Give an account of Sasanka's administration and religious faith.
Answers
Answer:
Shashanka (IAST: Śaśāṃka) was the first independent king of a unified polity in the Bengal region, called the Gauda Kingdom and is a major figure in Bengali history.[1] He reigned in the 7th century, some historians place his rule between circa 600 CE and 636/7 CE,[2] whereas other sources place his reign between 590 and 625 CE.[3]
He is the contemporary of Harsha and of Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa. His capital was at Karnasubarna, in present-day Murshidabad in West Bengal. The development of the Bengali calendar is often attributed to Shashanka because the starting date falls within his reign
Explanation:
Shashanka, at first glance, appears like a "warlike monarch."[18] His endless invasions and conquests tell of a king intent upon growing his kingdom. Sen describes Shashanka as a 'military adventurer', not unlike Yasodharman.[19] But for a pre-medieval Indian king, endless battles, regicide, revenge and intrigue are not uncommon.
Like many pre-medieval Indian kings, Shashanka is said to have grasped the importance of consolidating his position.[18] He formed astute political alliances, notably with the Malva king, Devagupta, to counteract the combined might of the Kanauj-Thaneshwar coalition.
As king, Shashanka continued many Gupta-era traditions, e.g. making land grants to Brahmins, as evidenced by the copperplate inscriptions from the era. Gold and silver coins, known as Dinars, issued by Shashanka have also been discovered.[citation needed] He vigorously propagated Hinduism, and had Sakadvipi Brahmins and Vedic Brahmins invited into his kingdom, presumably from Kanyakubja, among other places.[20]A 12th century text states that Shashanka destroyed the Buddhist stupas of Bengal and was an oppressor of Buddhism.[23] Shashanka is reputed to have cut the Bodhi tree where the Buddha found enlightenment, in the Mahabodhi Temple of Bodh Gaya.[24][25]
Ramesh Chandra Majumdar states that this account is doubtful because it was written centuries after the alleged persecution,[26] and that it is "unsafe to accept the statements recorded in this book as historical".[27] Radhagovinda Basak states that there is no reason to believe that this 12th century Buddhist author had cherished any ill feeling about Shashanka, and he may have had reasons to describe the events as they occurred in the 7th century.[28]
Following his death, Shashanka was succeeded by his son, Manava, who ruled the kingdom for eight months. However Gauda was soon divided amongst Harsha and Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa, the latter even managing to conquer Karnasuvarna.