The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.38

v2.c31.38

As Kīrtirāja (1018 A.D.) is the 2nd in lineal descent from Bārappa, we can safely assign him to the 7th decade of the 10th century A.D. He was therefore a contemporary of Taila II, and must have been appointed by him as his feudatory to guard the 'Baroda gap,' one of the main gateways to the South.⁵ We are told by Merutuṅga that Mūlarāja was attacked simultaneously by Bārappa and the ruler of Sākambharī, and that, unable to resist them, he took shelter in the Kanthā-durga.⁶ Bühler found a confirmation of this statement in the Kadi grant, dated in 987 A.D., which tells us that Mūlarāja resembled 'Tryambaka (Siva) since he took up his residence on a mountain, just as the god dwells on the Mount (Kailāsa).⁷ As Aṇahilapāṭaka, 'the residence of Mūlarāja, was situated in an entirely flat sandy country, and not even within fifty miles of any hill,’ the inference might be made that the *praśastikāra* ‘in his anxiety to find points of resemblance between his patron and the various gods, found nothing more to the purpose than Mūlarāja’s temporary stay on the hill of Kaṇṭhā, which he boldly compared to Śiva’s residing on Kailāsa.’