YashodharmanYashodharman (Gupta script: Ya-śo-dha-rmma, ) (r. 515 – 545) was a ruler of Malwa, in Central India, during the early part of the 6th century. He probably belonged to the Second Aulikara dynasty. He conquered much of the Indian subcontinent between c. 530-540 AD according to Mandsaur pillar inscription. Battle of Sondani Towards the end of the 5th century, India came under attack from the Hunas. Yashodharman and possibly the Gupta emperor, Narasimhagupta, defeated a Huna army and their ruler Mihirakula in 528 AD and drove them out of India.
Varman dynastyThe Varman dynasty (350–650) was the first historical dynasty of the Kamarupa kingdom. It was established by Pushyavarman, a contemporary of Samudragupta. The earlier Varmans were subordinates of the Gupta Empire, but as the power of the Guptas waned, Mahendravarman (470–494) performed two horse sacrifices and the status of Kamarupa as an independent state remained unimpaired. As per the Apsad Inscription of Adityasen, Susthivarman was defeated by Mahasengupta on the bank of Lauhitya.
Bodhi TreeThe Bodhi Tree ("tree of awakening"), also called the Mahabodhi Tree, Bo Tree, is a large sacred fig tree (Ficus religiosa) located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India. Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who became known as the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment or buddhahood circa 500 BCE under this tree. In religious iconography, the Bodhi Tree is recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed.
NarasimhaguptaNarasimhagupta (Gupta script: Na-ra-si-ṅha-gu-pta) Baladitya was an emperor of the Gupta Empire of North India. He was son of Purugupta and probably the successor of Budhagupta. Battle of Sondani According to the Chinese monk Xuanzang, Narasimhagupta had to pay tribute to the Huna king Mihirakula. Finally, Baladitya along with Yasodharman of Malwa is credited with driving the Alchon Huns from the plains of North India according to the Chinese monk Xuanzang.
Maukhari dynastyThe Maukhari dynasty (Gupta script: , Mau-kha-ri) was a post-Gupta dynasty who controlled the vast plains of Ganga-Yamuna for over six generations from their capital at Kannauj. They earlier served as vassals of the Guptas and later of Harsha's Vardhana dynasty. The Maukharis established their independence during the mid 6th century. The dynasty ruled over much of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha. Around 606 CE, a large area of their empire was reconquered by the Later Guptas.
Traikutaka dynastyThe Traikutakas were a dynasty of Indian kings who ruled between 388 and 456. The name "Traikutakas" seems to be derived from the words for a three-peaked mountain ("Tri-kuta"). The Traikutakas are mentioned in Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa, in which they are located in the area of northern Konkan. The dominions of the Traikutakas further included Aparanta and northern Maharashtra. The coins of the Traikutaras are found extensively in southern Gujarat, and southern Maharashtra beyond the Ghats.
Shaka eraThe Shaka era (IAST: Śaka, Śāka) is a historical Hindu calendar era (year numbering), the epoch (its year zero) of which corresponds to Julian year 78. The era has been widely used in different regions of the Indian subcontinent as well as in Southeast Asia. According to the Government of India, it is referred as the Shalivahana Era (IAST: Śālivāhana). The origin of the Shaka era is highly controversial.
Abhira dynastyThe Abhira dynasty was a dynasty that ruled over the western Deccan, where they perhaps succeeded the Buddhist Satavahana dynasty. From 203 CE to roughly 270, or possibly 370, they formed a vast kingdom. They belonged to the ancient Abhira tribe. The Purana texts associate the Abhira tribe with Saurashtra and Avanti regions. According to Balkrishna Gokhale, they "have been well-known since epic times as a martial tribe". The Mahabharata describes them as living near the seashore and on the bank of the Sarasvati River, near Somnath in Gujarat.
VarāhamihiraVarāhamihira (6th century CE, possibly 505 – 587), also called Varāha or Mihira, was an astrologer-astronomer who lived in Ujjain in present-day Madhya Pradesh, India. Unlike other prominent ancient Indian astronomers, Varāhamihira does not mention his date. However, based on hints in his works, modern scholars date him to the 6th century CE; possibly, he also lived during the last years of the 5th century. In his Pancha-siddhantika, Varāhamihira refers to the year 427 of the Shaka-kala (also Shakendra-kala or Shaka-bhupa-kala).
BudhaguptaBudhagupta (Gupta script: Bu-dha-gu-pta, 476-495 CE) was a Gupta emperor and the successor of Kumaragupta II. He was the son of Purugupta and was succeeded by Narasimhagupta. Budhagupta had close ties with the rulers of Kannauj and together they sought to run the Alchon Huns (Hunas) out of the fertile plains of Northern India. Northern India, and in particular the area of Eran, was next invaded by the Alchon Huns ruler Toramana, who set up his own inscription there, the Eran boar inscription of Toramana, circa 510-513 CE.
