The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.139

v1.c13.139

During the first part of the reign of Ananta, the *Śāhi* princes (*Śāhiputrāḥ*), who had taken shelter in Kashmir after the destruction of their power in the Punjab, wielded great power at his court.⁴ They were intimate friends of the king, and used to draw high salaries. One of them, Rudrapāla, who had married Āsamatī, a daughter of Inducandra, the prince of Jālandhara, induced the king to marry her somewhat younger sister Sūryamatī. Though the influence of these *Śāhis* on the king and the State was not wholly beneficial, yet their bravery often helped Kashmir to tide over the dangers of foreign invasion, and civil war. Hardly had the new king established himself on the throne when the powerful Commander-in-chief Tribhuvana challenged him at the head of the Ḍāmaras and practically the whole army of the State. But fortunately the *Ekāṅgas* and the mounted soldiers remained loyal and with these Ananta attacked and defeated the rebel forces at Śālāsthala after a fierce contest.¹ As a reward for their loyalty the grateful king "relieved the *Ekāṅgas* of the uncertain dependence on the *Akṣapaṭala* office and gave them instead a fixed assignment" amounting to 96 crores of *Dinnāras*.² Shortly after this the *gañjādhipa* Brahmarāja, having quarrelled with Rudrapāla, again raised certain Ḍāmaras against the king. The rebellion assumed serious proportions when that disaffected official succeeded in inducing ‘Acalamaṅgala, king of the Darads, together with seven *Mleccha* princes’ to invade Kashmir. But thanks to the bravery of Rudrapāla ‘the *Mleccha* kings were all slain or captured and the king of Kashmir obtained much plunder in gold, jewels, and other presents.’ The *Śāhi* prince further presented his sovereign with the head of the Darad king.³ It is likely that by the word *Mleccha*, Kalhaṇa meant Muslim chiefs from the Upper Indus valley. Bilhaṇa, however, referring to this victory in the *Vikramāṅkadevacarita*, designates the enemies of Ananta as *Śakas*.⁴