King Harsadeva of the Nepal Inscription
By Bisweswar Chakravarti
Summary
Bisweswar Chakravarti’s essay addresses a puzzling reference to King Harshadeva found in a Nepalese inscription of the Pashupatinath temple. The inscription speaks of ‘King Harshadeva of the royal line of Bhagadatta and lord of Gauda, Oḍra, Kalinga and Kosala.’ Scholars have been uncertain about his identity. Chakravarti reviews previous hypotheses and, by examining grants such as the Harigrauhpur and Haungchuti plates, shows that the name Harshadeva occurs in association with the Pragjyotisa dynasty of Kamarupa. He suggests that Harshadeva may be identical with Harjapaditya, a Pragjyotisa king who briefly extended his rule into Gauda and Odisha. The author interprets references to Mlechchas and Bhagadatta in the Ratnangaldeva copper‑plate and argues that the rulers described as descendants of Bhagadatta were Pragjyotisa princes who momentarily controlled territories from Kalinga to Assam after the disintegration of the Pala empire.
Conclusion
Chakravarti’s investigation brings clarity to the enigmatic figure of King Harshadeva by situating him within the Pragjyotisa dynasty. He demonstrates that the king’s claim to lordship over Gauda, Oḍra, Kalinga and Kosala reflects a brief period when the Pragjyotisa kings asserted control over parts of eastern India. This finding resolves a historiographical puzzle and highlights the fluid political landscape of eighth‑century India, where regional powers could momentarily carve out sizeable domains before receding into obscurity.