Candra of the Meharauli Pillar Inscription

Summary

Candra of the Meharauli Pillar Inscription re-examines the identity of the king commemorated on the famous iron pillar near Delhi. The Sanskrit inscription describes King Candra as a devout Vaiṣṇava who defeated confederated foes in the Vanga country, crossed the Indus and conquered the Vahlika, and ruled a vast empire united under his arm. Scholars have proposed various identifications: Candravarman of Puskarana, Candragupta I, Naga chiefs Sada Candra or Candramṣa, or even the Kushan emperor Kanishka I—known as Candra in a Khotanese manuscript. Others, including V.S. Smith and K.P. Jayaswal, suggest Candragupta II Vikramaditya. The article evaluates these hypotheses by analysing clues in the inscription: the simultaneous campaigns in Bengal and Bactria imply control over intermediate regions; the king’s long, undisputed reign; his dedication to Vishnu; and the use of the abbreviated name Candra. Comparing these criteria to historical records and numismatic evidence, the author argues that Candragupta II best fits the description. Candragupta II’s reign is marked by victories over the Śakas and expansion into eastern India; his coins label him a paramabhagavata (supreme devotee of Vishnu), and some issues abbreviate his name to Chandra. By contrast, Candragupta I’s dominion was smaller, the Naga rulers lacked the requisite territorial reach, and Kanishka’s empire did not extend to Bengal. The article addresses objections regarding the use of virya instead of vikrama and the absence of the full epithet paramabhāgavata, explaining that poetic constraints in the inscription may account for these variations. It also notes that the pillar’s relocation to Delhi may obscure its original context. The author concludes that the Mehrauli pillar commemorates Candragupta II’s achievements, reinforcing his stature as a major conqueror and Vaiṣṇava patron."