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MAY, 1908) HISTORY AND COINAGE OF THE CHANDEL DYNASTY.
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Except as above stated, and a tank at Ajaygaph and a gateway at Kalañjar, no particular building or artificial lake is definitely connected with the na:ne of Parmil, although loose popular tradition attributes to him in a vague way many of the antiquities of the country.
According to Chand and local tradition, Parmal was succeeded at Mahoba by his son Samarjit, who retained the control of the local aiministration until he was killed by à Muhammadan named, Binke-ud-din (see note 49 post). Although the name of Samarjit is not mentioned in the inscriptions, I do not see any special reason for disbelieving the tradition. The incursion of Prithiraj seems to have been a merely temporary raid, which did not imply any perroanent conquest of Jejikabhukti, and the epigraphic evidence indicates that Trailokyavarman, the recognized successor of Parmil as sovereign, had his headquarters at Ajaygach. Samarjit may have been his younger brother, and may have held Mahobi as best he could until 1203 A, D., when both he and his father were overwhelmed by the Muhammadan invader.
The fortress of Ajaygarh stands in the State of that name to the south-east of Mahoba, to the south-west of Kalañjar, and a little north of east from Khajuraho. The irregular quadrilateral formed by these four places was the centre of the Chandel power. The dynasty, which arose at Maniyagarh and Mahöbi about 831 A, D., seems to have occapied Khajuraho .about 900 A. D., and certainly seized K&lañjur, in the reign of Yaśövarman, the seventh king, about 930 or 940 A. D. Ajaygarh, if Mr. Beglar is right, was held by Ribila, the fifth king, nt the beginning of the tenth century. Cunningham's description of Ajaygarh (Rep., Vol. XXI.. pp. 46-54) must be read with caution, as his account of the inscriptions contains many errors. A private dedication inscription No. 19), which mentions Madanavarman as the reigning kiny in 1151 A. D., is the earliest Chandel record at this site. A tank in the fort is ascribed to Parmal, and there are inscriptions of his successors Trailokyavarman, Viravarman, and Bhöjavarman. It seems that after the capture of Kilajar by Kutb-nd-din in 1203 A. D., the Cbandėl chiefs resided ordinarily at Ajaygarh, twenty miles distant. Inscriptions No. 35a and 356, as interpreted by Canningham, indicate that they sought compensation by pushing eastward into Rêwa, bat his interpretation is open to doubt.
The history and antiquities of the famous fort of Kalanjar have been related and described by Canningham in Volume XXI of his Reports, making use of the earlier accounts by Pogaon and Maisey. From very ancient times the hill had been a favourite resort of Saiva ascetics, and it is said to be included in a list of nine holy places of Northeru India given in the Padma Purdna. It is impossible to say when or by whom it was first occupied as a fortress. Cunningham's theory that the Kalachuri Era of 249 A, D., commemorates the oscnpation of Kilañjar at that date by the Kalachuri kings of Chedi is not supported by the most recent researches, which indicate that the era was used first in Gujarat and the Thana District Near Bombay.23 Inscription No. 2 of my list distinctly affirms that Yasóvarian, the seventh Chandel king, annexed the hill of Kalañjar. There is no reason to doubt the truth of this statement, and we are consequently justified in believing that the Ohandel couuexion with the fortress began about 930 or 940 A. D. After that date the titles of the Chandel kings usually include that of lord of Kalañjar,' which was also assumed by some of the kings of Chedi, the rivals, and at times the enemies of the Chandels. The Chandel inscriptions at the fortress 1postly belong to the reigns of Madanavarman and Paramardi (1128---1203 A. D.); bat , tank, named the .Budhi or Barhyia Tal' by Cunningham, is associated by tradition with the Dale of Kirtivarman (c. 1060-1100 A. D.). This king is believed by the people to have been a leper, and to have recovered his health by bathing in this tank at Kalajar. The fortress was taken by Kutb-ud-din Ibak (Aibak) in April, 1208, from Parmál ( Paramardi ), who died immediately afterwards. The Masalanans held it only for a short time, and it was then recovered by the Hindus, ay is proved by inscriptions Nos. 41 and 48.
28 Fleet, J. R. A. 8., 1905, P465.
