The Huns' King Tormana's Invasion of India after the Fall of the Gupta Empire

When there was the Gupta Empire in India, at the same time, a barbarian tribe from Central Asia called the Hunas invaded India, but Skandagupta defeated them badly, due to which they went towards Iran. But during the decline of the Gupta Empire, they again started invading India. This time they were led by Toraman, who invaded Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The main cities of the Gupta period, Eran (Sagar MP) and Kaushambi, were also in their possession. But Toramana was badly defeated by Yashodharman's father, Prakashdharman, sometime before 515 AD, which is confirmed by the inscription of Risthalpur.

Bootstrap Example

Translate this article in your favourite launguage

Who was Hunas?

The Hunas were a group of nomadic people from Central Asia who invaded India in the 5th century AD. They were initially driven out by the Gupta Empire but were able to establish themselves in northern India after the death of the Gupta emperor Skandagupta. The Hunas ruled India for about a century until they were defeated by a coalition of Indian princes in the early 6th century AD.

Yashodharman belonged to the Aulikar dynasty, which ruled Malwa continuously from the 4th century to the 6th century. The Aulikaras were originally Kshatriyas of the Malavagana confederacy who had once faced Alexander and lived in present-day Punjab, but due to frequent invasions first by the Greeks and later by the Shakas (invaders), they migrated south. And got established from today's Rajasthan to Madhya Pradesh and made Dashpur or Dasharna their capital. Malwa, which was earlier called Avanti, came to be known as Malwa because of these Malav Kshatriyas. These Malavas used to have constant conflicts with the Shakas, but later the Gupta emperor Samudragupta conquered them and made them their feudatories.

Who was Tormana?

Toramana was a Hun king who ruled in northern India during the late 5th and early 6th centuries. He consolidated Hephthalite power in the Punjab and conquered northern and central India, including Eran in Madhya Pradesh. He was defeated by Ishanvarman in 515 AD.

Torman was extremely ruthless, which is mentioned in the records and in the description of the Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang. After Toraman, his son Mihirkul (Mihirgul) became the ruler of the Huns. He made Sialkot his capital and started attacking the Gupta Empire. Under his leadership, the Huns went to Patiliputra, the capital of the Guptas. A record of this has been received from Gwalior, but sometime between 528 and 532, there was a fierce battle between Mihirkul and Yashodharman at Sondhani near Mandsaur in which Mihirkul was badly defeated.

It is known from the inscriptions that Yasodharman was the son of Prakashdharman, and his original name was Vishnuvardhana. But in his record, his name is found as Jainendra Vishnuvardhan. His life is known from the two pillars of Sondhani near Mandsaur. On one of these pillars, the date Malava Samvat 589 (532 AD) is recorded. In the article of the first pillar, his traditional Digvijay was told, according to which he defeated many kings of the east and north and assumed the titles of 'Rajadhiraj' and 'Parameshwar'. According to this record, the area from Vindhya Mountain to Pariatra Mountain was under the authority of its governor, Abhayadatta. According to the second record, while explaining his victories, it is said that his (Yashodharman's) authority was also in those areas where the rule of the Gupta kings could not be established and the command of the Huns could not be reached.

He had authority from the Lauhitya (Brahmaputra) in the east to the Western Sea, and from the Himalayas in the north to Mahendra Parvat (Orissa) in the south. According to this record, the famous king Mihirkul worshiped his feet. In this inscription, it is said in a poetic manner, "Yashodharman bowed the head of Mihirkul, who did not bow his head before any other than Lord Shiva, with his muscle power and worshiped his feet with the flowers attached to his head." Although there may be some exaggeration in the poem, it is certain that Yashodharman gave a crushing defeat to the Huns under the leadership of Mihirkul.

After these victories, Yasodharman freed himself from the Guptas and assumed titles like Chakravartin, like Swambhu rulers. However, according to the Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang, the Gupta emperor Narasimhagupta 'Baladitya' defeated Mihirkul and drove the Huns out of North India. At that time, according to some inscriptions found in Bengal and Madhya Pradesh, the Guptas were still the emperors of North India. That is why there are huge differences among historians regarding Yashodharman. But historians agree that Yashodharman defeated the Hunas, and made himself independent from the Guptas. But after his death, his descendants were ineligible, due to which they had to be defeated by the later Guptas, the Maukharis of Kannauj and the Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) dynasty of Sthaneshwar.