The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c30.s4.14

v2.c30.s4.14

The composer of this eulogy tells us that the fame of this prince "was proclaimed by the immortals, satisfied by the multitude of all sacrifices,—who was a jewel among the twice-born (*dvijavarga-ratna*) and gained high honour of kingship¹ (*tuṅganṛpatva-mānaḥ*) by his valour." From these statements Bühler concluded that Upendra conquered Mālava, and he placed him shortly after 800 A.D. As Upendra is the 6th in lineal ascent from Sīyaka II (949 A.D.) we can safely accept the date proposed as the nearest approximation of the time of Upendra ; but the further suggestion that he conquered Mālava, which was at this time under the strong grip of the Pratīhāras, cannot be admitted without stronger evidence. About the next three princes, Vairisiṁha (I), Sīyaka (I) and Vākpati (I), nothing definite is known. It is only the Udaipur *praśasti* which mentions all the three names ; Padmagupta omits the first two. After Upendrarāja, he introduces Vākpati (I) with the statement "*tasmin gate narendreṣu tad-anyeṣu gateṣu ca*.² The Bappaiparāja³ of the Harsola plates has been rightly accepted as the Prakrit equivalent of Vākpatirāja and identified with this Vākpati.⁴ The Udaipur *praśasti*⁵ tells us that Vairisiṁha "composed his own eulogy by (erecting) pillars of victory on the earth that is bounded by the four oceans. From him sprang the illustrious Sīyaka, a prince (standing) in the first rank of conquerors, whose footstool was resplendent and coloured by the rays of the jewels in the diadems of kings,—(he) the crowd of whose enemies was submerged in the waves of the water of the blade in his hand. From him sprang the illustrious Vākpati, a sun for those water lilies, the eyes of the maidens of Avanti, who resembled Śatamakha (Indra) and whose armies drank the waters of Gaṅgā and of the ocean.'' Most of the above eulogy is so thoroughly conventional that to one familiar with the compositions of the Indian *praśastikāras* it would not mean anything. But the last statement about Vākpati that he was 'a sun for (those) water lilies, the eyes of the maidens of Avanti,' deserves more than a passing notice. Bühler has placed these three rulers within the period *c.* 840-920 A.D.¹ If this is accepted, Vākpati would belong to about 895-920 A.D. This would make him a contemporary of the Gurjara-Pratīhāra Mahīpāla (*c.* 914-43 A.D.) and the Rāṣṭrakūṭa Indra III (*c.* 915-17). I have already suggested that Indra III, when he proceeded on his northern expedition, perhaps advanced by way of Ujjain.² It is not unlikely therefore that Vākpati's association with Avanti began during this campaign; and possibly he may have been left in charge of that region when the southern emperor advanced further northwards. This fits in well with the suggestion, already made that Bappairāja (Vākpatirāja I) was probably the first Rāṣṭrakūṭa governor of *Lāṭeśvara-maṇḍala* after the extinction of the local feudatory family in the reign of Indra's predecessor Kṛṣṇa II (*c.* 888-912). That Vākpatirāja was a more substantial figure than his two immediate predecessors is shown by the fact already pointed out that Padmagupta omits Vairisiṁha and Sīyaka, but mentions him as the first name after Upendrarāja. It is also not without significance that the Harsola plates, the earliest records of the Paramāras, so far discovered, trace the donor's descent to Bappairāja (Vākpatirāja I). I am therefore disposed to regard this prince as the real founder of the importance of the family.³