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RASTRAKUTA--PRATIHARA PERIOD
223
746
746
746
751
Vanarāja established the city Aộahillapura. This city was founded in place of Lākhārāma, situated on the bank of the river Sarasvati in V.S. 802 (746 A.D.), in commemoration of his young friend Anabila, a shepherd.
Vanaraja Cāvadā, the founder of the line, was installed on the throne, according to the Jaina Prabandhas, by his Jaina Guru, Silaguņasūri. Though the official religion was Saiva and sākta, most of the influential persons in the realm, like the Mahājanas, were Jaina and occupied high position in the State. Vanarāja's prime-minister was a Jaina Vaạik named Campā, the founder of Campāner. Ninna a merchant-prince, whom Vanarāja regarded as father, built a temple of Rşabha at Aņhilvāļa. This Ninna or Ninnaya's son Lahara was a general in Vanarāja's army.
Sulaiman ibn Hasham was the Governor of Sindh under the Khalifah Marwan II (744-750 A.D.)–(Elliot, Arabs in Sindh, 37; EHI., i, 443).
Bappabhatti Sūri was born in V. S. 800. His spiritual teacher, Siddhasena Sūri had given him dikşă in Modherā in V. S. 807 ( 751 A. D.). Ama, (according to JTSS-Vol. II, pt. 6 & 7) was born in V. S. 807 and died in 895. In course of time he became a king. He is named Nāgabhata and Nāgāvaloka also. He belonged to the Pratihāra dynasty of Bhinmāla, a boy in Rāmasainyapura.--( Prabhāvakacarita-Synga-XI, v. 49). This city is referred to as * Rāmasainya' in Gurvāvali, (v. 57), which is ten Gavyūtas from Dişā and twelve Gavyūtas to the north of Bhilaạiyā.-(Vide, JTSS, Vol. I, pt. I, p. 38).
Rāştrakūța king Dantidurga, son of Indrarāja, led an expedition across the Revā (Narmadā) and Mahi (Samangadh Plates of 754 A. D., IA, XI, iii), and conquered Lāța and Mālava (Elurā Cave-inscription, BAS. No. 10, 92 ff.). He subjugated kings of Gurjara and of other kingdoms, and celebrated the 'Hiranyagarbha' ceremony at Ujjayini on the Rathasaptumi day of 754 A.D., when he weighed himself against gold and distributed the same among the Brāhmaṇas.-(Sanjan Plates; EI, XVIII, 243 ff.).
This appears to be the earliest extension of the Răstrakața power over South Gujarat.-(A. S. Altekar, The Rāstrakūțas and their Times, p. 33 fn.)
Rāștrakūta king Govindarāja, son of Dhruvarāja and grandson of Kakkarāja I, assumed power in South Gujarat, shortly after Dantidugra's conquest of Lāța.
Maritime activities of the people of Valabhi are given in the Buddhist work Manju-sri-Mülakalpa. People of Valabhi reached Sūrā by crossing the sea which probably refers to their trade ventures to and regular commerce with Assyria.-( Jayaswal, op. cit., p. 25). This information is further corroborated by Dandin in his Daśakumaracarita.
754
750
C. 750
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