King Shashanka | The First King of Bengal
What comes to mind first when you think of Bengal as a political kingdom? Siraj ud Daulah, Nawab? Clive Robert? Hastings, Warren? Was there no native hero who made Bengal and its people proud of themselves?
To be honest, there was one, but few people knew who he was. Ruler of the Gauda dynasty, and named after Bhagwan Shiva, also known as Shashank Shekhar, King Shashanka emerged from the ruins of the once glorious Gupta Empire. From 590 to 625 AD, he controlled the autonomous state of Bengal.
King Shashanka was a contemporary of the famed Pushyabhuti ruler, Samrat Harshavardhana from Thanesar, Kannauj, as well as Samrat Pulakeshin II of the Chalukyan dynasty. His capital was at Karnasubarna, the same city where the capital of the once famed Anga kingdom of Mahabharata’s Karna once stood, and which is now a part of the modern-day city of Murshidabad in the Indian state of West Bengal.
It was Raja Shashanka who first carved the independent state of Bengal. Not did he assert his identity in the eastern India with fanfare, like Pulakeshin II, he also kept the advance of Samrat Harshavardhana in check. It is under his guidance that the Bengali calendar, used as the national calendar by our neighboring nation Bangladesh, as well as some of the Indian states like West Bengal, Tripura etc., was created in his reign.
If we really need to credit someone for establishing the identity of Bengal throughout India, it has to be Raja Shashanka, who not only created a mark of his own with his astute administration, but also saved his kingdom from intern squabblings, as well as incessant invasions.
King Shashanka T-shirts collection:
The most widely used piece of clothing today is a T-shirt that forms an integral part of your wardrobe – be it for your morning run, Gym, Friday dressing at office, a campout with friends or maybe getting to bed! tfi-store offers a wide range of Indian warriors t-shirts featuring Devbhasha Sanskrit Collection in the form of various quotes and graphics and historical warriors like Rani Lakshmibai and Lachit Borphukan from every corner of India, catering to Men, Women, Kids and Toddlers. TFI pays a humble tribute to the glorious Bangla ruler through their Raja Shashanka collection of T shirts in TFI Store.
TFIStore from the house of The Frustrated Indian is trying to make Indian culture cool with its unique Historical Heroes and Sanskrit apparel collection. Now wear your History with pride and flaunt Devbhasha Sanskrit on your half sleeves t-shirt.
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