The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c34.s1.160

v2.c34.s1.160

The above records give dates ranging from V.S. 1270 to 1309, corresponding to *c.* 1213-1256 A.D. As we have the date V.S. 1317 (*c.* 1260 A.D.) for his son and successor, his reign certainly ended some time between *c.* 1256 and 1260 A.D.³ The titles and epithets of Jaitrasiṁha seem to indicate that he very nearly succeeded where his predecessors had failed. Though the title *Mahārājādhirāja* is no sure indication of sovereign rank, the facts of his reign, as we shall presently see, seem to show that he had won a larger degree of independence than any of his predecessors. His success was no doubt due to a large measure to the fall of the Cāhamānas of Śākambharī and the decline of the Paramāras of Mālava and the Caulukyas of Anhilvada. In the latter kingdom the intrigues and treason of Vīradhavala and other high officials of the State had paralysed foreign policy. It was at this opportune moment that the reign of Jaitrasiṁha came; and he was not slow to take advantage of his position. In the Guhila inscriptions he is unanimously praised for his military success against his various neighbours and the Muslims. Thus the Ghaghsa inscription of his son Tejasiṁha (V.S. 1322) tells us that the lords of Mālava, Gurjara, Sākambharī and the Turuṣkas were unable to humble his pride.¹ The Chirwa inscription of his grandson Samarasiṁha (V.S. 1330) asserts that his pride was never brought low by the princes of Mālava, Gurjara, Jāṅgala, and the Mlecchas.² The Abu inscription of the same prince (V.S. 1342) declares that his arm "completely eradicated Naḍūla, and he proved a very Agastya to the Turuṣka army. Even now the mistresses of the goblins were tottering about intoxicated with the blood of the Sindhuka (?) army."³ The conflict with the Gurjaras must refer to his struggles with the Caulukya Bhīma II (*c.* 1178-1241 A.D.), or with his feudatory the Dholka *Rāṇā* Vīradhavala. Geiger however would identify the *Rāṇaka* Tribhuvana mentioned in the Chirwa inscription with the Caulukya Tribhuvanapāla, who appears to have succeeded Bhīma II, at Aṇahillapāṭaka before V.S. 1299 (*c.* 1242 A.D.).⁴ The inscription relates that Bāla, the grandson of Yogarāja, the Talāra of Nagda in the reign of Padmasiṁha, went to heaven fighting in front (*purataḥ*) of Jaitrasiṁha to capture Koṭṭadaka⁵ from the *Rāṇaka* Tribhuvana. The mention of a struggle with the rulers of Sākambharī and Jāṅgala seems to point to a conflict between Jaitrasiṁha and the Cāhamānas, who were the traditional rulers of these places. But as both