Toramana

Toramana also called Toramana Shahi Jauvla ( Gupta script: 𑀢𑁄𑀭𑀫𑀸𑀡 ''To-ra-mā-ṇa'', ruled circa 493-515 CE) was a king of the Alchon Huns who ruled in northern India in the late 5th and the early 6th century CE. Toramana consolidated the Alchon power in Punjab (present-day Pakistan and northwestern India), and conquered northern and central India including Eran in Madhya Pradesh. Toramana used the title "Great King of Kings" (''Mahārājadhirāja'' 𑀫𑀳𑀸𑀭𑀸𑀚𑀥𑀺𑀭𑀸𑀚), equivalent to "Emperor", in his inscriptions, such as the Eran boar inscription.

The Sanjeli inscription of Toramana speaks of his conquest and control over Malwa and Gujarat. His territory also included Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kashmir. He probably went as far as Kausambi, where one of his seals was discovered.

According to the Rīsthal inscription, discovered in 1983, the Aulikara king Prakashdharman of Malwa defeated him.Ojha, N.K. (2001). ''The Aulikaras of Central India: History and Inscriptions'', Chandigarh: Arun Publishing House, , pp.48-50 Toramana’s inscriptions show his transition from an independent ruler to a vassal after his defeat in 515 CE. Initially titled " Mahārājadhirāj," he later served under Prakashdharman and Yasodharman. This shift reflects the declining power of the Hunas in early medieval India.

Overview

Toramana is known from Rajatarangini, through coins and inscriptions.

Punjab inscription

An inscription found at Kura in the Salt Range in Pakistan records the building of a Buddhist monastery by a person named Rotta Siddhavriddhi during the reign of the Huna ruler Toramana. The donor expresses the wish that the religious merit gained by his gift be shared by him with the king and his family members. In the Khurā inscription (495-500, from the Salt Range in Punjab and now in Lahore), Toramana assumes the Indian regnal titles in addition to central Asian ones: ''Rājādhirāja Mahārāja Toramāṇa Shahi Jauvla''. Among which Shahi is considered to be his Title and Jauvla being an epithet or Biruda. This is a Buddhist record in hybrid Sanskrit, recording the gift of a monastery (''vihāra'') to members of the Mahīśāsaka school.

Gwalior inscription of Mihirakula

In the Gwalior inscription of Mihirakula, from Gwalior in northern Madhya Pradesh, India, and written in Sanskrit, Toramana is described as:

Eran Boar inscription

The Eran Boar inscription (in Eran, Malwa, 540 km south of New Delhi, state of Madhya Pradesh) of his first regnal year indicates that eastern Malwa was included in his dominion. The Eran Boar inscription was erected in honor of the deity Vishnu as his avatar, Varaha.

The statue is of the deity in form of a boar, with engravings display it protecting rishis and upholding Dharma. Additionally, the statue contains Sanskrit inscriptions inscribed on the neck of the boar, in 8 lines of in Brahmi script.
It also records the building of the temple in which the current Varaha image stands, by Dhanyaviṣṇu, the younger brother of the deceased Maharaja Mātṛviṣṇu. The first line of the inscription, made after 484/85 CE mentions the "''Maharajadhiraja Toramana''" ("The great king of king Toramana") Hans Bakkerbr>24th Gonda lecture
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Sack of Kausambi

The presence of seals in the name of "Toramana" and "Hunaraja" in Kausambi, suggests that the city was probably sacked by the Alkhons under Toramana in 497–500.

Defeats

According to the '' Rishtal stone-slab inscription'', discovered in 1983, the Aulikara king Prakashadharma of Malwa defeated him in 515 CE. Historian Thaplyal suggests that this seal confirms Toramana's status as a vassal king following his defeat by Prakashdharman around 515 CE. Toramana likely continued in this role under Yasodharman, Prakāśadharman's successor. Evidence supporting Toramana’s independent rule prior to his defeat includes the Sanjeli copper plate inscription (dated 502–503 CE), which refers to him as "paramabhațțaraka mahārājadhirāja sioramane" ("The most holy and supreme one, the Great King of Kings Toramana"). Additionally, the Eran boar inscription, dated between 510 and 513 CE, also uses the title " Mahārājadhirāj." These titles, however, predate his loss to Prakāśadharman, as documented in the Risthal inscription from 515 CE.

Toramana may also have been defeated by the Indian Emperor Bhanugupta of the Gupta Empire in 510 A.D. according to the Eran inscription, although the "great battle" to which Bhanagupta participated is not explicited.

A few silver coins of Toramana closely followed the Gupta silver coins. The only difference in the obverse is that the king's head is turned to the left. The reverse retains the fantailed peacock and the legend is almost similar, except the change of name to Toramana Deva.

A Jaina work of the 8th century, the '' Kuvalayamala'' states that he lived in Pavvaiya on the bank of the Chandrabhaga and enjoyed the sovereignty of the world.

Successor

Toramana was succeeded by his son Mihirakula.

See also

* First Battle of Eran
* Hephthalite Empire
* Mihirakula
* Alchon Huns

Notes

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5th-century Indian monarchs
6th-century Indian monarchs
Rulers of Kashmir
Kings of the Alchon Huns