Toramana
Toramana also called Toramana Shahi Jauvla was a king of the Alchon Huns who ruled in northern India in the late 5th and the early 6th century CE. Toramana consolidated the Alchon power in Punjab, and conquered northern and central India including Eran in Madhya Pradesh. Toramana used the title "Great King of Kings", equivalent to "Emperor", in his inscriptions, such as the Eran boar inscription.
The Sanjeli inscription of Toramana speaks of his conquest and control over Malwa and Gujarat. His territory also included Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Kashmir. He probably went as far as Kausambi, where one of his seals was discovered.
According to the Rīsthal inscription, discovered in 1983, the Aulikara king Prakashdharman of Malwa defeated him. Toramana’s inscriptions show his transition from an independent ruler to a vassal after his defeat in 515 CE. Initially titled "Mahārājadhirāj," he later served under Prakashdharman and Yasodharman. This shift reflects the declining power of the Hunas in early medieval India.
Overview
Toramana is known from Rajatarangini, through coins and inscriptions.Punjab inscription
An inscription found at Kura in the Salt Range in Pakistan records the building of a Buddhist monastery by a person named Rotta Siddhavriddhi during the reign of the Huna ruler Toramana. The donor expresses the wish that the religious merit gained by his gift be shared by him with the king and his family members. In the Khurā inscription, Toramana assumes the Indian regnal titles in addition to central Asian ones: Rājādhirāja Mahārāja Toramāṇa Shahi Jauvla. Among which Shahi is considered to be his Title and Jauvla being an epithet or Biruda. This is a Buddhist record in hybrid Sanskrit, recording the gift of a monastery to members of the Mahīśāsaka school.File:Kura inscription of Toramana.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.5|The Kura inscription of Toramana. Starting "In the prosperous reign of the King of Kings, the Great King Toramana Shahi Jauhkha...". "Toramana" ( Gupta script: Toramāṇa, appears in the 1st line of the inscription
Gwalior inscription of Mihirakula
In the Gwalior inscription of Mihirakula, from Gwalior in northern Madhya Pradesh, India, and written in Sanskrit, Toramana is described as:Eran Boar inscription
The Eran Boar inscription of his first regnal year indicates that eastern Malwa was included in his dominion. The Eran Boar inscription was erected in honor of the deity Vishnu as his avatar, Varaha.Sack of Kausambi
The presence of seals in the name of "Toramana" and "Hunaraja" in Kausambi, suggests that the city was probably sacked by the Alkhons under Toramana in 497–500.Defeats
According to the Rishtal stone-slab inscription, discovered in 1983, the Aulikara king Prakashadharma of Malwa defeated him in 515 CE. Historian Thaplyal suggests that this seal confirms Toramana's status as a vassal king following his defeat by Prakashdharman around 515 CE. Toramana likely continued in this role under Yasodharman, Prakāśadharman's successor. Evidence supporting Toramana’s independent rule prior to his defeat includes the Sanjeli copper plate inscription, which refers to him as "paramabhațțaraka mahārājadhirāja sioramane". Additionally, the Eran boar inscription, dated between 510 and 513 CE, also uses the title "Mahārājadhirāj." These titles, however, predate his loss to Prakāśadharman, as documented in the Risthal inscription from 515 CE.Toramana may also have been defeated by the Indian Emperor Bhanugupta of the Gupta Empire in 510 A.D. according to the Eran inscription, although the "great battle" to which Bhanagupta participated is not explicited.
A few silver coins of Toramana closely followed the Gupta silver coins. The only difference in the obverse is that the king's head is turned to the left. The reverse retains the fantailed peacock and the legend is almost similar, except the change of name to Toramana Deva.
A Jaina work of the 8th century, the Kuvalayamala states that he lived in Pavvaiya on the bank of the Chandrabhaga and enjoyed the sovereignty of the world.