The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c29.s2.80

v2.c29.s2.80

It may well be that Yuvarāja I,¹ and his son Lakṣmaṇarāja laid the foundation of that eastern policy, which at last culminated in the reign of Lakṣmī-Karṇa (*c.* 1042-90 A.D.). There is however some difficulty in accepting the claim to victory over Kashmir which is made on behalf of both Yuvarāja I and his son Lakṣmaṇarāja. It must be admitted that the 2nd half of the 10th century was also one of the most inglorious epochs in the history of Kashmir. From Kṣemagupta (950-58 A.D.) to the end of the reign of Diddā (980-1003 A.D.), she was a constant prey to anarchy and civil war.² But the valley of Kashmir is so distant from the borders of the Kalacuri dominions, that we are loth to accept this claim without some confirmatory evidence from an independent source. The same argument applies to Lakṣmaṇarāja's claim to victory over the Pāṇḍya king. Though the decay of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa power and the uncertain position of the newly re-established Cālukya dynasty made it comparatively easy for a king of the C.P. to invade the southern portion of the Indian peninsula, yet in view of the great distance separating the two countries it would perhaps be better to reserve our judgment till we discover some evidence stronger than the eulogy of a court poet. The only piece of indirect evidence which may possibly be quoted in favour of this southern campaign of Lakṣmaṇarāja is his matrimonial alliance with the rising power of the Cālukyas of the Kanarese districts. We know from the records of the latter, that he married his daughter Bonthādevī to Vikramāditya IV, the father of Āhavamalla-Nūrmaḍi Taila II (*c.* 973-997 A.D.), who destroyed the Rāṣṭrakūṭas of Malkheḍ about A.D. 973.³ It is not impossible that Lakṣmaṇarāja may have invaded peninsular India to assist his new allies against the Rāṣṭrakūṭas.