[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931) › v2.c31.295 # The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.295 The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.295 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c31.295](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v2.c31.295) Merutuṅga tells us that ‘as Kumārapāla was of low birth, Siddharāja could not bear the idea of his inheriting the throne and was always on the look-out for an opportunity of compassing his destruction.’² The same authority adds that Siddharāja had adopted as his son ‘the prince named Bāhaḍa, the son of the prime minister Udayanadeva.’³ The chronicles make it quite clear that during the later years of Jayasiṁha’s reign his court was divided into two factions. The \*Kumārapāla-carita\* tells us that owing to his hatred of Kumārapāla⁴ Jayasiṁha killed the latter’s father Tribhuvanapāla, and drove Kumārapāla into exile. After long wanderings in distant countries¹ he at last came back to Aṇahilla-pattana and took shelter in the house of his brother-in-law Kṛṣṇadeva. Though there is no definite evidence, yet the sudden death of Jayasiṁha within 7 days of the arrival of Kumārapāla at Anhilvad looks rather suspicious.² The \*Prabandha-cintāmaṇi\* tells us that Kumārapāla was so closely pursued that he was at last compelled to take shelter with the ‘great minister’ Udayana at Cambay. The latter was persuaded to help Kumārapāla to escape by the emphatic statement of the Jain monk Hemacandra that Kumārapāla would be installed as king “in the 1199th year of the era of Vikramāditya,³ on the second day of Karttika, on a Sunday, in the \*nakṣatra\* of Hasta.” This prognosis of Hemacandra was attended by the practical admonition of the monk to Kumārapāla that he “must be grateful” and “always devoted to the law of the Jina.”⁴ We are told that Kumārapāla ‘reverently accepted this admonition.’ Jayasiṁha did not long survive this compact, and it seems certain that even if Jayasiṁha's death was natural,⁵ Kumārapāla's elevation to the throne was to some extent aided by the powerful Jain party in Gujarat. According to Merutuṅga, after Jayasiṁha's death Kānhạḍadeva ‘made his forces ready for battle,’ and played the part of a king-maker. It appears that, including Kumārapāla, there were three candidates for the throne. Kānhạḍadeva found the other two unfit for kingship, and ordered Kumārapāla to ascend the throne. Kumārapāla was at this time 50 years of age.⁶ Once in power, he proved to be a vigorous and effective ruler. The disaffected ministers were ‘all dismissed to the city of Yama,' and even his sister's husband, who had become haughty and contemptuous, was blinded and had his limbs paralysed by royal orders. After this most of the officers submitted, but Bāhaḍa, Jayasiṁha's adopted son, escaped and with a section of the royal army took service under the king of Sapādalakṣa.¹ According to the \*Kumārapāla-carita\*, Kumārapāla after his coronation made Bhopalladevī, his \*Pattarājñī\* and Udayana his chief minister.² This Udayana was no doubt the same man who had helped him to escape from the fury of Jayasiṁha at Cambay. - [Previous: v2.c31.293](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v2.c31.293) - [Next: v2.c31.296](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v2.c31.296) - [Up: v2.c31](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v2.c31) ## Cites (2) - [Kumārapālacarita (Prākṛtadvyāśraya)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.historical.jaina.dvyasraya.kumarapalacarita) — Hemacandra, Prakrit - [Prabandhacintāmaṇi](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.historical.jaina.prabandhacintamani) — Merutuṅga, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v2.c31.295](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.ray-1931.v2.c31.295) · Pramāṇa