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{{Short description|King of Kashmir}} | {{Short description|King of Kashmir from 855 to 883}}{{Infobox royalty | ||
{{Infobox royalty | | title = | ||
| title | | name = Avantivarman | ||
| name | | image = King Avantivarman and his Queen.png | ||
| image | | caption = King Avantivarman and his Queen | ||
| caption | | succession = [[List of monarchs of Kashmir|King of Kashmir]] | ||
| succession | | reign = 855 – 11 June 883<ref name="ASI">{{Cite web|url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_jk_avantipur.asp|title=Avantiswami Temple, Avantipur|work=[[Archeological Survey of India]]|accessdate=20 April 2016}}</ref> | ||
| reign | | predecessor = Utpalapida | ||
| predecessor | | successor = [[Sankaravarman]] | ||
| successor | | house = [[Utpala dynasty|Utpala]] | ||
| house | | birth_date = | ||
| birth_date | | father = Sukhavarman | ||
| father | | mother = | ||
| mother | | issue = [[Sankaravarman]] | ||
| issue | | spouse = | ||
| spouse | | module = {{Infobox person | ||
| module | | child=yes | ||
| relatives = Utpala <br /><small>(paternal grandfather)</small> | |||
}} | |||
| death_date | | death_date = 11 June 883<ref name="n439">{{cite web | title=The Hindu Sahis of Afghanistan and the Punjab | last = Mishra | first = Yogendra | url=https://ia800604.us.archive.org/14/items/in.ernet.dli.2015.99741/2015.99741.The-Hindu-Sahis-Of-Afghanistan-And-The-Punjab_text.pdf | access-date=23 October 2025 | page = 30}}</ref> | ||
| death_place | | death_place = | ||
| | | burial_place = | ||
| religion | | religion = [[Shaivism]] | ||
| regnal name | | regnal name = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Avantivarman''' was | |||
'''Avantivarman''' (died 11 June 883) was the founder of the [[Utpala dynasty]] and [[List of monarchs of Kashmir|King of Kashmir]] from 855 to 883. He built the [[Avantiswami Temple]] in [[Awantipora]], [[Pulwama district|Pulwama]]. | |||
==Reign== | ==Reign== | ||
Avantivarman was the grandson of Utpala, one of the five brothers who had taken control of the [[Karkota dynasty|Karkota]] throne. Raised by Utpala's minister Sura, Anantivarman ascended the throne of [[Kashmir]] | Avantivarman was the grandson of Utpala, one of the five brothers who had taken control of the [[Karkota dynasty|Karkota]] throne. Raised by Utpala's minister Sura, Anantivarman ascended the throne of [[Kashmir]] in 855, establishing the [[Utpala dynasty]] and ending the rule of the Karkotas. Avantivarman appointed Suyya, an engineer and architect as his prime minister.<ref name="Sen">{{cite book|title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization|first=Sailendra Nath|last=Sen|publisher=New Age International|year=1999|page=295|isbn=978-8122-411-98-0}}</ref> The country had been badly affected due to civil wars over the prior forty years. Avantivarman's reign restored the economy. Suyya carried out desilting of the [[Jhelum River]] and diverted its course.<ref name="Suyya">{{cite book|title=Kashur The Kashmiri Speaking People: Analytical Perspective|first=Mohini Qasba|last=Raina|publisher=Partridge Publishing Singapore|year=2013|isbn=978-1482-899-47-4|page=9}}</ref> | ||
During his reign, in 880, the town of Suyyapur (modern-day [[Sopore]]) in [[Baramulla district]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] was founded by Suyya.<ref name=":0" /> | |||
Notable | Notable poets, Ranakar and Ananvardhana, were part of his court. During this time, the price of paddy declined from 36 to 20 dinars. Suyya is said to have drained a large chunk of wasteland as prime minister. [[Sopore|Suyyapur]] or Sopore township in Baramulla district was named for him. | ||
While Suyya was working in Sopore, no one came to bathe in the water. The king ordered that a part of his treasury be thrown into the water, leading a large number of people into the river to get as many coins as they could. Suyya continued and cleared the river of silt.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Marc Aurel Stein |url=http://archive.org/details/RajataranginiVol1 |title=Kalhana's Rajatarangini Vol 1 |date=1900}}</ref> | |||
==Art and architecture== | |||
Avantivarman was a patron of the arts. The most notable scholar of his time was Anandhavardana, the author of ''Dhvanyaloka''. He founded the cities of [[Awantipora|Avantipur]] and [[Sopore|Suyapur]].<ref name="Suyya" /> He built many [[Hindu temples]] dedicated to [[Vishnu]] and [[Shiva]] as well as [[Buddhist monastery|Buddhist monasteries]].<ref name="Culture">{{cite book|title=Cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir|page=88|first=K|last=Warikoo|publisher=Pentagon Press|year=2009|isbn=978-8182-743-76-2}}</ref> Notable among the temples were the temples of [[Awanti Swami temple|Avantiswara and Avantiswami]] dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu respectively in Avantipur.<ref name="Culture" /> | |||
==Death and succession== | ==Death and succession== | ||
Avantivarman died in 883 | Avantivarman died in 883 and his death was followed by another civil war among his descendants. The throne was finally captured by [[Sankaravarman]] in 885, who ruled until 902.<ref name="Sen"/> | ||
== Coinage == | |||
{{gallery | |||
|Avantivarmans_coin_1.png | |||
|Avantivarman_coin_2.png | |||
|title=Coinage of king Avantivarman}} | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 43: | Line 54: | ||
[[Category:Hindu monarchs]] | [[Category:Hindu monarchs]] | ||
[[Category:Utpala dynasty]] | [[Category:Utpala dynasty]] | ||
[[Category:Kashmir]] | [[Category:Kings of Kashmir]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:44, 11 March 2026
| Avantivarman | |
|---|---|
 King Avantivarman and his Queen | |
| King of Kashmir | |
| Reign | 855 – 11 June 883[1] |
| Predecessor | Utpalapida |
| Successor | Sankaravarman |
| Died | 11 June 883[2] |
| Issue | Sankaravarman |
| House | Utpala |
| Father | Sukhavarman |
| Religion | Shaivism |
| Relatives | Utpala (paternal grandfather) |
| 2= | |
Avantivarman (died 11 June 883) was the founder of the Utpala dynasty and King of Kashmir from 855 to 883. He built the Avantiswami Temple in Awantipora, Pulwama.
Reign[edit | edit source]
Avantivarman was the grandson of Utpala, one of the five brothers who had taken control of the Karkota throne. Raised by Utpala's minister Sura, Anantivarman ascended the throne of Kashmir in 855, establishing the Utpala dynasty and ending the rule of the Karkotas. Avantivarman appointed Suyya, an engineer and architect as his prime minister.[3] The country had been badly affected due to civil wars over the prior forty years. Avantivarman's reign restored the economy. Suyya carried out desilting of the Jhelum River and diverted its course.[4]
During his reign, in 880, the town of Suyyapur (modern-day Sopore) in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir was founded by Suyya.[5]
Notable poets, Ranakar and Ananvardhana, were part of his court. During this time, the price of paddy declined from 36 to 20 dinars. Suyya is said to have drained a large chunk of wasteland as prime minister. Suyyapur or Sopore township in Baramulla district was named for him.
While Suyya was working in Sopore, no one came to bathe in the water. The king ordered that a part of his treasury be thrown into the water, leading a large number of people into the river to get as many coins as they could. Suyya continued and cleared the river of silt.[5]
Art and architecture[edit | edit source]
Avantivarman was a patron of the arts. The most notable scholar of his time was Anandhavardana, the author of Dhvanyaloka. He founded the cities of Avantipur and Suyapur.[4] He built many Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva as well as Buddhist monasteries.[6] Notable among the temples were the temples of Avantiswara and Avantiswami dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu respectively in Avantipur.[6]
Death and succession[edit | edit source]
Avantivarman died in 883 and his death was followed by another civil war among his descendants. The throne was finally captured by Sankaravarman in 885, who ruled until 902.[3]
Coinage[edit | edit source]
Coinage of king Avantivarman
-
Avantivarman_coin_2.png
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Avantiswami Temple, Avantipur". Archeological Survey of India. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ↑ Mishra, Yogendra. "The Hindu Sahis of Afghanistan and the Punjab" (PDF). p. 30. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 295. ISBN 978-8122-411-98-0.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Raina, Mohini Qasba (2013). Kashur The Kashmiri Speaking People: Analytical Perspective. Partridge Publishing Singapore. p. 9. ISBN 978-1482-899-47-4.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Marc Aurel Stein (1900). Kalhana's Rajatarangini Vol 1.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Warikoo, K (2009). Cultural heritage of Jammu and Kashmir. Pentagon Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-8182-743-76-2.