Sugandha

Sugandha ( 883 – 914) was the fifth ruler of Kashmir in the northern Indian subcontinent during the 10th century.

She was the Queen Consort of Kashmir from 885 to 902 by marriage to Sankaravarman, the King of Kashmir. She served as Queen Regent of Kashmir during the minority of her son king Gopalavarman between 902 and 904. She was declared monarch in her own right in 904 as Sri Sugandha Deva, Queen of Kashmir, when all successors to the throne has died. She was dethroned by the Tantrins in 906 and they installed Partha as monarch. Sugandha continued to claim the throne of Kashmir and retreated to live in Haskapura (present-day Ushkur, Baramulla). In 914 she went to war against Partha and the Tantrins, but was imprisoned and later killed in a Buddhist monastery called Nispalaka Vihara.

Queen consort

Sugandha was the daughter of Svamiraja, the king of a kingdom near Kashmir. Sugandha was married to Sankaravarman, who reigned as King of Kashmir from 885 CE until 902 CE. He had at-least three other wives, including one Surendravati, but Sugangha acted as his queen consort. Following his death, he was succeeded by his son, Gopalavarman. While some of Sankaravarman's queens and servants died by Sati, the Dowager Queen Sugandha refused it in order to act as Queen Mother and regent for Gopalavarman.

Later life Following her dethronement in 906 CE, Sugandha retreated to live in Haskapura (present-day Ushkur, Baramulla), and continued to claim the throne of Kashmir. The fierce battle occurred in the suburbs of Srinagar in April 914 CE.

Aftermath In early medieval Kashmir, the rule of the Utpala dynasty in the Vale of Kashmir was dominated by the rivalry of two military factions, the Tantrins and the Ekangas. Tantrins were a strong military class organisation. Tantrin foot-soldiers had formed a confederacy and were strong enough to punish or to favour the rulers of the kingdom. Ekangas are said to have been Royal bodyguards, who influenced the affairs of the court and the state.

Sankaravarman, along with Sugandha, dedicated two temples to Mahadeva, namely Sankara Gauresa and Sugandhesvara at the new capital of Sankarapura. These two stately temples are still standing today at modern-day Pattan.

Sugandha's coinage is an important corroborative evidence of her power and refers to her by the masculine epithet, Sri Sugandha Deva. Ardochsho (Goddess Lakshmi) is seen seated in Lalitasana in most of the coins and Sharda script is distinctly visible.

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