The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.427

v2.c31.427

According to the *Kumārapāla-carita* of Jayasiṁha, the Caulukya monarch before his death discussed with Hemacandra the question of succession and seems to have selected Ajayapāla.¹ The *Kumārapāla-prabandha* however tells us that Kumārapāla desired to give the throne to his daughter's son Pratāpamalla, but Ajayapāla raised a revolt and got rid of Kumārapāla by poison.² It is significant that this tradition that Ajayapāla ‘wickedly poisoned his sovereign’ is also recorded by Abu'l-Faẕl and ‘Alī Muḥammad Khān.³ The dramatic forecast of Hemacandra that the royal pupil would only survive him for six months,⁴ was probably made to come true by more violent means than the Jaina chroniclers would have us believe. The suspicion of foul play increases when we see that there was a violent reaction in the religious policy of Kumārapāla's successor. It is not unlikely therefore that soon after the death of the powerful Jaina teacher all the elements of dissatisfied Brahmanical forces combined to bring about a change of royal policy by violent means. The appointment of Kapardin, an avowed devotee of the goddess Durgā, as the prime minister of Ajayapāla, the violent deaths of Āmrabhaṭa, the son of the Jain prime minister Udayana after a short civil war and of the Jaina monk Ramacandra⁵ all seem to point to the same conclusion.