The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.362

v2.c31.362

These inscriptions cover a period of about 26 years, *c.* 1145 to 1171. According to the *Prabandha-cintāmaṇi* Kumārapāla reigned for 31 years from V.S. 1199 to 1230.² The *Therāvalī*, gives the reign-period as 1199 to 1229 V.S.³ The *Mirāti-Aḥmadī*⁴ assigns him a reign of 30 years and 6 months, while the *A'īn-i-Akbarī* gives him only 23 years.⁵ As the Bali stone-inscription of his predecessor is dated in V.S. 1200 and the Udaipur stone-inscription of his successor is dated in V. S. 1229 Kumārapāla's reign must fall between these two limits. As Merutuṅga tells us that Kumārapāla ascended the throne when he was fifty years old, it would seem at first sight that the tradition recorded by Abu'l-Faẕl of a shorter reign of 23 years is the more correct. But the Nadlai stone-inscription of V.S. 1228 shows that the *Therāvalī* represent the true tradition regarding the lower limit of the reign.