The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c32.s4.81

v2.c32.s4.81

Pṛthvīrāja I was succeeded by his son Ajayarāja⁵ *alias* Salhaṇa. According to the *Pṛthvīrāja-vijaya*, he defeated the *Mātaṅgas* (*mlecchas*?) and also Sulhaṇa the king of Mālava. The last statement is confirmed by the Bijolia inscription, which states that Ajayadeva captured in battle Sulhaṇa, the commander-in-chief of the army, tied him to the back of his camel, and brought him to Ajmer.¹ As there was no prince ruling in Mālava during this period who bore the name Sulhaṇa, he must be a general of one of the Paramāra kings, possibly Yaśovarman (*c.* 1134-42 A.D.) These were not the only victories of Ajayadeva. The Bijolia inscription states that he killed three kings, *viz.*, Cāciga, Sindhula, and Yaśorāja, while another stone inscription found in the *Adhai dinkā Jhonprā*, Ajmer,² says that he conquered the country up to Ujjain.³ Besides these conquests, the most important achievement of his reign was the foundation of the city of Ajaya-meru, now known as Ajmer.⁴ The author of the *Pṛthvī-rāja-vijaya* eloquently describes the many temples and palaces with which the king beautified this city. No inscription of Ajayapāla has yet been published, but certain silver and copper coins of a prince of the same name bearing the figure of a ‘seated goddess on the obverse’ which are frequently met with in Rajputana and Mathura, have been referred to him.⁵ It is interesting in this connection to note that the *Pṛthvīrāja-vijaya* actually states that he filled this world with his *rūpakas*, made of *Durvarṇa* (silver).⁶ It also states that the king’s wife (*priyā*) Somalekhā used to coin fresh (*nava*) *rūpakas* every day.⁷ In corroboration of this last statement certain silver and copper coins bearing on the obverse⁸ the legend *Śrī-Somaladevī* have been referred to this queen. The silver coins bear on the reverse¹ ‘a degraded representation’ of a king’s head, while the copper coins bear the effigy of a horseman. As the Bijolia inscription actually gives Somalladevī as a variant of the name of Ajayapāla’s queen, it seems probable that the coins in question belonged to her.