The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c32.s6.8

v2.c32.s6.8

Lakṣmaṇa was succeeded by Śobhita³ who is stated in the Sundha hill inscription to have taken away the glory of the lord of *Himādri-bhava* (*i.e.*, Mount Abu).⁴ This probably indicates that he won victories over one of the predecessors of the Paramāra Pūrṇapāla (*c.* 1042-45 A.D.) The next prince was Sobhita's son Balirāja, who claims to have defeated an army of Muñjarāja,⁵ no doubt the Mālava Paramāra of that name (*c.* 974-95 A.D.). This conflict, as I have already pointed out, must have taken place when Muñja invaded this area, attacked Medapāṭa and destroyed Āghāṭa.¹ Balirāja was succeeded by his cousin Mahendra,² the son of his paternal uncle Vigrahapāla. This Mahendra has rightly been identified with the prince of that name who is reported to have been protected by the Rāṣṭrakūṭa Dhavala of Hastikuṇḍī³ (*c.* 997 A.D.) when the former was harassed by the (Caulukya) Durlabharāja (*c.* 1110-22 A.D.). According to the *Dvyāśraya* of Hemaçandra, Durlabha and his brother Nāgarāja married two daughters of the Naddūla prince Mahendra.⁴ This matrimonial alliance was probably intended to put an end to the growing hostility between the two powers, caused no doubt by the expansion of Caulukya power in Marwar. Mahendra was followed by his son Aśvapāla. The Śiva temple of Āsaleśvara or Āsapāleśvara was probably either founded by him or named after him by one of his successors.⁵ The next ruler was his son Ahila, who according to the Sundha hill inscription defeated an army of the Gurjara king Bhīma⁶ (*c.* 1022-64 A.D.). This shows that the conflict between the two powers was again renewed. Ahila was succeeded by his paternal uncle Aṇahilla, a son of Mahendra. The hostilities with the Caulukyas apparently continued during his reign. The Sundha hill-inscription⁷ credits him with having defeated a king named Bhīma, no doubt the Caulukya Bhīma I. In addition to this, he is also reported to have taken Sākambharī, killed Sāḍha, a general (*Daṇḍādhīśa*) of the Mālava king Bhoja (*c.* 1110-55 A.D.) and the Turuṣka.⁸ The simultaneous struggle with these three powerful neighbours, their cousins at Sambhar, the Caulukyas of Anhilvada, and the Paramāras of Malwa, must have been a terrible strain on the Cāhamānas of Nadol; and it was not long before they succumbed to one of them. The claim of victory over the Turuṣka, must refer to some minor success which Aṇahilla possibly achieved when, in 1024 A.D., Maḥmūd of Ghazni was advancing towards Patan on his way to Somnath through the Luni and the Sukri valley. The temple of Śiva Aṇahileśvara was probably built and named after himself by Aṇahilla.