Part 2.11 - Biography of Bhima II (A.D. 1178-1241)

[Full title: History of Chaulukyas (11) Bhima II [V.S.1235-1298] (A.D. 1178-1241)]

Bhima II, at an early age, succeeded his brother Mularaja after the latter's premature death. At the time of his accession, the extent of his kingdom was practically as Kumarapala had left it. In the north it included Mewad and Aghatapura ; 143 in the south it included Lata upto Broach. 144 In the north-east it included the Vagada region, that is the area occupied by 145 Dungarpur and Banswara. Part of Malava including Dhara probably still formed a part of the Caulukya empire, for the Paramara's are not likely to have succeeded in freeing that part of Malava from the Caulukyas soon after Vindhyavarman suffered the humiliating defeat at the hands of Kumara. At his accession, Bhima was faced with the grave situation created by the defection of his Mandalikas; that is the provincial governors, who trying to take advantage of his extreme youth, attempted to parcel out the kingdom amongst themselves, as had been successfully done in the neighbouring states. 146 It was at this juncture that Arnoraja, who had served under Kumarapala as a Samanta, came to the rescue of the throne, which he seems to have saved at the cost of his life, for the Chroniclers state that he 147 died fighting with the rebels. This brave action, however paved the way for the future greatness of his son and grandson, Lavanaprasada and Viradhavala, the real founders of the Vaghela dynasty.

63 It was all along the peculiar misfortune of Bhima that he had to face trouble from within and without almost at the same time. Probably the internal disorganisation invited foreign invasion from which the throne emerged weaker and further shorn of glory, which again prompted internal risings. This vicious circle all but exhausted the kingdom in spite of the energetic aid he received from the three or four generations of the Vaghelas. It has been seen that Lavanaprasada and his son Viradhavala played a vital role in the history of Gujarat during the reign of Bhima. It is possible that they came into prominence by helping Bhima, to recover his capital from the usurper, though different Chroniclers give different versions, of the rise in power of the Vaghelas. According to Somesvara, once the Gurjaralaksmi in distress appeared in a a dream to Lavanaprasada, and called upon him with the aid of his son Viradhavala, to save the kingdom which had fallen into decay in the unskilled hands of Bhima. Somesvara further states that he himself was called before Lavanaprasada on the following morning, and asked the meaning of the vision, He convinced Lavanaprasada that he was appointed by Providence to save his mother-land and induced to obey the command of the goddess. Thereupon Lavanaprasada entrusted to his son the execution of the duty laid upon him. Shortly afterwards Vastupala and Tejapala were appointed ministers by Lavanaprasada without any reference to Bhima. 148

64 Balacandra Suri wrote his work for the delectation of Vastupala's son at the end of the thirteenth century of the Vikrama era. He praises Bhima for his charity but states that owing to his extreme youth, he was unable to control the Mandalikas who began to divide the country amongst themselves. Arnoraja, the father of Lavanaprasada remained true to the king, and annihilating Mandalikas, protected the kingdom. His son was Lavanaprasada who delighted in battles and before whom the kings of Cola, Kerala, Lata, Malava, Rada,Huna Andhra, Kanchi, Kaunkana, Jangala, Pandya, Kuntala, Vanga, Kalinga and Cedi trembled. His son was Viradhavla who was also very valiant, shared the burden of administration with him. As Viradhavala was thinking of appointing an able minister, one night he had a dream in which Rajyalaksmi appeared before him and asked him to appoint as ministers the two brothers, Vastupala and Tejapala. Next moming Viradha vala acted accordingly. - 149 The other contemporary author Arisimha, writing in V.S.1285, gives a different account of the rise of Vaghelas into prominence. According to Arisimha, it was Bhima who dreamt; but in his case Kumarapala appeared and advised him to appoint Lavanaprasada as the Servesvara, his son Viradhavala as the Yuvaraja, and to help to spread the Jaina faith. Next day in the Durbar, Bhima declared publicly that as it was thrmuch Arnoraja's help that he became king, so out of gratitude and in order to increase his decreasing prosperity, he would appoint Lavanaprasada as Servesvara and Viradhavala as his heir apparent. As Viradhavala humbly begged for an advisor, Bhima recommended the two brothers, Vastupala and Tejapala. 150

65 According to Vastupala-Tejapala-Prasasti, Bhima was very charitable. He appointed Lavanaprasada to the task of reviving the fortunes of his kingdom. Viradhavala requested Bhima to give him some good ministers, whereupon Bhima recommended Vastupala and Tejapala who had been working as Bhima's ministers, 151 According to Udayaprabha, the preceptor of Vastupala, Arnoraja was the king of Bhimapalli and recipient of favours from Kumarapala. Arnoraja defeated the kings of Medhapata and Candravati. In view of the fact that Arnoraja made him king, Bhima in his turn entrusted his kingdom to Arnoraja's son Lavanaprasada, 152 153 Bhima had two wives; one was Liladevi the daughter of Cahamana prince Samarasimha, who has been identified with the Javalipura Cahamana king of that name; the other was Sumaladevi, who had the distinction of signing a land grant jointly with her consort. The Chroniclers testify to his charitable disposition, and his assumption of the epithets such as AbhinavaSiddharaja, Saptama-Cakravarti, and Bala-Narayana tend to show that though over shadowed by the abler Vaghelas he was not without the qualities that make a man fit to rule, 154