The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.224

v1.c13.224

Before he was seated on his throne for a month, Gargacandra, the powerful Ḍāmara of Lahara, refused to give up the young son of Uccala to the king and assumed a defiant attitude. Pressed by the energetic king and after withstanding a siege for some time in one of his hill forts, he was at last compelled to submit. At the end of this civil war there was a short period of peace, which was utilised by the king to consolidate his position at Lohara. He personally went there, and after imprisoning Salhaṇa and Loṭhana in the fort and renewing his alliance with the neighbouring chiefs of Kāliñjara and Rājapurī returned to his capital.² But hardly had he reached Kashmir than a murderous attack was made on him by some Ḍāmaras of Devasarasa (mod. Divᵃsar pargana in the S.E. of the Valley). His charger was killed and he only escaped ‘as a longer life was destined to him.’ This was followed by an attempted invasion by Sahasramaṅgala and other exiled nobles ‘by the route of Kānda,’ situated in the south-east of the Valley. When the king’s vigilance had repulsed this invasion,¹ there appeared on the scene Bhikṣācāra, who in the hands of the rebellious Ḍāmaras soon became the most formidable rival of the king. This prince while on a pilgrimage at Kurukṣetra attracted the sympathy of a group of 5 princes from Campā, Vartula, Trigarta, Vallāpura and Babbāpura. Escorted by them, he appeared on the frontiers of Kashmir and was joined by numerous exiles. Among the princes who hospitably received him Kalhaṇa mentions Jāsaṭa, king of Campā. But the first attempts of Bhikṣācāra failed, on account of internal dissensions amongst his supporters. Gayapāla, his chief supporter, was treacherously murdered by his relatives, and ‘the gold given for the expedition’ having become exhausted, he was reduced to helplessness. For 4 or 5 years Bhikṣācāra’s efforts were paralysed, and he lived in the house of Jāsaṭa, ‘securing with difficulty mere food and clothing.’²