Shashanka
Shashanka (IAST: Śaśāṃka, Sanskrit: शशाङ्क, Bengali: শশাঙ্ক) 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. He reigned in the 7th century, some historians place his rule between circa 600 CE and 636/7 CE, whereas other sources place his reign between 590 and 625 CE.
| Shashanka | |
|---|---|
| Maharajadhiraja Gaudeshwar | |
An artist's imagination of Gaudeshwar Shashanka. | |
| King of Gauda | |
| Reign | 590 CE – 625 CE |
| Predecessor | Jayanaga |
| Successor | Manava |
| Issue | Manava |
| Dynasty | Gauda Raaj |
| Religion | Hinduism (Shaivism) |
Shashanka, is credited with creating the Bengali calendar. The term Bangabda (Bangla year) is found too in two Shiva temples many centuries older than Akbar era, suggesting that a Bengali calendar existed long before Akbar's time.
He is the contemporary of Harsha and of Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa. His capital was at Karnasuvarna, in present-day Murshidabad in West Bengal.
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