Taank Kingdom | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
c. 7th century | |||||||||||
![]() Taank Kingdom shown in violet in the north of the Indian subcontinent circa 700 AD. | |||||||||||
Religion | Hinduism | ||||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
History | |||||||||||
• Established | c. 7th century | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Today part of | Pakistan India |
Taank Kingdom (also known as Takka [1] [2] [3] or Taki [4] ) was a kingdom based in the Punjab in the 7th century CE. [5]
A "Tseh-kia" kingdom is mentioned by Hiuen-Tsang (631-643 A.D.). [3] [6] It is mentioned by him as situated towards east of Gandhara. The Chach Nama (history of Sindh) mentions it as Tak. [7] Several scholars have identified Takka kingdom with the kingdom of al-Usaifan, whose king is reported by al-Biladhuri to have converted to Islam during the reign of Caliph al-Mu'tasim (r. 833–842). [8] The Lawik dynasty of Ghazni is also believed to have belonged to the Takka people. [9]
During Xuanzang's visit, the neighboring state of Bofadou was a vassal (or province) of Taank. [10] Despite having an illustrious Buddhist heritage as evident from three colossal stupas, Buddhism had declined in the region (Punjab) after the Gupta period due to preference give to the propagation of Hinduism, [11] [12] and later collapsed [13] after the Alchon Hun persecution, [14] resulting in it being sparsely practiced in only about ten monasteries. He visited Lahore in 630 AD during Taank rule. [15] According to him: "The country of Takka is south of Kashmira, extending from the Indus river to its west and Vipasha river to its east. They produce abundant quantities of non-sticky rice and wheat, also gold, brass, iron and other metals. [16] [17] [14]
Aurel Stein and Cunningham both agree in identifying Takkas with Madras or Bahikas of Mahabharata - both being the ancient inhabitants of the Punjab. In the lexicon of Hemacandra also, the Bahikas are said to be the same as Takkas.
But after the Gupta period, Buddhism began to decline
the emergence and spread of Hinduism through Indian society helped lead to Buddhism's gradual decline in India.
... and the destruction of Buddhist establishment in Northwest India by the Hephthalite invader, Mihirakula (502-542) in the early sixth century.
{{cite book}}
: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help){{cite book}}
: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)