Part 2.1 - Biography of Mularaja I (A.D.941-997)

[Full title: History of Chaulukyas (1) Mularaja I [V.S.998-1053] (A.D.941-997)]

There were once three brothers, Raji, Bija and Dandaka, who came to Somanatha on a pilgrimage. On their return journey they were passing through Anahilapataka, the capital of the Chapotkata king, Samantasimha. One day king Samantasimha was engaged in the amusement of manege" and the three young pilgrims hastened to witness the show. Suddenly the king mishandled a horse and whipped it. This was too much for Raji who exclaimed: "Alas! Alas 1" This censure drew the attention of the king to Raji who was then able to impress him by his knowledge of horsemanship. Thus began a friendship which was strengthened when Samanthasimha gave his sister Liladevi in marriage to Raji. Some time later Liladevi died while pregnant; her womb was opened and the son taken out. This son was named Mularaja as he was born under the auspices of the star Mula. Mularaja became popular at an early age because he was 'resplendent as the newly rising sun', and by his valour he extended the sway of his maternal uncle Samantasimha. But Samanthasimha began to throw dangerous temptations in the way of his ambitious nephew: he would crown Mularaja when drunk and depose him when sober; the 'Chapotkata gift' became a proverbial jest. Finding himself daily disappointed in this manner, Mularaja made ready his followers and while he was one day being placed on the throne by his inebriate uncle, he killed him and thus became the master in reality. 44 This event probably took place in V.S. 998.

35 45 This detailed story of Mularaja's accession is given by Merutunga. But three other Chroniclers, namely, Arisimha, Udayaprabha, and Krsnaji also state that Mularaja was the son of the sister of the last Chapotkata king. We also learn from the drama Moharajaparajoya that the Chapotkatas were notorious drunkards.46 Mularaja claims in one of his inscriptions that he conquered the "province watered by Sarasvati through the strength of his arms". ," 47 Thus it seems that the transfer of power from the Chapotkatas to the Caulukyas was not peaceful and Mularaja was most probably the nephew of the last Chapotkata king. However, Merutunga's story suffers from one great drawback. According to him Samantasimha reigned only for seven years. If, therefore Raji married Samantasimha's sister during the latters reign, the child of that marriage could at most be about six years old at the time of Samantasimha's death. The absurdity of a child of six years murdering his uncle and ascending the throne was pointed out long ago by Buhler, who entirely dismissed the story of the Gujarat Chroniclers and suggested that Mularaja was a conqueror of Samantasimha's kingdom." 48 There is no doubt however that Mularaja removed the Chapotkata king, for we find in the Vadanagar-Prasasti the following statement : 1 "Illustrious Mularaja by excessively light taxes gained to the affection of his subjects. He made the fortune of the Chapotkata princes, whom he took captive at his will, an subject of enjoyment for the multitude of his relations, of Brahmins, bards and servants". 49