365bet娱乐

The battle of Parnotsa proved to be a decisive one for Sussala, who returned to Kashmir preceded. by the namaras of Kramarajya. Bimba and other officials, who had earlier deserted his side, now joined him and Bhikshachara was left with Prithvihara alone by his side. Even Janakasimha decided to cross over to Sussala and when Bhikshachara tried to punish him, he confronted him with the cavalry and the Tantrins. For a time, Janakasimha and the Tantrins offered stiff opposition to Bhikshachara, but they were soon overwhelmed by Prithvihara from the rear. As Bhikshachara approached the city, the fasting Brahmanas soon gave up their fast and dispersed in fright, while the former wreaked a terrible vengeance upon Janakasimha's followers. In the meanwhile, Sussala, along with Mallako shtha, Janaka and the troops of neighbouring chiefs, marched towards the capital after defeating Tilaka and other supporters of Bhikshachara at Hushkapura. After a minor engagement, Bhikshachara and Prithvihara, along with a few faithful Lavanyas, fled away to a Pushyananda, which lay in the territory of Somapaala 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, II, viii, 926. 2. Ibid., II, viii, 927-28. 3. Ibid., II, viii, 930-32. 4. Ibid., II, viii, 934-37. 5. Ibid., II, viii, 939-40, 43 6. Ibid., II, viii, 944-46.

419 and Sussala was able to regain the throne] Sussala's Return to Power (1121-28) Courage, fortitude and the prevailing political conditions in the Valley had once again placed Sussala on the throne, but he had to face a sea of troubles from the very beginning. While trying to stabilise his position, he appointed new ministers in place of old ones, but this move, far from creating confidence, was looked upon with suspicion both by the jealous officers as well as the people. On the other hand, Bhikshachara, who had sought refuge with Somapala, was busy collecting forces for an attempt to recapture the throne. Bhikshachara also had able supporters in Bimbia and Prithvihara. In fact the latter was able to capture Surapura with a small force and had sought further help from the Damaras of Madavara jya. Fresh Attempt by Bhikshachara and his Supporters Prithvihara was quick to seize the opportunity of his victory. He asked Bhikshachara to establish himself at Surapura and, after being assured of help from the Damaras of Madavarajya, marched forth to Vijayakshetra where he defeated Harshamitra, commander 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, II, viii, 955-59. 2. Ibid., II, viii, 959, 964. 3. Ibid., II, viii, 965. 4. Ibid., II, viii, 967-68.

420 of the royal forces, and compelled him to flee to Avantipura. The people of Vijayakshetra and the neighbouring towns sought refuge in the famous shrine of Chakradhara. A terrible fate awaited these refugees in the shrine, for Janakaraja, a Damara, in order to wreak a personal vengeance, set it on fire. The conflagration spare neither men, women and children nor horses and other animals. This merciless. act of arson, totally unelled for, seems to have gone against Bhikshachara. Sussala immediately marched forth with his followers to punish the rebels; Janakaraja was soon killed and the Damaras were driven out of Vijayakshetra. But, surprisingly, Sussala, suffered a defeat at the hands of the rebels at Samala. Thenceforth, Bhikshachara seems to have shaken off his lethargy and showed considerable valour in Both subsequent armed engagements. But sides now tried to woo the Lavanyas but, in the meantime, Sussala was able to defeat Bhikshachara who, however, again 8 sought refuge with Prithvihara at Pushyananada. At the same time, Simba, the new commander of the royal forces, defeated the Damaras and crushed the rebellion 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, II, viii, 969-70. 2. Ibid., II, viii, 971. 3. Ibid., II, viii, 975-92 4. Ibid., II, viii, 996-97. 5. Ibid., II, viii, 999. 6. Ibid., II, viii, 1000-02. 7. Ibid., II, viii, 1011-12 ff. 8. Ibid., II, viii, 1032-33, 37-38.

421 in Madavarajya, thereby affording a brief respite to Sussala from very hard and arduous times. Sussala, however, did not fully avail of this opportunity and, far from winning over the confidence and support of those who had stood by him during these critical days, began wreaking vengeance on those who had not taken his side in his earlier days. The redoubtable Mallakoshtha was exiled and had to flee in order to save his life. Sussala probably aimed at having in high offices a ring of persons who had followed him to Lohara. These men, in the eyes of the common masses, were foreigners and this created a feeling of suspicion, mistrust and fright among the common people. Renewed Attempt by Bhikshachara Though Bhikshachara and his confident Prithvihara had been defeated and forced to flee for the time. being, they kept waiting for favourable times to try conclusions afresh. Mallakoshtha, who had been exiled, now invited them to make a fresh bid for power. Bhikshachara promptly responded to this gesture, marched forth through Surapura and was soon encamped with his forces at a strategic point on the 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana II, viii, 1039-40. 2. Ibid., II, viii, 1040. 3. Ibid., II, viii, 1041. 4. Ibid., II, viii, 1047-48. 5. Ibid., II, viii, 1051.

Kshiptika 422 Sussala, too, proceeded to Navamatha, suitably engirdled by the Vitasta and the two forces clashed with Mallakoshtha, leading the attack. The strategy adopted by both the warring factions was somewhat different. Prithvihara was still organizing a force of the nemaras at Vijayakshetra. Sussala, after leaving his commander Prajji to cope with Mallakoshtha, fell upon him (Prithvihara) and scattered his forces after causing immense loss in men and material to the rebels. But the rebel forces under the command of Manujesvera, a brother of Prithvihara, entered the capital after defeating Sujji, who was incharge of its defence and set fire to a part of the city before retiring to the garrison at the Kshiptika. Sussala thought that the capital had been captured by the rebels and, withdrawing his troops from Vijayakshetra, proceeded towards the city. His forces suffered terrible losses as the bridge over the Gambhira gave way and thousands perished in the swirling waters of the river, while the King managed to save himself from a watery grave by the skin of his teeth. Though distressed, he kept up his courage and faced the attacking forces of Mallakosh tha from within the defence-walls of the city? 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, II, viii, 1055. 2. Ibid II, viii, 1052-53. 3. Ibid. II, viii, 1057-59. 4. Ibid., II, viii, 1060. 6. Ibid., II, viii, 1061. 6. Ibid., II, viii, 1062-68. 7. Ibid., II, viii, 1063-66. 8. Ibid., II, viii, 1068.

- 423 Sussala was surrounded in the city and many of his supporters, unable to establish contact with him, fled to Vishalata to seek refuge with the Khasas. The doughty Damaras, led by Prithvihara and with their ranks further filled up by deserting Kashmirians, were now in full cry, but the King faced the situation with a stout heart, though his forces were considerably depleted. He was faithfully served by several noblemen from various localities like Champa and Vallapura during this period of his tribulations and these faithful followers repeatedly drove back the attacking forces of the Damaras with heavy losses. Both Bhikshachara and Prithvihara tried desperately to break through the defences of the capital, but were forced to fall back against the onslaught of freshly arrived royal forces led by Prajji and Sujjf. The rebel forces could not cope with the situation because of the late arrival of help from Lohara, Meantime, Yasoraja, who had been abroad for some time, returned back to his native place and soon joined the King's forces. This considerably boosted the morale of the royal forces. Prithvihara, sensing a change in the course of events, 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, II, viii, 1074, 76. 2. Ibid., II, viii, 1077-81. 3. Ibid, II, viii, 1083-95, 1099-1103. 4. Ibid., II, viii, 1105-1111. 5. Ibid., II, viii, 1114. 6. Ibid., II, viii, 1117.

424 retreated to his own seat along with Bhikshachara and the King was now free to deal with the forces under Mallakoshtha. The latter was easily defeated and Sussala retaliated by an attack on Lohar?. Having rested his tired forces for some time at Lohara, Sussala advanced towards Samala along with Yasoreja. After a series of engagements with Prithvihara and Mallakoshtha in which the fortunes changed hands repeatedly, he proceeded to Vijayasvara on learning of fresh uprisings in Madavarajya. Sussala, however, lost a valuable ally in Yasoraja whom he had posted at Avantipura. It appears that the King was rough and wild in his choice of his words and temperament had been further soured by the play of his fortunes. Tasoraja had helped him at a critical juncture and naturally felt aggrieved when the King used vile language for him. Yasoraja soon joined the enemies with his choicest troops and the King had to retire from Vijayakshetra. Prajji alone now retained in his full confidence. Yasoraja incited Bhikshachara to make a fresh bid for the 1. R.T, II, viii, 1124-25. 2. Ibid., II, viii, 1128 ff. 3. Ibid II, viii, 1132. 4. Ibid., II, viii, 1134-40. 5. Ibid., II, viii, 1143-44. 6. Ibid., II, viii, 1141. 7. Ibid., II, viii, 1148. 8. Ibid., II, viii, 1145. 9. Thi, II, viii, 1147-50.

425 throne and was soon joined by Mallakoshtha While the rebels were thus planning to avenge their earlier discomfiture, there raged a severe famine in the Valley (in 1123-24 A.D.) which took a heavy toll of human lives. The King's cup of miseries was not yet full and the Damaras, ever ready to fish in troubled waters, soon marched down from all sides and besieged the King within the city. Sussala again proved his mettle by defending the city dourly, but the Damaras caused considerable damage by their continuous raids accompanied by arson and loot. Meanwhile, Yasoraja, Bhikshachara and Mallakoshtha arrived on the banks of the Mahasarit in a bid to capture the capital. Yasoraja, however, was killed in a misunderstanding, but Prithvihara directed the Damaras to attack the city from all sides and posted himself on the Kshiptika to guard the exit-route. The siege continued for several days in which both sides suffered heavy casualties till, on the twelfth day, the Damaras set fire to a house which soon enveloped the entire city. Kalhans furnishes a graphic description of the terrible fire and the severe havoc it wrought in the 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, II, viii, 1151-53. 2. Ibid., II, viii, 1154. 3. Ibid., II, viii, 1155. 4. Ibid., II, viii, 1156-57. 5. Ibid., II, viii, 1158. 6. Ibid., II, viii, 1159-64. 7. Ibid., II, viii, 1165-70.

496 capital, razing it ultimately to the ground. Sussala was unable to cross over to the other side of the Vitaste as the bridge had broken down and was so on surrounded by enemy forces on all sides. Fortunately for him, Prithvipala came to his help and Sussala was able to fight his way through the enemy forces. His position was quite precarious as the fire had also destroyed and grain-stores within the city and the Damaras had blocked the supply-routes. All this heaped terrible miseries and hardships on the people within the city. To add to his miseries and grief, he received the news of the death of his favourite queen, Meghamanjari, at Phullapura, while on her way to join her husband in the capital.