History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c14.s1.8

v1.c14.s1.8

We know from Kalhaṇa that the mediæval period of Indian history actually commenced in Kashmir in the very beginning of the 7th century A. D. by the establishment of a new dynasty of kings. The ancient mythical Gonardīya dynasty came to end in Laukika era 3677. This era commenced 25 or 26 years after Kaliyuga which in the opinion of all begins in 3101 B. C. Thus the Laukika era which obtained in Kashmir down to Kalhaṇa's days begins with 3075 B. C. This Gonardīya ancient dynansty accordingly ended in (3677-3075) 602 A. D. The last king Bālāditya had no son, nor probably any other male heir. In order to preserve the kingdom in his own line through a female, he gave his sole daughter in marriage, not as usual to a king ruling elsewhere in India but to an officer of his own named Durlabhavardhana. After the death of Bālāditya, Durlabhavardhana ascended the throne in 602 A. D. His dynasty is called the Karkotaka dynasty, inasmuch as it was protected by the mythical serpant Karkotaka mentioned in the Mahābhārata. Probably of obscure origin, Durlabhavardhana allowed court poets to create the myth of his descent from the Karkotaka serpent. Or perhaps he was born in a Nāga or aboriginal family and hence this natural myth. Whatever the explanation, this belief did obtain in his time as Hiuen Tsang also notices it and says that the kings of Kashmir crowed over other kings, because they were protected by a dragon. The Tarangini represents Durlabhavardhana as a Kāyastha. It is difficult to believe that Bālāditya would condescend to give his daughter to a Kāyastha. He was probably a local chief of Nāga descent and his name-ending, Vardhana, clearly indicates that he was a Vaiśya and and not a Kāyastha and a supplier of grass to the state cavalry. He was certainly a discreet and careful man and governed his kingdom successfully for 36 years. He founded a line of kings capable and energetic, called by the name of the Karkota dynasty which according to the Tarangini ruled for 254 years i. e. from 602 to 856 A. D. through 17 kings.