The Candra Dynasty of Arakan
By Jogendra Chandra Ghosh
Summary
The article reconstructs the history of the Candra dynasty, which ruled Arakan along the north‑eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal between roughly the eighth and tenth centuries. Drawing on inscriptions from the Mahāmuni site and Burmese chronicles, the author identifies a succession of kings bearing the title Candra and notes their donations to Buddhist monasteries. By analysing coins inscribed with the legend "Chandrama," he observes parallels with eastern Indian numismatics. The paper situates the Candra dynasty in the context of regional politics: Arakan acted as a cultural and commercial bridge between eastern India and Southeast Asia, maintaining relations with the Pala dynasty and possibly with Sri Lanka. The author dates the dynasty’s rise and decline, suggesting it was succeeded by later Vesāli and Mrauk‑U dynasties, and highlights its role in disseminating Buddhism across maritime networks. The study concludes that understanding the Candra dynasty is essential for comprehending early medieval coastal politics and cross‑cultural exchange.
Conclusion
By piecing together epigraphic and numismatic evidence, the article illuminates the little‑known Candra dynasty of Arakan. It shows that Arakan was an active participant in the Buddhist cultural world of the Bay of Bengal and underscores the importance of coastal states in mediating trade and religious exchange between India and Southeast Asia.