The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c15.57

v1.c15.57

From his seal and invocation to Śiva it appears that like his father he was also a worshipper of Śiva; but it is curious that he had dropped his father's title of *Paramamāheśvara*.² He reigned at least for 19 years, and if his *praśastikāra* is to be trusted, was master of the territories 'as far as the *Vanamālā* of the sea shore' and 'his footstool was borne by crowns of numerous *rājās*.’ It is not known how long he ruled; but a verse in the Nowgong inscription of Balavarman refers to him as one ‘who for a long time was king in the land.’¹ Hoernle referred his Tezpur grant on palaeographic grounds to about 925 A.D.² According to the Nowgong copper-plate grant of Balavarman, Vanamāla was succeeded by Jayamāla. According to Hoernle’s reading, Jayamāla again was succeeded by his son Vīrabāhu, who married Ambā; but Kielhorn has rejected this reading. He takes Vīrabāhu to be another name of Jayamāla, both referring to the same person.³ Jayamāla-Vīrabāhū is said to have contracted a disease while distinguishing himself in war, and after abdicating in favour of his son and having bravely endured the rite of religious suicide through starvation ‘became absorbed in the light of the divine being.’ This son, named Balavarman, was born to him, by his queen Ambā.