Adisura

Summary

The paper titled ‘Adisura’ investigates the historical identity behind the legendary figure Adisura, who is traditionally credited with introducing Brahmans to Bengal. The narrative of Adisura, recorded in late medieval genealogical texts, describes a king of Gauda who invited five Brahman families from Kanauj to perform Vedic rituals and bestowed on them large tracts of land. The author scrutinises various Bengali chronicles, such as the Brihaddharma Purana and kulajis (family genealogies), to trace how the story evolved over time. By comparing these accounts with inscriptional evidence and the political history of early medieval Bengal, he argues that Adisura is not a single historical person but a composite of several rulers from the Pala and Sena periods. He suggests that the tradition may have originated to legitimise the privileges of certain Brahman lineages by linking them to an ancient royal benefactor. The article also explores linguistic aspects of the name ‘Adisura’, noting its similarity to names like Adishura Sena and Adisvaravarman, and considers whether it was a title rather than a personal name. The author further discusses the role of migration and settlement patterns in shaping the narrative: archaeological data indicate that waves of Brahmans did indeed settle in Bengal during the tenth and eleventh centuries, bringing with them new ritual practices and social structures. By disentangling myth from history, the paper demonstrates how collective memory can transform multiple historical events into a single legend. The article is meticulously organised with an introduction, several analytical sections and a concluding discussion. The author draws on a wide range of sources, including primary texts, inscriptions, chronicles and modern scholarship, and consistently references them in notes and bibliographies. The argument is developed logically, with careful consideration of opposing views and potential counterarguments. Technical terms are explained for the benefit of readers unfamiliar with the subject. Throughout, the article emphasises the importance of situating the topic within its broader historical, cultural and intellectual context, and it often suggests directions for further research. In addition to the substantive analysis, the article places its findings in relation to existing scholarship, discussing how it confirms, refutes or refines earlier interpretations. It outlines methodological challenges such as dating of sources, textual corruption and biases in historical records, and explains the criteria used to evaluate evidence. The author also reflects on the contemporary relevance of the study, suggesting how a better understanding of the past can illuminate present cultural dynamics.