CHAPTER XI

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THE RÁSHTRAKÚTAS

(A.D. 743-974.)

The Ráshtrakúta connection with Gujarát lasted from Saka 665 to 894 (A.D. 743-974) that is for 231 years. The connection includes three periods: A first of sixty-five years from Saka 665 to 730 (A.D. 743-808) when the Gujarát ruler was dependent on the main Dakhan Ráshtrakúta: a second of eighty years between Saka 730 and 810 (A.D. 808-888) when the Gujarát family was on the whole independent: and a third of eighty-six years Saka 810 to 896 (A.D. 888-974) when the Dakhan Ráshtrakútas again exercised direct sway over Gujarát.

[Their Origin.] Information regarding the origin of the Ráshtrakútas is imperfect. That the Gujarát Ráshtrakútas came from the Dakhan in Saka 665 (A.D. 743) is known. It is not known who the Dakhan Ráshtrakútas originally were or where or when they rose to prominence. Ráthod the dynastic name of certain Kanauj and Márwár Rájputs represents a later form of the word Ráshtrakúta. Again certain of the later inscriptions call the Ráshtrakútas Rattas a word which, so far as form goes, is hardly a correct Prakrit contraction of Ráshtrakúta. The Sanskritisation of tribal names is not exact. If the name Ratta was strange it might be pronounced Ratta, Ratha, or Raddi. This last form almost coincides with the modern Kánarese caste name Reddi, which, so far as information goes, would place the Ráshtrakútas among the tribes of pre-Sanskrit southern origin.

[Their Name.] If Ratta is the name of the dynasty kúta or kúda may be an attribute meaning prominent. The combination Ráshtrakúta would then mean the chiefs or leaders as opposed to the rank and file of the Rattas. The bardic accounts of the origin of the Ráthods of Kanauj and Márwár vary greatly. According to a Jain account the Ráthods, whose name is fancifully derived from the raht or spine of Indra, are connected with the Yavans through an ancestor Yavanasva prince of Párlipur. The Ráthod genealogies trace their origin to Kusa son of Ráma of the Solar Race. The bards of the Solar Race hold them to be descendants of Hiranya Kasipu by a demon or daitya mother. Like the other great Rájput families the Ráthods' accounts contain no date earlier than the fifth century A.D. when (A.D. 470, S. 526) Náin Pál is said to have conquered Kanauj slaying its monarch Ajipál. [418] The Dakhan Ráshtrakútas (whose earliest known date is also about A.D. 450) call themselves of the Lunar Race and of the Yadu dynasty. Such contradictions leave only one of two origins to the tribe. They were either foreigners or southerners Bráhmanised and included under the all-embracing term Rájput.

[Early Dynasty, A.D. 450-500.] Of the rise of the Ráshtrakútas no trace remains. The earliest known Ráshtrakúta copperplate is of a king Abhimanyu. This plate is not dated. Still its letters, its style of writing, and its lion seal, older than the Garuda mark which the Ráshtrakútas assumed along with the claim of Yádava descent, leave no doubt that this is the earliest of known Ráshtrakúta plates. Its probable date is about A.D. 450. The plate traces the descent of Abhimanyu through two generations from Mánánka. The details are:

Mánánka. | Devarája. | Bhavishya. | Abhimanyu.

The grant is dated from Mánapura, perhaps Mánánka's city, probably an older form of Mányakheta the modern Málkhed the capital of the later Ráshtrakútas about sixty miles south-east of Sholápur. These details give fair ground for holding the Mánánkas to be a family of Ráshtrakúta rulers earlier than that which appears in the usual genealogy of the later Ráshtrakúta dynasty (A.D. 500-972).

[The Main Dynasty, A.D. 630-972.] The earliest information regarding the later Ráshtrakútas is from a comparatively modern, and therefore not quite trustworthy, Chálukya copperplate of the eleventh century found by Mr. Wathen. This plate states that Jayasimha I. the earliest Chálukya defeated the Ráshtrakúta Indra son of Krishna the lord of 800 elephants. The date of this battle would be about A.D. 500. If historic the reference implies that the Ráshtrakútas were then a well established dynasty. In most of their own plates the genealogy of the Ráshtrakútas begins with Govinda about A.D. 680. But that Govinda was not the founder of the family is shown by Dantidurga's Elura Dasávatára inscription (about A.D. 750) which gives two earlier names Dantivarmman and Indra. The founding of Ráshtrakúta power is therefore of doubtful date. Of the date of its overthrow there is no question. The overthrow came from the hand of the Western Chálukya Tailappa in Saka 894 (A.D. 972) during the reign of the last Ráshtrakúta Kakka III. or Kakkala.

[Ráshtrakúta Family Tree, A.D. 630-972.] The following is the Ráshtrakúta family tree:

1 Dantivarmman | (about A.D. 630). | 2 Indra I. | (about A.D. 655). | 3 Govinda I. | (about A.D. 680). | 4 Kakka I. or Karka I. | (about A.D. 705). | ---------------------------------- | | | 5 Indra II. Dhruva. 7 Krishna (about A.D. 730). | (about A.D. 765). | Govinda. | 6 Dantidurga, | | Dantivarmman Kakka II. | (Saka 675, A.D. 753). Saka 669 | (A.D. 747). | | ------------------------- | | 8 Govinda II. 9 Dhruva, Dhárávarsha, (about A.D. 780). Nirupama, Dhora, (about A.D. 795). | -------------------------------------- | | 10 Govinda III. Prabhútavarsha I. Indra (founder of Vallabhanarendra, Jagattunga Gujarát Branch). Prithivívallabha, | (Saka 725, 728, 729, --------------------- A.D. 803, 806, 807). | | | II. Karka III. Govinda 11 Amoghavarsha (Saka 734, 738, 743, Prabhútavarsha, Sarvva, Durlabha Srívallabha; A.D. 812, 816, 821). (Saka 749, Lakshmívallabha, | A.D. 827). Vallabha Skanda, -------------------- (Saka 773, 799, A.D. 851, 877). | | | Dantivarmman IV. Dhruva I. 12 Akálavarsha (?) Dhárávarsha, Krishna II. Kannara | Nirupama, (about A.D. 880-911). VII. Akálavarsha-Krishna (Saka 757, | (Saka 810, A.D. 835). Jagattunga A.D. 888). | (did not reign.) V. Akálavarsha | Subhatunga, | (A.D. 867). | | | VI. Dhruva II. | (Saka 789, 793, ---------------------------------- A.D. 867, 871). | | 13 Indra III. Prithivívallabha 16 Baddiga Rattakandarpa, Kirttináráyana | Nityamvarsha (Saka 836, A.D. 914). ------------------------ | | | | ----------------- 17 Krishna 19 Kottiga. Nirupama. | | (S. 867, 878 | 14 Amoghavarsha 15 Govindarája A.D. 945, 956). Kakkala Sáhasánka or Karkarája Suvarnavarsha. (Saka 894, A.D. 972).

[Copperplates.] The earliest Gujarát Ráshtrakúta grant, Kakka's of Saka 669 (A.D. 747), comes from Ántroli-Chároli in Surat. It is written on two plates in the Valabhi style of composition and form of letters, and, as in Valabhi grants, the date is at the end. Unlike Valabhi grants the era is the Saka era. The grant gives the following genealogy somewhat different from that of other known Ráshtrakúta grants:

Kakka. | Dhruva. | Govinda. | Kakka II. (Saka 669, A.D. 747).

[Kakka II. A.D. 747.] The plate notices that Kakka the grantor was the son of Govinda by his wife the daughter of the illustrious Nágavarmman. Kakka is further described by the feudatory title 'Samadhigatapanchmahásabdah' Holder of the five great names. At the same time he is also called Paramabhattáraka-Mahárája Great Lord Great King, attributes which seem to imply a claim to independent power. The grant is dated the bright seventh of Ásvayuja, Saka 669 (A.D. 747). The date is almost contemporary with the year of Dantidurga in the Sámangad plate (A.D. 753). As Dantidurga was a very powerful monarch we may identify the first Kakka of this plate with Kakka I. the grandfather of Dantidurga and thus trace from Dhruva Kakka's son a branch of feudatory Ráshtrakútas ruling in Málwa or Gujarát, whose leaders were Dhruva, his son Govinda, and Govinda's son Kakka II. Further Dantidurga's grant shows that he conquered Central Gujarát between the Mahí and the Narbadá [419] while his Elura Dasávatára inscription (A.D. 750) shows that he held Láta and Málava. [420] Dantidurga's conquest of Central Gujarát seems to have been signalised by grants of land made by his mother in every village of the Mátri division which is apparently the Mátar táluka of the Kaira district. [421] It is possible that Dantidurga gave conquered Gujarát to his paternal cousin's son and contemporary Kakka, the grantor of the Ántroli plate (A.D. 747), as the representative of a family ruling somewhere under the overlordship of the main Dakhan Ráshtrakútas. Karka's Baroda grant [422] (A.D. 812) supports this theory. Dantidurga died childless and was succeeded by his uncle Krishna. Of this Krishna the Baroda grant says that he assumed the government for the good of the family after having rooted out a member of the family who had taken to mischief-making. It seems probable that Kakka II. the grantor of the Ántroli plate is the mischief-maker and that his mischief was, on the death of Dantidurga, the attempt to secure the succession to himself. Krishna frustrated Kakka's attempt and rooted him out so effectively that no trace of Kakka's family again appears.

[Krishna and Govinda II. A.D. 765-795.] From this it follows that, so far as is known, the Ráshtrakúta conquest of Gujarát begins with Dantidurga's conquest of Láta, that is South Gujarát between the Mahí and the Narbadá, from the Gurjjara king Jayabhata whose latest known date is A.D. 736 or seventeen years before the known date of Dantidurga. The Gurjjaras probably retired to the Rájpipla hills and further east on the confines of Málwa where they may have held a lingering sway. [423] No Gujarát event of importance is recorded during the reign of Krishna (A.D. 765) or of his son Govinda II. (A.D. 780) who about A.D. 795 was superseded by his powerful younger brother Dhruva. [424]

[Dhruva I. A.D. 795.] Dhruva was a mighty monarch whose conquests spread from South India as far north as Allahábád. During Dhruva's lifetime his son Govinda probably ruled at Mayúrakhandi or Morkhanda in the Násik district and held the Ghát country and the Gujarát coast from Balsár northwards. Though according to a Kapadvanj grant Govinda had several brothers the Rádhanpur (A.D. 808) and Van-Dindori (A.D. 808) grants of his son Govinda III. state that his father, seeing Govinda's supernatural Krishna-like powers, offered him the sovereignty of the whole world. Govinda declined, saying, The Kanthiká or coast tract already given to me is enough. Seeing that Mayúrakhandi or Morkhanda in Násik was Govinda's capital, this Kanthiká appears to be the coast from Balsár northwards.

[Govinda III. A.D. 800-808.] According to Gujarát Govinda's (A.D. 827-833) Káví grant (A.D. 827), finding his power threatened by Stambha and other kings, Dhruva made the great Govinda independent during his own lifetime. This suggests that while Dhruva continued to hold the main Ráshtrakúta sovereignty in the Dakhan, he probably invested Govinda with the sovereignty of Gujarát. This fact the Káví grant (A.D. 827) being a Gujarát grant would rightly mention while it would not find a place in the Rádhanpur (A.D. 808) and Van-Dindori (A.D. 808) grants of the main Ráshtrakútas. Of the kings who opposed Govinda the chief was Stambha who may have some connection with Cambay, as, during the time of the Anahilaváda kings, Cambay came to be called Stambha-tírtha instead of by its old name of Gambhútá. According to the grants the allied chiefs were no match for Govinda. The Gurjjara fled through fear, not returning even in dreams, and the Málava king submitted. Who the Gurjjara was it is hard to say. He may have belonged to some Gurjjara dynasty that rose to importance after Dantidurga's conquest or the name may mean a ruler of the Gurjjara country. In either case some North Gujarát ruler is meant whose conquest opened the route from Broach to Málwa. From Málwa Govinda marched to the Vindhyas where the king apparently of East Málwa named Márá Sarva submitted to Govinda paying tribute. From the Vindhyas Govinda returned to Gujarát passing the rains at Sríbhavana, [425] apparently Sarbhon in the Ámod táluka of Broach, a favourite locality which he had ruled during his father's lifetime. After the rains Govinda went south as far as the Tungabhadra. On starting for the south Govinda handed Gujarát to his brother Indra with whom begins the Gujarát branch of the Ráshtrakútas. Several plates distinctly mention that Indra was given the kingdom of the lord of Láta by (his brother) Govinda. Other Gujarát grants, apparently with intent to show that Indra won Gujarát and did not receive it in gift, after mentioning Sarvva Amoghavarsha as the successor of Govinda (A.D. 818), state that the king (apparently of Gujarát) was Sarvva's uncle Indra.

[Indra, A.D. 808-812.] As Govinda III. handed Gujarát to his brother Indra about Saka 730 (A.D. 808) and as the grant of Indra's son Karka is dated Saka 734 (A.D. 812) Indra's reign must have been short. Indra is styled the ruler of the entire kingdom of Látesvara, [426] the protector of the mandala of Láta given to him by his lord. An important verse in an unpublished Baroda grant states that Indra chased the lord of Gurjjara who had prepared to fight, and that he honourably protected the multitude of Dakhan (Dakshinápatha) feudatories (mahásámantas) whose glory was shattered by Srívallabha (that is Sarvva or Amoghavarsha) [427] then heir-apparent of Govinda. That is, in attempting to establish himself in independent power, Indra aided certain of the Ráshtrakúta feudatories in an effort to shake off the overlordship of Amoghavarsha.

[Karka I. A.D. 812-821.] Indra was succeeded by his son Karka I. who is also called Suvarnavarsha and Pátálamalla. Karka reversed his father's policy and loyally accepted the overlordship of the main Ráshtrakútas. Three grants of Karka's remain, the Baroda grant dated Saka 734 (A.D. 812), and two unpublished grants from Navsárí and Surat dated respectively Saka 738 (A.D. 816) and Saka 743 (A.D. 821). Among Doctor Bhagvánlál's collection of inscriptions bequeathed to the British Museum the Baroda grant says that Karka's svámi or lord, apparently Govinda III., made use of Karka's arm to protect the king of Málava against invasion by the king of Gurjjara who had become puffed up by conquering the lords of Gauda and Vanga that is modern Bengal. This powerful Gurjjara king who conquered countries so distant as Bengal has not been identified. He must have been ruling north of the Mahí and threatened an invasion of Málwa by way of Dohad. He may have been either a Valabhi king or one of the Bhinmál Gurjjaras, who, during the decline of the Valabhis, and with the help of their allies the Chávadás of Anahilaváda whose leader at this time was Yog Rája (A.D. 806-841), may have extended their dominion as far south as the Mahí. As the Baroda plate (A.D. 812) makes no mention of Amoghavarsha-Sarvva while the Navsárí plate (A.D. 816) mentions him as the next king after Govinda III. it follows that Govinda III. died and Amoghavarsha succeeded between A.D. 812 and 816 (S. 734 and 738). This supports Mr. Fleet's conclusion, on the authority of Amoghavarsha's Sirur inscription, that he came to the throne in Saka 736 (A.D. 814). At first Amoghavarsha was unable to make head against the opposition of some of his relations and feudatories, supported, as noted above, by Karka's father Indra. He seems to have owed his subsequent success to his cousin Karka whom an unpublished Surat grant and two later grants (S. 757 and S. 789, A.D. 835 and 867) describe as establishing Amoghavarsha in his own place after conquering by the strength of his arm arrogant tributary Ráshtrakútas who becoming firmly allied to each other had occupied provinces according to their own will.

Karka's Baroda plates (S. 734, A.D. 812) record the grant of Baroda itself called Vadapadraka in the text. Baroda is easily identified by the mention of the surrounding villages of Jambuváviká the modern Jámbuváda on the east, of Ankottaka the modern Ákotá on the west, and of Vaggháchchha perhaps the modern Vághodia on the north. The writer of the grant is mentioned as the great minister of peace and war Nemáditya son of Durgabhatta, and the Dútaka or grantor is said to be Rájaputra that is prince Dantivarmman apparently a son of Karka. The grantee is a Bráhman originally of Valabhi.

Karka's Navsárí grant (S. 738, A.D. 816) is made from Khedá and records the gift of the village of Samípadraka in the country lying between the Mahí and the Narbadá. The grantee is a South Indian Bráhman from Bádámi in Bijápur, a man of learning popularly known as Pandita Vallabharája because he was proficient in the fourteen Vidyás. The Dútaka of this grant is a South Indian bhata or military officer named the illustrious Dronamma.

Karka's Surat grant (S. 743, A.D. 821) is made from the royal camp on the bank of the Vankiká apparently the Vánki creek near Balsár. It records the grant of a field in Ambápátaka village near Nágasárika (Navsárí) to a Jain temple at Nágariká, (Navsárí). The writer of the grant is the minister of war and peace Náráyana son of Durgabhatta. As this is the first grant by a Gujarát Ráshtrakúta of lands south of the Tápti it may be inferred that in return for his support Amoghavarsha added to Karka's territory the portion of the North Konkan which now forms Gujarát south of the Tápti.

[Dantivarmman, Heir Apparent.] According to Karka's Baroda plate (S. 734, A.D. 812) Karka had a son named Dantivarmman who is mentioned as the princely Dútaka of the plate. The fact of being a Dútaka implies that Dantivarmman was then of age. That Dantivarmman was a son of Karka is supported by Akálavarsha's Bagumrá plate (S. 810, A.D. 888), where, though the plate is badly composed and the grammar is faulty, certain useful details are given regarding Dantivarmman who is clearly mentioned as the son of Karka. Karka had another son named Dhruva, who, according to three copperplates, succeeded to the throne. But as Dantivarmman's son's grant is dated Saka 810 or seventy-six years later than the Baroda plate some error seems to have crept into the genealogy of the plate. Neither Dantivarmman nor Dhruva seems to have succeeded their father as according to Govinda's Káví grant (A.D. 827) their uncle Govinda succeeded his brother Karka. The explanation may be that Dantivarmman died during his father's lifetime, and that some years later, after a great yearning for a son, [428] probably in Karka's old age, a second son Dhruva was born, during whose minority, after Karka's death, Govinda appears to have temporarily occupied the throne.

[Govinda, A.D. 827-833.] This Govinda, the brother and successor of Karka, was also called Prabhútavarsha. One plate of Govinda's Káví grant is dated Saka 749 (A.D. 827). It gives no details regarding Govinda. The grant is made from Broach and records the gift of a village [429] to a temple of the Sun called Jayáditya in Kotipur near Kápiká that is Káví thirty miles north of Broach. The writer of the grant is Yogesvara son of Avalokita and the Dútaka or grantor was one Bhatta Kumuda. As it contains no reference to Govinda's succession the plate favours the view that Govinda remained in power only during the minority of his nephew Dhruva.

[Dhruva I. A.D. 835-867.] This Dhruva, who is also called Nirupama and Dhárávarsha, is mentioned as ruler in a Baroda grant dated Saka 757 (A.D. 835). [430] He therefore probably came to the throne either on attaining his majority in the lifetime of his uncle and predecessor Govinda or after Govinda's death. Dhruva's Baroda grant (S. 757, A.D. 835) is made from a place called Sarvvamangalá near Khedá and records the gift of a village to a Bráhman named Yoga [431] of Badarasidhi apparently Borsad. The writer of the grant is mentioned as the minister of peace and war, Náráyana son of Durgabhatta, and the Dútaka or grantor is the illustrious Devarája. Dhruva seems to have abandoned his father's position of loyal feudatory to the main Ráshtrakútas. According to a copperplate dated Saka 832 (A.D. 910) Vallabha that is Amoghavarsha, also called the illustrious great Skanda, sent an army and besieged and burned the Kanthiká that is the coast tract between Bombay and Cambay. In the course of this campaign, according to Dhruva II.'s Bagumrá grant (S. 789, A.D. 867), [432] Dhruva died on the field of battle covered with wounds while routing the army of Vallabha or Amoghavarsha. This statement is supported by a Kanheri cave inscription which shows that Amoghavarsha was still alive in Saka 799 (A.D. 877).

[Akálavarsha, A.D. 867.] Dhruva was succeeded by his son Akálavarsha also called Subhatunga. A verse in Dhruva II.'s Bagumrá grant (S 789, A.D. 867) says that Akálavarsha established himself in the territory of his father, which, after Dhruva's death in battle, had been overrun by the army of Vallabha and had been distracted by evil-minded followers and dependants. [433]

[Dhruva II. A.D. 867.] Akálavarsha was succeeded by his son Dhruva II. also called Dhárávarsha and Nirupama. Of Dhruva II. two copperplates remain the published Bagumrá grant dated Saka 789 [434] (A.D. 867) and an unpublished Baroda grant dated Saka 793 (A.D. 871). [435] Both plates record that Dhruva crushed certain intrigues among his relatives or bandhuvarga, and established himself firmly on the throne. Regarding the troubles at the beginning of his reign the Bagumrá plate states that on one side Vallabha the head of the Dakhan Ráshtrakútas was still against him; on another side Dhruva had to face an army of Gurjjaras instigated by a member of his own family [436]; thirdly he was opposed by certain of his relatives or bándhaváh; and lastly he had to contend against the intrigues of a younger brother or anuja. It further appears from Dhruva II.'s Bagumrá plate that he checked an inroad by a Mihira king with a powerful army. This Mihira king was probably a chief of the Káthiáváda Mehrs who on the downfall of the Valabhis spread their power across Gujarát. In all these troubles the Bagumrá grant notes that Dhruva was aided by a younger brother named Govindarája. This Govindarája is mentioned as appointed by Dhruva the Dútaka of the grant.

Dhruva II.'s Bagumrá (A.D. 867) grant was made at Bhrigu-Kachchha or Broach after bathing in the Narbadá. It records the gift to a Bráhman of the village of Páráhanaka, probably the village of Palsána [437] twelve miles south-east of Bagumrá in the Balesar subdivision of the Gáikwár's territory of Surat and Navsárí. Dhruva's Baroda grant (A.D. 871) was also made at Broach. It is a grant to the god Kapálesvara Mahádeva of the villages Konvalli and Nakkabhajja both mentioned as close to the south bank of the Mahí. The facts that the Bagumrá grant (A.D. 867) transfers a village so far south as Balesar near Navsárí and that four years later the Baroda grant (A.D. 871) mentions that Dhruva's territory lay between Broach and the Mahí seem to prove that between A.D. 867 and 871 the portion of Dhruva's kingdom south of Broach passed back into the hands of the main Ráshtrakútas.

[Akálavarsha-Krishna, A.D. 888.] The next and last known Gujarát Ráshtrakúta king is Akálavarsha-Krishna son of Dantivarmman. A grant of this king has been found in Bagumrá dated Saka 810 (A.D. 888). [438] The composition of the grant is so bad and the genealogical verses after Karka are so confused that it seems unsafe to accept any of its details except its date which is clearly Saka 810 (A.D. 888). It seems also improbable that the son of Dantivarmman who flourished in Saka 734 (A.D. 812) could be reigning in Saka 810 (A.D. 888) seventy-six years later. Still the sixty-three years' reign of the contemporary Mányakheta Ráshtrakúta Amoghavarsha (S. 736-799, A.D. 814-877) shows that this is not impossible.

The grant which is made from Anklesvar near Broach records the gift to two Bráhmans of the village of Kavithasádhi the modern Kosád four miles north-east of Surat, described as situated in the Variávi (the modern Variáv two miles north of Surat) sub-division of 116 villages in the province of Konkan. The grant is said to have been written by the peace and war minister the illustrious Jajjaka son of Kaluka, the Dútaka being the head officer (mahattamasarvádhikári) the Bráhman Ollaiyaka. [439] This grant seems to imply the recovery by the local dynasty of some portion of the disputed area to the south of the Tápti. This recovery must have been a passing success. After Saka 810 (A.D. 888) nothing is known of the Gujarát Ráshtrakútas. [Main Line Restored, A.D. 888-974.] And the re-establishment of the power of the Ráshtrakútas of Mányakheta of the main line in south Gujarát in Saka 836 (A.D. 914) is proved by two copperplates found in Navsárí which record the grant of villages near Navsárí, in what the text calls the Láta country, by king Indra Nityamvarsha son of Jagattunga and grandson of Krishna Akálavarsha. [440]

That Amoghavarsha's long reign lasted till Saka 799 (A.D. 877) is clear from the Kanheri cave inscription already referred to. His reign can hardly have lasted much longer; about Saka 800 (A.D. 878) may be taken to be its end.

[Krishna Akálavarsha, A.D. 888-914.] Amoghavarsha was succeeded by his son Krishna also called Akálavarsha, both his names being the same as those of the Gujarát Ráshtrakúta king of the same time (A.D. 888). [441] It has been noted above that, in consequence of the attempt of Karka's son Dhruva I. (A.D. 835-867) to establish his independence, Amoghavarsha's relations with the Gujarát Ráshtrakútas became extremely hostile and probably continued hostile till his death (A.D. 877). That Amoghavarsha's son Krishna kept up the hostilities is shown by Indra's two Navsárí plates of Saka 836 (A.D. 914) which mention his grandfather Krishna fighting with the roaring Gurjjara. [442] Regarding this fight the late Ráshtrakúta Kardá plate (S. 891, A.D. 973) further says that Krishna's enemies frightened by his exploits abandoned Khetaka, that is Khedá, with its Mandala and its forepart that is the surrounding country. Probably this roaring Gurjjara or king of Gujarát, was a northern ally called in by some Ráshtrakúta of the Gujarát branch, perhaps by Krishna's namesake the donor of the A.D. 888 Bagumrá grant. The Dakhan Krishna seems to have triumphed over his Gujarát namesake as henceforward South Gujarát or Láta was permanently included in the territory of the Dakhan Ráshtrakútas. [443]

At this time (A.D. 910) a grant from Kapadvanj dated S. 832 (A.D. 910) and published in Ep. Ind. I. 52ff. states that a mahásámanta or noble of Krishna Akálavarsha's named Prachanda, with his dandanáyaka Chandragupta, was in charge of a sub-division of 750 villages in the Khedá district at Harshapura apparently Harsol near Parántij. The grant gives the name of Prachanda's family as Bráhma-vaka (?) and states that the family gained its fortune or Lakshmí by the prowess of the feet of Akálavarsha, showing that the members of the family drew their authority from Akálavarsha. The grant mentions four of Prachanda's ancestors, all of whom have non-Gujarát Kánarese-looking names. Though not independent rulers Prachanda's ancestors seem to have been high Ráshtrakúta officers. The first is called Suddha-kkumbadi, the second his son Degadi, the third Degadi's son Rájahamsa, the fourth Rájahamsa's son Dhavalappa the father of Prachanda and Akkuka. The plate describes Rájahamsa as bringing back to his house its flying fortune as if he had regained lost authority. The plate describes Dhavalappa as killing the enemy in a moment and then giving to his lord the Mandala or kingdom which the combined enemy, desirous of glory, had taken. This apparently refers to Akálavarsha's enemies abandoning Khetaka with its Mandala as mentioned in the late Ráshtrakúta Kardá plate (A.D. 973). Dhavalappa is probably Akálavarsha's general who fought and defeated the roaring Gurjjara, a success which may have led to Dhavalappa being placed in military charge of Gujarát. [444] The Kapadvanj (A.D. 910) grant describes Dhavalappa's son Prachanda with the feudatory title 'Who has obtained the five great words.' Dr. Bhagvánlál believed Prachanda to be a mere epithet of Akkuka, and took Chandragupta to be another name of the same person, but the published text gives the facts as above stated. The grantee is a Bráhman and the grant is of the village of Vyághrása, perhaps Vágrá in Broach. [445] The plate describes Akkuka as gaining glory fighting in the battle field. A rather unintelligible verse follows implying that at this time the Sella-Vidyádharas, apparently the North Konkan Siláháras (who traced their lineage from the Vidyádharas) also helped Akálavarsha against his enemies, [446] probably by driving them from South Gujarát. The Siláhára king at this time would be Jhanjha (A.D. 916).

[Indra Nityamvarsha, A.D. 914.] Krishna or Akálavarsha had a son named Jagattunga who does not appear to have come to the throne. Other plates show that he went to Chedi the modern Bundelkhand and remained there during his father's lifetime. By Lakshmí the daughter of the king of Chedi, Jagattunga had a son named Indra also called Nityamvarsha Rattakandarpa. In both of Indra's Navsárí copperplates (A.D. 914) Indra is mentioned as Pádánudhyáta, Falling at the feet of, that is successor of, not his father but his grandfather Akálavarsha. [447] One historical attribute of Indra in both the plates is that "he uprooted in a moment the Mehr," [448] apparently referring to some contemporary Mehr king of North Káthiáváda. Both the Navsárí plates of Saka 836 (A.D. 914) note that the grants were made under peculiar conditions. The plates say that the donor Indra Nityamvarsha, with his capital at Mányakheta, had come to a place named Kurundaka for the pattabandha or investiture festival. It is curious that though Mányakheta is mentioned as the capital the king is described as having come to Kurundaka for the investiture. Kurundaka was apparently not a large town as the plates mention that it was given in grant. [449] At his investiture Indra made great gifts. He weighed himself against gold or silver, and before leaving the scales he gave away Kurundaka and other places, twenty and a half lákhs of dramma coins, and 400 villages previously granted but taken back by intervening kings. These details have an air of exaggeration. At the same time gifts of coins by lákhs are not improbable by so mighty a king as Indra and as to the villages the bulk of them had already been alienated. The fact of lavish grants is supported by the finding of these two plates of the same date recording grants of two different villages made on the same occasion, the language being the same, and also by a verse in the late Ráshtrakúta Kardá plate (S. 894, A.D. 972) where Indra is described as making numerous grants on copperplates and building many temples of Siva. [450] The date of Indra's grants (S. 836, A.D. 914) is the date of his investiture and accession. This is probable as the latest known date of his grandfather Krishna is Saka 833 [451] (A.D. 911) and we know that Indra's father Jagattunga did not reign. [452] Umvará and Tenna, the villages granted in the two investiture plates, are described as situated near Kammanijja the modern Kámlej in the Láta province. They are probably the modern villages of Umra near Sáyan four miles west of Kámlej, and of Tenna immediately to the west of Bárdoli, which last is mentioned under the form Váradapallikâ as the eastern boundary village. Dhruva II.'s Bagumrá plate (S. 789, A.D. 867) mentions Tenna as granted by Dhruva I. to a Bráhman named Dhoddi the father of the Nennapa who is the grantee of Dhruva II.'s A.D. 867 Bagumrá grant, whose son Siddhabhatta is the grantee of Indra's A.D. 914 grant. [453] The re-granting of so many villages points to the re-establishment of the main Ráshtrakúta power and the disappearance of the Gujarát branch of the Ráshtrakútas. [454]

Though no materials remain for fixing how long after A.D. 914 Gujarát belonged to the Mányakheta Ráshtrakútas, they probably continued to hold it till their destruction in Saka 894 (A.D. 972) by the Western Chálukya king Tailappa. This is the more likely as inscriptions show that till then the neighbours of Gujarát, the North Konkan Siláháras, acknowledged Ráshtrakúta supremacy.

It is therefore probable that Gujarát passed to the conquering Tailappa as part of the Ráshtrakúta kingdom. Further, as noted below in Part II.