Bhima I
Bhima I | |
---|---|
King of Chaulukya (Solanki) | |
Father | Nagaraja |
Bhima I (r. c. 1022–1064 CE) was a
The earliest of the
Early life
Bhima's father Nagaraja was a son of the Chaulukya king Chamunda-raja. Chamunda was succeeded by Nagaraja's brothers, Vallabha-raja and Durlabha-raja, in that order. Both Vallabha and Durlabha died childless. According to the 12th century author Hemachandra, Durlabha was very fond of his nephew Bhima, and appointed Bhima as his successor before his death. Durlabha and Nagaraja died soon after Bhima's ascension to throne.[2]
Military career
Early during his reign, Bhīma faced an invasion by
According to the Muslim accounts, Bhīma fled his capital
Mahmūd rested at Nahrwāla for a few days, replenished his supplies, and then left for Somnāth. A relatively small force of 20,000 soldiers unsuccessfully tried to check Mahmūd's advance at Modhera. Historian A. K. Majumdar theorizes that the Modhera Sun Temple, might have been built to commemorate this defence.[5] The upside down inscription in the cella of the temple proper evidences the destruction and reconstruction probably shortly after 1026 CE.[6]
Mahmūd then advanced to
During his return journey, Mahmūd came to know that a powerful Hindu king named Param Dev had gathered a large army to fight him. Gardezi, in his Kitab Zainu'l-Akhbar (c. 1048 CE), states that Mahmūd chose to avoid any confrontation with this king. The invader was carrying back a large amount of looted wealth, which may have motivated him to avoid a battle. Mahmūd decided to return via
Invasion of Sindh
According to the 12th century scholar
There is no epigraphic evidence of Bhima having defeated the king of Sindh. In absence of any corroborating evidence, the historical accuracy of this account is uncertain. Historian A. K. Majumdar theorizes that Hammuka might have been a descendant of the Saindhava dynasty, which probably originated from Sindh. This dynasty is known to have last ruled western Saurashtra in 915 CE. Like Hammuka, the names of its rulers ended in -ka: Ranaka, Jaika and Agguka.[14]
Paramāras of Arbuda
The Paramāra branch of Arbuda had been feudatories of the Caulukyas since Mūlarāja's reign. However, sometime before 1031 CE, the Abu Paramāra ruler Dhandhuka rebelled against Bhīma. Bhima defeated him, and appointed Vimala as the new daṇḍapati (governor) of Arbuda.[14] Vimala commissioned the shrine of Adinātha at Mount Abu in 1031 CE, so Dhandhuka's rebellion must have happened before this year.[15]
Dhandhuka took shelter with Bhoja, the Paramara king of Mālava. According to Jinaprabha Suri's Tirtha Kalpa, Bhima later restored Dhandhuka as his vassal.[15]
A 1042 CE inscription of Dhandhuka's son Pūrṇapāla states that he was ruling over Arbuda-
Paramāras of Bhinmal
Bhima defeated and imprisoned Kṛṣṇa-deva, a ruler of the Paramāra branch of
Cāhamanas of Naḍḍula
The Cāhamānas of Nāḍḍula ruled the territory to the north of the Caulukya kingdom. According to their Sundha Hill inscription, the Cāhamāna king Aṇahilla defeated Bhīma.[16] Aṇahilla probably repulsed an invasion from Bhīma.[17]
The Sundha Hill inscription as well as another Chahamana inscription state that the later king Anahilla also defeated the elephant force of Bhima. Anahilla is also said to have destroyed Bhima's army and captured a large part of his territory. His sons Balaprasada and Jendraraja also took part in the war against Bhima. Balaprasada forced Bhima to release Krishna-deva (the Paramara ruler of Bhimal) from the prison. Jendraraja defeated Bhima's force at Shanderaka (modern Sanderao).[18]
The location of the battles suggests that Bhima was the aggressor in this war, and the Chahamanas repulsed his invasion. The war continued during the reign of Bhima's successor Karna.[19]
Paramaras of Malwa
Bhima formed an alliance with the Kalachuri king Lakshmi-Karna, and played a significant role in the downfall of Bhoja, the Paramara dynasty of Malwa. This achievement has been recorded by several Chaulukya chroniclers and inscriptions.[19]
The most detailed account of the rivalry between Bhima and Bhoja is given by the 14th century chronicler Merutunga. However, it is hard to separate the historical truth from fiction in Merutunga's legendary account, which goes like this: Bhima and Bhoja were initially friends, but Bhoja made a plan to invade Gujarat. When Bhima's spy informed him about Bhoja's plan, Bhima sent his ambassador Damara to Bhoja's court. Damara instigated Bhoja to attack the
Merutunga further states that while Bhima was engaged in a war against the king of Sindh, Bhoja's
Merutunga finally describes Bhoja's death as follows: One day, the Kalachuri king Karna challenged Bhoja to a war or a temple-building contest. Bhoja chose the second option, and lost the contest to Karna. However, Bhoja refused to acknowledge Karna's supremacy. As a result, Karna invaded Malwa from the east, supported by 136 vassals. He also asked Bhima to invade Malwa from the east. Bhoja died of a disease, as these two kings invaded his kingdom. After his death, Karna captured his capital and all his wealth.[21]
According to Merutunga, it was Karna who captured Dhara after Bhoja's death. Other Chaulukya chroniclers claim that Bhima captured Dhara. It is possible that Bhima raided Dhara at a later date.[22] One particular chronicle Kirti-Kaumudi claims that Bhima captured Bhoja, but generously released him and spared his life. This is not corroborated by historical evidence.[23]
Kalachuris of Tripuri
Bhima and the Kalachuri king Lakshmi-Karna remained allies until Bhoja's death. Subsequently, there seems to have been a dispute between them over sharing the spoils of their victory. The Chaulukya chroniclers claim that Bhima subdued Karna easily, but such claims are of little historical value. The 12th century writer Hemachandra claims that Bhima sent his ambassador Damodara to Karna, demanding his share of the Paramara assets. Damodara's description of Bhima's power scared Karna, who started praising Bhima and gifted him Bhoja's golden throne. The 14th century chronicler Merutunga claims that Bhima demanded half of Bhoja's kingdom from Karna. When Karna refused, Bhima's ambassador Damara entered Karna's palace with 32 foot soldiers and abducted Karna as the Kalachuri king slept. Karna ultimately made peace by surrendering a golden shrine to Bhima.[24]
These accounts by the Chaulukya chroniclers appear to be historically inaccurate, as Karna was too powerful to be subdued by an ambassador of Bhima. Hemachandra does not mention Bhima's conflict with Bhoja at all, and Bhima's allies named by him in the struggle against Karna are all fictitious. Merutunga's account seems to be derived partly from Hemachandra's Dvyashraya and partly from Kirti-Kaumudi.[24]
That said, there is some historical evidence of a conflict between Bhima and Karna. Karna's
Personal life
Bhima's queen was Udayamati. According to Hemachandra, he had three sons: Mularaja, Kshemaraja, and Karna. Mularaja died during Bhima's lifetime, and Kshemaraja rejected the throne. As a result, Karna succeeded Bhima.[26]
Merutunga, on the other hand, states that Bhima's three sons were Mularaja, Karna and Haripala. Of these, Haripala was born of a courtesan named Bakuladevi. Historian A. K. Majumdar theorizes that Merutunga's account appears to be more accurate, since voluntary rejections of thrones were very rare. Hemachandra, who was a royal courtier, probably wanted to avoid mentioning the illegitimate son Haripala, and therefore, glossed over the genealogy.[27]
Temples and constructions
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Intrinsic carvings inside Kumbharia Mahavira temple
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Shiva temple near Sanderi Mata temple
-
Another temple near Sanderi Mata temple
Merutunga states that he built Tripurushaprasada temple at Anahilapataka (now
Vagheshwari/Khambhalai Mata temple at Dhinoj in Patan district was built during the same period as Modhera Sun temple. Achaleshwara Mahadev and Jagannatha temples on Mount Abu were contemporary of Adinath temple. Limboji Mata temple at Delmal in north Gujarat is also of the same period. The small shrine of Someshwara at Gorad near Mehsana; Shiva temple and Sanderi Mata temple at Sander in Patan district belongs to 11th century. A ruined shrine in Mulamadhavpura in Saurashtra is contemporary of Shiva temple at Sander. Pankhnath Mahadev and the early surviving parts of Ambika temples at Khedbrahma are also of this period. The large marble temple of Mahavira (1062 CE), of five Jain temples at Kumbhariya, is the last major temple of this period. The vase-and-foliage pillars and lintels of a temple of this period at Patan is reused in the inlet sluice chamber of Khan Sarovar. The Tanka Mosque in Dholka has four decorated bhadraka pillars reused from a small shrine of this age. The badly renovated Sun temple and another temple dedicated to Daityasudana Vishnu at Prabhas Patan also belongs to this period.[29]
Ankol Mata stepwell at Davad and Mata Bhavani's Stepwell in Ahmedabad belonged to the third quarter of the 11th century.[30]
References
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 498.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 43.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, pp. 43–44.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 44-45.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 45.
- ISBN 978-3-406-08732-5.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, pp. 45–46.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 46.
- ^ Krishna Narain Seth 1978, pp. 162–163.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 44.
- ^ Krishna Narain Seth 1978, pp. 163–165.
- ^ Mahesh Singh 1984, pp. 61–62.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 48.
- ^ a b c Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 49.
- ^ a b Krishna Narain Seth 1978, pp. 180–181.
- ^ a b c Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 50.
- ^ Dasharatha Sharma 1959, p. 125.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, pp. 50–51.
- ^ a b Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 51.
- ^ a b Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, pp. 51–52.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, pp. 52–53.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 53.
- ^ Krishna Narain Seth 1978, p. 184.
- ^ a b Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 54.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 55.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, p. 56.
- ^ Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956, pp. 55–56.
- ^ Vinod Chandra Srivastava 2008, p. 857.
- ^ a b Dhaky, Madhusudan A. (1961). Deva, Krishna (ed.). "The Chronology of the Solanki Temples of Gujarat". Journal of the Madhya Pradesh Itihas Parishad. 3. Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Itihas Parishad: 28–35, 74–76.
- ^ Jain-Neubauer 1981, p. 20.
Bibliography
- Asoke Kumar Majumdar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. OCLC 4413150.
- Dasharatha Sharma (1959). Early Chauhān Dynasties. S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9780842606189.
- Krishna Narain Seth (1978). The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa. Progress.
- Jain-Neubauer, Jutta (1981). The Stepwells of Gujarat: In Art-historical Perspective. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-0-391-02284-3.
- Mahesh Singh (1984). Bhoja Paramāra and His Times. Bharatiya Vidya Prakashan.
- Vinod Chandra Srivastava (2008). History of Agriculture in India, Up to C. 1200 A.D. Concept. p. 857. ISBN 978-81-8069-521-6.