Singhavarma

Singhvarma (Hindi: सिंहवर्मा) was a ruler of Malwa, contemporary of Samudragupta (335-375 AD). At the time of Gupta rulers in Malwa there is mention of one more dynasty of rulers in Malwa. Singhvarma had two sons namely Chandravarma and Narvarma. Chandravarma moved from Malwa and established kingdom in Marwar. Narvarma remained ruler in Malwa. Narvarma had two sons namely Bandhuvarma and Bhimvarma. Guptas had increased their powers in Malwa and Bandhuvarma accepted subjection of Gupta rulers. Bhimvarma became samant of Skandgupta Vikramaditya (455-467), son of Kumargupta I. He was probably samant of Kaushambi.

Bhangupta Baladitya became ruler of Malwa after 40 years period of Skandgupta. Baladitya has been mentioned along with Jat ruler Yasodharman in defeating the Huns. If we add name of Vishnuvardhan after Bandhuvarma the chronology of these rulers becomes as under:

Singhvarma, his two sons Chandravarma and Narvarma. Narvarma had one son – Vishvavarma. He had two sons – Raghuvarma and Bhimvarma. Raghuvarma’s son was Vishnuvardhan and his son Yasodharman. Yasodharman’s son was Shiladitya.

Bandhuvarma was contemporary of Kumargupta I and Samudragupta. He was ruler of Mandsaur. There is an inscription about him at Mandsaur. This indicates that he was present there till 473 AD. After Bandhuvarma the ruler of Mandsaur was Vishnuvardhan who erected a pillar of victory at Bayana due to which Bayana’s name became Vijaygarh. Vishnuvardhan and Yasodharman assumed the title of Samrat after they occupied the territories of Bandhuvarma. It is also mentioned that Vishnuvardha had assumed the title of ‘Maharajadhiraja’ or Emperor.

References

*Thakur Deshraj: Jat Itihas (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, p. 709-710