History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c7.8

v1.c7.8

There was a Gurjara kingdom to the south of Valabhi also. It was very probably founded by an offshoot from the Gurjara kingdom in the north. This was the first incursion of the Gurjaras into this part of the country which in later times has always borne their name. The kingdom is called Bharukaccha by Hiuen Tsang and its capital was Bharukaccha or modern Broach on the north bank of the Nerbudda at the head of the estuary of that river. It derived its wealth from sea-borne trade. The king who ruled Bharukaccha at this time was Dadda II whose grants found disclose the genealogy of the family and mention it clearly as a Gurjara family*. These kings were worshippers of the Sun, a fact which also connects them with the original Gurjara kingdom of Bhinmāl where there was a well-known temple of the Sun. The tree of the family is as follows:—(1) Dadda I who came into this part about 528 A. D. and founded the kingdom, (2) Jayabhata I, (3) Dadda II, contemporary of Harsha and Hiuen Tsang. He was practically an independent king though his titles are those of a Mahāsāmanta. For this king Dadda is said to have given refuge to a Valabhi king when he was attacked by Harsha. Probably it was Dhruva-bhata himself who subsequently became the son-in-law of Harsha, but perhaps his father if this invasion happened during the early years of Harsha's reign.