Second Battle of Eran
The Second Battle of Eran, which took place around 510 CE, was a pivotal battle between the Gupta Empire's Emperor Bhanugupta and the Huna army of Toramana. The battle, which finds mention in the Eran inscription, was fought at the cost of the death of Bhanugupta's general, Goparaja. It was a key battle in halting the Huna invasion of eastern Malwa or attempting to expel them from the region. The battle was the first of a series of reverses for the Huna conqueror. In his battle against the invaders, Bhanugupta might have had the support of King Prakāśadharman, the king of Mandasor.
Background
The fertile plains around Eran, also referred to as Airikana or the "Refreshing Fields," at the junction of the Betwa and Bina rivers, became a battleground between the great powers. This historically significant locality had a religious complex dedicated to Vishnu, the patron deity of the Gupta Empire, built during the time of Emperor Budhagupta. Two local feudatories, Maharaja Mātṛviṣṇu and his younger brother Dhanyaviṣṇu, raised a twin temple, under the shadow of the 13-meter-tall 'Column of Janardana', marking the area's religious and cultural significance.Battle
Goparaja's posthumous inscription at Eran, dated 510 CE, is of particular significance here. It refers to King Bhanugupta as "the bravest man on the earth" and reports a great battle at Eran, in which his general Goparaja was killed. The battle would have been against the Huna invaders, either to check their advance into eastern Malwa or to expel them from the region entirely. If the aim had been to check their advance, it is safe to put Toramana's conquest of eastern Malwa around 510 CE; otherwise, if the aim had been expulsion, the battle would have occurred earlier. Although the occupation of the region by the Huna cannot be pinpointed as accurately as we would like, it can be inferred that Toramana's penetration into India proper occurred some years after 500 CE, and the Hunas were initially confined to Gandhara. By 510 CE, Toramana's hold over Malwa may be assumed to be firmly in place.- Ōm ! When a century of years, increased by ninety-one, on the seventh lunar day of the dark fortnight of Śrāvaṇa, the year 100 90 1 Śrāvaṇa the dark fortnight; the day 7;-
- a ruler, renowned as.... rāja sprung from the Śulakkha lineage; and his son valorous by the name Mādhava.
- His son was the illustrious Goparaja, renowned for manliness; the daughter's son of the Sarabha king;1 who became the ornament of family.
- the glorious Bhanugupta, a distinguished hero on earth, a mighty ruler, brave being equal to Pârtha. And along with him Goparaja, following without fear, having overtaken the Maittras and having fought a very big and famous battle, went to heaven, becoming equal to Indra, the best of the gods; and devoted, attached, beloved, and beauteous wife, clinging, entered into the mass of fire.