Renewal of Ancestral Kingdom

Kirtivarman (c. 1060-1100 AD)

According to dynastic records Kirtivarman was a son of Vijayapala and he was succeeded after the death of Devavarman.

His greatest achievement was the resurrection of his ancestral kingdom, which had been overwhelmed by the forces of the southern rival, the king of Dahlia. There are many records detailed the victory of Kirtivarman on Chedi king Lakshmikaran or Karna.

The Mahoba inscription also refers to the details. It states that, ‘ just as Purusottama (Vishnu) having produced the nectar by churning with mountain (Mandara) the rolling ocean, whose high waves had swallowed many mountains, obtained Lakshmi, together with elephants, he(Kirtivarman) having acquired fame by crushing with his strong arm the haughty Lakshmi Karna, whose armies had destroyed many princes, obtained splendour in this world together with elephants’.

Kirtivarman also appears to have encountered successfully the force of Mahmud, governor of Punjab, during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim of Ghazni (1059-1099 AD).

Kirtivarman constructed three important lakes, viz., Kirat Sagar in Mahoba, another lake of the same name in Chanderi and Budhiya Tal in Kalanjara. Also he constructed a new fort on the bank of river Betwa is called Kirtigir-durga.

Ajaygarh fort and Kalanjar fort has many temples, some of them were constructed or restored by king Kirtivarman.

Revival of Power

Sallaksanavarman (c. 1100-1110 AD)

Kirtivarman had restored the fallen fortune of his family. His successor was his son Sallaksanavarman.

The 38^th verse of the Mau epigraph refers the progress of Sallaksanavarman or his officer in the Ganga- Yamuna Doab. He maintained political and diplomatic relations with the Kalchuri of Ratanpur. He was not a mere soldier and conqueror. The Mau inscription alludes to his learning and knowledge of arts as well as his virtuous conduct and generosity.

Sallaksana-Vilaspura was the town where Paramardideva issued his Pachar, Mahoba, Charkhari and Ichchhawar plates. It shows that it was an important town in those days. It seems that it named after Sallaksanavarman.

Jayavarman (c. 1110-1120 AD)

According to Ajaygarh inscription, ‘the brave Jayavarmadeva ruled the kingdom after Sallaksanavarman’. Only one record of this ruler has been discovered so far, viz., the postscript of the Khajuraho inscription of Dhangadeva which he had reincised 114 years later.

Khajuraho inscription tells us that the king Jayavarmmadeva had ‘with the letters of his fame inscribe the walls of the regions, the mountain like great princes of which had been uprooted (by him and which had been) smoothed by the steps of (his) furious elephants (and) washed with the streams of tears of trembling wives of (his) enemies, perishing when they met (him) in battle’.

His region does not appear to have been glorious one; he abdicated the throne and proceeded to the divine river to wash away his sin.

Prthvivarman (c. 1120-1128 AD)

Jayavarman, who left no capable issue, was succeeded by his uncle Prthvivarman. Mau inscription of Madanvarman and Ajaygarh inscriptions of Kalayandevi and Ganapati tells that Prthvivarman ascended the throne after Jayavarman, the Augasi plate of Madanvarman sates that he was a successor of Kirtivarman. Mau inscription describes him as ‘the younger brother of the illustrious king Sallakshavarman’ – the father of Jayavarman.

None of the records however throws any light on the political incidents of his reign. While Kalayandevi inscription compares him to the mythical ruler Prthu.

The Augasi plate has given to Prthvivarman the usual titles viz., Paramabhattaraka, Maharajadhiraja and Parmeshvara.