Mularaja (), also known as ''Bala Mularaja'' (), was an Indian king from the

Chaulukya dynasty The Chaulukya dynasty (), also Solanki dynasty, was a dynasty that ruled parts of what are now Gujarat and Rajasthan in north-western India, between and . Their capital was located at Anahilavada (modern Patan). At times, their rule extended ...

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

. He ruled the present-day Gujarat and surrounding areas from his capital Anahilapataka (modern Patan). He ascended the throne as a child, and his mother Naiki Devi acted as the

regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...

during his short reign. The Chaulukyas repulsed a

Ghurid The Ghurid dynasty (also spelled Ghorids; ; self-designation: , ''Šansabānī'') was a Persianate dynasty of eastern Iranian peoples, Iranian Tajik people, Tajik origin, which ruled from the 8th-century in the region of Ghor, and became an Emp ...

invasion when he was 13 years old. The Paramara king Vindhyavarman made attempts to evict the Chaulukyas from

Malwa Malwa () is a historical region, historical list of regions in India, region of west-central India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin. Geologically, the Malwa Plateau generally refers to the volcanic plateau, volcanic upland north of the ...

during his reign, and succeeded in regaining control of Malwa either during Mularaja's lieftime or shortly after his death.

Early life

Brahmanwada. Also shown is the location of Kasahrada (modern Kyara in

Sirohi district Sirohi District is a district of Rajasthan state in western India. The town of Sirohi is the district headquarters. Abu Road is the largest city in Sirohi District in terms of area and population. As of 2011 it is the third least populous di ...

)." width="200" height="175" zoom="5" longitude="71.938477" latitude="24.026397" align="right"> Mularaja succeeded his father Ajayapala on the Chaulukya throne. His mother Naikidevi was the daughter of one Paramardin. According to one theory, this Paramardin was the Goa Kadamba king Shivachitta Paramadideva (1148–1179 CE). Another theory identifies him with the

Chandela The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti was an Indian dynasty in Central India. The Chandelas ruled much of the Bundelkhand region (then called ''Jejakabhukti'') between the 9th and the 13th centuries. They belonged to the Chandel clan of the Rajputs. T ...

king Paramardi. The second theory is based on the identification of "Kakaḍādaha" with similar-sounding "Gāḍāraghaṭṭa". The Chandela-era Garra inscription mentions that a Chandela warrior named Rauta Pape lost his life in a battle at Kakaḍādaha. According to the 14th century chronicler

Merutunga Merutuṅga was a medieval scholar from present-day Gujarat in India and was a Śvētāmbara Jain monk of the Achal Gaccha. He is presently most well-known for his Sanskrit text, the '' Prabandhacintāmaṇi'', composed in 1306 CE. He also ...

, Naikidevi fought the Muslims at Gāḍarāraghaṭṭa. This appears to be same as Kasahrada, where a Chaulukya army defeated the

s in 1178 CE. Mularaja ascended the throne as a young child after his father's death. His mother Naikidevi acted as the regent during his short reign.

Battle of Kasahrada

Rebellion in Malwan

The Paramara kingdom of

had come under Chaulukya control during the reign of Mularaja's predecessors. During Mularaja's reign, a

famine A famine is a widespread scarcity of food caused by several possible factors, including, but not limited to war, natural disasters, crop failure, widespread poverty, an Financial crisis, economic catastrophe or government policies. This phenom ...

occurred in Gujarat. Taking advantage of this, the Paramara king Vindhyavarman made attempts to regain control of Malwa. The Chaulukya general Kumara was in-charge of the operations against Vindhyavarman. According to ''Surathotsava'', written by Kumara's son Someshvara, Kumara defeated Vindhyavarman. After his victory, Kumara destroyed Vindhyavarman's town Gogasthana, sank a well where the Paramara palace once stood, and plundered Malwa. Vindhyavarman was ultimately successful in regaining control of Malwa. According to historian R. C. Majumdar, he accomplished this during the reign of Mularaja. However, A. K. Majumdar believes that Malwa remained under Chaululkya control during Mularaja's reign.

Famine

According to Someshvara's ''Surathotsava Mahakavya'', there was a severe famine during the reign of Mularaja II, and Someshvara's father - the royal priest Kumara - convinced the king to give the citizens a tax break during this period. Someshvara states that Kumara also served as a military commander, and repulsed an invasion by the Paramara king Vindhyavarman. Kumara destroyed the Paramara city of Goga-sthana, and dug a well on the cite of Vindhya's palace. He obtained a great amount of wealth from the Paramara kingdom of Malava, and donated it at Gaya during a shraddha ceremony. He also defeated a mlechchha army near Rajnisara (or Ranisara).

Death

Mularaja died at a very young age in 1178 CE, and was succeeded by his brother Bhima II.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * {{Chaulukya dynasty Kings of Gujarat 12th-century Indian monarchs Chaulukya dynasty 1178 deaths