Paramara Dynasty: Founders, Kings, Capital and Their Legacy

The Paramara Dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled Malwa and surrounding areas in west-central India between the 9th and 14th centuries. The Paramara dynasty’s rule was established after the rule of the Pratihara and Chedi dynasties.

It is likely that the dynasty’s early rulers were vassals of the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta when it was established in the ninth or tenth century.

Paramaras literally means ‘destroyer of enemies’. Halayudha describes Paramara as Brahmakshatrakulina. Early inscriptions of the paramaras state that the paramara rulers were born into a Rashtrakuta family.

An Overview of the Paramara Dynasty

Time period: 9th to 14th century AD.

Location: Malwa Region (West-Central India).

Capital of Paramara Dynasty: Dhar (MP), also known as Dharanagar (Ruler Munja), Later Mandapa-Durga (now Mandu).

Paramara Dynasty founder: Upendraraja (Krishnaraja).

Last ruler of Paramara Dynasty: Mahalakadeva or Mahlak Deo.

List of rulers: Upendraraja (krishnaraja). Vairishimha I. Siyaka I. Vakpati I. Vairisimha II. Siyaka II. Munja (Vakpati II). Sindhuraja. Bhoja. Jayasimha I. Udayaditya. Lakshmanadeva. Naravarman. Yashovarman. Jayavarman I. Vindhyavarman. Subhatavarman. Arjunavarman I. devapala. Jaitugideva. Jayavarman II. Arjunavarman II. Bhoja II. Mahalakadeva.

List of inscriptions:

Harsola copper plate inscription of Siyaka (949 CE) (the earliest available Paramara inscription; it suggests that he was a vassal of the Rashtrakutas).

• 1274 CE Mandhata copper-plate inscription of Jayavarman II.
• Udaipur Prashasti Inscription.
• Nagpur Prashasti Inscription.
• Dharampuri Copper Plate (974-75 CE).

Language: Sanskrit.

Religion: Shaivism, and Followers of Jainism Also.

Architecture: Bhumija style of temple architecture.

Paramara Dynasty Kings

Upendraraja (Krishnaraja)

• The founder of the Paramara dynasty was Upendraraja (Krishnaraja). Their capital was Dhara (MP). The Paramara Rulers made Dhara the literary capital of India.
• In the Udaipur Inscription, he was called “Dvijavargaratna.” Upendraraja’s court poet was Sita. He composed many songs under his patronage.

Harsha or Siyaka II (940–972 AD)

• Gujarat is home to the oldest known Paramara inscriptions, which date back to the 10th century and were written by the monarch Siyaka. Around 972 CE, Siyaka sacked the Rashtrakuta capital Manyakheta and established the Paramaras as a sovereign power.
• He defeated the Rashtrakuta King Khotting in a battle on the banks of the Narmada. He even defeated the Rashtrakuta army in the “Battle of Kalighatta.” He defeated and killed the Hun king and captured Hummandal.
• He converted the abode of the huns into a brothel. Munja and Sindhuraja were the sons of Siyaka. Munja was his adopted son and succeeded Siyaka as ruler.

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Munja/vakapati II (972-994 AD)

• Titles: Utpalaraj, Srivallabha, Amoghavarsha, Prithvi Vallabha, Kavimitra, Kavibrish, Vakpati-Raja-Deva.
• Builder: Munjasagar Pond in Mandu, Munjapur Nagar, Gujarat.
• Composition: He wrote a book on geography called “Munjapratideshakyasa.”.
• Under his successor Munja, the Malwa region of present-day Madhya Pradesh became the core Paramara region, with Dhara (present-day Dhar) as its capital.
• Munja defeated Kalachuri King Yuvaraja II and looted Tripuri. Then Munja defeated Chalukya Raja Tailapa II in battle six times. But in the seventh battle, Munja, ignoring the advice of his Minister Rudraditya, crossed the Godavari River to engage in battle. As a result, he was defeated and eventually killed. The details of this battle and its outcome were found in the “Prabandha Chintamani,” written by Merutunga.

Some court poets of his time and their written works are:

Sindhuraja (994-1010 AD)

• Titles: Nava-Sahasanka, Kumara-Narayana. His court poet Padmagupta gave him the titles “Malava-Raja,” “Avantishvara” (Avantitilaka) (Lord of Avanti), and Paramamahibhrta.
• He first defeated his contemporary Chalukya ruler Satyashraya of Kalyani.
• Sindhuraja’s court poet was Padmagupta. During his time at the court, he composed “Nava-Shahasanka-Charita”, from which we learn about his lifestyle.
• He defeated the Anarya Ruler vajrakusha at the request of Nalavanshi ruler of bastar kingdom.

Bhoja (1010-1055 AD)

• Titles: Kaviraja, Tribhuvana-Narayana, Malav Chakrabarty.
• The dynasty reached its zenith under Munja’s nephew Bhoja, whose kingdom extended from Chittor in the north to Konkan in the south and from the Sabarmati River in the west to Vidisha in the east.
• During the Paramara dynasty, Malwa experienced significant political and cultural prominence. The Paramaras were well known for their patronage of Sanskrit poets and scholars, and Bhoja was himself a renowned scholar.
• The books written by Bhoja are:
  • Ayurveda Saravasya (medicine).
  • Samarangana Sutradhara (Art and Architecture).
  • Shringara Prakasha (Sanskrit poetry, related to rhetoric or alamkkara-shastra and rasa).
  • Sarasvati-Kanthabharan (Sanskrit grammar and Vedic perspective).
  • Sringara Manjari (a Sanskrit book; the book is about a courtesan’s mother teaching her daughter how to deal with men of different types).
  • Rajamrganka (Ayurveda Book).
  • Arikakalpataru.
  • Kurmashataka.
  • Shalihotram (Treatment of Horses).
  • Yukti-Kalpataru (Ship Building, Architecture, Town Planning, and Palace Construction).
  • Tatvapariksha (related to Shaivism).
  • Tattva Prakasha (Treatise on Tantras).
  • Rasaraja Mriganka (Related to Chemistry (Ores) and Drugs), etc.
• Bhoja expanded the capital city of Dhara and established a Sanskrit college called Bhojasala or Sarasvati Kanthavaran in Dhara. He constructed a lake named ‘Bhojasar’ at Bhopal. He built 84 temples at the intersection of Dhara Nagar.
• Under the Paramaras, Malwa experienced significant political and cultural prestige. The Paramaras were well known for their patronage of Sanskrit poets and scholars, and Bhoja was himself a renowned scholar.
• The Paramara King Bhoja first clashed with the Chalukyas of Kalyani. He also acquired Konkan region in 1024 AD and celebrated the Konkan Vijay Parva to mark the occasion.
• Bhoja was assisted in this battle by the Kalachuri Ruler Gangeyadeava and the Chola Ruler Rajendra. He defeated Indraratha, the ruler of Orissa, and looted his capital, Adinagar. Indraratha is also mentioned in the Tirumalai Inscription of Chola Dynasty Ruler Rajendra Chola.
• In the battle with Chahamana Dynasty Ruler Viryarama, Bhoja’s General Saad died on the battlefield, and then he appointed Kulachandra to this position. His contemporary Chandela Dynasty ruler was Vidyadhara.
• In the last days of his reign, Chalukya King Bhima I and Kalachuri Dynasty King Lakshmikarna jointly attacked Malwa. In this battle, he was defeted and killed.
• According to Abul Fazal (Ain-i-Akbari), there were 500 pandits in Bhoja’s court.

Udayditya (1070-1086 AD)

• Udayaditya, with the help of Vigraharaja (Chahamana king), freed his capital from Kalachuri Dynasty King Naresh Karna.
• Udayaditya founded Udaipur city near Bhilsha, and he established Nilakantheswara Temple.

Naravarman (1094-1133 AD)

• Naravarman’s title was “Nirvanarayana.”

Yashovarman (1133-1142)

• Yashovarman was the prime minister of the Paramaras who assumed the title of “Mahapradhana-Purushottama: Deva.”
• Chalukya Dynasty king Jayasimha Sidhharaja defeated Paramara Ruler Yashovarman and captured the whole of Malwa. After this victory, he assumed the title “Avantinatha” (Lord of Avanti).

Mahalakadeva (1301-1305 AD)

• The last recorded Paramara monarch, Mahalakadeva, was assassinated in 1305 CE by the armies of Alauddin Khalji of Delhi, however there is epigraphic evidence that the Paramaras ruled for a few more years following his death.

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Administration of the Paramara Dynasty

• In terms of administrative system, the king was supreme. Below the king was the prime minister, who assisted the king in administrative work.
• There were elephants, chariots, infantry, and cavalry in the army. They used more elephants in wars at that time. Because elephants were readily available in India, and the use of horses on battlefields had not yet begun in such a way.
• Due to the massive size of elephants, they were used for defense work. They were essential in trampling the infantry of the enemy army and breaking down fortress walls. Gradually, horses also began to be used on the battlefield. Due to their speed and strength on the battlefield, the use of horses gradually increased instead of elephants.

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Paramara Dynasty: Art and Architecture

The architecture of the Paramara dynasty is mainly notable in three stages: 1) temples, 2) forts, and 3) step wells.

Some temples and fort of this period

• Bhojeshwar Temple.
• Nilakantheswara Temple at Udayapur.
• Bijamandal Temple.
• Mehidpur Temples at Bhojpur.
• Chaubar Dera Temple I, II at Un.
• Mahakal Temple at Dharad in Ratlam District.
• Shiva Temple at Rajapura in Ratlam District.
• Siddheshwara Temple at Dewas District (Unfinished Temple).
• Jamleshwara Temple (Orthogonal Bhumija Temple) in Dhara (Dedicated to Shiva).
• Mandu Fort.

The main Features of Paramara Dynasty Temples

The Bhumija style of temple architecture was the main feature of the temples of this time. In terms of architecture, the influence of indigenous architectural traditions, contemporary Chalukya dynasty of Gujarat and Chandela dynasty of Khajuraho, influence of Rajasthan, and influence of Nagara Style were seen.

In the front of most temples of the Paramara dynasty, the symbol of elephants among the royal armies was more visible. This elephant symbol mainly represented two aspects. One was as a carrier, that is, as a symbol of power and strength, and the other was as a scene of war. Two temples with such features are: Shiva Temple at Rajapura, and Chaubar Dera Temple.

After the importance of chariots diminished after the seventh century, the importance of cavalry began to increase. So, after elephants, traces of horses, lions, and Sardula, a kind of ferocious animal, were found in the temples.

Three consecutive temples where traces of horses, lions, and Sardula were found are: Mahakal Temple at Dharad in Ratlam District, Shiva Temple at Rajapura, and Siddheshwara Temple at Nemawar. 16 types of Sardaula are mentioned in “Samarangana Sutradhara” written by Bhoja.

In Chaubar Dera Temple I, goddesses are mentioned, and in the pillars of Chaubar Dera Temple II at Un, images of swans were found. Two other temples where swan images are found are: Temple Ruins of Kupda and Shiva Temple at Rajapura.

In the front of Jamleshwara Temple, it is seen that a lion is attacking an elephant.

Religion of Paramara Dynasty

Although they also supported Jain scholars, the majority of the Paramara rulers were Shaivites and ordered the construction of several Shiva shrines.

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Conclusion

Due to their conflicts with the Chaulukyas of Gujarat, the Chalukyas of Kalyani, the Kalachuris of Tripuri, the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti, and other nearby kingdoms, the Paramara power fluctuated in strength throughout time. The rulers of this dynasty made extraordinary contributions in education, architecture, literature on various subjects, and religious tolerance through the construction of temples of various deities in different places.

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