The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c15.5

v1.c15.5

Amongst the legendary kings of Kāmarūpa mentioned by Paurāṇic tradition the most important are the demons Naraka and his son Bhagadatta. The former, we are told, was born of the earth by Viṣṇu in his Varāha incarnation. He ruled over the country from his capital Prāgjyotiṣapur. It is interesting to note that the first historical king of Kāmarūpa for whom we have any reliable documentary evidence traces his descent to these mythical heroes. This is king Bhāskaravarman, the contemporary of the Puṣyabhūti monarch Harṣa and identical with *Keu-mo-lo P'o-se-kie-lo-fa-ma* of Yuan Chwang. In the Nidhanpur (Sylhet) copper-plates of this king we find the following genealogy.¹