[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931) › v1.c12.121 # The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c12.121 The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c12.121 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c12.121](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v1.c12.121) The next ruler, according to al-Bīrūnī, was Bhīm, no doubt the same ruler who is mentioned by Kalhaṇa as the maternal grandfather of Diddā, the queen of the Kashmirian king Kṣemagupta (\*c.\* 950-58 A.D.).¹ Diddā was the daughter of king Simharāja, the lord of Lohara (modern valley of Lohᵃrin or \*Loran\* immediately to the south of Pīr Pantsal range, in the hill State of Punch)² and other strongholds, who had apparently married a daughter of Bhīma \*Sāhi\* of Udabhāṇḍapura. The influence and power enjoyed by the \*Sāhis\* in Kashmir during this period is illustrated by the fact that already during Kṣemagupta's lifetime Bhīma built a richly endowed temple of Viṣṇu called Bhīmakeśava in the adoptive country of his grand-daughter the remains of which have been traced by Stein in a Muhammadan Zirāt at Bumᵃzu³ near Mārtaṇḍa. Certain silver coins with the legend \*Śrī-Bhīmadeva\*, which are mainly found in Kābulistān, have been referred by numismatists to this ruler.⁴ From the facts detailed above it is certain that the birth of Bhīma cannot be pushed back beyond 920 A.D.⁵ He was certainly ruling in 950-58, but we do not know when he was succeeded by the next ruler, Jaypāl, who is well-known from Muslim chronicles as the opponent of the Yamīnī kings of Ghazni. Kalhaṇa is silent about this ruler, though he mentions the defeat of an otherwise unknown \*Sāhi\* prince named Thakkana in the reign of Abhimanyu (958-72 A.D.) the son of Diddā. Yaśodhara the Commander-in-chief, we are told, 'out of spite' rapidly invaded his country 'which is difficult of access on account of its streams and mountains' and capturing the \*Sāhi\* prince 'by force' compelled him to 'pay tribute and homage.'⁶ The fact that Thakkana does not occur in the list of al-Bīrūnī lends some strength to the suspicion that his list contains the names of only important rulers and is by no means to be taken as successive.¹ That Jayapāla is not the son of Bhīma appears to be indicated by Firishta, who gives Ishtpāl² (Iṣṭapāla?) as the name of Jayapāla's father; but we need not agree with Elliot that the "introduction of the term 'Pāl'" should indicate a change of dynasty. The same phenomenon appears in the history of the Gurjara-Pratīhāras of Kanauj, though there was no dynastic change.³ - [Previous: v1.c12.120](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v1.c12.120) - [Next: v1.c12.122](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v1.c12.122) - [Up: v1.c12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v1.c12) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v1.c12.121](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v1.c12.121) · Pramāṇa