Lalitaditya Muktapida— The Alexander of Kashmir

Lalitaditya alias Muktapida was a powerful ruler of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir region in the Indian subcontinent. The 12th-century chronicler Kalhana characterizes Lalitaditya as a world conqueror, crediting him with extensive conquests and miraculous powers in his Rajatarangini and further adds that the Karkota dynasty was founded by king Durlabhvardana in 625 AD. Lalitaditya was the 5th ruler. He ruled for 37 years from 724 AD to 761 AD. Lalitaditya was the most powerful king of his dynasty. He built the largest empire after Ashoka. His rule is considered a golden age in Kashmir where art, architecture and learning flourished. Due to his conquests, scholars have called him Alexander of Kashmir.
According to historian, R. C. Majumdar in his book ‘Ancient India’ notes; ‘Lalitaditya first faced Yashovarman, who was the successor of the famous ruler of the Pushyabhuti dynasty, Harshavardana. He attached Yashovarman’s kingdom, Antarvedi, whose capital was Kanyakubja (Modern day Kanauj in UP) located between the Yamuna river and the Kalika river, and compelled him to sign a peace treaty after a long and intense war famously known as “The Treaty of Yashovarman and Lalitaditya “. After consolidating power in Kanyakubja, Lalitaditya proceeded to the East reaching Kalinga (modern day Odisha) and Gauda (Bengal). After that he set out towards the Vindhyas where he met the Karnata queen, Ratta or Bhavangana of the Rashtrakut dynasty. She had constructed obstacle free roads over the Vindhya Mountains and was as powerful as Goddess Vindyabasini (Maa Durga). But a powerful ruler like her, too, bowed to Lalitaditya. From then on, Lalitaditya marched on triumphant from the seven Konkans to Dwarka to Avanti, all the way into Punjab and Afghanistan, establishing his rule over all of the Indian territory.
Lalitaditya following his victories in the South, he focused on the North again and attacked Ladakh as well as other western provinces, which were under the rule of the Tibetans and liberated them. This was the time when Muhammad Bin Qasim had invaded Multan in 712 AD and the Arabic invaders had wanted the entire India to be subjugated under the Islamic fold. Victory over the Arabs was, by no means, easy. Lalitaditya came into contact with the Tang dynasty of China, who was at their peak during the 7th century AD. He was successful in making the Tang dynasty his ally in his fight against the Arabs and Tibetans. Lalitaditya recruited a number of Chinese mercenaries and strategists in his army which gave him an edge over his contemporary rulers. With the help of the Tangs, Lalitaditya was successful in defeating the Tibetans and extended their rule over modern day Bangladesh and Ahom (modern day Assam) and other North Eastern States of India.
Soon after, Junaid, the Arab governor of Sind attacked Kashmir on the orders of Caliph Hisham. After the death of Prophet Muhammad, four major Caliphates were established. Ummayad was the second of the caliphate with its capital at Damascus, Syria. The Arabs had established their rule over Sindh with Muhammad Bin Qasim and the region was thoroughly plundered. It was plundered and looted and then eyed Kashmir which was a prosperous region. Lalitaditya defeated Junaid and the Arab army so badly that they did not attack Kashmir till he was alive. This is mentioned in ‘Fatenama Sindh’. Lalitaditya exploits are also mentioned in the famous book ‘Xing Tang Shu’ which is well known for documenting the history of the Tang dynasty of China as he extended his conquest even upto China.
Lalitaditya went on to defeat the invading Tukharas (the Turks of Turkmenistan and Tochran from Badakstan), Bhutas (from Baltistan and Tibet) and Dardas (Darius). He also won over Central Asia which comprises modern day countries like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, South Kyrgyzstan and southwest Kazakshtan. After that he invaded Turkistan through Kabul and defeated Momin of Bukhara 4 times and killing him the 5th time. According to Alberuni, a Kashmiri king, Muthai, defeated Momin, the governor of Uzbekistan. Muthai was none other than Muktapida. His presence discouraged the Muslim kingdoms from attacking Kashmir. He also scored a victory over the Hindukush-Pamir region. He expanded his territories consequently to the Caspian Sea and went on to the Karakorum mountain ranges. He was so furious with the Arabs that he would send back prisoners of war with half their heads shaven. From Tibet in the North to Dwarka and the seas of Odisha in the south, from Bengal in the East to Central Asia in the West, Lalitaditya’s empire had been established with supreme might. His forces reached Aranyaka kingdom (Persia), now known as Iran.’
The famous Iranian scholar and historian Al Beruni records the victory of this newly formed alliance with the Chinese rulers represented at that time by the Tang dynasty, over the invading Arabs in a battle that was fought somewhere near Punjab. He even mentions that a festival was held on the second day of Chaitra (March) every year for centuries to celebrate the victory.
Mukhtapida was an ambitious ruler and the overall prosperity of his kingdom made available to him the resources to embark upon extensive conquests and expansion of his domains. He extended his kingdom over the adjoining regions, the Punjab hills and a part of the Punjab plains. His conquest extended up to Kannauj. Then he turned his attention to the north, of his kingdom, where he brought the Dardic principalities and adjoining regions and parts of western Tibet under his control. Tibet was ruled by powerful Tsanpu kings those days, who kept the Chinese away from their domains. But most of the western Tibet was ruled by local potentates, who had hardly the strength to resist an organized force, Mukhtapida commanded. Mukhtapida sent an embassy to the Chinese court soliciting for an alliance ageist the Muslim advance in Central Asia.
Kashmir has always been a great seat of Hindu learning, research, science and Hindu architecture and Lalitaditya also promoted all Hindu arts and sciences. The temple building in Kashmir gained momentum with the advent of Karakota dynasty. The kings of the Karakota dynasty built their shrines in dressed stone and dedicated them to Vishnu and Shiva. These Karkota kings ushered golden age of temple building in Kashmir. The art historian, Hermann Goetz notes; “Lalitaditya had to make use of artists from wherever he could find them and in an empire extending from Bengal to the borders of Arab caliphate and from Central India to the borders of China proper, these artists had needs to be of many nations and traditions. This possibly was the reason behind heterogeneous styles and elements in Kashmiri art assimilating elements of Gandharan, Gupta, Chinese, and even Syrian-Byzantine origin.”
Laltaditya having extended his kingdom and brought about prosperity to it, he embarked upon construction activity, building cities, like Parihasapura and temples as well as Buddhist Viharas and Agraharas. Among the temples he built was the Shiva Jyestha Rudra at Wangath, the famous temple of Martanda at Mattan, Anantnag, and the temple Parihasa Kesava at his capital Parihasapura along with four Vaishnava temples, dedicated to the worship of Vishnu. The king built Buddhist monasteries, Stupas and Chaityas and placed huge statues of Buddha in most of them. Lalitaditya Muktapida built a number of new towns with great temples.
Lalitaditya’s queen, Kamalavati established Kamalhatta where she built a shrine that had idols of Kamala-Keshava. Kalhan notes in Rajatarangini; “There is no town or village, no river or lake, no island where the king did not build a sacred foundation.” He built the famous and elegant Sun temple at Martand and Parihaskesva at his capital Parihasspura. Laltaditya is said to have built four Vishnu temples—the Muktakesva, Parihaskesava, Mahavaraha and Govardhanadhara, besides a Buddhist monastery and a grand Caitya. Once an important Buddhist centre, little of it remains now except the plinths of a Buddhist monastery, a caitya that once enshrined a colossal Buddha image and a great stupa. In fact, he had as his prime minister a Chinese Buddhist named Tsiang-Kiun whose name translated in Sanskrit, was Cankuna. The prime minister constructed a lofty stupa and gold images of Jina (Buddha). A gigantic statue of Muktakesava (Vishnu) was made of gold weighing 84,000 tolas (980 tonnes)! Another statue of Parihaskesava was built with 3, 36,000 tolas (3,919 tonnes) of Silver. Lalitaditya built another colossus of Buddha with 1, 01, 64,000 tolas (11,855 tonnes) of bronze. Kalhana’s Rajtaringini Verses 201 and 202 from the fourth Taranga, confirms that 84000 Tolas of gold were used for the statue of Muktakeshwa and equal silver by weight was used for the statue of Parihaskeshwa.
King Lalitaditya Mukhtapida was a great warrior and an eminent statesman. His excellence as an administrator is equally significant. He introduced some very important reforms in the administration of the country. He created five new functionaries for the smooth running of administration viz., Mahpratiharpida (High Chamberlain), Mahasandhivigrahika (Chief Minister), Mahashvashala (Minister of Horses), Mahabhandagra (Keeper of Treasury), and Mahasadhnabhaga (Chief Executive Officer). These Five officers or “Karmasthanas” were collectively called as “Panch Mahashabda”. He took care of his subjects well. He was a benevolent king. He instructed his officials to keep the Damaras –feudal lords in check so that they did not fleece the peasant masses, allow the peasantry to keep enough of their produce to live upon, recruit army from all parts of the country and keep a strict watch on the frontiers to secure his kingdom. He encouraged trade, secured trade routes as well as opened up fresh avenues for trade with adjoining countries.
Mukhtapida died while he was on a military campaign in the north, probably in Tibet. According to one version he perished “through excessive snow in a country called Aryanka”, which has not been exactly located. Another version states that he committed suicide after being separated from his army on a difficult mountain route. Some versions state that he retired along with his army to the world of immortals in the north. However, from all these accounts it may be concluded that Lalitaditya, the Alexander of Kashmir died on one of his conquering expeditions in the northern region. The illustrious King of Kashmir had a tragic end similar to Alexander the great who also died on way back to Greece after his long trail of conquests.
(Compiled by Chaman Lal Gadoo)