Karnasubarna
| কর্ণসুবর্ণ | |
Remains of Raktamrittika Vihara, c. 600 CE
|
|
 Shown within West Bengal
|
|
| Location | West Bengal, India |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 24°01′49″N 88°11′27″E / 24.03028°N 88.19083°ECoordinates: 24°01′49″N 88°11′27″E / 24.03028°N 88.19083°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| History | |
| Founded | 7th century AD |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1929-30, 1962 |
| Archaeologists | K.N.Dixit, S.R.Das |
| Ownership | Archaeological Survey of India, University of Calcutta |
Karnasubarna (Bengali: কর্ণসুবর্ণ) meaning 'Made beautiful by Karna') was the capital of Shashanka, the first important king of ancient Bengal who ruled in the 7th century. After Shashanka's death it was the jayaskandhavara (camp of victory) of Bhaskaravarman, the king of Kamarupa probably for a short period. This is evident from his Nidhanpur copper-plate grant. In the mid-7th century, it was the capital of Jayanaga according to his Vappa Ghoshavata copper-plate grant. The ruins of Karnasubarna have been located at Kansona in the present Murshidabad district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) south-west of Baharampur, headquarters of Murshidabad district.
Legend has it that Karnasubarna was the capital of the 'Anga' Kingdom that the Kaurava prince Duryodhana had given to the magnanimous Karna, the first born of Kunti.
The famous Chinese traveler Xuanzang mentioned in his travelogues about Lo-to-mo-chi (Raktamrittika) Mahavihara, an important centre of learning of Vajrayana Buddhists near Karnasuvarna. It has been identified with Rajbaridanga. The archaeological site of Rajbaridanga is about 2.4 km from Karnasubarna railway station (earlier known as Chiruti) on the Barharwa-Azimganj-Katwa loop of Eastern Railway and in the bank of the Bhagirathi River. Local transport like cycle vans, e-rickshaws (Toto) are available. This site was first excavated by a team from the Department of Archaeology, University of Calcutta in 1962 under the direction of S.R. Das. Amongst the findings, the most significant one was a monastic sealing bearing the legend Shri Rakta(m)rttika (Ma)havaiharik arya bhikshu (samgha)s(y)a (of the community of venerable monks residing in the Shri Raktamrittika Mahavihara). The other significant findings are terracotta figurines and ornamental stucco mouldings including human heads. Two other sites close by have been excavated at Rakshashidanga (in 1929-30 by K.N. Dixit of the Archaeological Survey of India) and Nil Kuthi. The whole area was
...
Wikipedia