Chandra dynasty

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Not to be confused with Lunar dynasty.

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The Chandra dynasty was a

Buddhist dynasty, originating from the Bengal region of Indian subcontinent, which ruled the Samatata area of Bengal, as well as northern Arakan. Later it was a neighbor to the Pala Empire to the north. Rulers of Chandra kingdom were adherents of Buddhism. The Kings of Chandra dynasty were identified as the kings of Vangaladesha in the Tirumulai inscription of Chola dynasty.[1]
The dynasty was founded around the 4th century AD.

History

The Anandachandra Inscription (729 AD) mentions that the Chandra dynasty was established by Dvenchandra (or Mahataing Chandra) in 370 AD. He had assumed the throne after the end of the Annaveta dynasty.[2] The ye Dhamma inscriptions of the Queen of Niti Chandra are dated to early 6th century AD based on paleographic grounds.[3]

The Chandra kingdom was one of the last

Buddhist strongholds in the Indian subcontinent. The kingdom flourished as a center of the Tantric schools of Buddhism. It played a role in the diffusion of Mahayana Buddhism to Southeast Asia.[4]

King Srichandra led invasions into Kamarupa. The Chandras played an important role in the regional politics and military history of erstwhile Bengal.

In the reign of King Govinda Chandra, the Chandras were eventually overthrown during an invasion by the Chola dynasty of South India.[5]

List of Chandra dynasty rulers
# King Period Reign (CE)
Ruling from Dhanyawadi and Waithali
1 Dvenchandra[2][6][7] 55 370-425
2 Rajachandra 20 425-445
3 Kalachandra 9 445-454
4 Devachandra 22 454-476
5 Yajnachandra 7 476-483
6 Chandrabandu 6 483-489
7 Bhumichandra 7 489-496
8 Bhutichandra 24 496-520
9 Nitichandra 55 520-575
7 Virachandra 3 575-578
11 Pritichandra 12 578-90
12 Prithvichandra 7 590-597
13 Dhirtichandra 3 597-600
14 Mahavira* 12 600-12
15 Virayajap* 12 612-24
16 Sevinren* 12 624-36
17 Dharmasura* 13 636-49
18 Vajrashakti* 16 649-65
19 Dharmavijaya* 36 665-701
20 Narendravijaya* 2 yr 9 months 701-703
21 Dharmachandra* 16 703-720
22 Anandachandra* 9+ 720-729+
Ruling from Harikela[8]
1 Traillokyachandra 30 900–930
2 Srichandra 45 930–975
3 Kalyanachandra 25 975–1000
4 Ladahachandra 20 1000–1020
5 Govindachandra 30 1020–1050

*Note- These rulers may or may not be related to the Chandra dynasty.[6][2]

Maritime relations

The coastal kingdom had trade networks with states in what is now

Arab merchants also traded with the kingdom.[4]

King Anandachandra mentions mission he sent to Sinhalese King Silamegha (Aggabodhi IV) (727-766)

Archaeology

There are numerous inscriptions dating from the period of the Chandra dynasty. The three archaeological sites associated with the dynasty include Bikrampur and Mainamati in Bangladesh and Waithali in Rakhine State, Myanmar (Burma).

Education

Buddha
for nine Brahmin monasteries where the Chaturvedas were mainly taught. Kamalakanta Gupta referred to this grant as "unique among other Buddhist kings" since it implies Srichandra's favouritism towards Brahmins.

Land distribution among 25 classes of people, guests, and students indicates an efficient administration in the universities. According to Zafir Setu, this administrative arrangement is more consistent with the present-day university system.[11]

References

  1. ^ Alam, Aksadul (2012). "Govindachandra". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-81-313-0405-1
    .
  3. ISBN 978-981-4345-10-1
    .
  4. ^
    JSTOR 44158810
    .
  5. ^ "Chandra Dynasty, the - Banglapedia".
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-1-5017-1947-9
    .
  7. S2CID 191758063
    .
  8. ^ Chowdhury, Abdul Momin (1967). Dynastic History of Bengal (c. 750—1200 A.D.). Dacca: The Asiatic Society of Pakistan. pp. 156, 159, 170.
  9. ^ a b Islam, Mohammad Mazharul (17 August 2020). "প্রাচীন 'চন্দ্রপুর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়'" (in Bengali). Samakal. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  10. ^ Shakil, Mahfouz (20 July 2020). "জুড়ীতে প্রাচীন বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়? অনুসন্ধানে যাচ্ছে প্রত্নতত্ত্বের দল" (in Bengali). Kulaura, Moulvibazar: Kaler Kantha. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  11. ^ a b Choedhury, Dwoha (24 July 2020). "চন্দ্রপুর: যেখানে লুকিয়ে আছে দশম শতাব্দীর বিদ্যাপীঠ". The Daily Star (in Bengali). Sylhet. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  12. ^ Islam, Nurul (18 August 2020). "শুস্ক মৌসুমে খননকাজ: মৌলভীবাজারে প্রাচীন চন্দ্রপুর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের সন্ধানে" (in Bengali). Moulvibazar: samakal. Retrieved 12 April 2021.

Bibliography

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