Asura Kingdom

Last updated

Asura Kingdom
unknown–unknown
Capital Tezpur
Historical era Vedic period
 Established
unknown
 Disestablished
unknown
Today part of India

Asura Kingdom (Sonitpura Kingdom) was the legendary kingdom, established by Marichi, first of the kings of ruling dynasty, in the Iron age, in area what now known as 'Sonitpur' with capital at modern 'Tezpur' in central Assam. The kingdom was contemporary of Pragjyotisha of Kamarupa. The references for the kingdom comes from Puranas, Mahabharata and other epics. [1]

Contents

Dynasty

Name
1 Marichi
2 Kashyap
3 Hiranyakashipu
4 Prahlad
5 Virochana
6 Mahabali
7 Bana

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tezpur</span> Municipality in Assam, India

Tezpur is a town in Sonitpur district, Assam state, India. Tezpur is located on the banks of the river Brahmaputra, 175 kilometres (109 mi) northeast of Guwahati, and is the largest of the north bank cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonitpur district</span> District of Assam in India

Sonitpur district [Pron: ˌsə(ʊ)nɪtˈpʊə or ˌʃə(ʊ)nɪtˈpʊə] is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. The district headquarters is located at Tezpur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamarupa</span> Kingdom based around Assam (350-1140)

Kamarupa, an early state during the Classical period on the Indian subcontinent, was the first historical kingdom of Assam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narakasura</span> Asura king in Hindu mythology

Naraka, also known as Narakasura, is an asura king in Hindu mythology. In Assamese tradition, he is regarded as the legendary progenitor of all three dynasties of Pragjyotisha-Kamarupa, and the founding ruler of the legendary Bhauma dynasty of Pragjyotisha. Though the myths about Naraka are first mentioned in the Mahabharata, later texts embellish them. According to later post-Vedic texts such as the Brahma Purana and Vishnu Purana, he was the son of Bhudevi, fathered either by the Varaha incarnation of Vishnu or Hiranyaksha. He is claimed as one who established Pragjyotisha. He was killed by Krishna and Satyabhama. His son Bhagadatta—of Mahabharata fame—succeeded him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banasura</span> Hindu mythological character

Bana, also referred to as Banasura, is an asura king in Hindu mythology, ruling from the city of Śoṇitapura. He is described to be the son of Mahabali. His tale of battling Krishna is described in the Bhagavata Purana.

Sonita was the country of Asura king Bana or Vana. His daughter Usha married Vasudeva Krishna's grandson Aniruddha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhauma dynasty</span> Legendary dynasty in Hinduism

The Bhauma dynasty is the second legendary dynasty of Pragjyotisha, after the Danava dynasty. Narakasura, who is said to have established this dynasty, and his descendants Bhagadatta and Vajradatta are first mentioned in the epics Mahabharata and the Ramayana in the sections that were composed in the first few centuries though they place them variously in either northwestern or eastern India. Narakasura's legend is further embellished in the locally composed Kalika Purana, the Yogini Tantra and local lores and the legends became firmly attached to Assam and North Bengal. The late embellishment of the Naraka legends point to legitimization of the three dynasties of the Kamarupa kings.

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, Krishna is the son of the Yaduvamsha chief Vasudeva and his wife Devaki. He is also widely known by his epithet, Vāsudeva.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pragjyotisha Kingdom</span> Mythological kingdom in Hinduism

Pragjyotisha is a mythological kingdom that is mentioned in a multitude of Hindu epics. It came to be associated with the historical Kamarupa after Bhaskaravarman of the Varman dynasty by drawing his lineage from Naraka/Bhagadatta of the legendary Pragjyotisha to bring his peripheral kingdom closer to mainland traditions at a time when he was emerging as a powerful king with interests in North India. The identification with the mythical Naraka/Bhagadatta lineage continued to be used by the Mlechchhas and Palas for roughly similar purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bhagadatta</span> Character in the Mahabharata

Bhagadatta was the son of Narakasura, and the king of Pragjyotisha in Hindu mythology. Bhagadatta was born from a limb of the asura called Bashkala. He was a renowned warrior, and was known to be a great friend of Indra. When Arjuna embarked on a conquest to help his brother Yudhishthira perform the rajasuya yajna, Bhagadatta was one of the first kings to be conquered by him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pragjyotishpura</span>

Pragjyotishpura or Pragjyotisapura, now deemed to be a region within modern Guwahati, was an ancient city and capital of the Varman dynasty. Though the earliest mention of Pragjyotisha in local sources come from the 7th century, the form was changed to Pragjyotishpura in the 9th century which describes it as the city of Naraka within Kamarupa. In Puranic text like the Ramayana, Pragjyotishpura is described as the fortress of Narakasura on mount Varaha located in the north-west of the Indian subcontinent in what is modern-day Punjab and Sindh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cultural development of Kamarupa</span>

Kamarupa was a kingdom in Northeast India that was ruled by three dynasties from their capitals in Pragjyotishpura, Haruppeshwara, and Durjaya. The kingdom was known for its power and influence in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamrup region</span> Region in India

Kamrup is the modern region situated between two rivers, the Manas and the Barnadi in Western Assam, with the same territorial extent as the Colonial and post-Colonial "Undivided Kamrup district". It was the capital region of two of the three dynasties of Kamarupa and Guwahati, the current political center of Assam, is situated here. It is characterized by its cultural artifacts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Assam Division</span> Division of Assam in India

North Assam is an administrative division of Assam under the jurisdiction of a Commissioner, who is officially stationed at Tezpur. It consists of the following districts: Udalguri, Darrang, Sonitpur and Biswanath. Shri Rakesh Kumar, IAS is the current Commissioner of this division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garh Doul</span> Building in Assam, India

Garh Doul archaeological site is an important State Protected Monument in Assam, India, situated at Tarajan Kumargaon and about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) away from Tezpur, Sonitpur district. The archaeological site is listed as an ASI monument under number S-AS-95. This is fortified in all direction reinforced rampart and covers an area of 250×250 m. The site has two brick mounds, which contains the foundation of brick temple plinths. The remains are datable to 7th and 8th century CE.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dekargaon railway station</span> Railway station in Assam, India

Dekargaon Railway Station is a railway station located in Sonitpur district of Assam, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vajradatta</span> Asura king in Hindu mythology

Vajradatta is an asura king in Hindu mythology. He is the son and successor of King Bhagadatta, and the third ruler of the Naraka dynasty of the Pragjyotisha Kingdom. Vajradatta is regarded to have studied the four Vedas along with the discplines called the Angas, as well as the Nitishastras of Brihaspati and Shukra. Vajradatta is mentioned in epics as powerful as Indra, speedy like Vajra and who pleased the performer of hundred sacrifices, who is Indra again, in battle. He said to possess bolt-like lustre and conquered enemies like Indra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhekiajuli Assembly constituency</span> Constituency of the Assam legislative assembly in India

Dhekiajuli Assembly constituency is one of the 126 assembly constituencies of Assam Legislative Assembly. Dhekiajuli forms part of the Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barchalla Assembly constituency</span> Constituency of the Assam legislative assembly in India

Barchalla Assembly constituency is one of the 126 assembly constituencies of Assam Legislative Assembly. Ganesh Kumar Limbu is the current MLA of Barchalla. Barchalla forms part of the Tezpur Lok Sabha constituency.

Tezpur Central Jail is a prison located at the center of Guwahati city in Assam, India. It is one of 31 prisons located in the state of Assam.

References

  1. Niśipada Caudhurī (1985), Historical archaeology of central Assam, p.67, The Bhagavat and Visnu Puranas narrate the story of Bana, son of Bali, king of Sonitpur. Sonitpur is identified with the modern city of Tezpur. He is known as Banasura, contemporary of Naraka