The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c28.75.3

v2.c28.75.3

A Khajraho epigraph tells us that the wives of ‘the kings of Kāñcī, Andhra, Rāḍhā, and Aṅga lingered in his prisons.’² Another verse of the same inscription says that ‘he was so powerful that the rulers of Kośala, Kratha,³ Siṁhala and Kuntala humbly listened to his commands.’⁴ It is therefore possible that he may have even successfully raided some portions of peninsular India. In any case there is enough evidence to show that Dhaṅga had become one of the most powerful rulers of Central India during this period. One of the Candella inscriptions goes so far as to say that he, having defeated on the battlefield the *Kānyakubja-narendra*, obtained exalted sovereignty (or empire, *Sāmrājya*).⁵ If true, this statement shows that the hegemony which the rulers of Kanauj so long enjoyed in Northern India was at last taken away from them by the Candellas during the reign of Dhaṅga. But as ‘Utbī in 409 A.H. (1018 A.D.) describes the Kanauj ruler Rājyapāla as ‘the chief of all princes of India,’⁶ we must conclude that the halo of imperialism still lingered over the brow of the Gurjara-Pratīhāras for at least sometime after Dhaṅga’s death. The accepted interpretation of another statement about Dhaṅga also appears to me to be doubtful.