Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c13.s3.t2.65

v2.c13.s3.t2.65

The epic *Mahabharata* mentions King Bhagadatta who ruled Prāgjyotiṣa. During the famous Kurukshetra War described in the epic, he was on the side of the Kauravas and was killed on the battlefield. Kàmarupa was founded in the 4ᵗʰ century CE by Pushyavarman, who used to be subservient to Samudragupta (reign 330–375 CE), the second emperor of the more powerful Gupta Dynasty. This dynasty lasted for 13 generations of emperors and became independent in the 6ᵗʰ century during the time of Bhutivarman. Its last emperor Bhàskaravarman was a contemporary of Harsha. He died around 650 CE and the kingdom changed hands afterwards. The governor of the new dynasty was Sàlastambha, the founder of the Mleccha Dynasty. In the 13ᵗʰ century, Ahoms from the east and Muslims from the west invaded, putting an end to this kingdom.