Varman dynasty - Revision history

->Homogenie: /* Origins */

2022-01-05T10:38:42Z

Origins

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:08, 5 January 2022
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	==Origins==		==Origins==
	The first king in this dynasty was [[Pushyavarman]], possibly a contemporary of [[Samudragupta]] (c. 335/350-375 CE). The kingdom which he established with much effort, grew in the periphery of the [[Gupta Empire]], adopted the north Indian political model, and its kings took on names and titles of the Gupta kings and queens.<ref>"But the fact that the early kings of Kamarupa freely implemented the political model of north India, particularly following that of the Guptas, rather suggests their relative autonomy in the periphery."{{harv\|Shin\|2018\|p=30}}</ref> Nothing much is known directly about the initial kings till the sixth king, Mahendravarman, who established a rock temple and assumed the title of ''Maharajadhiraja'' (king-of-kings) in the last quarter of the fifth century.<ref>"Surendravarman was called the king of kings (''maharajadhiraja'') in the Umachal rock inscription of the last quarter of the fifth century."{{harv\|Shin\|2018\|p=30}}</ref> The dynastic line from Pushyavarman first appear in the 7th century, in [[Dubi copperplate inscription\|Dubi]] and [[Nidhanpur copperplate inscription\|Nidhanpur]] copperplate inscriptions issued by Bhaskaravarman and in the ''[[Harshacharita]]'' and not earlier in any inscription from his ancestors.<ref>"This genealogy seems to have been claimed at least from the seventh century AD {{harv\|Sircar\|1990\|p=95}}, since it is noticed for the first time in the Dubi and the Nidhanpur C. P. of Bhaskaravarman, and in the ''Harshacarita''. The claim was not found in the earlier Umachal and Barganga inscriptions of the time of Bhaskaravarman's ancestors." {{harv\|Shin\|2010\|p=176}}</ref> In these inscriptions [[Bhaskaravarman]] claims that he was a descendant of [[Narakasura\|Narakasur]], [[Bhagadatta]] and [[Vajradatta]].<ref>"The mythical ancestors of (the Varman) line of rulers were Naraka, Bhagadatta and Vajradatta."{{harv\|Sharma\|1978\|p=0.29}}</ref><ref>{{harv\|Sircar\|1990\|p=95}}</ref> Modern scholars consider this claim to be a fabrication<ref>"Since the Epico-Pauranic myths associated Pragjyotisha with Naraka and his descendants, it was quite natural for the kings of ancient Assam to fabricate the story of descent from Naraka's family."{{harv\|Sircar\|1990\|p=96}}</ref>—{{harvtxt\|Shin\|2010}} suggests that this genealogy was created in the context of Bharkarvarman's alliance with Harshavardhana, to help legitimize his sovereignty.<ref>{{harv\|Shin\|2010\|pp=177-178}}</ref> The use of Naraka/Bhagadatta lineage to establish sovereignty continued under the [[Mlechchha dynasty\|Mlechchha]] and the [[Pala dynasty (Kamarupa)\|Pala]] dynasties,<ref>{{harv\|Shin\|2010\|p=178}}</ref> a practice which is in keeping with the trend in the post-Gupta period in India.<ref>{{harv\|Shin\|2010\|pp=177-178}}</ref>		The first king in this dynasty was [[Pushyavarman]], possibly a contemporary of [[Samudragupta]] (c. 335/350-375 CE). The kingdom which he established with much effort, grew in the periphery of the [[Gupta Empire]], adopted the north Indian political model, and its kings took on names and titles of the Gupta kings and queens.<ref>"But the fact that the early kings of Kamarupa freely implemented the political model of north India, particularly following that of the Guptas, rather suggests their relative autonomy in the periphery."{{harv\|Shin\|2018\|p=30}}</ref> Nothing much is known directly about the initial kings till the sixth king, Mahendravarman, who established a rock temple and assumed the title of ''Maharajadhiraja'' (king-of-kings) in the last quarter of the fifth century.<ref>"Surendravarman was called the king of kings (''maharajadhiraja'') in the Umachal rock inscription of the last quarter of the fifth century."{{harv\|Shin\|2018\|p=30}}</ref> The dynastic line from Pushyavarman first appear in the 7th century, in [[Dubi copperplate inscription\|Dubi]] and [[Nidhanpur copperplate inscription\|Nidhanpur]] copperplate inscriptions issued by Bhaskaravarman and in the ''[[Harshacharita]]'' and not earlier in any inscription from his ancestors.<ref>"This genealogy seems to have been claimed at least from the seventh century AD {{harv\|Sircar\|1990\|p=95}}, since it is noticed for the first time in the Dubi and the Nidhanpur C. P. of Bhaskaravarman, and in the ''Harshacarita''. The claim was not found in the earlier Umachal and Barganga inscriptions of the time of Bhaskaravarman's ancestors." {{harv\|Shin\|2010\|p=176}}</ref> In these inscriptions [[Bhaskaravarman]] claims that he was a descendant of [[Narakasura\|Narakasur]], [[Bhagadatta]] and [[Vajradatta]].<ref>"The mythical ancestors of (the Varman) line of rulers were Naraka, Bhagadatta and Vajradatta."{{harv\|Sharma\|1978\|p=0.29}}</ref><ref>{{harv\|Sircar\|1990\|p=95}}</ref> Modern scholars consider this claim to be a fabrication<ref>"Since the Epico-Pauranic myths associated Pragjyotisha with Naraka and his descendants, it was quite natural for the kings of ancient Assam to fabricate the story of descent from Naraka's family."{{harv\|Sircar\|1990\|p=96}}</ref>—{{harvtxt\|Shin\|2010}} suggests that this genealogy was created in the context of Bharkarvarman's alliance with [[Harsha\|Harshavardhana]], to help [[Legitimisation\|legitimize]] his sovereignty.<ref>{{harv\|Shin\|2010\|pp=177-178}}</ref> The use of Naraka/Bhagadatta lineage to establish sovereignty continued under the [[Mlechchha dynasty\|Mlechchha]] and the [[Pala dynasty (Kamarupa)\|Pala]] dynasties,<ref>{{harv\|Shin\|2010\|p=178}}</ref> a practice which is in keeping with the trend in the post-Gupta period in India.<ref>{{harv\|Shin\|2010\|pp=177-178}}</ref>

	Foreign records are conflicting, with [[Xuanzang]] claiming him to be a Brahmana<ref>"The present king belongs to the old line (''tso yari'') of Narayana-deva. He is of the Brahman caste. His name is Bhaskaravarman, and his title Kumara (Keu-mo-lo)."{{harv\|Beal\|1884\|p=196}}</ref> and ''She-Kia-Fang-Che'' claiming him to be a kshatriya whose ancestors came from China.<ref name=":2">"But the She-Kia-Fang-Che records that Bhaskarvarman was a Kshatriya (and not a Brahmin) and his ancestors hailed from China (=Han) itself having nothing to do with Narayana Deva."{{harv\|Sharma\|1978\|p=xiv}}</ref> Though some modern scholars have opined that the Varman dynasty is probably of Indo-Aryan descent,<ref>{{cite book \|author=Kāmarūpa Anusandhāna Samiti \|title=Readings in the history & culture of Assam \|page=179 \|year=1984}} "The Varman dynasty, which was probably the first Indo-Aryan dynasty in Assam was overthrown by Salastambha, a man of Mleccha or non-Aryan (Mongolian) origin."</ref><ref>{{cite book \|author=Niśipada Caudhurī \|title=Historical archaeology of central Assam \|page=83 \|year=1985}} "K.N. Dutta seems to be right in concluding that the Varman dynasty, which was probably the first Indo-Aryan dynasty in Assam, was overthrown by Salastambha, (Mongoloid) origin, who then made himself the king of Kamarupa."</ref> it is now believed that the Varmans were originally non-Indo-Aryans. [[Suniti Kumar Chatterji\|Suniti Kumar Chatterjee]] calls Bhaskaravarman a Hinduised Mlechcha king of Indo-[[Mongoloid]] origin.<ref>"Hiuen Ts’ang by mistake described Bhaskara-varman as a Brahman, but he was just a neo-Kshatriya, a member of a Hinduised mleccha or non-Hindu Indo-Mongoloid family which had been accepted within the fold of Hindu orthodoxy."{{harv\|Chatterji\|1951\|pp=90-91}}</ref> Hugh B. Urban also infers that the Varmans descended from non-Aryan tribes.<ref>"Virtually all of Assam's kings, from the fourth-century Varmans down to the eighteenth-century Ahoms, came from non-Aryan tribes that were only gradually Sanskritised."{{harv\|Urban\|2011\|p=234}}</ref>		Foreign records are conflicting, with [[Xuanzang]] claiming him to be a Brahmana<ref>"The present king belongs to the old line (''tso yari'') of Narayana-deva. He is of the Brahman caste. His name is Bhaskaravarman, and his title Kumara (Keu-mo-lo)."{{harv\|Beal\|1884\|p=196}}</ref> and ''She-Kia-Fang-Che'' claiming him to be a kshatriya whose ancestors came from China.<ref name=":2">"But the She-Kia-Fang-Che records that Bhaskarvarman was a Kshatriya (and not a Brahmin) and his ancestors hailed from China (=Han) itself having nothing to do with Narayana Deva."{{harv\|Sharma\|1978\|p=xiv}}</ref> Though some modern scholars have opined that the Varman dynasty is probably of Indo-Aryan descent,<ref>{{cite book \|author=Kāmarūpa Anusandhāna Samiti \|title=Readings in the history & culture of Assam \|page=179 \|year=1984}} "The Varman dynasty, which was probably the first Indo-Aryan dynasty in Assam was overthrown by Salastambha, a man of Mleccha or non-Aryan (Mongolian) origin."</ref><ref>{{cite book \|author=Niśipada Caudhurī \|title=Historical archaeology of central Assam \|page=83 \|year=1985}} "K.N. Dutta seems to be right in concluding that the Varman dynasty, which was probably the first Indo-Aryan dynasty in Assam, was overthrown by Salastambha, (Mongoloid) origin, who then made himself the king of Kamarupa."</ref> it is now believed that the Varmans were originally non-Indo-Aryans. [[Suniti Kumar Chatterji\|Suniti Kumar Chatterjee]] calls Bhaskaravarman a Hinduised Mlechcha king of Indo-[[Mongoloid]] origin.<ref>"Hiuen Ts’ang by mistake described Bhaskara-varman as a Brahman, but he was just a neo-Kshatriya, a member of a Hinduised mleccha or non-Hindu Indo-Mongoloid family which had been accepted within the fold of Hindu orthodoxy."{{harv\|Chatterji\|1951\|pp=90-91}}</ref> Hugh B. Urban also infers that the Varmans descended from non-Aryan tribes.<ref>"Virtually all of Assam's kings, from the fourth-century Varmans down to the eighteenth-century Ahoms, came from non-Aryan tribes that were only gradually Sanskritised."{{harv\|Urban\|2011\|p=234}}</ref>
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	==Politics and diplomacy==		==Politics and diplomacy==
	[[File:Ruins of Pragjyotishpura (Guwahati), Kamarupa - Panel on Plinth.jpg\|thumb\|right\|260px\|{{center\|Relics of ''Pragjyotishpura'', ''the capital of Varmans''}}]]		[[File:Ruins of Pragjyotishpura (Guwahati), Kamarupa - Panel on Plinth.jpg\|thumb\|right\|260px\|{{center\|Relics of ''Pragjyotishpura'', ''the capital of Varmans''}}]]
	The Varman's modeled themselves after the Gupta's and named themselves after the Gupta kings and queens.<ref>"the early kings of ~~Kamariipa~~ freely implemented the political model of north India, particularly following that of the Guptas, rather suggests their relative autonomy in the periphery. They adopted the imperial title of the Gupta, and the name of a Gupta king and queen, and performed a horse sacrifice...The resemblance between the names of Pushyavarman's son, Samudravarman, and daughter-in-law, DattadevI, on the one hand and those of Gupta emperor Samudragupta and his queen Dattadevl on the other may not be accidental. It was probably a conscious adoption."{{harv\|Shin\|2018\|p=30}}</ref>		The Varman's modeled themselves after the Gupta's and named themselves after the Gupta kings and queens.<ref>"the early kings of Kamarupa freely implemented the political model of north India, particularly following that of the Guptas, rather suggests their relative autonomy in the periphery. They adopted the imperial title of the Gupta, and the name of a Gupta king and queen, and performed a horse sacrifice...The resemblance between the names of Pushyavarman's son, Samudravarman, and daughter-in-law, DattadevI, on the one hand and those of Gupta emperor Samudragupta and his queen Dattadevl on the other may not be accidental. It was probably a conscious adoption."{{harv\|Shin\|2018\|p=30}}</ref>

	==Cultural environment==		==Cultural environment==
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	{{refbegin\|}}		{{refbegin\|}}
	* {{cite book\|last=Beal\|first=Samuel\|title=Si-Yu-Ki. Buddhist Records of the Western World, Translated from the Chinese of Hsüan-tsang (A.D. 629) \|year=1884 \|publisher=Trubner & Co.\|location=London \|volume=II \|url=https://archive.org/details/siyukibuddhistre02hsuoft \|access-date=17 February 2013}}		* {{cite book\|last=Beal\|first=Samuel\|title=Si-Yu-Ki. Buddhist Records of the Western World, Translated from the Chinese of Hsüan-tsang (A.D. 629) \|year=1884 \|publisher=Trubner & Co.\|location=London \|volume=II \|url=https://archive.org/details/siyukibuddhistre02hsuoft \|access-date=17 February 2013}}
	*{{Cite book\|last=Chatterji\|first=Suniti Kumar\|title=Kirata-jana-krti\|year=1951\|publisher=The Asiatic Society \|place=Calcutta \|url=~~http~~://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32096}}		*{{Cite book\|last=Chatterji\|first=Suniti Kumar\|title=Kirata-jana-krti\|year=1951\|publisher=The Asiatic Society \|place=Calcutta \|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.32096}}
	*{{Citation\| last = Chattopadhyaya\| first = S\| contribution = Social Life\| year = 1990\| title = The Comprehensive History of Assam\| editor-last = Barpujari\| editor-first = H K\| volume = I\| pages = 195–232\| place = Guwahati\| publisher = Publication Board, Assam}}		*{{Citation\| last = Chattopadhyaya\| first = S\| contribution = Social Life\| year = 1990\| title = The Comprehensive History of Assam\| editor-last = Barpujari\| editor-first = H K\| volume = I\| pages = 195–232\| place = Guwahati\| publisher = Publication Board, Assam}}
	* {{cite book\|last=Choudhury\|first=P. C.\|title=The History of the Civilisation of the People of Assam to the Twelfth Century AD\|year=1966\|publisher=Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies of Assam \|location=Gauhati}}		* {{cite book\|last=Choudhury\|first=P. C.\|title=The History of the Civilisation of the People of Assam to the Twelfth Century AD\|year=1966\|publisher=Department of Historical and Antiquarian Studies of Assam \|location=Gauhati}}

imported>Richard Keatinge: /* Cultural environment */ blockquote rather than direct assertion, spelling and typographical corrections

2021-09-01T13:26:10Z

Cultural environment: blockquote rather than direct assertion, spelling and typographical corrections

New page

{{short description|Ruling dynasty of Kamarupa kingdom in ancient India between 350 CE - 655 CE}}
{{For|the Khmer dynasty of the same name|List of kings of Cambodia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox country
| native_name = Varman dynasty
| conventional_long_name = Kamarupa Kingdom
| common_name = Varman dynasty
| era = [[Middle kingdoms of India|Classical India]]
| status =
| event_start =
| year_start = 350 CE
| date_start =
| event1 =
| date_event1 =
| event_end =
| year_end = 655 CE
| date_end =
| p1 = Bhauma dynasty
| flag_p1 =
| p2 =
| flag_p2 =
| s1 = Mlechchha dynasty
| flag_s1 =
| s2 =
| flag_s2 =
| image_flag =
| flag_type =
| image_coat =
| image_map = Kamarupa_map.png
| image_map_caption = The 7th and 8th century extent of Kamarupa kingdom. located on the eastern region of the [[Indian subcontinent]], what is today modern-day [[Assam]], [[Bengal]] and [[Bhutan]].<ref name="acharya_map">{{harv|Dutta|2008|p=281}}, reproduced from {{harv|Acharya|1968}}.</ref> Kamarupa at its height covered the entire [[Brahmaputra Valley]], [[North Bengal]], [[Bhutan]] and northern part of [[Bangladesh]], and at times portions of [[West Bengal]] and [[Bihar]].<ref>{{harv|Sircar|1990|pp=63–68}}</ref>
| capital = [[Pragjyotishpura]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]], [[Tribal religion]]<ref>(A)ccording to the Yogina Tantra—a product of seventeenth-century Assam—the entire religion of Kamarupa is itself described as kirata dharma, that is, the religion of the northeast hill tribes,."{{harvcol|Urban|2011|p=237}}</ref>
| government_type = Monarchy
| leader1 = [[Pushyavarman]]
| year_leader1 = c. 350 - c. 374
| leader2 = [[Bhutivarman]]
| year_leader2 = c. 518 – c. 542
| leader3 = [[Bhaskaravarman]]
| year_leader3 = c. 600 – c. 650
| title_leader = Maharajadhiraja
| legislature =
| demonym =
| area_km2 =
| area_rank =
| GDP_PPP =
| GDP_PPP_year =
| HDI =
| HDI_year =
| today =
| official_languages = [[Sanskrit]], [[Kamarupi Prakrit]]
}}
{{Assam History}}
The '''Varman dynasty''' (350-650) was the first historical dynasty of the [[Kamarupa kingdom]]. It was established by [[Pushyavarman]], a contemporary of [[Samudragupta]].<ref>"Three thousand years after these mythical ancestors (Naraka, Bhagadatta and Vajradatta) there occurred Pushyavarman as the first historical king, after whom we have an uninterrupted line of rulers up to Bhaskarvarman."{{harv|Sharma|1978|p=xxix}}</ref> The earlier Varmans were subordinates of the [[Gupta Empire]], but as the power of the Guptas waned, [[Mahendravarman (Varman dynasty)|Mahendravarman]] (470-494) performed two [[Ashvamedha|horse sacrifices]]<ref>"According to him (D C Sircar) Narayanavarma, the father of Bhutivarman, was the first Kamarupa king to perform horse-sacrifices and thus for the first time since the days of Pusyavarman freedom from the Gupta political supremacy was declared by Narayanavarma. But a careful study or even a casual perusal of the seal attached to the Dubi C.P. and of the nalanda seals should show that it is Sri Mahendra, the father of Narayanavarma himself, who is described as the performer of two horse-sacrifices."{{harv|Sharma|1978|p=8}}</ref> and the status of Kamarupa as independent state remained umimpaired.<ref>"There is no conclusive proof that the Guptas conquered Kāmarupa."{{Harv|Ray|1931|p=238}}</ref><ref>"The status of Kamarupa remained unimpaired as the grandson of Bhutivarman also performed two Asvamedha sacrifices."{{Harv|Sen|1999|p=303}}</ref> According to the [[Allahabad pillar|Allahabad Prasasti]], the ruler of Kamarupa was a frontier ruler (Pratyanta-nrpatis) of the great Gupta emperor.<ref>"In the Allahabad prasasti of Harişeņa the ruler of Kāmarūpa is included in the list of tributary Pratyanta-nrpatis of the great Gupta emperor."{{Harv|Ray|1931|p=238}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OswUZtL1_CUC&q=kamarupa|title=Vakataka - Gupta Age Circa 200-550 A.D.|last1=Majumdar|first1=Ramesh Chandra|last2=Altekar|first2=Anant Sadashiv |date=1986|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publ.|isbn=9788120800267|pages=142}}</ref>

As per the Apsad Inscription of Adityasen, Susthivarman was defeated by Mahasengupta on the bank of [[Brahmaputra River|Lauhitya]].<ref>"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."{{Harv|Mukherji|Maity|1967|p=7}}</ref>

The first of the three Kamarupa dynasties, the Varmans were followed by the [[Mlechchha dynasty|Mlechchha]] and then the [[Pala dynasty (Kamarupa)|Pala]] dynasties.

==Capital==
The capital was moved at least once, the last time by [[Sthitavarman]] (566-590) with the older city not named but presumed to be [[Pragjyotishpura]],<ref>"The older city is not given by name...(it) might have been Pragjyotisha."{{harv|Sharma|1978|pp=30-31}}</ref> located at the south-eastern slope of the Narakasur hill near [[Dispur]]. The new capital was possibly some location in [[Guwahati]].<ref>"This verse refers to the act of abandoning the old capital city and building of a new metropolis on the bank of the holy river. The holy river seems to be none other than the Brahmaputra and the site of the city must have been located in the present Gauhati region."{{harv|Sharma|1978|p=30}}</ref>

==Origins==
The first king in this dynasty was [[Pushyavarman]], possibly a contemporary of [[Samudragupta]] (c. 335/350-375 CE). The kingdom which he established with much effort, grew in the periphery of the [[Gupta Empire]], adopted the north Indian political model, and its kings took on names and titles of the Gupta kings and queens.<ref>"But the fact that the early kings of Kamarupa freely implemented the political model of north India, particularly following that of the Guptas, rather suggests their relative autonomy in the periphery."{{harv|Shin|2018|p=30}}</ref> Nothing much is known directly about the initial kings till the sixth king, Mahendravarman, who established a rock temple and assumed the title of ''Maharajadhiraja'' (king-of-kings) in the last quarter of the fifth century.<ref>"Surendravarman was called the king of kings (''maharajadhiraja'') in the Umachal rock inscription of the last quarter of the fifth century."{{harv|Shin|2018|p=30}}</ref> The dynastic line from Pushyavarman first appear in the 7th century, in [[Dubi copperplate inscription|Dubi]] and [[Nidhanpur copperplate inscription|Nidhanpur]] copperplate inscriptions issued by Bhaskaravarman and in the ''[[Harshacharita]]'' and not earlier in any inscription from his ancestors.<ref>"This genealogy seems to have been claimed at least from the seventh century AD {{harv|Sircar|1990|p=95}}, since it is noticed for the first time in the Dubi and the Nidhanpur C. P. of Bhaskaravarman, and in the ''Harshacarita''. The claim was not found in the earlier Umachal and Barganga inscriptions of the time of Bhaskaravarman's ancestors." {{harv|Shin|2010|p=176}}</ref> In these inscriptions [[Bhaskaravarman]] claims that he was a descendant of [[Narakasura|Narakasur]], [[Bhagadatta]] and [[Vajradatta]].<ref>"The mythical ancestors of (the Varman) line of rulers were Naraka, Bhagadatta and Vajradatta."{{harv|Sharma|1978|p=0.29}}</ref><ref>{{harv|Sircar|1990|p=95}}</ref> Modern scholars consider this claim to be a fabrication<ref>"Since the Epico-Pauranic myths associated Pragjyotisha with Naraka and his descendants, it was quite natural for the kings of ancient Assam to fabricate the story of descent from Naraka's family."{{harv|Sircar|1990|p=96}}</ref>—{{harvtxt|Shin|2010}} suggests that this genealogy was created in the context of Bharkarvarman's alliance with Harshavardhana, to help legitimize his sovereignty.<ref>{{harv|Shin|2010|pp=177-178}}</ref> The use of Naraka/Bhagadatta lineage to establish sovereignty continued under the [[Mlechchha dynasty|Mlechchha]] and the [[Pala dynasty (Kamarupa)|Pala]] dynasties,<ref>{{harv|Shin|2010|p=178}}</ref> a practice which is in keeping with the trend in the post-Gupta period in India.<ref>{{harv|Shin|2010|pp=177-178}}</ref>

Foreign records are conflicting, with [[Xuanzang]] claiming him to be a Brahmana<ref>"The present king belongs to the old line (''tso yari'') of Narayana-deva. He is of the Brahman caste. His name is Bhaskaravarman, and his title Kumara (Keu-mo-lo)."{{harv|Beal|1884|p=196}}</ref> and ''She-Kia-Fang-Che'' claiming him to be a kshatriya whose ancestors came from China.<ref name=":2">"But the She-Kia-Fang-Che records that Bhaskarvarman was a Kshatriya (and not a Brahmin) and his ancestors hailed from China (=Han) itself having nothing to do with Narayana Deva."{{harv|Sharma|1978|p=xiv}}</ref> Though some modern scholars have opined that the Varman dynasty is probably of Indo-Aryan descent,<ref>{{cite book |author=Kāmarūpa Anusandhāna Samiti |title=Readings in the history & culture of Assam |page=179 |year=1984}} "The Varman dynasty, which was probably the first Indo-Aryan dynasty in Assam was overthrown by Salastambha, a man of Mleccha or non-Aryan (Mongolian) origin."</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Niśipada Caudhurī |title=Historical archaeology of central Assam |page=83 |year=1985}} "K.N. Dutta seems to be right in concluding that the Varman dynasty, which was probably the first Indo-Aryan dynasty in Assam, was overthrown by Salastambha, (Mongoloid) origin, who then made himself the king of Kamarupa."</ref> it is now believed that the Varmans were originally non-Indo-Aryans. [[Suniti Kumar Chatterji|Suniti Kumar Chatterjee]] calls Bhaskaravarman a Hinduised Mlechcha king of Indo-[[Mongoloid]] origin.<ref>"Hiuen Ts’ang by mistake described Bhaskara-varman as a Brahman, but he was just a neo-Kshatriya, a member of a Hinduised mleccha or non-Hindu Indo-Mongoloid family which had been accepted within the fold of Hindu orthodoxy."{{harv|Chatterji|1951|pp=90-91}}</ref> Hugh B. Urban also infers that the Varmans descended from non-Aryan tribes.<ref>"Virtually all of Assam's kings, from the fourth-century Varmans down to the eighteenth-century Ahoms, came from non-Aryan tribes that were only gradually Sanskritised."{{harv|Urban|2011|p=234}}</ref>

==Politics and diplomacy==
[[File:Ruins of Pragjyotishpura (Guwahati), Kamarupa - Panel on Plinth.jpg|thumb|right|260px|{{center|Relics of ''Pragjyotishpura'', ''the capital of Varmans''}}]]
The Varman's modeled themselves after the Gupta's and named themselves after the Gupta kings and queens.<ref>"the early kings of Kamariipa freely implemented the political model of north India, particularly following that of the Guptas, rather suggests their relative autonomy in the periphery. They adopted the imperial title of the Gupta, and the name of a Gupta king and queen, and performed a horse sacrifice...The resemblance between the names of Pushyavarman's son, Samudravarman, and daughter-in-law, DattadevI, on the one hand and those of Gupta emperor Samudragupta and his queen Dattadevl on the other may not be accidental. It was probably a conscious adoption."{{harv|Shin|2018|p=30}}</ref>

==Cultural environment==
The Buddhist scholar [[Xuanzang]] described his impressions of the people of the country: <blockquote>The manners of the people simple and honest. The men are of small stature, and their complexion a dark yellow. Their language differs a little from that of Mid-India. Their nature is very impetuous and wild; their memories are retentive, and they are earnest in study. They adore and sacrifice to the Dêvas, and have no faith in Buddha; hence from the time when Buddha appeared in the world even down to the present time there never as yet has been built one sanghårama as a place for the priests to assemble. Such disciples as there are of a pure faith, say their prayers (repeat the name of Buddha) secretly, and that is all. There are as many as 100 Dêva temples, and different sectaries to the number of several myriads... The king is fond of learning, and the people are so likewise in imitation of him. Men of high talent from distant regions aspiring after office visit his dominions as strangers. Though he has no faith in Buddha, yet he much respects [[Śramaṇa]]s of learning."</blockquote><ref>{{harv|Beal|1884|p=[https://archive.org/details/siyukibuddhistre02hsuoft/page/196/mode/2up 196]}}</ref>

==The dynasty==
The dynastic line, as given in the Dubi and Nidhanpur copperplate inscriptions:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" align="center"
|-
! !! 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 (Varman dynasty)|Kalyanavarman]] || son of Balavarman || Gandharavati
|-
| 5 || 446-470 || [[Ganapativarman]] || son of Kalyanavarman || Yajnavati
|-
| 6 || 470-494 || [[Mahendravarman (Varman dynasty)|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 || Unknown<ref>"Though there exists no direct evidence, there are indirect evidence of a king who ruled for a short period after Bhaskaravarman, but was ousted by Salasthamba."{{harv|Sharma|1978|pp=xxxi-xxxii}}.</ref> || (unknown) || (unknown)
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
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{{refend}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varman}}
[[Category:Varman dynasty| ]]
[[Category:People from Kamarupa]]
[[Category:Kamarupa (former kingdom)]]