The Early History of India, from 600 B.C. to the Muhammadan Conquest, including the Invasion of Alexander the Great c31.s8.2

c31.s8.2

Harsha, when at the height of his power, exercised a certain amount of control as suzerain over the whole of Bengal, even as far east as the distant kingdom of Kāmarupa, or Assam, and seems to have possessed full sovereign authority over western and central Bengal. After his death, the local Rājas no doubt asserted their independence; but, except for the strange story of Arjuna and Wang-Hiuen-tse, related in the thirteenth chapter, no particulars are known concerning the history of Bengal for nearly a century. Bengālī tradition traces the origin of many notable families to five Brahmans and five Kāyasths imported from Kanauj by a king named Ādisūra in order to revive orthodox Hindu customs, which had fallen into disuse during the time when Buddhism was predominant. But no authentic record of this monarch has been discovered. There is, however, no reason to doubt the actual existence of Ādisūra, who belonged to a local dynasty of Rājas ruling Gaur and the neighbourhood. He may be dated approximately in A. D. 700, perhaps a little earlier, or possibly later.¹