This article will prove how dependent we are on foreign historians… The glorification of this king’s deeds is always under controversy. Foreign historians claim that he ruled only the Indian Subcontinent. While Indian scholars claim that he ruled over most parts of Asia, the irony is that both accept him to be the Alexander of India. Obviously, we accept whatever foreigners have taught us.
Karkota Dynasty Kashmir
Karkota dynasty founder was Durlabhavardhana. The specialty of this dynasty is that it emerged out of Kashmir and thus is a Kashmiri dynasty. This dynasty was culturally Kashmiri and represents the glorious history of Kashmir. For those who are unaware, Kashmir was once a world centre for knowledge and trade.
Lalitaditya was the strongest ruler of the dynasty. This dynasty remained in power between 625 & 855 CE for around two and a half centuries. It is estimated to be an empire of 8 million kilometers. The Karkota dynasty area remains under dispute. Some scholars claim that the dynasty ruled only in Kashmir; the fact is that Lalitaditya’s empire stretched from the Caspian Sea all the way to Bangladesh and beyond in the east; from Afghanistan in the north all the way to most parts of southern India. The Karkota dynasty capital was Parihaspur.
Lalitaditya Muktapida
He is said to be the first Hindu king of Kashmir. He is also referred to as the Samudra Gupta of Kashmir and Alexander of India. His account is written in the chronicle of kings called Rajatarangini, whose author is the Kashmiri scholar Kalhana. Kalhana lived in the 12th century. According to this account, Lalitaditya was the greatest king of all time in India. He ruled over all of India and unified India under one political leadership. Major conquests were made under his reign. He went ahead and conquered Afghanistan and much of central Asia.
Another king, breaking the myth that India never invaded any foreign land. This enormous empire was created by one emperor by way of conquests and invasions. Every kingdom was given two choices by Muktapida- the first choice was to become an ally, and the second was to lose its existence. Here are some who faced the great Lalitaditya. He won in the battle against Yashovarman, king of Kannauj, in 740 AD. He was able to defeat the Turks, Tibetans, Bhutias, Kambojas, and many others.
He is the man who constructed the great Martand temple, which has now been destroyed by terrorists.
Kalhana wrote that Lalitaditya constructed a shrine in every town, village, river, sea, and island. His wives, ministers, and attendants consecrated hundreds of images in these temples. Idols of the deities, made of gold and silver, were placed in these shrines. Many Brahmin immigrants were brought to Kashmir during his time. The word “brahmin” here does not represent any caste. It represents scholars and knowledgeable people.
He was a liberal king, having respect for all faiths, and was well versed in the Shastras. Art and trade increased during his reign. The Turks attacked India during his reign. This was the first attempt to invade India by an Arab. Lalitaditya protected his empire and defeated the Turks in such a way that they did not cast their evil eye on India for many years. Lalitaditya was concerned with the treatment of Hindus in the Afghan region by the Arabs. After he defeated them, he ordered them to shave off half of their heads as a symbol of their submission. These are the same Arabs who are forever glorified by the so-called great historians of India.
Lalitaditya was succeeded by his sons: first Kuvalayapida and then Vajraditya. He died in 760 AD. Ironically, even his death remains a mystery. There are two theories about how he died:
1. He died while carrying out a military campaign in Aryanaka (Eastern Iran-at present) due to heavy snowfall that occurred out of season.
2. He committed suicide after being separated from his army on a difficult mountain route.
The first theory seems more convincing, keeping in mind the valor of this king.
The successors did not prove effective in maintaining the independence of Kashmir.
Martand Sun Temple
Lalitaditya built the great Martand Sun Temple. It is a Hindu temple in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir (union territory), India, near the city of Anantnag. It was built in the eighth century AD and was dedicated to Surya, Hinduism’s primary solar deity. In the Sanskrit language, martand is a synonym for “sun”.
Sikandar Shah Miri damaged the temple. According to Jonaraja and Hasan Ali, Sikandar Shah Miri (1389–1413) demolished the temple in order to Islamize the inhabitants of the place. He did it on the recommendation of Sufi preacher Mir Muhammad Hamadani.
It is one of the oldest temple ruins. It is now called “Shaitan Ki Gufa” (the Devil’s cave) by the Kashmiri Muslims. Once a temple (God’s place), is now called the Devil’s cave!!!
Yes, the dynasty did not exist for a long time. But this doesn’t make it less powerful or unworthy of being in our history books.
click here to read about:
The Cholas - Another great dynasty which is missing from our history books.
