Shashanka
Maharajadhiraja / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Shashanka?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Shashanka (IAST: Śaśāṃka, Sanskrit: शशांक Bengali: শশাঙ্ক) was the first independent king of a unified polity in the Bengal region, called the Gauda Kingdom.[2] He reigned in the 7th century, some historians place his rule between circa 600 CE and 636/7 CE,[3] whereas other sources place his reign between 590 and 625 CE.[4]
Shashanka | |
---|---|
Maharajadhiraja Gaudeshwar | |
King of Gauda | |
Reign | 590 CE – 625 CE[1] |
Predecessor | Jayanaga |
Successor | Manava |
Issue | Manava |
Dynasty | Gauda Raaj |
Religion | Hinduism (Shaivism) |
Shashanka, is credited with creating the Bengali calendar.[5] The term Bangabda (Bangla year) is found too in two Shiva temples many centuries older than Akbar era, suggesting that a Bengali calendar existed long before Akbar's time.[6][7]
He is the contemporary of Harsha and of Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa. His capital was at Karnasuvarna, in present-day Murshidabad in West Bengal.