First Battle of Eran

Following his death in 457 CE, the Sassanian Empire came under the rule of Peroz I, who was defeated by the Hephthalite king Akun (or Akhshunwar) and forced to pay tribute.

According to Chavannes, based on Chinese historical accounts, by around 500 CE, the Huna Empire included Tokharistan, Kabulistan, and Zabulistan, with Gandhara and Chitral being the only regions of "India proper" under their control.

[11]Toramana, a prominent ruler of the Alchon dynasty, successfully established political and cultural dominance in the Punjab, which fostered his imperial ambitions.

Although Kawad I regained power in 498 CE, his authority remained heavily reliant on the Hephthalites, the Hunnic rulers north of the Hindu Kush.

[13] Capitalizing on this opportunity, Toramana launched an invasion of northern and western India from the Punjab, possibly from a stronghold on the banks of the Candrabhaga River.

[16] According to Bakker, this integration may have fueled Toramana's ambitions for territorial expansion, guided not by the supposed ferocity often attributed to the Huns, of which there is scant evidence, but by principles from the Indian Book of State, which emphasized the ideal ruler's duty to pursue conquest.

His dominance over rival Hunnic factions, forcing them into subordinate roles, and his strategic establishment of Parvatikā on the Chenab (Candrabhaga) River in Punjab as his operational base underscore his tactical acumen.

[16] His rapid military campaigns resulted in the conquest of large areas of northern and western India within a few years, culminating in the construction of the Goparaja funereal monument in AD 510.

The Alkhan king invaded the Ganga–Yamuna Doab, capturing Mathura, crossing the Yamuna near Kalpi (Kalapriyanatha), and advancing south into the Betwa valley to attack the western territories of the Gupta Empire.

In this area, two local feudatories, Maharaja Mātṛviṣṇu and his younger brother Dhanyaviṣṇu, had constructed a twin temple, which was guarded by a 13-meter-high pillar, the 'Column of Janardana' (Vishnu/Krishna).

The second inscription, however, documents Dhanyaviṣṇu's construction of a temple after his brother’s death, in the first year of Rajadhiraja Maharaja Toramana Sahi Jauvla's rule.

Furthermore, copper coins found in the Ramnagar area, which was part of the ancient Panchala region, suggest the presence of a ruler named Maharaja Harigupta, who is believed to have been active around 500 CE.

Seeking to control the western trade route from Mathura to the Arabian Sea, Toramana launched an expedition in his second or third year, passing through Madhyamika (Nagari) and Dasapura (Mandasor) toward Bharukaccha (modern Bharuch) on the Gulf of Cambay.

[33] Sanjeli's unique geographical features, surrounded by low, rocky mountains that formed natural fortifications, made it an ideal strategic site for caravans traveling to the coast.

Demonstrating his organizational abilities, Toramana appointed Bhuta as governor of the Sivabhagapura district, located about 1,000 kilometers south of his Panjab homeland.

The first Sanjeli copper plate records that— "In the third year of the reign of the supreme lord Maharajadhiraja, the illustrious Toramana, thanks to whose grace Śivabhagapura is ruled by Maharaja Bhuta as district governor.

Portrait of Toramana and Gupta script initials Tora , from his bronze coinage. [ 12 ]
Charles Joppen's construction in 1907 of possible Indian map in 500 AD
A rare gold coin of Toramana with Lakshmi on the reverse ( c. 490 –515), inspired from contemporary Gupta coins, such as those of Narasimhagupta Baladitya . The obverse legend reads "avanipati torama(no) vijitya vasudham divam jayati": "The lord of the earth, Toramana , having conquered the earth, wins Heaven". [ 14 ] [ 15 ]
Eran archaeological site map, 1880 sketch
Budhagupta pillar inscription at Eran.
The Buddhagupta pillar at Eran (c.476–495 CE), raised in honour of Janardana , another name of Vishnu . [ 23 ] On top is a double statue of Garuda , holding a serpent in his hands, with a chakra wheel behind the head. [ 25 ]
The Kura inscription of Toramana. Starting "In the prosperous reign of the King of Kings, the Great King Toramana Shahi Jauhkha ...". [ 28 ] [ 29 ] "Toramana" ( Gupta script : Toramāṇa , appears in the 1st line of the inscription.
Mandapa of the Vishnu Temple at Eran
Fragment of a lid with a hunting scene, Gandhara, 5-6th century CE. [ 34 ]
Idol of Lord Pashupatinath in Mandsaur
Routes taken by Alchon Huns