The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.123

v1.c13.123

In spite of all her glaring defects Didda was certainly gifted with energy and statesmanship of a high order. This is nowhere better attested than by this last step, which secured a change of dynasty without any political upheavals. Saṁgrāmarāja was the younger brother of Vigraharāja, prince of Lohara. His accession thus led to the foundation of the first Lohara dynasty in Śrīnagara. Before the queen died she had “made Saṁgrāmarāja and Tuṅga and the rest take the oath by sacred libation that they would not harm each other.” So Tuṅga remained in power even after the death of Diddā. An attempt on the part of the Brahman councillors to bring about his fall was crushed by Tuṅga's energy. Kalhaṇa admits that besides his bravery Tuṅga had been always “eminently prudent in his conduct, and wholly bent on satisfying the people.” But old age and the “cares of endless official and other affairs” gradually weakened his discretion, and he took the false step of appointing “a low-born mean *Kāyastha*, Bhadreśwara by name,” in charge of the *Gṛhakṛtya* office. The administration of this officer, whose hereditary occupation “had been to trade in night-soil” resulted in fiscal oppression and much suffering of the people. His position was further weakened, when on being sent to help the *Śāhi* Trilocanapāla against Maḥmūd of Ghazni, he brought about the defeat of the Hindu forces on the banks of the Toṣī, by his inordinate folly and vanity.¹ After this defeat, when he returned to Śrīnagara in disgrace the intrigues against him gained a fresh start. Even the king's brother Vigraharāja began to urge in secret letters the removal of Tuṅga. The king, who was in sympathy with the conspirators, but whose weak ‘character was equal to his courage,’ only waited for a favourable opportunity. The opportunity soon arrived. One day the unsuspecting Tuṅga entered the palace with his son and a slender following, and was at once surrounded and killed by the conspirators. Thus died a valiant and loyal servant of the state, who, though of low origin, was never guilty of treachery,—no mean compliment in this period of Kashmir history. The officers who succeeded him were only noted for their licentious habits and rapacity, and " accumulated crores " by plundering the people and the treasury.¹