Paramardi
Paramardi | |
---|---|
Parama-bhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara, Kalanjaradhipati | |
King of Chandela | |
Father | Yashovarman II |
Paramardi (reigned c. 1165–1203 CE) was a king of the
Early life
Paramardi's Bateshvar inscription suggests that he succeeded his father Yashovarman. However, other Chandela inscriptions (including those of his own) suggest that he succeeded his grandfather Madanavarman. It is possible that Yashovarman ruled for a very short period, or did not rule at all, having died while Madanavarman was still alive.[1]
According to the Parmal Raso, Paramardi ascended the throne at the age of 5 years. An
He is mentioned as Paramardi-deva in inscriptions. The medieval bardic legends such as Alha-Khand call him Paramala or Parimala. In modern vernaculars, he is also known as Paramardidev, Parmar, Paramal Deo or Parimal Chandel (because of schwa deletion). A gold coin issued by him, featuring a seated goddess, gives his name as Srimat Paramardi.[3]
Reign
Paramardi was the last of the powerful Chandela rulers, and has been mentioned in several legendary texts such as Paramala Raso (Parmal Raso or Mahoba Khand), Prithviraj Raso and Alha-Khand (Alha Raso or Ballad of Alha). While these texts are based on historical events, much of their content has been fabricated to glorify either Prithviraj Chauhan or Paramardi. Thus, these texts are of doubtful historicity, and therefore, much of Paramardi's reign is shrouded in obscurity.[5][6]
Several Chandela inscriptions also mention Paramardi, but these contain little historical information. For example, the Semra copper-plate inscription vaguely eulogizes him as someonoe who surpassed Makaradhvaja (the god of love) in handsomeness, the ocean in depth, the lord of heaven in majesty, Brihaspati in wisdom, and Yudhishthira in truthfulness. The Baghari (Bateshvar) stone inscription credits him with military victories and states that other kings bowed to him, but does not name any of these kings.[5] The Ajaygarh inscription of his grandson's wife Kalyanadevi similarly describes him as a universal sovereign, whose enemies were left in a pitiful condition.[5] Such claims of extensive conquests are not corroborated by historical evidence.[7]
Early career
The inscriptions from the first few years of Paramardi's reign have been found at Semra (1165-1166 CE),
An 1183 CE Mahoba inscription states that the lord of Tripuri fainted whenever he heard the songs about Paramardi's bravery. This suggests that Paramardi defeated a Kalachuri king of Tripuri, possibly Jayasimha.[7]
Chahamana invasion
During 1182-1183 CE, the Chahamana ruler Prithviraj Chauhan invaded the Chandela kingdom of Jejakabhukti. The Chandela records do not mention this invasion, presumably to avoid describing the humiliating defeat of their king.[6]
According to the medieval ballads, Prithviraj was returning to Delhi after marrying the daughter of Padamsen. During this journey, he was attacked by Turkic forces (Ghurids). The Chauhan army managed to repulse the attacks, but suffered serious casualties in the process. They lost their way, and arrived in the Chandela capital Mahoba. The Chauhan force, which had a number of wounded soldiers among them, unknowingly set up a camp in the Chandela royal garden. They killed the keeper of the garden for objecting to their presence. When Paramardi learned about this, he sent some soldiers to counter the Chauhan force. The Chandelas suffered heavy losses in the ensuing conflict. Paramardi then decided to send another force led by his general Udal against Prithviraj. Udal advised against this proposal, arguing that it would not be appropriate to attack wounded soldiers or to antagonize a powerful king like Prithviraj. However, Paramardi was under the influence of his brother-in-law Mahil Parihar (Pratihara), who secretly harboured ill-will against the Chandelas. Mahil instigated Paramardi to go ahead with the attack plan. The Chandela force led by Udal then launched a second attack against the Chauhan army, but was defeated. The situation subsided when Prithviraj left for Delhi.[9]
Unable to bear Mahil Parihar's political scheming, Udal and his brother
Prithviraj then started a march towards Mahoba. Facing an imminent defeat, Paramardi and his nobles sought a truce on the advice of his chief queen Malhan Devi. Prithviraj agreed to the truce, but remained encamped on the banks of the
Next, Prithviraj dispatched his general Chavand Rai to Kalanjara. The Chauhan army captured the fort, took Paramardi as prisoner, and marched back towards Delhi.
The exact historicity of this legendary narrative is debatable, but it is known that Prithviraj Chauhan indeed sacked Mahoba. This is corroborated by his stone inscriptions at
The 1195 CE Bateshvar inscription states that other feudatory kings bowed before him, and the 1201 CE Kalanjara inscription describes him as the lord of Dasharna country. These evidences suggest that Paramardi managed to recover the Chandela power after Prithviraj Chauhan returned to Delhi.[15]
Ghurid invasion and death
According to a
Prithviraj Chauhan was killed after
Taj-ul-Maasir, written by the Delhi chronicler Hasan Nizami, states that Parmar (Paramardi) initially offered some resistance, but then fled to the safety of the fort. Subsequently, he surrendered before ruler of Delhi, and agreed to be his vassal.[16] He promised to pay a tribute to the Sultan, but died before he could execute this agreement. His dewan Aj Deo (Ajaya-Deva) continued to resist the ruler of Delhi after his death. The dewan was finally forced to surrender as the water reservoirs within the fort dried up during a drought. Taj-ul-Masir further states that after the Sultanate's victory, temples were converted into mosques and 50,000 men were taken as slaves. Qutb al-Din Aibak appointed Hazabbar-ud-Din Hasan Arnal as the governor of Kalanjara, and also captured Mahoba.[17]
The 16th century Muslim historian Firishta states that Paramardi was assassinated by his own minister, who disagreed with the king's decision to surrender to the Delhi forces.[17]
Firishta as well as Fakhruddin Mubarakshah state that the fall of Kalanjara happened in the Hijri year 599 (1202-1203 CE). According to Taj-ul-Masir, Kalanjara fell on 20th of Rajab, in the Hijri year 599, on Monday. However, this date corresponds to 12 April 1203 CE, which was a Friday. Based on different interpretations of the historical sources, different scholars date the fall of Kalanjara to either 1202 CE or 1203 CE.[13]
According to the Chandela inscriptions, Paramardi was succeeded by Trailokyavarman.[15]
Administration
According to the Baghari inscription, Paramardi placed the burden of government on his prime minister Sallakshana, who was a
The Baghari inscription also mentions one Gadadhara as Paramardi's minister of war and peace (sandhna-vigraha-sachiva). According to the
Ajayapala and Madanapala, the sons of a former senapati (general) Kilhana, were two Brahmin senapatis of Paramardi.[19] Ajayapala is also known to have been a senapati of Paramardi's grandfather Madanavarman.[20] Muslim chronicles mention Aj Deo (Ajaya-Deva) as a dewan who continued to resist the Delhi forces after Paramardi's death. The medieval bardic tradition also mentions Alha and Udala (or Udal) as his generals. Other officers mentioned in the historical records include Mahipala and an amatya named Vatsaraja.[19]
Paramardi was a learned man, and is attributed as the author of a eulogy to
- Vatsaraja, the author of Rupa-Kashatakam (a collection of six plays)
- Gadadhara, a poet styled as Kavi-Chakravarti
- Jaganika, the author of Alha-Khanda
- Gunabhadra Munipa Saiddhanti, the Jainauthor of Dhanya-Kumara-Charita
Although himself a
References
- ^ R. K. Dikshit 1976, pp. 139–140.
- ^ R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 140.
- ^ P. C. Roy 1980, pp. 54–55.
- ^ Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 119, 124.
- ^ a b c R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 141.
- ^ a b c Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 120.
- ^ a b c R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 143.
- ^ Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 119.
- ^ a b Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 121.
- ^ a b Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 122.
- ^ a b Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 123.
- ^ a b c d Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 124.
- ^ a b c R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 149.
- ^ a b c Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 125.
- ^ a b c d Sisirkumar Mitra 1977, p. 126.
- ^ a b R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 147.
- ^ a b R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 148.
- ^ R. K. Dikshit 1976, pp. 149–150.
- ^ a b c R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 150.
- ^ R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 136.
- ^ a b c R. K. Dikshit 1976, p. 151.
Bibliography
- P. C. Roy (1980). The Coinage of Northern India. Abhinav. ISBN 9788170171225.
- R. K. Dikshit (1976). The Candellas of Jejākabhukti. Abhinav. ISBN 9788170170464.
- Sisirkumar Mitra (1977). The Early Rulers of Khajurāho. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 9788120819979.