Shashanka
| Shashanka | |
|---|---|
| Maharajadhiraja Gaudeshwar Dev | |
Coin minted during the reign of Shashanka depicting Shiva (left) and Shashanka himself (right) | |
| Maharajadhiraja of Gauda | |
| Reign | 590 – 625 C.E |
| Predecessor | Jayanaga |
| Successor | Manava |
| Issue | Manava |
| Dynasty | Gauda Rajvansha |
| Religion | Hinduism (Shaivism) |
| Imperial Seal | |
Shashanka Dev (IAST: Śaśāṅka) was the first independent king of a unified polity in the Bengal region, called the Gauda Kingdom. He reigned in the 7th century, some historians place his rule between 600 and 636/7 CE, whereas other sources place his reign between 590 and 625 CE.
Shashanka, is credited with creating the Bengali calendar. The term Bangabda (Bangla year) is found too in two Shiva temples many centuries older than Akbar era, suggesting that a Bengali calendar existed long before Akbar's time.
He is the contemporary of Harsha and of Bhaskaravarman of Kamarupa. His capital was at Karnasuvarna, in present-day Murshidabad in West Bengal.