Srichandra
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
|name = Srichandra
|predecessor = Traillokyachandra
|successor = Kalyanachandra
|regent =
|spouses =
| issue = Kalyanachandra
|full name =
|house = Chandra
|dynasty = Chandra
|father = Traillokyachandra
|mother =
|reign = 930 – 975
|birth_name =
|birth_date =
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|date of burial =
|place of burial =
|religion = Buddhism
}}
Srichandra (reigned {{circa}} 930–975) was the second and most influential ruler of the Chandra Dynasty in eastern Bengal.
Life
After Traillokyachandra, Srichandra ascended the throne, taking the titles "Paramsaugata",{{cite news|script-title=bn:অতীশ দীপঙ্করের রাজবংশ পরিচয়|language=bn|url=https://archive1.ittefaq.com.bd/print-edition/ittefaq-shamoeki/2014/11/07/13157.html|work=The Daily Ittefaq |date=7 November 2014|first=Abul|last=Kashem|access-date=23 August 2020}} "Parameshwar", "Parambhattārak" and "Mahārājādhirāj".{{cite book|script-title=bn:বাংলাদেশ ও প্রাচীন বিশ্ব সভ্যতার ইতিহাস, classes IX-X|chapter=Two: বাংলাদেশের রাজনৈতিক ইতিহাস: প্রাচীনকাল থেকে বঙ্গভঙ্গপূর্ব পর্যন্ত (Article: দক্ষিণ–পূর্ব বাংলার স্বাধীন রাজ্য: চন্দ্র রাজবংশ)|publisher=National Curriculum and Textbook Board, Dhaka|year=2011|pages=38–39}} According to the book Dynastic History of Bengal by Abdul Momin Chowdhury, Srichandra ruled 45 years, from 930 to 975 CE.{{cite news|script-title=bn:পশ্চিমভাগ তাম্রশাসন: তাম্রফলকে খোদিত ইতিহাসের অনাবিষ্কৃত অধ্যায়|language=bn|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangla/%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B7-%E0%A6%96%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B0/%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%A4-%E0%A6%85%E0%A6%A7%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9F-166181|work=The Daily Star|date=7 August 2020|first=Dwoha|last=Chowdhury|access-date=20 August 2020}} Again, Ramesh Chandra Majumdar mentioned in his book, History of Bangladesh that Srichandra reigned from 905 to 955 CE.{{cite news|script-title=bn:জুড়ীতে হাজার বছর আগের বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়? অনুসন্ধানে যাচ্ছে প্রত্নতত্ত্বের দল|language=bn|url=https://www.kalerkantho.com/online/country-news/2020/07/20/937117|work=Kaler Kantha|date=20 July 2020|access-date=22 August 2020|first=Mahfuj|last=Shakil|location=Kulaura, Moulvibazar}}{{cite news|script-title=bn:মৌলভীবাজারে চন্দ্রপুর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের খোঁজে প্রত্নতাত্ত্বিক দল|language=bn|url=https://bangla.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/07/27/25700/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8C%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%AD%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%9F%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%96%E0%A7%8B%E0%A6%81%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A4%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%95-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A6%B2|work=Dhaka Tibune|date=27 July 2020|first=Siful|last=Islam|location=Moulvibazar|access-date=23 August 2020}} However, Srichandra reigned the longest period among the five Chandra kings.{{cite news|script-title=bn:পরিদর্শনে যাচ্ছে প্রত্নতত্ত্ব বিভাগ: মৌলভীবাজারে অক্সফোর্ড ও ক্যামব্রিজের চেয়েও প্রাচীন বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়|language=bn|url=http://www.m.mzamin.com/article.php?mzamin=235816|work=Manab Zamin|date=19 July 2020|first=Tanjir Ahmed|last=Russel|access-date=23 August 2020}} Parts of Manikganj, Dhaka, Faridpur along the banks of the Padma, Shrihatta and Cumilla came under his rule. Srichandra moved his capital from Devparvat to Bikrampur (under present-day Munshiganj). A detailed description of the Chandras can be found from the Paschimbhag copperplate inscription.{{cite news|script-title=bn:প্রাচীন 'চন্দ্রপুর বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়'|language=bn|url=https://samakal.com/editorial-subeditorial/article/200833919/%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9A%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%9F|work=Samakal|date=17 August 2020|access-date=23 August 2020|first=Mohammad Majharul|last=Islam}}
Much of what is known of him comes from the copper plates from Mainamati as well as the Paschimbhag copperplate discovered in the village of Paschimbhag in Moulvibazar detailing his successful campaign against the Kingdom of Kamarupa. He is also credited with expanding his father's empire to encompass the kingdoms of Vanga and Samatata. Under his command, the Harikelan armies also successfully fought the Pala Empire and possibly the Kambojas of northern Bengal. His contemporary Pala ruler was Gopala III, whom he aided in becoming king after defeating the armies of King Ratna Pala of Kamarupa.{{Cite book |last=Hasan Dani |first=Ahmed |author-link=Ahmad Hasan Dani |title=Pakistan Archaeology No. 3 |year=1966 |chapter=Mainamati plates of the Chandras |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.59111/page/n65/mode/2up}}{{Cite book |last=Chowdhury |first=Abdul Momin |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.148627/page/n175/mode/2up |title=Dynastic History Of Bengal |date=1967}} Srichandra also moved the administrative center of the empire from Devaparvata to his newly built capital, Vikrampur.{{cite Banglapedia|author=AM Chowdhury|article=Chandra Dynasty, The}}
Religion
According to the copper plates, although Srichandra was a devout Buddhist and a patron of his faith, he was tolerant of other religious beliefs among his subjects, as evidenced by his attempts to settle displaced Brahmins within his empire. His son, Kalyanchandra was also a Buddhist. According to the 930 A.D Sylhet grant, Srichandra settled 6000 Brahmins in his empire.{{sfn|Witzel|1993|p=267}}
Notes
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{Cite book | last=Singh | first=Nagendra Kr. | title=Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh | year=2003 | publisher=Anmol Publications Pvt Ltd | isbn=81-261-1390-1 | pages=7–21}}
- {{Cite book | last=Chowdhury | first=Abdul Momin | title=Dynastic History of Bengal | year=1967 | publisher=The Asiatic Society of Pakistan | location=Dacca }}
- {{cite journal|last=Witzel|first=Michael|title=Toward a History of the Brahmins|journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society|volume=113|year=1993|issue=2 |pages=264–268|doi=10.2307/603031 |jstor=603031|issn=0003-0279}}
{{s-start}}
{{succession box
| title = Candra King
| years = 930 - 975 CE
| before = Traillokyachandra
| after = Kalyanachandra
}}
{{s-end}}