Paramaras Dynasty ruled Malwa and the adjacent regions in west-central India from the 9th century to the 14th century. The founder of Parmar dynasty, Upendra or Krishnaraja, in the Malwa region. It is located north of the Narmada River in the early ninth century. Paramaras were a part of the Rajput Paramara clan. The Rajput dynasty, the Paramara, ruled the Malwa region between the ninth and fifteenth centuries. Most likely, the early rulers of the nation were the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta. Siyaka took over the Paramaras around 972 CE after sacking Manyakheta, the Rashtrakuta capital. During the time of his successor Munja, the Malwa region in present-day Madhya Pradesh had evolved into the primary Paramara domain, with Dhara (now Dhar) serving as their capital.

Background

• Paramaras were successors of the Rashtrakutas, who controlled Malwa from the early ninth century with their capital at Dhar.
• Upendra or Krishnaraja was the founder of the Paramara dynasty. They belong to the Agnivanshi lineage.
• There were other branches of Paramaras ruling in Rajputana, including Mount Abu, Bhinmal, and others, but the Paramaras of Malwa (Dhar) were the most powerful of all.
• Pratiharas were initially in charge of Malwa.
• The Paramaras took advantage of the Pratiharas’ fading strength and rose to power in Malwa in the second part of the 10th century.
• Their capital was originally in Ujjain, but it was eventually moved to Dhara (both Ujjain and Dhara are in Madhya Pradesh).
• The last known Paramara king, Mahalakadeva, was defeated and killed by the forces of Delhi’s Alauddin Khalji in 1305 CE, though epigraphic evidence suggests that the Paramara rule continued for a few years after his death.
• Under the Paramaras, Malwa had a high level of political and cultural prestige.
• The Paramaras were well known for their support of Sanskrit poets and scholars, and Bhoja himself was a well-known scholar.
• The majority of the Paramara kings were Shaivites who built several Shiva temples while also patronising Jain scholars.

Important Rulers of Paramara Dynasty

Upendra: The Founder of Paramara Dynasty

• Upendra, around the 1st quarter of the 9th century CE, is credited as the founder of the Paramara dynasty.
• Legend has it that he was appointed as the ruler of Deccan by King Govinda III of the Rashtrakutas after a successful military campaign in Malwa.

Siyaka II

• Siyaka II, also known as Harsha, played a pivotal role around 972 CE.
• He broke ties with the Rashtrakutas, defeating King Khottiga at Kalighatta and sacking the Rashtrakuta capital, Manyakheta, establishing the Paramaras as a sovereign power.

Munja

• Munja, also known as Vakpatiraja II or Prithvi Vallabha (972-990 CE), expanded the Paramara empire.
• He was a poet, supporting arts and literature, and faced defeat at the hands of Tailapa II, leading to the loss of southern territories.

Sindhuraja

• Munja’s brother, Sindhuraja (990-1010 CE), reclaimed lost territories by defeating Satyashraya of the Western Chalukyas.
• He achieved victories against various adversaries, and his biography, “Nava-Sahasanka-Charita,” was penned by the court poet Padma Gupta.

Bhoja

• Bhoja (1010-1055 CE) sought to expand his kingdom from Chittor to upper Konkan and Sabarmati River to Vidisha.
• Known as a righteous scholar king, Bhoja’s contributions spanned grammar, poetry, architecture, yoga, and chemistry.
• He founded the Bhoj Shala, a center for Sanskrit studies in Dhar, and is credited with constructing the Bhojeshwar Temple and three dams.

Naravarman

• Naravarman (1094-1133 CE), succeeding his brother Lakshmadeva, was a poet who wrote hymns and eulogies.
• He restored the Mahakala temple in Ujjain and left behind the Nagpur Prashasti.
• His gold, silver, and copper coins were discovered in Indore.

Mahalakadeva

• Mahalakadeva, the last known Paramara king, met his end in 1305 CE, defeated and killed by the forces of Ala-ud-din Khalji of Delhi.

Decline of Paramaras of Malwa

• Following Bhoja’s death, his successor, Jayasimha I, who was most likely his son, faced the joint Kalachuri-Chalukya invasion.
• According to Bilhana’s writings, he sought assistance from the Chalukyas of Kalyani.
• With the help of his allies, he repelled an invasion by the Chalukya ruler Karna.
• In the Nagpur Prashasti inscription of 1104-05 CE, Udayaditya’s eldest son Lakshmadeva is credited with extensive military conquests.
• Naravarman, Udayaditya’s younger son, suffered several defeats, including defeats at the hands of the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti and the Chaulukya king Jayasimha Siddharaja.
• By the end of his reign, a man named Vijayapala had established an independent kingdom to the north-east of Ujjain.
• Jayasimha Siddharaja seized control of the Paramara capital Dhara from Yashovarman.
• His heir, Jayavarman I, regained control of Dhara but was soon deposed by a usurper named Ballala.
• Around 1150 CE, the Chaulukya king Kumarapala defeated Ballala with the help of his feudators, the Naddula Chahamana ruler Alhana and the Abu Paramara chief Yashoda Vala.
• Malwa was then made a Chaulukya province. Nearly two decades later, Jayavarman’s son Vindhyavarman defeated Chaulukya king Mularaja II and re-established Paramara sovereignty in Malwa.
• Malwa was repeatedly invaded by the Hoysalas and the Yadavas of Devagiri during his reign. Continuous conflicts led to the decline of the Paramara dynasty.

Conclusion

Paramaras, a significant dynasty in medieval India, once held sway over vast territories. However, their rule faced challenges from both internal strife and external conflicts with neighboring kingdoms like the Chalukyas of Gujarat, the Chalukyas of Kalyani, and the Kalachuris of Tripuri. Frequent sackings of their capital, Dhara, prompted the later Paramara rulers to shift their seat of power to Mandapa-Durga, present-day Mandu. Unfortunately, their fortunes took a decisive turn when the forces of Alauddin Khalji from Delhi defeated and killed Mahalakadeva, the last known Paramara king, in 1305 CE, marking the end of the Paramara dynasty’s rule.

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