The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c28.75.1

v2.c28.75.1

" 'While the illustrious Vināyakapāladeva is protecting the earth, the earth is not taken possession of by the enemies, who have been annihilated.'"² This statement undoubtedly shows that up to 954-55 A. D., the Candellas retained in their public documents a formal, if nominal, recognition of the imperial line at Kanauj. But it is significant that the names of the Gurjara-Pratīhāra rulers do not occur again in any Candella document after this date, indicating that after 954-55 Dhaṅga became a sovereign ruler *de facto* and *de jure*. The expression 'as far as Kālañjara' which occurs in the quotation cited above shows that up to the date of the inscription the capital of the Candellas was situated not in that hill-fort but in some other city. That this city was Khajraho is probably indicated by an epigraph of Dhaṅga which is dated "in (V.)S. 1059 at Śrī-Kharjjuravāhaka in the realm of Dhaṅga".¹ This is further supported by the *Kāmil* of Ibn ul-Athīr, which refers to Dhaṅga's grandson as ruler of Kajurāha.² It is also significant that the earliest inscriptions of the Candellas including those of Dhaṅga, came from Khajraho and not from Kālañjara³ or Mahoba. It should be noted however that as early as (V.) S. 1055 Dhaṅga is given the epithet *Kālañjarādhipati*.⁴ This may indicate that Kālañjara was regarded as a sort of second capital of the kingdom.