Durlabha-raja (r. c. 1008–1022 CE) was an Indian king who ruled parts of present-day Gujarat from his capital at Anahilapataka (modern Patan). He was a member of the Chaulukya (also called Chalukya or Solanki) dynasty.
Durlabha was a son of the Chaulukya king Chamundaraja. He ascended the throne after his brother Vallabharaja unexpectedly died of smallpox.[1]
Military careeredit
A 1010 CE copper-plate inscription from the reign of Durlabharaja
Durlabha's biggest achievement was his successful invasion of the Lata region. He probably defeated the Lata Chalukya ruler Kirtiraja (or Kirtipala), who was a vassal of the Kalyani Chalukyas. The Kalyani Chalukya king Jayasimha was preoccupied in wars against the Chola dynasty, taking advantage of which Durlabha may have invaded Lata.[2] Shortly after, Kirtiraja appears to have regained independence (or regained the Kalyani Chalukya vassalship). However, in 1018 CE, the Paramara king Bhoja also invaded Lata and defeated Kirtiraja.[3]
A legendary account by the 12th century writer Hemachandra mentions that Durlabha defeated a confederacy of several kings. According to this account, Durlabha was invited to the svayamvara (husband-selection) ceremony of Durlabha-devi, the sister of king Mahendra of Naddula. His rivals at the ceremony included the kings of Andhra, Anga, Avanti, Chedi, Gurjara, Huna, Kashi, Kuru, Mathura, and Vindhya. Among all these kings, Durlabha-devi chose Durlabha. Mahendra also gave his younger sister Lakshmi in marriage to Durlabha's younger brother Nagaraja. The rejected suitors jointly attacked Durlabha's party during his return journey to Gujarat. Durlabha repulsed the attack and marched home with his new bride. This legend does not seem to be historically accurate. The chief of Naddula was a relatively insignificant ruler, and it is hard to believe that so many major rulers left their kingdoms to attend his ceremony at a time when northern India was under attacks from Mahmud of Ghazni. The defeat of all these powerful kings by Durlabha also seems implausible.[4][5]
The 14th century writer Merutunga claims that after his retirement, Durlabha passed through Malwa on his way to Kashi. There, he was insulted by the Paramara king Munja. He returned to Gujarat, and asked his successor Bhima I to punish Munja. This account is an adaption of earlier legends, which name the insulted king as Chamundaraja. It is historically inaccurate, because Munja died nearly a decade before Durlabha's ascension.[6]
According to Hemachandra, Durlabha died childless, and was succeeded by his nephew Bhima I.[7]
Cultural activitiesedit
According to Someshvara's Surathotsava Mahakavya, his ancestor Munja served as a priest (purohita) to Durlabha-raja.[8]
According to the 14th century writer Merutunga, Durlabha built a 7-storey palace in his capital Anahilapataka, along with an elephant stable and a clock tower. He also commissioned the Madanashankara Shiva temple in memory of his brother Vallabha. In addition he also commissioned the Durlabha Sarovar (water tank). The Durlabhmeru temple is probably built by him too. The Upakeshagaccha-pattavali mentions the Mahavira temple built by Shreshthi Kapardi in 1016 CE which was consecrated by Siddhasuri.[9][10]
According to the Jain writer Jnanavimala, the Kharatara gachchha (sect) of Jain monks was established during Durlabha's reign. The group's founder Vardhamana Suri and his disciple Jineshvara visited Durlabha's court. There, Jineshvara defeated the Chaityavasins (another sect) in a philosophical debate. Durlabha conferred the title kharatara (very keen) on Jineshvara. When Jineshvara succeeded Vardhamana Suri as the head monk, his sect came to be known as the Kharatara gachchha.[9]
^ abDhaky, Madhusudan A. (1961). Deva, Krishna (ed.). "The Chronology of the Solanki Temples of Gujarat". Journal of the Madhya Pradesh Itihas Parishad. 3. Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Itihas Parishad: 23–24, 73.
Chandra Prabha (1976). Historical Mahākāvyas in Sanskrit, Eleventh to Fifteenth Century A.D. Meharchand Lachhmandas. OCLC 4497542.
Krishna Narain Seth (1978). The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa. Progress.
January 01, 1970
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Durlabha raja r c 1008 1022 CE was an Indian king who ruled parts of present day Gujarat from his capital at Anahilapataka modern Patan He was a member of the Chaulukya also called Chalukya or Solanki dynasty DurlabharajaKing of GujaratReignc 1008 1022 CEPredecessorVallabharajaSuccessorBhima IdynastyChaulukya Solanki FatherChamundaraja Contents 1 Early life 2 Military career 3 Cultural activities 4 References 4 1 BibliographyEarly life editDurlabha was a son of the Chaulukya king Chamundaraja He ascended the throne after his brother Vallabharaja unexpectedly died of smallpox 1 Military career edit nbsp A 1010 CE copper plate inscription from the reign of Durlabharaja Durlabha s biggest achievement was his successful invasion of the Lata region He probably defeated the Lata Chalukya ruler Kirtiraja or Kirtipala who was a vassal of the Kalyani Chalukyas The Kalyani Chalukya king Jayasimha was preoccupied in wars against the Chola dynasty taking advantage of which Durlabha may have invaded Lata 2 Shortly after Kirtiraja appears to have regained independence or regained the Kalyani Chalukya vassalship However in 1018 CE the Paramara king Bhoja also invaded Lata and defeated Kirtiraja 3 A legendary account by the 12th century writer Hemachandra mentions that Durlabha defeated a confederacy of several kings According to this account Durlabha was invited to the svayamvara husband selection ceremony of Durlabha devi the sister of king Mahendra of Naddula His rivals at the ceremony included the kings of Andhra Anga Avanti Chedi Gurjara Huna Kashi Kuru Mathura and Vindhya Among all these kings Durlabha devi chose Durlabha Mahendra also gave his younger sister Lakshmi in marriage to Durlabha s younger brother Nagaraja The rejected suitors jointly attacked Durlabha s party during his return journey to Gujarat Durlabha repulsed the attack and marched home with his new bride This legend does not seem to be historically accurate The chief of Naddula was a relatively insignificant ruler and it is hard to believe that so many major rulers left their kingdoms to attend his ceremony at a time when northern India was under attacks from Mahmud of Ghazni The defeat of all these powerful kings by Durlabha also seems implausible 4 5 The 14th century writer Merutunga claims that after his retirement Durlabha passed through Malwa on his way to Kashi There he was insulted by the Paramara king Munja He returned to Gujarat and asked his successor Bhima I to punish Munja This account is an adaption of earlier legends which name the insulted king as Chamundaraja It is historically inaccurate because Munja died nearly a decade before Durlabha s ascension 6 According to Hemachandra Durlabha died childless and was succeeded by his nephew Bhima I 7 Cultural activities editAccording to Someshvara s Surathotsava Mahakavya his ancestor Munja served as a priest purohita to Durlabha raja 8 According to the 14th century writer Merutunga Durlabha built a 7 storey palace in his capital Anahilapataka along with an elephant stable and a clock tower He also commissioned the Madanashankara Shiva temple in memory of his brother Vallabha In addition he also commissioned the Durlabha Sarovar water tank The Durlabhmeru temple is probably built by him too The Upakeshagaccha pattavali mentions the Mahavira temple built by Shreshthi Kapardi in 1016 CE which was consecrated by Siddhasuri 9 10 Other extant temples attributed to the first quarter of 11th century include original Bhadreshwar Jain Temple now completely rebuilt following 2001 Gujarat earthquake Vishnu Temple at Sander village in Patan district Akhada Mahadeva temple at Vasai and Vishnu Temple at Khandosan both in Vijapur Taluka of Mehsana district in Gujarat 10 According to the Jain writer Jnanavimala the Kharatara gachchha sect of Jain monks was established during Durlabha s reign The group s founder Vardhamana Suri and his disciple Jineshvara visited Durlabha s court There Jineshvara defeated the Chaityavasins another sect in a philosophical debate Durlabha conferred the title kharatara very keen on Jineshvara When Jineshvara succeeded Vardhamana Suri as the head monk his sect came to be known as the Kharatara gachchha 9 References edit Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956 p 39 Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956 pp 39 40 Krishna Narain Seth 1978 pp 136 137 Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956 pp 40 41 Krishna Narain Seth 1978 pp 133 134 Krishna Narain Seth 1978 p 135 Chandra Prabha 1976 p 207 B J Sandesara 1953 Literary Circle of Mahamatya Vastupala and its Contribution to Sanskrit Literature Singhi Jain Series p 45 a b Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956 p 41 a b Dhaky Madhusudan A 1961 Deva Krishna ed The Chronology of the Solanki Temples of Gujarat Journal of the Madhya Pradesh Itihas Parishad 3 Bhopal Madhya Pradesh Itihas Parishad 23 24 73 Bibliography edit Asoke Kumar Majumdar 1956 Chaulukyas of Gujarat Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan OCLC 4413150 Chandra Prabha 1976 Historical Mahakavyas in Sanskrit Eleventh to Fifteenth Century A D Meharchand Lachhmandas OCLC 4497542 Krishna Narain Seth 1978 The Growth of the Paramara Power in Malwa Progress Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Durlabharaja Chaulukya dynasty amp oldid 1184260788, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
