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Faina Temples of Western India
ruler, Dhruvasena I (519-549 A.D.), the younger Valabhi kingdom at this time included the whole brother and successor of Dronasimha, seems to have of northern and central Gujarat.60 increased his power, as the Gärulak as of Dwarka
Dhruvasena II was succeeded by his son acknowledged his supremacy.52 But his Mahäsä.
Dharasena IV (641-650 A. D.), who was the most manta title clearly shows that he was still under
powerful ruler of the dynasty, as he alone among the yoke of his overlord. The Valabhi kingdom
the Valabhi rulers is termed Cakravartin. In 649 under these rulers included almost the whole of
A. D. he issued two grants from his victorious camp Kathiawar and probably northern Gujarat.
at Broach,61 a place which lay in the Gurjara Dhruvasena I was succeeded by his younger territory. Perhaps Dharasena wrested the region brother Dharapatta, and the latter by his son around Broach from the Gurjaras and included it Guhasena. Guhasena discarded all the titles of in his own dominion.62 The occupation of Broach, subordinate position and styled himself as however, was only temporary, for the Gurjaras Mahārāja.53 This indicates that the Gujarat continued to rule over that part for many years expedition of Isvaravarman, in the course of which after this, 63 he is said to have reached Raivataka, 54 is not a
After Dharasena IV Dhruvasena III (650-655 reality, or it was successfully repulsed back by the
A. D.), son of Silāditya, occupied the Maitraka Maitraka ruler. Guhasena's son and successor,
throne. He was followed by Kharagraha II (655Dharasena II (568-590 A. D.), again assumed the
658 A. D.). During the reigns of these rulers there title of Sāmanta. It appears that the Maitraka
was some internal trouble, the nature of which is power declined during this period and probably
not known. But the situation was overcome when Dharasena had to acknowledge the sovereignty of
Silāditya III ascended the Maitraka throne. Isänavarman, who was a powerful monarch of Northern India at this time.85
Siladitya III (circa 658–685 A.D.) was undoub
tedly a powerful ruler. Like Dharasena IV he Dharasena II was succeeded by his son Siladitya I
assumed the imperial titles and conquered the Dharmāditya (590-615 A. D.), who is generally
Gurjara territory, for in 676 A. D. he made some identified with Silāditya of Mo-la-po (Malwa)
land grants in the Bharukaccha-visaya.64 But soon mentioned by Hiuen Tsang. 66 He ruled over an
the Gurjaras under Dadda III retrieved the posiextensive area stretching from Ujjain to Kutch.
tion with the aid of the Cälukya king Dharāírya Silāditya I was succeeded by his younger brother Jayasimha, as the latter claims to have extermiKharagraha I (615-621 A. D.), and the latter by nated the whole army of Vajjad (Śilāditya) in the his son Dharasena III (621-627 A.D.). Not much country between Mahi and Narmada. 65 Another is known about Kharagraha. But Dharasena pro- event of his reign was an Arab raid against Gogha, bably came into conflict with Calukya Pulakesin II a port on the eastern coast of Kathiawar, which he and, as is clear from the claims of the Aihole successfully repulsed.86 prašasti, he had to submit to the Calukya ruler.57 After Siladitya III there ruled three or four
Dharasena III was succeeded by his younger Siladityas covering a period of about 85 years. It brother Dhruvasena II Bālāditya (627-641 A. D.). was probably during the time of Siladitya V that who is generally identified with Dhruvabhatta, the the Arabs invaded Valabhi. Indeed the Navsari son-in-law of Harsa referred to by Hiuen Tsang. It plates reveal that having conquered the Saindhavas, was during this period that Hiuen Tsang visited Kacchella, Saurastra, Cavotaka, Maurya, Gurjara the kingdom of Valabhi.58 The most important and other kings, the Tajikäs (Arabs) advanced as event of his reign was his conflict with Harsa. In far south as Navasärika, but their further advance the beginning he perhaps suffered a reverse, but was checked by Avanijanäsraya Pulakesirāja.67 subsequently he retrieved his position with the The Maitraka records are silent about this Arab help of the Gurjara king Dadda II. Harsa then invasion. The Gurjara records, however, reveal offered his daughter in marriage to Dhruvabhatta that king Jayabhata IV of Broach forcibly vanand the latter in turn became his ally,59 The quished in the city of Valabhi the Täjikās who
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