The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c15.29.3

v1.c15.29.3

By the middle of the 7th century the process of Aryanisation of the land beyond Karatoya had advanced to such an extent as to delude a foreigner into the belief that its rulers were themselves Brahmans. From the fact that the Chinese pilgrim says that a thousand generations elapsed between Bhāskaravarman and the founder of his dynasty, it would appear that there was a general belief that the dynasty was reigning in Kāmarupa in unbroken succession from the time of Bhagadatta. But as we have seen, the officer in charge of the royal grant discovered at Nidhanpur could not trace the descent of his master beyond Puṣyavarman, leaving a gap of 3,000 years between him and Vajradatta. It appears that the lines of Puṣyavarman and that of Sālastambha were closely related, inasmuch as both were of Mongolian origin. Though there is sufficient looseness in the expressions of the Tejpur plates of Vanamāla and the Nowgong plates of Balavarman to suggest the descent of Sālastambha from Bhagadatta,² yet it would probably be safer to regard the two dynasties as separate Mongoloid groups who each accepted Aryan culture and sought to establish their blue blood by claiming descent from that great Epic hero. Very few historical facts are known of the reign of these princes. From the fact that in the Bargaon grant of Ratnapāla Vigrahastambha is mentioned as the next ruler after Sālastambha, Hoernle supposed that *Stambha* was the distinguishing name of this line of rulers.