The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.114.3

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.