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Lalitaditya
Muktapida: an omnipotent Indian
BY DR. UPINDER FOTADAR*
Lalitaditya Muktapida appertained to the Karkota dynasty of
the kings of Kashmir. The Karkota dynasty was started by Durlabhavardhana.
During that period it was proclaimed that Durlabhavardhana
had descended from the Karkota Naga (a snake deity who was
worshipped in Kashmir and in other parts of India). In reality
Durlabhavardhana was of modest background, he was originally
in charge of the fodder for horses ( asvaghasakayastha). Lalitaditya
was the youngest of the three sons of Durlabhaka (Pratapaditya
2) and the latter was the son of Durlabhavardhana.
Lalitaditya's reign began in 699 A.D. and in no way is it
a hyperbole to mention that this king was not only the greatest
conqueror from Kashmir but probably from the whole of India.
All evidence including numismatic supports this view. The
credible and brilliant Kashmiri historian Kalhana in his classic
history of Kashmir, the Rajataringini (written in the 12th
century A.D.) describes Lalitaditya as such, "The king, who
carried his prowess, abandoned his (war-like) fury (only)
when the (opposing) kings discretely folded their palms at
his victorious onset. At the sound of his drums (beaten) in
attack, the dwellings of his enemies were diverted by the
(frightened) inhabitants and thus resembled women dropping
in fright the burden of their wombs". Besides Kalhana, the
Chinese, Turkish and Tibetan legends also refer to him as
a great conqueror. Kalhana has described many of the conquests
of this king in detail, particularly the triumph of Muktapida
over the mighty Yasovarman, the King of Kanauj. According
to Kalhana Yasovarman initially submitted to Lalitaditya;
however, soon after a dispute erupted between these two kings
as the treaty was being finalized. Yasovarman wanted his name
to be given precedence over Lalitaditya in this treaty. However,
Mitrasarman the clever foreign minister of Lalitaditya objected
to this treaty. Following this dispute the war between these
two kings resumed. Eventually Yasovarman (who was then at
the peak of his power) was defeated. Prior to his defeat Yasovarman
had established himself as a ruler of a substantial part of
India. Following his victory Lalitaditya was able to annex
the kingdom of Yasovarman which included Vanga (Bengal). However,
it is not clear as to whether Yasovarman was slain in battle;
but what is clear that after his defeat Yasovarman disappears
from the political scene. Lalitaditya also defeated many other
rulers following this victory. The famous Ratta (from the
Rastrakuta dynasty of Maharashtra) the queen of Karnata (Canarese
country) also submitted to this king. The numerous conquests
of Lalitaditya are also mentioned by the brilliant Alberuni
of Khiva ( b. 973 A.D., d. 1048 A.D.). Alberuni for example
informs us of the triumph of the Kashmirian King Mutthai (Lalitaditya
Muktapida) over the Turks. According to Alberuni a festival
was held on the second day of Chaita (March) every year for
centuries to celebrate the victory of King Muttai over the
Turks. An eighth century inscription in the Sharda script
found in Kabul refers to the defeat of the Turks by a conquering
monarch. During this period only Muktapida had this capability.
Alberuni mentions that this king's territory also included
most of the Indian subcontinent. In fact the colourful seventeenth
century Kashmiri adventurer and historian Haider Malik Chadurah
describes the conquests of Lalitaditya as such, " Finally
when he was satisfied with (the conquest) of India, he headed
towards Turkestan via Kabul. Mumin the ruler of Bukhara fought
against him four times but when he had no strength or resistance
left, he solicited for safety (of his life) and met the Raja
and agreed to pay tribute and taxes to him. Thus all the rulers
of Mawara-al-Nahr and Turkestan submitted to him. Then he
went to China via Kasgar and conquered the lands there and
after a fierce battle subjugated Khita. Finally he returned
to Kashmir via Tibet". The conquest of Tibet by Lalitaditya
receives confirmation from the Chinese Tang Annals. By the
period of the Tibetan king Khri-lde-btsug-brtan-mes-ag-tshoms
the Chinese provinces of Yunnan, Szechan, Kansu, Sinkiang
had been annexed by the Tibetans. Hence, Lalitaditya was able
to obtain a large territory from the Tibetans. Lalitaditya
maintained close contact with the Taklamakan region which
served as his Central Asian base. There is also strong evidence
to suggest that Lalitaditya was responsible for defeating
the Arabs when they were at the zenith of their power. This
is also a view entertained by the noted historian Romila Thapar.
It is well known that during the reign of Caliph Hisham (724-743
A.D.) one Junaid was deputed as the governor of Sindh. Junaid
is supposed to have made an attempt to invade the rest of
the Indian subcontinent; however, Lalitaditya soundly defeated
him and saved the whole of India from Arab conquest. Also
in the Chachanamah (the history of Sind, written by the Arab
Ali of Kufah in 1216 A. D.) it is mentioned that the King
of Sind, Dahar had earlier warned Mahamed-bin-Qassim (the
Arab conqueror of Sind), "If I had sent against you Rai Jaisiah
who is the most victorious of all the rulers of the face of
earth and who can wreck vengeance on the strongest men of
the age, or the king of Kashmir who is the mighty possession
of a crown, kettle drums and standards, on whose royal threshold
the rulers of Hind and even the country of Makran and Turan,
whose chains a great many noblemen and grandees have willingly
placed on their knees....".
Due to his numerous conquests Lalitaditya was able to enrich
Kashmir. He constructed several temples and utilities and
built the present town of Latipur in Kashmir. Kalhana describes
the construction (in reality the enlargement) of the famous
Martand Temple such, "This liberal (king) built the wonderful
(shrine) of Martand with its massive walls of stone within
a lofty enclosure (prasadantar) and its town swelling with
grapes". Muktapida was a liberal king though he was a Hindu
he had equal respect for all faiths. Kalhana also informs
us that he was a compassionate ruler who was well versed in
the Sastras.
Lalitaditya also was a good administrator and an efficient
king. Being a cautious person he was fully aware of the problems
that could arise if the powerful classes of the landed oligarchy
(Damaras) rebelled. According to Muktapida, "If they should
keep more wealth, they would become in a single year very
formidable and strong enough to neglect the commands of the
king". This king instructed his ministers to be very careful
in recruiting people for the two wings of the army, namely
the cavalry and infantry. Orders were sent out that no two
persons from the same place were to be put in one and the
same company.
In the year 736 A.D. the reign of this great king came to
an end. According to Kalhana there were two versions relating
to the death of Lalitaditya. One version states that this
king perished during a military campaign in Aryanaka (Eastern
Iran) due to heavy snowfall which occurred out of season.
According to the other version Lalitaditya faced with a critical
situation burnt himself.
*The author at present is an academician at the New York University.
In the past he has held academic positions in some of the
elite universities of the United States such as the University
of Illinois and University of Texas. He had all his schooling
at The Lawrence School, Sanawar (India) and higher education
in Europe. For details see: www.fotadar.com.
Due to his numerous conquests Lalitaditya was able to enrich
Kashmir. He constructed several temples and utilities and
built the present town of Latipur in Kashmir. Kalhana describes
the construction (in reality the enlargement) of the famous
Martand Temple such, "This liberal (king) built the wonderful
(shrine) of Martand with its massive walls of stone within
a lofty enclosure (prasadantar) and its town swelling with
grapes". Muktapida was a liberal king though he was a Hindu
he had equal respect for all faiths. Kalhana also informs
us that he was a compassionate ruler who was well versed in
the Sastras.
Lalitaditya also was a good administrator and an efficient
king. Being a cautious person he was fully aware of the problems
that could arise if the powerful classes of the landed oligarchy
(Damaras) rebelled. According to Muktapida, "If they should
keep more wealth, they would become in a single year very
formidable and strong enough to neglect the commands of the
king". This king instructed his ministers to be very careful
in recruiting people for the two wings of the army, namely
the cavalry and infantry. Orders were sent out that no two
persons from the same place were to be put in one and the
same company.
In the year 736 A.D. the reign of this great king came to
an end. According to Kalhana there were two versions relating
to the death of Lalitaditya. One version states that this
king perished during a military campaign in Aryanaka (Eastern
Iran) due to heavy snowfall which occurred out of season.
According to the other version Lalitaditya faced with a critical
situation burnt himself.
*The author at present is an academician at the New York University.
In the past he has held academic positions in some of the
elite universities of the United States such as the University
of Illinois and University of Texas. He had all his schooling
at The Lawrence School, Sanawar (India) and higher education
in Europe. For details see: www.fotadar.com.
Note:
The opinion presented here is that of the author and not GaramChai.com
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