The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v1.c17.s5.85

v1.c17.s5.85

In spite of these discrepancies there is on the whole substantial agreement in the total reign-period assigned by the two lists to the predecessors of Vajrahasta from Guṇamahārṇava-Guṇārṇava onwards. According to the first list, the total is 146½ years (27+15+7+25+3+12+35+½+3+19), while according to the second it is 142½ years (x+44+3+35+3+½+3+19). Calculating backwards from Ś. 960 (A.D. 1040), the date of Vajrahasta's coronation, we arrive at the last decade of the 9th century as the date for Guṇamahārṇava-Guṇārṇava. There is no inherent improbability in this date. It is possible that after the first Gaṅga dynasty lost power through the encroachment of the Karas of Tosalī the kingdom became dismembered into a number of smaller Gaṅga principalities. Towards the end of the 9th century Guṇamahārṇava-Guṇārṇava, the chief of one of these principalities, began to grow powerful. His son Vajrahasta III, who is credited with the conquest of 5 kingdoms, may have by his ambitious policy consolidated his position by incorporating some neighbouring principalities. When the Coḷas came to Kaliṅga, they probably found the successors of Vajrahasta III willing agents of their ambitious policy on this frontier.¹ I have already suggested that Vajrahasta V may have thrown off the Coḷa yoke by taking advantage of the disasters that fell on the rulers of the South after Rājendra Coḷa's death (*c.* 1042-43).² Though it is stated that Vajrahasta V was crowned in Ś. 960 (A. D. 1038)³ it is significant that his earliest inscription so far discovered bears the date Ś. 967 (1045 A.D.).⁴