The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.472

v2.c31.472

1233, his mother "queen Nāīki, the daughter of king Paramardin¹ taking her son in her lap,² fought at Gāḍarāra-ghaṭṭa, and conquered the king of the *Mlecchas*, by the aid of a mass of rain-clouds, that came out of season attracted by her virtue."³ The *Kīrti-kaumudī*, the *Sukṛta-saṁkīrtana*,⁴ and *Vasanta-vilāsa*⁵ state that Mūladeva even in childhood defeated the Muhammadans.⁶ This tradition of the defeat of the Muslims is confirmed by epigraphic evidence. A Veraval inscription of Bhīm II tells us that Mūlarāja conquered Hammīra in battle,⁷ while four Kadi plates of the same king give him the epithet *parābhūta-durjaya-Garjjanakādhirāja*.⁸ Two other Kadi grants call him: *Mleccha-tamo-nicayacchanna-mahī-valaya-pradyotana-bālārka*.⁹ Bühler has suggested that *Garjjanaka* is a mere Sanskritisation of the ward Ghaznavi, giving the etymological meaning of 'the roarer.'¹⁰ Mr. Jackson has conjectured that this conflict with the Muslims occurred in 574 A. H. (A.D. 1178), when according to the Muhammadan historians Sulṭān Mu'izz ud-Dīn unsuccessfully invaded Gujrat.¹¹ But as the Muhammadan chroniclers unanimously give the name of the contemporary Caulukya king as Bhīm Deo it seems difficult to accept Jackson's suggestion that they are wrong in mentioning Bhīma instead of Mūlarāja. If Bühler's reading and interpretation of *Garjjanaka* is accepted, one might suggest that the invader may have been one of the Ghaznavids of Lahore. But it is highly improbable that the 'mild and the voluptuous' Khusrau Malik Tāj ud-Daulah (*c.* 1160-86),¹ the last representative of that line, would have attempted so daring and distant an expedition. As the Caulukyas of Anhilvada were frequently in conflict with the rulers of Sind the struggle in question may have been caused by the raid of a Sumra chief of Manṣūra. There is a third possibility. We know that Mu'izz ud-Dīn conquered Multan in 571-72 A.H. (1175-76 A.D.).² Can it be that before embarking upon his distant expedition against Nahrwālah in 574 A.H. (1178 A.D.) he sent a minor expedition for reconnaissance during the period *c.* 1176-78 A.D., which has been left unrecorded by Muslim historians?