The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.646

v2.c31.646

This treaty throws a flood of light on the internal history of Gujarat. It is dated in V. S. 1288 (*c.* 1231 A. D.). The inscriptions of Bhīma II noticed above shows that he was ruling at Aṇahilapāṭaka at least up to V. S. 1296 (*c.* 1238 A. D.). But it is significant that the treaty omits the name of the reigning sovereign and substitutes for it that of his minister the *Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara* Lāvaṇyaprasāda. The author of the *Kīrti-kaumudī* tells us that the kingdom of the young Bhīma was gradually divided among powerful ministers and provincial chiefs, while *Sukṛta-saṁkīrtana* refers to Bhīma's great anxiety on account of the chiefs, who had forcibly eaten away portions of the kingdom.⁴ The statement of these chroniclers would seem to indicate that the religious revolution in Ajayapāla’s reign, his violent death, and the youth of the next two rulers must have shaken the very foundation of the authority of the central government at Aṇahilapāṭaka. To the task of re-establishing the authority of his house, Bhīma appears to have devoted his whole energies. But though he may not have been a mere ‘simpleton’ (*Bholo*), as he is sometimes represented to be, he does not appear to have met with any substantial success. Besides the disorder and economic distress caused by repeated invasions he was faced with the treachery and disaffection of many of his powerful feudal barons. The statements of the Jaina authors on this point are remarkably confirmed by the *Kadi grant of Jayantasiṁha*, also known as Jayasiṁha.¹ It was found as in No. 6 of Bhīma II, and contains 42 lines incised on two plates. The introductory portion of the grant is almost similar to the other Kadi grants of Bhīma II. But after tracing the Caulukya genealogy up to this prince² it replaces the usual *pādānudhyāta* by *tadantaraṁ sthāne* and mentions the name of *M.-P.-Pb.-Umāpati-vara-labdha-prasāda-prauḍha-pratāpa-Caulukya-kula-kalpa-vallī-vistāraṇa-dīpta-Abhinava-Siddharāja* Jayaṁtasiṁhadeva, established at the *rājadhānī* Aṇahilapura. It then records that this prince, in V.S. 1280 (*c.* 1223 A.D.), granted the village of Sāmpāvāḍā in Vardhi³-*pathaka* to the donee of inscription No. 13 of Bhīma II. The inscription ends with *Śrī-Jayasiṁhadevasya*.⁴