The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c13.27

v1.c13.27

For the history of this secluded valley we have practically no inscriptions either on metal or stone. But fortunately it possesses a number of chronicles which attempt to give a connected history of the land, from the earliest times down to its conquest by Akbar in 1586 A.D. The most important of these is, of course the *Rājataraṅgiṇī* of Kalhaṇa, who finished his work in *c.* 1150 A.D. Kalhaṇa’s work was continued by Jonarāja, who briefly traces the downfall of Hindu rule in the Valley in 1339 A.D. and gives an account of the early Muslim rulers till 1420 A.D.⁴ For the earliest portion of Kashmirian history Kalhaṇa has summarised a number of earlier chronicles, which are more or less of a mythical character. But we can guess from these somewhat confused accounts that the Valley must have passed in succession under the rule of the Mauryas, the great Kuṣāṇas, and the Hūṇas. Fortunately for us, Kalhaṇa's account gradually approaches a historical character from about the 7th century A.D., when, thanks to the visit of Yuan Chwang (631-33 A.D.) and a number of notices in the Chinese annals, we can check the statements of the Kashmiri historian. The accession of the Kārkoṭa Durlabhavardhana in the first quarter of the 7th century marks an era in the history of the country.¹ For the first time the Valley came under the administration of a strong line of rulers, whose ambitious and powerful arms soon brought it into conflict with the princes on the Oxus, the Indus and the Ganges. By *c.* 631 A.D. Kashmir had already absorbed the hill states of Parṇotsa and Rājapurī. In the west it had conquered Uraśā, and had come into conflict with the *Śāhis*, from whom it took Takṣaśīlā (mod. Rawalpindi district) and extended its power as far as Siṁhapura (Salt Range) in the Punjab. It was probably due to this pressure that the *Śāhis* were compelled to remove their capital from Udabhāṇḍa (Und) on the Indus.² In the first half of the 8th century Kashmir became one of the strongest powers in Asia. Though many of the details of Lalitāditya's *digvijaya* are shrouded in myth and mystery, the story of his conquest of Kanauj in the Gaṅgā-Yamunā Doab, Tukhāristān in the upper Oxus valley, and Daraddeśa in the upper Kishen Ganga appears to be based on historical data.³ He also maintained diplomatic relations with the Chinese emperor Hiuen-tsung (A.D. 713-755), and waged successful war against the Bhauṭṭas (Tibetans). It was also during this period that Kashmir first came into conflict with the Arabs. Balādhurī informs us that in the reign of the 'Abbasid Caliph al-Manṣūr his governor of Sind, Hishām ibn ‘Amr at-Taghlibi (*c.* 768-72 A.D.), ‘conquered Kashmīr, obtaining many prisoners and slaves.’¹ By ‘Kashmīr’ Balādhurī probably meant that portion of the Punjab, north of Multan, which came into the possession of the Kārkoṭas at this time. In the second half of the 8th century, Kashmir was ruled by another powerful prince of this line named Jayāpīḍa. The details of his unceasing campaign and marvellous escapes from adversaries, as given by Kalhaṇa, have more the appearance of romance and fancy than history;² but behind this fantastic colouring there appears to have been a historical figure who made desperate efforts to maintain for the Kārkoṭas the prominent position won for them by the victories of Durlabhavardhana and Lalitāditya. Whatever may have been the success attained by Jayāpīḍa, it is certain that during the inglorious reign of his successor the power of Kashmir gradually declined, till, as we shall see further on, it was again restricted to its original limits, the Vitastā basin, east of Bārāmūla.³