The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c30.s4.213

v2.c30.s4.213

Besides his victory over Lakṣmī-Karṇa and his re-establishment of peace and prosperity in the land of Malwa, the only other definitely known incident of Udayāditya's reign was the marriage of his daughter Śyāmaladevī to the Gobhila-putra Vijayasiṁha. Alhaṇadevī, the daughter of Śyāmaladevī, was again married to the Ḍāhala Kalacuri Gayā-Karṇa⁴ (1151 A.D.). The Jainad inscription contains the name of one of his officers, Lalārka *alias* Arjuna, belonging to the family of Dāhimas. He had a powerful army and was a celebrated warrior and a great favourite of Udayāditya. Tradition as recorded in the *Rasmala* seems to contain a few more facts about Udayāditya. Thus it refers to a 'Raja of Mandoogurh, whose service Oodayāditya performed' and on whom when summoned, he was in the habit of offering 'speedy attendance.' 'Mandoogurh' is certainly modern Mandu, situated about 14 miles to the south of Dhar, and it is not unlikely that the chief of Mandu was an officer of the great Cālukya king Vikramāditya VI (*c.* 1055-1126 A.D.), who in his father's reign may have been instrumental in placing Udayāditya on the throne of Dhārā. According to the *Rasmala*, Udayāditya by his two queens, of whom one was of the Vāghela clan, and the other of the Solanki, had two sons. The Vaghela queen's son Rindhuwul (*i.e.*, Raṇadhavala), was the elder and the heir-apparent. The son of the Solanki queen was Jug-Dev (Jagaddeva), who was dark and handsome. On account of a palace-intrigue the latter left Malwa and entered the service of the Caulukya Siddharāja in Gujarat. He served him for 18 years, but when the Caulukya king 'advanced to attack Dhārā,' Jug-Dev quitted his service and returned to his father, who soon after invested him with 'the royal authority,' and died. He reigned for 52 years and 'went to Dev-lok' at the age of 85, after placing his son Jug Dhuwul (Jagaddhavala) on the throne.¹ Much of this bardic tale must be pure myth. For the date of Siddharāja (*c.* 1094-1144) makes it rather improbable that he could be a contemporary of Udayāditya (*c.* 1059-87) at all, much less for a period of 18 years. But the historicity of Jagaddeva is established by an inscription which has been recently discovered in the N.E. of the Nizam's dominions. This is the *Jainad* (*or Jainath*) *inscription* found some six miles to the south-east of Adilabad. It contains 28 lines and opens with (*Oṁ*) *namaḥ Sūryāya*. The first two verses are devoted to the invocation of the Sun and Śiva (*Sthānu*, *Tripuradahana*) respectively. It next refers to the birth of Pramāra (Paramāra) through the meditations of Vasiṣṭha, for the destruction of Viśvāmitra's valour. In his family (*tad-anvaye*) was born king (*kṣitīśa*) Jagaddeva. He was the son of king Udayāditya and paternal nephew of Bhoja. He conquered the Andhra king (*Andhrādhīśa*)² and subdued the king of Cakradurga (*Cakradurga-nṛpati*),³ entered the city of Dorasamudra⁴ and struck terror in the heart of Malahara (*Malahara-kṣoṇīśa*). The record also refers to the victory of Jayasiṁha over the Gurjaras, whose wives are stated to have sought refuge in the caves of the mountain Arbuda. The record then passes on to speak of Lalārka *alias* Arjuna, a great favourite of Udayāditya. He belonged to the family of Dāhimas and was the son of Guṇarāja and grandson of Mahendra. The inscription next records that his wife Padmāvatī founded a temple of Nimvāditya in an *agrahāra*. It was composed by the *Kavi* Aśvatthvāma.¹