Shashanka of Gauda

King of Gauda with his capital at Karnasuvarna, the first independent ruler of a unified Bengal, reigning from about 590 or 600 to the 620s or 636; a Shaiva whose coins show Shiva, rival of Harsha of Thanesar, accused in a much later text of cutting the Bodhi tree. Some historians (Nitish Sengupta, the Chakrabartis, Guhathakurta and van Schendel) credit him with beginning the Bengali era, Bangabda, at his accession about 593/594; the era's zero year fits that date.