The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.691

v2.c31.691

Vīradhavala must have died sometime before V. S. 1295,⁵ for a colophon of a MS. of the *Yogaśāstra*⁶ contains that date as in the reign of *Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara-Rāṇaka*-Vīsaladeva. Merutuṅga narrates that when Vīradhavala died, 'owing to his excessive popularity, 120 followers elected to burn themselves with his corpse.'⁷ Jain tradition related that Vīsaladeva poisoned his father and prevented by arms the accession of his elder brother Vīrama.⁸ That the succession was disputed seems to be proved by the colophon of a palm-leaf MS.⁹ which is dated from the *rājadhānī* of *Mahāmaṇḍaleśvara-Rāṇaka*-Vīrama, in V. S. 1296, in the victorious reign of *M.*-Bhīmadeva. These two colophons seem to indicate that the kingdom was for a time divided between the brothers. The presence of Bhīma II's name in the colophon of Vīrama and its absence in the case of Vīsala may show that while the elder brother still continued to pay nominal allegiance to the government of Aṇahilapura, the younger and more ambitious brother was determined to end the anomalous position and assert his complete independence. The Ahmedabad pillar inscription of V. S. 1308¹ shows that Vīsaladeva had then already assumed imperial titles, while by the year V.S. 1318² he had ousted the line of Bhīma and captured the throne of Aṇahilapāṭaka itself.