The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c30.s1.1

v2.c30.s1.1

The existence of this branch is known from a number of records, the most important of which is the Sasbahu temple-inscription of Mahīpāla dated in *V. S.* 1150.² According to this inscription, the first prince of this line was Lakṣmaṇa. He is described as *Kacchapaghāta-vaṁśa-tilaka* and *Kṣauṇī-pati* and an ‘object of reverence for all princes.’³ Nothing definite is known about his reign. We are simply told that “Wielding his bow (and) promoting the welfare of his subjects, he unaided, like Pṛthu, made the earth obedient to his will, after he had by force extirpated even mighty princes (as Pṛthu had uprooted the mountains).”⁴ The next prince in this line was his son Vajradāman.⁵ We are told that “When by honest means he had put down the rising valour of the ruler of Gādhinagara, his proclamation-drum, which fulfilled his vow of heroism, resounded in the fort of Gopādri, conquered in battle by his irresistible strong arm.’"¹ Vajradāman has been generally identified with the *Mahārājādhirāja* Vajradāman of a fragmentary Jain *image-inscription of Gwalior* dated in (*V.*) *Saṁ.* 1034 (A.D. 977).² It is difficult to identify exactly the prince of Gādhinagara who was defeated by this Kacchapaghāta and from whom apparently he captured the fort of Gwalior. His date, A.D. 977, however indicates, as I have already suggested, that this ruler of Kanauj must have been one of the weak successors of Mahīpāla I (*c.* 914-43 A.D.), possibly Vijayapāla, for whom we have the date 960 A.D.³ It is likely that Vajradāman at first enjoyed some measure of sovereignty. But the rising power of the Candellas, which in Dhaṅga's reign (*c.* 954-1002 A.D.) reached ‘the mountain called Gopagiri’⁴ seems to indicate that he may have soon after acknowledged the hegemony of his more powerful eastern neighbour. That the title of *Mahārājādhirāja*, in this period, was not inconsistent with feudatory rank, is shown by the Rajor stone-inscription of Mathanadeva dated in V. S. 1016 (A.D. 960).⁵