The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c32.s4.51

v2.c32.s4.51

This inscription gives the date (V.) S. 1030 (*c.* 973 A.D.) for Vigraharāja. The donatory position of the record also shows that he had two brothers Candrarāja and Govindarāja, and an uncle, named Vatsarāja, brother of Siṁharāja. It appears certain that sometime before this date the Cāhamānas had completely freed themselves from the control of the princes of ‘*Raghu-kula*’ (Gurjara-Pratīhāras). The *Pṛthvīrāja-vijaya* tells us that Vigraharāja extended his conquests as far south as the Narmadā and defeated the Gurjara king Mūlarāja, who fled to Kaṇṭhādurga.¹ He is also reported to have built a temple (*dhāma*) for the goddess Āśāpurī on the banks of the Revā at Bhṛgukaccha.² The statement of the conflict between Mūlarāja and the king of Śākambharī is remarkably borne out by Merutuṅga's *Prabandha-cintāmaṇi* according to which the ‘king of Sapādalakṣa,’ who ruled from his capital at Śākambharī, invaded Gujarat, and the distressed Caulukya was forced to take shelter in the fort of Kaṇṭhā.³ The identification of this invader with Vigraharāja is generally accepted. According to the *Hammīra-mahākāvya*, the struggle ended with fatal results for Mūlarāja.⁴ I have shown elsewhere⁵ that, though it may well be doubted whether Nayacandra is correct in his statement that Mūlarāja was killed by Vigraharāja, there is sufficient reason to believe that he was really defeated by him.