Davaka kingdom explained

Conventional Long Name:	Davaka Kingdom
Common Name:	Davaka
Era:	Classical Period
Year Start:	??
Year End:	6th century CE
Today:	India

Davaka was a kingdom of ancient Indian subcontinent, located in current central region of Assam state.^[1] The references to it comes from the 4th century Allahabad pillar inscription of Samudragupta, where it is mentioned as one of five frontier kingdoms of the Gupta Empire.^[2]

Other references are the Shung-Shu History of the Liu Song dynasty, where the kingdom is named Kapili (now the name of a river); the Gachtal stone pillar inscription written in Kamrupi Prakrit.^{[3] [4]} N. K. Bhattasali has identified it with Dabaka in modern Hojai district, with the kingdom associated with the Kopili-Kolong river valley.

Historians such as B. N. Puri (1968) and P. C. Choudhury (1959) claim that it was absorbed much earlier in the first half of the 5th century during the reign of Kalyana Varman (422–446).^{[5] [6]}

Its capital was located near Kopili river. In the year 428 AD, an ambassador was sent to China by Davaka king, whose name according to Chinese sources is Yuegnai or Yu Chai.^[7]

Gatchal Stone Pillar inscription mention that the Yavana(Muslim) crossed the boundary to move east to reach Davaka in 1362 (saka 1284). A river (identified as Yamuna) that floods during April-May helped naval forces to drive away enemies.

See also

• Dabaka
• Nagaon
• Dimasa Kingdom

Bibliography

• Boruah . Nirode . 2001 . The kingdom of the Kapili Valley of Assam. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress . 62 . 135–143 . 44155755 . 2249-1937.
• Book: Choudhury, P. C.. The History of Civilization of the People of Assam to the Twelfth Century AD. Department of History and Antiquarian Studies, Gauhati, Assam . 1959.
• Ph.D. . Dutta . Anima . 2008 . Political geography of Pragjyotisa Kamarupa . Gauhati University. 10603/68309 .
• Book: Lahiri, Nayanjot . Pre-Ahom Assam: Studies in the Inscriptions of Assam between the Fifth and the Thirteenth Centuries AD . Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers Pvt Ltd . 1991 . Delhi.
• Book: Puri, Brij Nath . Studies in Early History and Administration in Assam. Gauhati University. 1968.
• Book: Mookerji, Radhakumud . The Gupta Empire. Motilal Banarasidass. 1973.

Notes and References

1. Suresh Kant Sharma, Usha Sharma (2005), Discovery of North-East India: Geography, History, Culture, ..., Davaka (Nowgong) and Kamarupa as separate and submissive friendly kingdoms
2. Samatata- Davaka- Kamarupa - Nepala - Kartripura Pratyanta Nrpatibhir
3. identified with the Davaka region of Nagaon district of Assam, the location of which, can be confirmed by the Gachtal stone pillar inscription.6 The Allahabad stone pillar inscription of Samudragupta mentions Davaka along with Samatata
4. Kamrupi inscriptions associated with the Kamarupa kingdom give an estimate of its geographical location and extent.
5. "As regards the eastern limits of the kingdom, Davaka was absorbed within Kamarupa under Kalyanavarman and the outlying regions were brought under subjugation by Mahendravarman."
6. "It is presumed that (Kalyana Varman) conquered Davaka, incorporating it within the kingdom of Kamarupa"
7. Besides these, the Chinese source clearly mentioned that the mission was sent by a king called Yueh-ai of the Kapili state whose capital city lies close to the Heng-ho or Ka- pi-li-ho river.