History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c34.s3.8

v3.c34.s3.8

Having noted these three important points of difference, we will give in substance the history of the Chaulukya kings of Anahilwad, chiefly from the Bombay Gazetteer Vol. I part II. Mūlarāja was the founder of this family and he was sister's son of the last Chāpotkaṭa king of Pātan. Probably there was misrule in the country and Mūlarāja acquired the kingdom by force as the inscriptions generally represent and restored order, though chroniclers give the story of his seizing the kingdom wrongfully by putting his uncle to death. He ruled from 961 to 996 A. D. justly and vigorously as founders of kingdoms usually do. He had wars with the neighbouring kings such as those of Cutch and Sind. He had seized a kingdom which was already large and had necessarily to make good his claim to it by his prowess. He is said to have defeated one Griharipu assisted by the Khengār king of Cutch and also by Arabs from Sind and obtained possession of Somnath. The word Griharipu probably shows that he was a rebel, being a subordinate of the previous Chāvadā kings. Mūlarāja had also to fight with kings of north and south, viz. Vigraharāja of Sambhar and Bārappa of Lāṭa. The latter probably was a general of king Tailapa of Karṇāṭa, as Karṇāṭa and Lāṭa even in Paramāra records are usually leagued together, Lāṭa being a dependency of Karṇāṭa ruled by a governor usually a scion of the reigning family. Bārappa is said to have been killed in battle and Mūlarāja fought battles separately with these invading forces and secured his dominions. Mūlarāja devoted himself in old age to a holy life. He built a Śiva temple at Pātan. He invited learned Brahmins from different parts of India and settled them at Sidhpur and elsewhere. Many Brahmins of Gujarat such as Audīchyas and Gaudas believe that they came to Gujarat in his reign.