Bharat: Created new stub

2026-02-28T07:17:32Z

Created new stub

New page

{{Short description|King of Gujarat from 1171 to 1175}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox royalty
| succession = King of Gujarat
| reign = {{circa|1171–1175}}
| predecessor = [[Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)|Kumarapala]]
| successor = [[Mularaja II]]
| dynasty = [[Chaulukya]]
| spouse = [[Naiki Devi]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
}}
'''Ajayapala''' (reigned {{circa|1171}}–1175) was an Indian king from the [[Chaulukya]] (Solanki) dynasty of [[Gujarat]]. He ruled the present-day Gujarat and surrounding areas for a short period, from his capital [[Anahilapataka]] (modern Patan).

== Early life ==
Ajayapala succeeded [[Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)|Kumarapala]] on the Chaulukya throne.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=126}} According to ''Surathotsava'' written by the poet [[Someshvara (13th-century poet)|Someshvara]], Ajayapala was a son of Kumarapala. Someshvara was a contemporary of Ajayapala's son [[Bhima II]] (and probably Ajayapala).{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=127}}

However, some later Jain writers describe Ajayapala as a nephew of Kumarapala and a son of Mahipala. The earliest of these is Abhayatilaka Gani, who wrote a commentary on [[Hemachandra]]'s ''Dvyashraya'' in 13th century.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=126}} The 14th century chronicler Merutunga also repeats this claim in his ''Theravali'', but describes Ajayapala as a son of Kumarapala in his ''[[Prabandha-Chintamani]]''.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|pp=126–127}} The later Jain chroniclers such as Jayasimha Suri, ''Rajashekhara''{{sfn|Sūri|1932|p=200}} and ''Jinamandana'' repeat the claim that Ajayapala was a nephew of Kumarapala.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=126}} It seems more likely that Ajayapala was a son of Kumarapala. The later Jain writers probably branded him as a nephew of Kumarapala and portrayed him negatively, because he did not patronize the Jain faith.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|pp=126–127}}

== Ascension ==

The later Jain chroniclers claim that Ajayapala killed [[Kumarapala (Chaulukya dynasty)|Kumarapala]] to gain the throne. According to Jayasimha Suri's account, Kumarapala wanted to appoint either his [[nephew]] Ajayapala or his daughter's son ''Pratapamalla'' as his successor. He sought advice from his preceptor, the Jain leader ''[[Hemachandra]]''. Hemachandra told Kumarapala that Ajayapala was not fit to be a king, and recommended Pratapamalla instead. Balachandra, a wicked disciple of Hemachandra and a friend of Ajayapala, overheard this conversation. He informed Ajayapala, who promised to make him the royal preceptor upon becoming the king. After Hemachandra's death, Kumarapala fell ill with grief. Ajayapala mixed poison in his milk, and hid the only known [[antidote]]. Kumarapala died of [[poisoning]], and Ajayapala succeeded him.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|pp=124–125}} This legend has been repeated by other chroniclers such as ''Rajashekhara Suri'' and ''Jinamandana'' with minor variations.{{sfn|Sūri|1932|p=200}}

This account does not appear to be true, as it has not been mentioned in the writings on the earlier Jain chroniclers, such as Prabhachandra and Merutunga. The later chroniclers seem to have invented these stories to portray Ajayapala in negative light, as he did not patronize Jainism.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=126}}

== Military career ==

<mapframe text="[[Find spot]]s of inscriptions issued during Ajayapala's reign.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=501}}" width="222" height="185" zoom="5" longitude="74.597168" latitude="25.423431" align="right">
{
"type": "FeatureCollection",
"features": [
{
"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[[Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh|Udaipur]]" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [78.0708985, 23.8737373] }
},
{
"type": "Feature",
"properties": { "marker-symbol": "monument", "title": "[[Unjha]]" },
"geometry": { "type": "Point", "coordinates": [72.3843867, 23.8063156] }
}
]
}
</mapframe>
Ajayapala seems to have retained the territory he inherited from Kumarapala. This included [[Malwa]], as attested by an inscription found at [[Udaipur (Madhya Pradesh)|Udaipur, Madhya Pradesh]].{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=130}}

=== Chahamanas of Shakambhari ===

According to one theory, Ajayapala subdued a [[Chahamanas of Shakambhari|Shakambhari Chahamana]] ruler of [[Sapadalaksha]], possibly [[Someshvara (Chahamana dynasty)|Someshvara]]. This is suggested by the epithet ''Karadikrita-Sapadalaksha-Kshmapala'', which has been bestowed upon him in the copper-plate inscriptions of his son Bhima. The 13th century text ''Kirti-Kaumudi'' states that the king of Jangala-desha (that is, Sapadalaksha) had to give a gold pavilion and some elephants to Ajayapala as a punishment. Another writer Arisimha states that the king of Sapadalaksha sent a silver pavilion to Ajayapala. The chronicler Balachandra states that the king of Jangala used to send gifts to Ajayapala.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=127}}

Based on these statements, historians Asoke Majumdar and [[Dasharatha Sharma]] theorize that Ajayapala defeated Someshvara, and extracted tribute from him.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=127}}{{sfn|Dasharatha Sharma|1959|p=70}} Historian R. B. Singh, on the other hand, theorizes that the supposed 'tribute' was merely a gift sent by Someshvara to Ajayapala's on latter's ascension to the throne; the event was exaggerated into a claim of victory by the Gujarat poets. To support his theory, Singh argues that the Chaulukya power had weakened considerably after Kumarapala's death, and they could not have subdued the powerful Chahamanas at this time.{{sfn|R. B. Singh|1964|pp=157–158}}

=== Guhilas of Medapata ===

Ajayapala fought a war against [[Samantasimha (Guhila)|Samantasimha]], the [[Guhilas of Medapata|Guhila]] ruler of [[Medapata]] (modern Mewar). The Guhilas had been subdued by the Chaulukyas in the preceding years, and [[Samantasimha (Guhila)|Samantasimha]] appears to have made an attempt to throw off the Chaulukya suzerainty. It appears that [[Samantasimha (Guhila)|Samantasimha]] achieved some success against Ajayapala, but was ultimately defeated by Ajayapala's feudatory Prahladana, the [[Paramara dynasty#Branches and claimed descendants|Paramara]] chief of [[Mount Abu|Abu]]. This is suggested by the 1231 CE Abu ''[[prashasti]]'' inscription, which states that Prahladana defended the [[Gurjaradesa|Gurjara]] king (that is, Ajayapala) after [[Samantasimha (Guhila)|Samantasimha]] had broken the king's power on the battlefield.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=128}}

The text ''Sukrita-Kirti-Kallolini'' mentions an incident in which Ajayapala narrowly defeated an enemy king. This is probably a reference to his conflict with [[Samantasimha (Guhila)|Samantasimha]].{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=128}}

=== Death ===

Ajayapala died in 1175 CE, sometime between 25 March and 7 April. The 14th century chronicler Merutunga states that a [[Parihar (clan)|Pratihara]] named Vayajaladeva stabbed Ajayapala to death. The accuracy of this claim is doubtful, as Merutunga's account of Ajayapala is generally unreliable.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=131}}

[[Mularaja II]], the son of Ajayapala and [[Naiki Devi|Naikidevi]], succeeded him on the Chaulukya throne. After Mularaja's death, Ajayapala's younger son [[Bhima II]] ascended the throne.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=138}} According to the [[Prabandha Kosha|''Prabandha Kośa'']], he was killed by an agent of [[Naiki Devi|his wife]] and son with an iron knife or scissors due to his dictatorial rule. A king named Keertipala ascended the throne without [[Rājyābhiṣeka|''rajyabhisheka'']], which is likely the name of his son and murderer, [[Mularaja II]], who also died in the [[Mularaja II#Rebellion in Malwan|Malwa rebellion]] and succeeded by [[Bhima II|Bhima Deva]].{{sfn|Sūri|1932|p=202}}

== Religion ==
Ajayapala patronized the [[Brahmanism|Brahmanical faith]], unlike his predecessor Kumarapala who also patronized Jainism, especially during the later part of his life. The [[Prabhas Patan|Devapattana]] ''[[prashasti]]'' inscription of the Chaulukya general Sridhara boasts that Ajayapala caused the tree of the [[Historical Vedic religion|Vedic religion]] to grow again.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=129}}

The inscriptions of Ajayapala, as well as those of his sons, describe him as a ''Parama-Maheshvara'' ("devotee of [[Shiva]]"), which is unusual for Chaulukyas. According to the contemporary poet Someshvara, during his reign, Shiva was worshipped daily, and the [[Brahmin]]s were rewarded well.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=129}} According to [[Someshvara (13th-century poet)|Someshvara]]'s ''Surathotsava Mahakavya'', his father Kumara II served as a priest (''purohita'') to Ajayapala. Someshvara claims that Kumara healed the battle wounds of Ajayapala with prayers to Shiva, and refused to accept gifts of jewels from the king.<ref>{{cite book |author=B.J. Sandesara |author-link=Bhogilal Sandesara |title=Literary Circle of Mahāmātya Vastupāla and its Contribution to Sanskrit Literature |series=Singhi Jain Series |year=1953 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5tljAAAAMAAJ |page=46 }}</ref>

=== Portrayal in Jain accounts ===

The later Jain chroniclers accuse Ajayapala of persecuting the Jains. This claim does not appear to be historically correct: these Jain authors probably painted Ajayapala in a negative light, because he did not support Jainism as much as Kumarapala did.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=126}}

The 14th century chronicler Merutunga was the earliest Jain writer to present Ajayapala in a negative light. He gives the following account of Ajayapala's misdeeds: Ajayapala began destroying the temples constructed by Kumarapala, although he stopped such activities after hearing sarcastic remarks of a jester. Amrabhata (or Ambada), the general who had led a successful military campaign against the [[Shilahara]] king [[Mallikarjuna (Shilahara dynasty)|Mallikarjuna]] during Kumarapala's reign, refused to accept Ajayapala as the new king. As a result, Ajayapala's soldiers killed Amrabhata. Ajayapala also ordered his newly appointed chief minister Kapardin to be roasted alive. He also had Hemachandra's pupil Ramachandra killed by placing him on a heated copper plate.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|pp=128–129}}

The post-Merutunga chroniclers, starting with Jayasimha Suri, go on to accuse Ajayapala of poisoning Kumarapala.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=130}}

The Jain writers before Merutunga, including those contemporary to Ajayapala, do not mention any anti-Jain activities of Ajayapala. For example, Yashahapala describes Ajayapala as a great king, and describes himself as a "swan on the lotus-like feet of Ajayadeva" (that is, Ajayapala). Somaprabha, in his ''Satartha-Kavya'', also lauds Ajayapala.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=129}} Arisimha and Balachandra also praise Ajayapala. Udayaprabha compares him to the deity [[Indra]]. The [[Vastupala]]-Tejapala ''[[prashasti]]'' inscription applauds his self-control. Manikyachandra, in his ''Parshvanatha-Charita'' (c. 1219 CE), explicitly states that the Jain scholar Vardhamana was a jewel of the courts of Kumarapala and Ajayapala, and brightened their courts with his discussions on the Jain doctrine.{{sfn|Asoke Kumar Majumdar|1956|p=130}}

== Cultural activities ==

Narapati wrote ''Narapati-jayacarya'', a work on [[astronomy and astrology]], at Vallinagara during the reign of Ajayapala. Later, Aditya-deva wrote ''Bala-tantra-maharnava'' or ''Narapati-vijayiya'' based on Narapati's work.<ref>{{cite book |editor=David Pingree |editor-link=David Pingree |title=Census of the Exact Sciences in Sanskrit Series A |volume=1 |publisher=American Philosophical Society |year=1970 |page=48 |url=https://archive.org/details/PingreeCESS/Pingree_CESS_A1_1970/ }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===

* {{cite book |author=Asoke Kumar Majumdar |title=Chaulukyas of Gujarat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ffAdAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan |year=1956 |oclc=4413150 }}
* {{cite book |author=Dasharatha Sharma |title=Early Chauhān Dynasties |publisher=S. Chand / Motilal Banarsidass |year=1959 |isbn=9780842606189 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n4gcAAAAMAAJ }}
* {{cite book |author=R. B. Singh |title=History of the Chāhamānas |publisher=N. Kishore |year=1964 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TKs9AAAAIAAJ |oclc=11038728 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Sūri |first=Rājaśekhara |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.407280/page/n235/mode/1up?view=theater |title= Prabandha Kosha |publisher=Harsiddhabhai Vajubhai Divetia |year=1932 |editor-last=Kapadia |editor-first=Prof. Hiralal Rasikdas |series=The Forbes Gujarati Sabhā series no. 12 |location=Bombay |language=sa }}

{{Chaulukya dynasty}}

[[Category:12th-century Indian Jains]]
[[Category:12th-century Indian monarchs]]
[[Category:Chaulukya dynasty]]
[[Category:Jain monarchs]]

Ajayapala (Chaulukya dynasty) - Revision history

Bharat: Created new stub