The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c14.76

v1.c14.76

After this reign the Vaṁśāvalīs indicate a change of dynasty. Vāmadeva, said to have been a collateral descendant of Aṁśuvarman and belonging to the Ṭhākuris of Patan, drove away the Ṭhākuris of Nayakot and captured the sovereign power. A MS. of *Seka-nirdeśa-pañjikā* in the Minaev-collection of St. Petersburg is dated in the, year 200 (A.D. 1080-81) in the reign of *Rājā Vāmadeva*.³ An inscription of 5 lines incised on the pedestal of a figure of the Sun-god (*divākara*), discovered by Bendall at Lalitapattana, which is dated in N.E. 203 (A.D. 1083) mentions one Śrī-Vāṇadeva, son of *bhūnātha* Śrī-Yaśodeva, who was identified by Bendall with this prince. Though the date and the similarity of the name would tend to favour such an identification, Lévi has rejected it. To him *bhūnātha* means no more than a prince, or even only a Kṣatriya, while the title *Śrī*, the 'most banal of all titles' clearly brands Vāṇadeva as only a local chief.⁴ Vāmadeva is assigned a reign of 2 or 3 years only.⁵ He was succeeded by Harṣadeva, who is given a reign of 14, 15 or 16 years. Bendall supplies three dates for this reign, *viz*., 210 (A.D. 1090), 213 (A.D. 1093), and 219 (A.D. 1098). Two of these are found on MSS. copied during the king's reign. The last date is given by the Vaṁśāvalī of Bendall in the following passage: *Rājā Śrī-Harṣadeva varṣa 14 ūnaviṁśati sambacchara satadvaya parivartamānaṁ*. Commenting on this passage, Bendall says: "Interpreted in the light of the two other dates (given in the MSS.), this rather crudely expressed notice gives good sense if we take it to mean that Harṣa died in N. S. 219 current. Lévi agrees with this conclusion.¹