The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c28.29.1

v2.c28.29.1

The next person in the Candella genealogy is Vākpati, the son of Nannuka. His existence is also known from the two inscriptions referred to above. The first informs us that the illustrious Vākpati defeated his enemies in battle and made the Vindhyas his pleasure-mount (*Krīḍā-giri*).² According to the other record, the Kṣitipa Vākpati is said to have excelled by his wisdom and valour (even) the mythical kings Pṛthu and Kakustha.³ From the fact that he is referred to as having made the Vindhyas his pleasure-mount we may perhaps be justified in concluding that Vākpati succeeded in extending to some degree the limits of his small ancestral principality. But in my opinion the persons who really succeeded in establishing the foundation of the prosperity, though not the sovereignty of the family, were his sons Jayaśakti and Vijayaśakti.⁴ Excepting in the two inscriptions mentioned above, these two brothers are generally described in records as the first ancestors of the Candellas. Verse 10 of a fragmentary inscription at Mahoba again tells us that Jejā (Jayaśakti) gave his name to *Jejā-bhukti*, just as Pṛthu did to *Pṛthivī*.⁵ This Jejā-bhukti⁶ is generally accepted as the 'old name of Bundelkhand and the original of the vernacular form Jajāhūtī or Jajāhotī, just as modern Tirhut is derived from Tīra-bhukti.’¹ Cunningham, who first proposed this identification, further identified this name under its vernacular form with the *Chih-chi-t'o* of Yuan Chwang.