Bhaskarvarman ; Varman Dynasty ¦ one of the most advanced kingdoms in india ¦ Indian history - 28
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Vaskaravarman, the last of the Varman dynasty, was perhaps the most illustrious of the kings of the medieval Kamarupa.
After being captured by the Gauda king, during the reign of his father, he was able to re-establish the rule of the Varmans.
He was visited by Xianzang, and Li Yipiao, the envoy of the Tang dynasty, who have left accounts of the king and the kingdom.
Vaskaravarman came to power, after his brother, Supratis Thidavarman had died.
He was the first Kamarupa king, to claim descent from the mythical Narakasura.
Even after he succeeded to the throne, Vaskaravarman was known as Kumara, prince, probably because he was a bachelor throughout his life.
On ascending the throne, Vaskaravarman found two strong rival powers, growing in northern India.
One in central and northern Bengal, under Shushanka, and the other in mid-India under Prabhakaravardhana, the father of Harsha.
When Shushanka murdered Rajyavardhana, Vaskaravarman sent an envoy, Hangsavga, to form an alliance.
The Harsha-Shaarita of Bana, gives a detailed account of Hangsavga's meeting with Harsha.
The diplomat was able to effect an offensive, and defensive alliance between the two kings.
After 648 CE, the Chinese invaded India, to avenge the insult done to Chinese representatives, at the court of Harsha, by the minister who usurped the throne of Harsha after his death.
The minister was defeated and captured.
In the conflict, Vaskaravarman aided the Chinese with supplies of cattle, horse, and accoutrement.
The Chinese traveller, Xianzang, visited Vaskaravarman in his court on his invitation, noting the king patronised Buddhism, though a non-Buddhist.
Xianzang came to India with the object of studying Buddhist lore, and seeing for himself the various Buddhist shrines in India.
When Xianzang reached the capital of Kamarupa, he was received by Vaskaravarman, and his high officers in state, and conducted to the palace.
When Harsha heard that Xianzang was a guest of Vaskaravarman, he dispatched a messenger, peremptorily asking the Kumara Raja to send a Chinese priest at once to him.
On receipt of this message, Vaskaravarman realised the folly of his language, and the danger of courting a conflict with the most powerful monarch.
He therefore escorted Xianzang to Khajurgarh, where Harsha was encamping.
During the night Harsha came and visited Xianzang, with whom he had a long discourse.
Harsha died in the year 648 CE, four years after Xianzang left India, but Vaskaravarman was reigning till about 650 CE, just after Harsha's death, his minister Arjun, or Arjunaesway usurped the throne.
At that time, an embassy arrived from the Emperor of China. Arjun, actually ill-treated the members of the mission, and killed some of them.
With the assistance of Vaskaravarman, Wang Hai and Se, defeated the usurper Arjun, and capturing him, took him as a prisoner to China.
Vaskaravarman probably did not continue to reign long after this event.
Vaskaravarman reigned until about 650 CE, after Vaskaravarman's death, there was a Mlekha revolt in Kamarupa, and Salastamha, the leader or governor of the Mlekhas, usurped the throne.