Part 2.10 - Biography of Mularaja II (A.D. 1175-1178)

[Full title: History of Chaulukyas (10) Mularaja II [V.S.1232-1235] (A.D. 1175-1178)]

Mularaja II or Bala Mularaja as he is affectionately called by the Chroniclers, ascended the throne of his father Ajayapala, while still a boy. His mother was Naikidevi, the daughter of one Paramadin, who has been identified with the Goa Kadamba Mahamandalesvara Permadi or Sivacitta. 132 But in a Chandella inscription issued in V.S.1261, it is stated that the Donnee's father died at Kakadadaha while fighting the Turushkas. 133 Now Merutunga states that Queen Naiki fought the Muslims at Gadararaghatta. Probably

60 Gadararaghatta and Kakadadaha are identical, and it is likely that Naiki was the daughter of the Candella Paramardin. 134 Mularaja ascended the throne in V.S.1232. The earliest known inscription of his brother and successor Bhima II, is dated V.S.1235 Hence Mularaja's reign lasted for not more than three years. 135 The Chroniclers rightly single out the defeat of the Muslims as the only incident worthy of being remembered about Mularaja. Somesvara states that Mularaja defeated the lord of the Turushkas, and vanquished the Mlechchha army. 136 Balacandra states that King Mularaja, though an infant, defeated the Mlechchha king. 137 From the Sukrtakirtikallolini we learn that his mother gave Mularaja an army to play with out of curiosity, and with that army he defeated Hammira and his Turushka army which was dressed in robes that covered the soldiers from the head to foot. 138 Arisimha also refers to Mularaja's victory over the Muslims, and an inscription of Bhima's reign states that during the reign of Mularaja even a woman could defeat Hammira. 139 The Mlechchha king was identified as Mu izz udin, when he attacked Gujarat in A.D.1178, 140 The other important event during the reign of Mularaja was the uprising in Malava. This incident is only mentioned in Suratotsava by Somesvara whose father Kumara was given the command in Malava. According to Somesvara Kumara was made the chief minister by Pratapamalla of the Rastrakuta family, who was apparently the regent; Kumara was •

61 entrusted with the charge of the army by the Caulukya king, and achieved victory by defeating the enemies. Kumara had to fight with Vindhyavarman the king of Dhara, who had to leave the battle-field. Thereafter Kumara destroyed a town called Gogasthana which belongs to Vindhyavarman, and struck a well where the palace of the Malava king once stood. Kumara then plundered the Malava country and took away all its wealth though his son complains, he did not find any gold or silver. Kumara is also said to have brought down an army of the Mlechchha near the Queen's lake. 141 Soon after the battle with Mu'zz ud-din, Mularaja died; for the earliest known inscription of Bhima II is dated V.S.1235. All the Chroniclers of Gujarat have proudly mentioned this gallant boy with affection and Somesvara lements that the Creator swiftly uprooted the shoot of the tree of paradise that was Mularaja. 142