The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c30.s4.246.1

v2.c30.s4.246.1

The inscriptions noticed above give us the dates V. S. 1191 to 1199 (*c.* 1134-42 A.D.) for the reign of Yaśovarman. The Paramāra records say nothing about any incidents of the reign of these two princes. The reason for their silence is probably to be found in the statements of the Caulukya records. The *Kumārapāla-carita* tells us that Jayasiṁha destroyed Dhārā and killed Naravarman.⁵ According to the *Prabandha-cintāmaṇi*, the Mālava king Yaśovarman once invaded and overran Gujarat, while Jayasiṁha was absent from his capital. It was with great difficulty and humiliation that the Gujarat minister, after washing the Mālava king's feet and throwing 'into the hollow of his hand a handful of water, as a sign of the transference of merit' gained by his master by his pilgrimages, succeeded in persuading Yaśovarman to turn back. The chronicler then proceeds to state that as a result of this a war of 12 years' duration took place between the two kingdoms, at the end of which Jayasiṁha stormed Dhārā, captured Yaśovarman, and led him in triumph to Anahillapura.¹ The *Dvyāśraya*² and the *Vasantavilāsa*³ substantially corroborate the statement of Merutuṅga. I have shown elsewhere that the statements of the chroniclers are supported by epigraphic evidence.⁴ Jayasiṁha's assumption of the title of *Avantīnātha*, which first appears in his Gala grant⁵ shows that the Caulukya king must have achieved substantial success in his protracted campaign before V. S. 1193 (A.D. 1137).