Vidyadhara (Chandela ruler)

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Vidyādhara
Paramabhattaraka Maharajadhiraja Parameshvara
Chandela

Vidyadhara (r. c. 1003-1035 CE) was a

Chandela king of central India. He ruled in the Jejakabhukti region (Bundelkhand in present-day Madhya Pradesh). Vidyadhara was the successor of Ganda
, and expanded the Chandela power between Chambal river in the northwest and Narmada River in south.

Ascension

Until the 1970s, scholars such as R. K. Dikshit assigned the beginning of Vidyadhara's reign to 1018 CE.[1] However, later, a copper-plate issued by Vidyadhara's queen Satyabhama was discovered at Kundeshwar. This inscription is dated 1004 CE, which proves that Vidyadhara was already ruling in 1004 CE. Based on this, scholar S. K. Sullerey dates Vidyadhara's reign as 1003-1035 CE.[2][3]

Invasion of Kannauj

See also:
Ghaznavid invasion of Kannauj

In 1018 CE, the

British-era scholars identified the killer of the Kannauj king as Vidyadhara's predecessor Ganda. However, an inscription discovered at Mahoba confirms that it was Vidyadhara who defeated the ruler of Kannauj.[4][5] The Dubkund inscription of Arjuna of Kachchhapaghata family claims that Arjuna killed Rajyapala in a great battle. The Kachchhapaghatas were feudatories of the Chandelas, so it appears that Arjuna was acting as an agent of Vidyadhara.[6]

Struggle against the Ghaznavids

It is possible that Vidyadhara appointed Rajyapala's successor Trilochanapala on the Pratihara throne.

Abu Sa'id Gardezi's Zayn al-Akhbar, the Pratihara ruler Trilochanapala fled from the town. After sacking Bari, Mahmud encountered the army of Vidyadhara (variously named "Bida" or "Nanda" in Muslim chronicles).[8]

According to

Ali ibn al-Athir offers a different account, stating that the two armies fought a battle before retreating at the nightfall. [9]

In 1022 CE, Mahmud invaded the Chandela kingdom again, besieging the

Ghazna.[10]

S. K. Mitra theorizes that the encounter between Vidyadhara and Mahmud ended with an "exchange of gifts", which must have been depicted as "tribute" by the Muslim historians.[11]

Possible conflict with Bhoja

An inscription of Kirtiraja, the

K. M. Munshi believe that the Mahoba inscription is merely a boastful exaggeration.[13]

Cultural contributions

Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, commissioned by Vidyadhara

Vidyadhara commissioned the Kandariya Mahadeva Temple at Khajuraho.[14] Epigraphic inscriptions on a pilaster of the mandapa in the temple mentions a king called "Virimda", which is interpreted as another name of Vidhyadhara.[15]

References

  1. ^ Dikshit 1976, pp. 71–72.
  2. ^ Sullerey 2004, p. 25.
  3. ^ Indian Archaeology: A Review. Archaeological Survey of India. 1975. p. 55.
  4. ^ Mitra 1977, pp. 72–73.
  5. ^ Dikshit 1976, p. 72.
  6. ^ Mitra 1977, pp. 74–75.
  7. ^ a b Mitra 1977, p. 75.
  8. ^ Mitra 1977, p. 78.
  9. ^ Mitra 1977, pp. 78–79.
  10. ^ Mitra 1977, pp. 80–82.
  11. ^ Mitra 1977, p. 82.
  12. ^ Mitra 1977, pp. 83–84.
  13. ^ Singh 1984, p. 69.
  14. ^ Sullerey 2004, p. 26.
  15. ^ Deva 1990, p. 370.

Bibliography

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