Karnasuvarna

Karnasuvarna
Remains of Raktamrittika Vihara, c. 600 CE
Shown within West Bengal
Location West Bengal, India
Coordinates 24°01′49″N 88°11′27″E / 24.03028°N 88.19083°E / 24.03028; 88.19083Coordinates: 24°01′49″N 88°11′27″E / 24.03028°N 88.19083°E / 24.03028; 88.19083
Type Settlement
History
Founded 7th century AD
Site notes
Excavation dates 1929-30, 1962
Archaeologists K.N.Dixit, S.R.Das
Ownership Archaeological Survey of India, University of Calcutta

Karnasuvarna or Karnasubarna (meaning 'made beautiful by Karna') was the capital of Shashanka, the first important king of ancient Bengal who ruled in the 7th century. After Shashanka's death it was the jayaskandhavara (camp of victory) of Bhaskaravarman, the king of Kamarupa probably for a short period. This is evident from his Nidhanpur copper-plate grant. In the mid-7th century, it was the capital of Jayanaga according to his Vappa Ghoshavata copper-plate grant. The ruins of Karnasuvarna have been located at Kansona in the present Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal.[1][2] It is 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) south-west of Baharampur, headquarters of Murshidabad district.[3]

Legend has it that Karnasuvarna was the capital of the 'Anga' Kingdom that the Kaurava prince Duryodhana had given to the magnanimous Karna, the first born of Kunti.

Transport

Karnasuvarna Railway Station (earlier known as Chiruti) situated in the Barharwa-Azimganj-Katwa loop of Eastern Railway. Few passengers and express trains pass over the station. Bus services are available to district headquarters Baharampur from Karnasubarna.

Excavations at Rajbaridanga

The famous Chinese traveler Xuanzang mentioned in his travelogues about Lo-to-mo-chi (Raktamrittika) Mahavihara, an important centre of learning of Vajrayana Buddhists near Karnasuvarna. It has been identified with Rajbaridanga. The archaeological site of Rajbaridanga is about 2.4 km from Karnasuvarna railway station in the bank of the Bhagirathi River. Local transport like cycle vans, e-rickshaws (Toto) are available. This site was first excavated by a team from the Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta in 1962 under the direction of S.R. Das.[4] Amongst the findings, the most significant one was a monastic sealing bearing the legend Shri Rakta(m)rttika (Ma)havaiharik arya bhikshu (samgha)s(y)a (of the community of venerable monks residing in the Shri Raktamrittika Mahavihara). The other significant findings are terracotta figurines and ornamental stucco mouldings including human heads. Two other sites close by have been excavated at Rakshashidanga (in 1929-30 by K.N. Dixit of the Archaeological Survey of India) and Nil Kuthi.[5] The whole area was

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ray, Nihar Ranjan, Bangalir Itihas Adi Parba, (in Bengali), 1980 edition, pp. 160-161, Paschim Banga Niraksharata Durikaran Samiti
  2. ↑ Sengupta, Nitish, History of the Bengali-speaking People, p.25, UBS Publishers’ Distributors Pvt. Ltd.
  3. ↑ Majumdar, Dr. R.C., History of Ancient Bengal, first published 1971, reprint 2005, pp. 5-6, Tulshi Prakashani, Kolkata, ISBN 81-89118-01-3.
  4. ↑ Ghosh, A. (ed.) (1965). "Indian Archaeology 1962-63 - A Review" (PDF). Archaeological Survey of India. p. 46. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
  5. ↑ "Karnasuvarna". Rangan Datta, free-lance travel writer and photographer. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
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