Paramaras of Malwa

Several regional kingdoms came into being in northern, central and eastern India between the eighth and thirteenth centuries. One of them was the Rajput kingdom of Paramaras who ruled in Malwa.

The origin of the Paramaras is shrouded in obscurity. However, it seems probable that since Malwa formed part alternately of the domains of Pratiharas and Rashtrkutas, they must have been the feudatories of either of the two.

Though the Paramara Dynasty owes its origin to a chief named Upendra or Krishnaraja at the beginning of the 9th century AD, it was  as a result of the collapse of the Rashtrakuta power in the second half of the 10th century that Paramaras became an independent power. Ujjain was their earlier capital and later Dhar became their seat of power. Both these places are in Madhya Pradesh.

The first great Paramara ruler of note was Vakapati Munja, (c 974-997-8) who was in constant war with Tailapa or Taila II, founder of the later western Chalukyan dynasty of Kalyani. It is said that Munja defeated him for sixteen times. However, in the seventeenth encounter, Munja was defeated and taken prisoner and subsequently killed.

Himself an accomplished poet, Munja basked in the glory of being the patron of scholars and poet. This can be gauged from the galaxy of men of letters who graced his court. Prominent among them were Padmagupta, Dhananjaya, Dhanika and Halayudha. Dhananjaya was the author of Dasharupa, a work on dramaturgy. Dhanika was the author of Avaloka, a commentary on Dasharupa. Munja is also said to have built several artificial lakes including the existing Munjasagar lake at Dhara named after him. The cities in his kingdom were adorned with beautiful temples.

Munja was succeeded by his brother, Sindhuraja, who is known for having assumed the significant title of Navasahasanka, (meaning the new Sahasanka or Vikramaditya.) His exploits are described in the Navasahasankacharitam written by Padmagupta.

However, the greatest ruler of the Parmara dynasty was Bhoja (1018-55) immortalized in legend. Son and successor of Sindhuraja, he was an epitome of an ideal ruler and statesman. He is hailed as the greatest scholar king of India. Like his predecessor Munja, he is also credited with the construction of dams and artificial lakes in his kingdom. Called Kaviraja in an inscription, he authored no less than 24 books on a variety of subjects including astronomy, medicine, poetics, polity, grammar, religion, architecture etc. Some of his famous works are Samaranganasutradhara, a unique work on architecture, and Ayurvedasaravasva, a work on medicine. He also wrote a commentary on Yagasutra of Patanjali. Bhoja also set up a college known as Bhojasala at Dhara. He patronised Dhanapala, Uvata and others.

Bhoja entered into wars with his contemporaries including the Chalukyas of Kalyani and the Chalukyas of Anhilwara. During the last year of his reign he had to face the combined armies of Chalukyan king Bhima I and Lakshmikarna of the Kalchuri dynasty. Bhoja died during the battle and his capital Dhara came into hands of the allied powers.