The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.114

Language: English

v1.c13.114.1

The period of approximately half century (958-1003 A.D.) which follows is dominated by the masterful personality of Diddā. Abhimanyu, the young son of Kṣemagupta, was next installed as king under the guardianship of this widowed queen-mother. The first incident of the reign was a terrible conflagration in Śrīnagara, which "purified the land by burning the great buildings which the contact of the kings who had been touched by the *Ḍombas* and *Caṇḍālas* had defiled." The next incident was the downfall of the *Sarvādhikāra* Phalguṇa the conqueror of Rājapuri (mod. Rajauri), who outshone all other ministers 'by counsel, courage, energy, and all other good qualities.' He had incurred the enmity of Diddā because he had given his daughter Candralekhā to the last king. He was also an object of hatred to all other ministers because of his ability and high office. When the proud minister perceived his critical situation and when new dishonour was continually showered upon him by the queen, he laid his sword at Varāhakṣetra and retired with his troops to Parṇotsa (mod. Punch). The queen next found Mahimān and Pāṭala, sons of two daughters of Parvagupta conspiring for the throne. They had grown up "in the king's palace as if they were his own sons," and wielded great influence. But Diddā turned them out of the royal palace, and when they raised a formidable rebellion she quickly bought off their Brahman supporters.

v1.c13.114.2

The result was a temporary reconciliation between Mahimān and the queen.¹ One of the bribed Brahmans, Yaśodhara, was made the commander-in-chief, but as soon as he displayed energy in defeating the *Śāhi* Thakkana, Diddā grew suspicious and believed in the accusation that Yaśodhara ‘had taken money for keeping Thakkana on his throne.’² When Diddā attempted to banish him on this charge, his supporters raised a formidable rebellion and besieged her in the palace. But, thanks to the assistance of the minister Naravāhana and the valiant defence of the *Ekāṅgas*, the rebellion was crushed, and the queen took terrible vengeance on her disaffected ministers. We are told that “Those treacherous ministers, who during sixty years from the Laukika era 3977 (A.D. 901-02) onward had robbed sixteen kings, from king Gopāla (varman) to Abhimanyu, of their dignity, lives and riches, were quickly exterminated by the energy of queen Diddā …” This victory induced the grateful queen to make Naravāhana her chief councilllor ‘with the title of *Rājānaka*.’ For sometime “she slept when he slept, took food when he took it, rejoiced in his joy, and from sympathy felt dejected when he was despondent.” But soon Sindhu, the treasurer, put into her head that the minister was gradually trying to usurp royal power.

v1.c13.114.3

This belief led her to heap such insults upon Naravāhana ‘that tormented by disgrace he committed suicide.’³ An attempt to kill the sons of the Ḍāmara Saṁgrāma next involved her in a rebellion of the landed aristocracy. Being unable to cope with these troubles, she recalled Phalguna to her side. At this time the king, who, though weak, was a learned and handsome man, developed consumption and died (972 A.D.). He was succeeded by his young son Nandigupta.⁴ The death of her son came as a great shock to the queen-regent, and for one year she was engaged in laying the foundations of temples, *maṭhas*, and cities for acquiring religious merit. Kalhaṇa records the tradition that “she made 64 foundations in different localities” and enclosed with stone walls almost all the temples the surrounding walls of which had been burnt down.” Amongst her more important pious foundations may be mentioned the temples of Viṣṇu Diddāsvāmin, the cities of Diddāpura, and Kaṅkaṇapura, and several *vihāras* and *maṭhas* for the residence of foreigners. One of these, Diddāmaṭha, has left its memory in the name Didᵃmar, which is now applied to the western end of Srinagar on the right bank of the Vitastā.¹ But this burst of pious enthusiasm was short-lived. Kalhaṇa had already indicated a fatal weakness in her character when her courage failed before the funeral pyre of the dead husband.

v1.c13.114.4

Before long “The officers who held charge of foreign affairs, the royal household and other posts” began to visit the queen’s bed-chamber without scruples. This factor in her character, together with a passionate desire for power, soon brought about a violent reaction. As a result of this she killed her little grandson Nandigupta by ‘employing witchcraft’ in 973 A.D., and two years later in a similar way disposed of another grandson, Tribhuvana, who had been raised to the throne in his place.² In 975 she put “her last grandson Bhīmagupta on that path which bore the name throne.” The opportune death of the venerable minister Phalguṇa removed the last restraint, and “thereafter she committed hundredfold excesses by open misconduct, infuriated just as a female elephant in rut which has torn off its face-covering.” Even ministers and leading men became procurers of her “many paramours.” As the child-king Bhīmagupta after four or five years “became a little developed in intellect and recognised that the affairs of his kingdom and his grandmother's way of living were not right," he was imprisoned and put to death by various tortures (980-81 A.D.).¹ Shortly before this event Diddā had been captivated by a young Khaśa from Parṇotsa named Tuṅga. He had at first come to Kashmir as a herdsman of buffaloes, and later obtained employment as a letter-carrier in the Foreign Office. When Diddā herself ascended the throne in 980-81 A.

v1.c13.114.5

D., the infatuated queen made him "the *Sarvādhikāri*, and raised him above everybody." Four brothers of Tuṅga were also placed in high offices. The result was that the former ministers whom Tuṅga and his brothers ousted, united and raised a rebellion which was headed by the Lohara prince Vigraharāja, son of Diddā's brother. He began his campaign by inducing the Brahmans holding the chief *Agrahāras* to enter upon a solemn fast. But before the disturbances could proceed further Diddā by a judicious distribution of gold amongst the Brahmans brought the sacred fast to an end, and the rebellion soon collapsed. A second attempt of Vigraharāja was also crushed by the vigorous action of Tuṅga. At this time Pṛthvīpāla, the king of Rājapurī, who probably acknowledged the supremacy of Kashmir, 'showed arrogance,' and practically destroyed an invading force sent from Srīnagara. But Tuṅga and his brother retrieved the disaster by suddenly penetrating into Rājapurī by another route. Owing to the diversion caused by the burning of his capital, Pṛthvīpāla was defeated and the remnant of the Kashmirian forces rescued. Pṛthvīpāla was forced to pay tribute to Tuṅga who on his return to Srīnagara was invested with the post of Commander-in-chief by the grateful queen.

v1.c13.114.6

The last recorded incident of Diddā's reign was a rising of the Ḍāmaras, whose hosts however were destroyed by her brave lover "with the courage of a lion." After this she selected Saṁgrāmarāja, a son of her brother Udayarāja, for the rank of *Yuvarāja*, and died in 1003 A.D.²