The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c14.62

v1.c14.62

The successor of Lakṣmīkāma is variously known in the different Vaṁśāvalīs as Vijaya, Jaya, Jayadeva, and Jayakāmadeva. Excepting the chronicle consulted by Bendall, which gives him 31 years, all other Vaṁśāvalīs assign to him a reign of 21 years. He is said to have restored the cult of the Nāga Vāsuki. But his reign appears to have been disturbed by the rising of the feudal nobles. Lévi has pointed out from the *Mañjuśrī-mūla-tantra* that during this period they turned Nepal into a veritable *mātsyanyāya* by their turbulence and plundering expeditions. Atīśa, while traversing Nepal in about 1040 A.D. was received into the palace of a local *rājā* when he went to pay his respects to the *caitya* of Svayambhū, and then journeying westwards towards Palpa met the sovereign king of Nepal Grags-pa-mtha-yas (Tibetan = Anantakīrti?).¹ When Jayakāmadeva died childless, the royal authority was reduced almost to a shadow, and perhaps did not extend beyond the city of Patan. He was next succeeded by Bhāskaradeva, who is regarded by all the chronicles, except that of Bendall, as the founder of a new dynasty, the Ṭhākuris of Nayakot. It is probable that Bhāskaradeva belonged to one of the tribal groups who held feudal power in the valley and, taking advantage of the confusion, usurped the sovereign power. According to Kirkpatrick, Bhāskara was 'a refractory tributary of Patn' (Patan).² But it is to be noted that the chronicle of Bendall contains a rather obscure note as to his ‘repairing his paternal crown.’ If he belonged to a new dynasty, it seems likely that his father had already assumed an independent position. A MS. of the *Viṣṇudharma* written in Newari character and dated in his reign in *Saṁvat* 167 (= A.D. 1046) gives him the imperial titles *Paramabhaṭṭāraka Mahārājādhirāja Parameśvara.*¹ This prince is said to have founded the *Hiraṇya-varṇa-mahā-vihāra* at Patan. According to the chronicle of Kirkpatrick the next ruler was Udayadeva; but all other Vaṁśāvalīs place Baladeva or Balabantadeva, after Bhāskaradeva.² As Bhāskaradeva is said by some to have ruled only for 3 years (c. 167+3=170 N.E.=A.D. 1049), and as the first known date of Baladeva's successor is 185 N.E. (1064-65 A.D.), Baladeva being assigned a reign of 12 years (185-12=173 N.E.), there is no inherent impossibility in a short reign intervening (170-173 N.E.) between Bhāskaradeva and Baladeva.³ A MS. of the *Niśvāsākhya mahā-tantra* found in Nepal Durbar Library is dated in 180 *Saṁvatsare* (A.D. 1059-60) in the reign of Baladeva.⁴ The next king was Pradyumna-kāmadeva, sometimes known also as Padmadeva.⁵ A MS. of the *Saddharma-Puṇḍarīka*, Camb. Add. 1684, is dated in *Saṁvat* 185 (1064-65 A.D.) in this king's reign. Bendall refers to another MS., Camb. Add. 2197, dated in the year 186 (A.D. 1065-66), belonging to the reign of the same prince.⁶ In the first of these MSS. P(r)adyumna-kāmadeva is given the sovereign title of *Paramabhaṭṭāraka*.⁷ He is assigned by different authorities a reign of 11 or 7 years.⁸ The next ruler, Nāgārjunadeva, is said to have reigned for a short period of 2 or 3 years.⁹ For the next ruler, Śaṅkaradeva, who is variously assigned a reign of 11, 15 or 17 years, we have three dated MSS. The dates are 189, 191 and 198 (A.D. 1068-69, 1070-71, and 1077) found on three MSS. of *Dharma-putrikā*, *Aṣṭasāhas-* *rikā*, and Prajñākara's commentary, on *Bodhicaryāvatāra*, respectively.¹ Śaṅkara is credited with having established an annual *Yātrā* in honour of *Nava-sāgara Bhagavatī*.²