder contemporary of Hares by Barua Bahadur.7
The Nalanda Seal of Bhaskara-Varma likewise confirms the geneology of Bhaskaravarma right from Ganapati Varms onwards down to Bhaskara
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