Rajatarangini


Rājataraṅgiṇī is a metrical legendary and historical chronicle of the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent, particularly the kings of Kashmir. It was written in Sanskrit by Kashmiri historian Kalhana in the 12th century CE.

List of kings

Book 1 : Gonanda dynasty (I)

The total reign of the following kings is mentioned as 1266 years.
RulerNotes
Gonanda IContemporary of Yudhishthira, a relative of Magadha's ruler Jarasandha . He was killed by Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna.
Damodara IKilled in a battle by Krishna.
Wife of Damodara. She was pregnant at the time of her husband's death, and Krishna helped her ascend the throne.
Gonanda IISon of Yashovati and Damodara. Ruled as a minor over Kashmir, during the Kurukshetra War. Killed by Parikshit.
35 kings
A manuscript titled Ratnakar Purana supposedly contained these names, and was translated into Persian by the orders of the later Muslim ruler Zain-ul-Abidin. The purported original manuscript as well as its translation are now lost. A Muslim historian named Hassan is said to have obtained a copy of the translation, and the later Muslim historians provided a fabricated list of 35 names ending in -Khan.Some sources claim that after Gonanda II was killed, Parikshit handed over Kashmir to his second son Harnadeva. This gave rise to the Pandava Dynasty of Kashmir. Harnadeva lost a succession war against Janamejaya, and so he remained the King of Kashmir. The last ruler was Bhagavanta, who was defeated by Lava in 1752 BCE.
LavaA descendant of Gonanda I, who belonged to the Naga Dynasty and defeated King Bhagavanta of the Pandava Dynasty of Kashmir in 1752 BCE. He laid the foundation of Kashmira Naga Dynasty, a sub-division of the Gonanda Dynasty. He established a city named Lolora in Kashmir. According to the Rajatarangini, there were 84 lakh stone-walled houses in it.
KusheshayaSon of Lava
KhagendraSon of Kushyendra
SurendraSon of Khagendra. Surendra was the first Buddhist king of Kashmir who established the Buddhist culture of Saman culture in Kashmir.
GodharaBelonged to a different family from Lava's dynasty
SuvarnaKnown for constructing a canal named Suvarnamani
JanakaUnsuccessfully invaded Persia
ShachinaraDied childless
AshokaGreat-grandson of Shakuni and son of Shachinara's first cousin. Built a great city called Srinagara. In his days, the mlechchhas overran the country, and he took sannyasa. According to Kalhana's account, this Ashoka would have ruled in the 2nd millennium BCE, and was a member of the dynasty founded by Godhara. Kalhana also states that this king had adopted the doctrine of Jina, constructed stupas and Shiva temples, and appeased Bhutesha to obtain his son Jalauka. Despite the discrepancies, multiple scholars identify Kalhana's Ashoka with the Mauryan emperor Ashoka, who adopted Buddhism. Although "Jina" is a term generally associated with Jainism, some ancient sources use it to refer to the Buddha.
Jalauka A staunch Shaivite, who constructed several Shiva temples. He rid the country from the mlechchhas.
Damodara IIDevout Shaivite. Built a new city called Damodarasuda, and a dam called Guddasetu.
Hushka, Jushka, and KanishkaBuddhist kings of Turashka origin. The third king is identified with Kanishka of the Kushan Empire.
Abhimanyu IA Shaivite during whose reigns Buddhists also flourished. Because of the rising Buddhist influence, people stopped following the Shaivite Nāga rites prescribed in the holy text Nilamata Purana. This angered the Nāgas, who heavily persecuted the Buddhists. To avoid this disorder, the king retired. A Brahmin named Chandradeva restored Shaivite rites by worshipping Shiva.

Gonanditya dynasty (I)

The Gonanda dynasty ruled Kashmir for 1002 years.
RulerReignAscension yearNotes
Gonanda III35 years1182 BCEGonanda III founded a new dynasty. He belonged to Rama's lineage, and restored the Nāga rites
Vibhishana I53 years, 6 months1147 BCE
Indrajit35 years1094 BCE
Ravana30 years, 6 monthsA Shivalinga attributed to Ravana could still be seen at the time of Kalhana.
Vibhishana II35 years, 6 months1058 BCE
Nara I 40 years, 9 months1023 BCEHis queen eloped with a Buddhist monk, so he destroyed the Buddhist monasteries and gave their land to the Brahmins. He tried to abduct a Nāga woman, who was the wife of a Brahmin. Because of this, the Nāga chief burnt down the king's city, and the king died in the fire.
Siddha60 years983 BCESiddha, the son of Nara, was saved from Nāga's fury, because he was away from the capital at the time. He was a religious king, and followed a near-ascetic lifestyle.
Utpalaksha30 years, 6 months923 BCESon of Siddha
Hiranyaksha37 years, 7 months893 BCESon of Utpalaksha
Hiranyakula60 years855 BCESon of Hiranyaksha
Vasukula 60 years795 BCESon of Hiranyakula. During his reign, the Mlechchhas overran Kashmir.
Mihirakula70 years735 BCEAccording to historical evidence, Mihirakula's predecessor was Toramana. Kalhana mentions a king called Toramana, but places him much later, in Book 3. According to Kalhana, Mihirakula was a cruel ruler who ordered killings of a large number of people, including children, women and elders. He invaded the Sinhala Kingdom, and replaced their king with a cruel man. As he passed through Chola, Karnata and other kingdoms on his way back to Kashmir, the rulers of these kingdoms fled their capitals and returned only after he had gone away. On his return to Kashmir, he ordered killings of 100 elephants, who had been startled by the cries of a fallen elephant. Once, Mihirakula dreamt that a particular stone could be moved only by a chaste woman. He put this to test: the women who were unable to move the stone were killed, along with their husbands, sons and brothers. He was supported by some immoral Brahmins. In his old age, the king committed self-immolation.
Vaka 63 years, 18 days665 BCEA virtuous king, he was seduced and killed by a woman named Vatta, along with several of his sons and grandsons.
Kshitinanda30 years602 BCEThe only surviving child of Vaka
Vasunanda52 years, 2 months572 BCE"Originator of the science of love"
Nara II60 years520 BCESon of Vasunanda
Aksha60 years460 BCESon of Nara II
Gopaditya60 years, 6 days400 BCESon of Aksha. Gave lands to Brahmins. Expelled several irreligious Brahmins who used to eat garlic ; in their place, he brought others from foreign countries.
Gokarna57 years, 11 months340 BCESon of Gopaditya
Narendraditya I 36 years, 3 months, 10 days282 BCESon of Gokarna
Yudhisthira I34 years, 5 months, 1 day246 BCECalled "the blind" because of his small eyes. In later years of his reign, he started patronizing unwise persons, and the wise courtiers deserted him. He was deposed by rebellious ministers, and granted asylum by a neighboring king. His descendant Meghavahana later restored the dynasty's rule.

Book 2 : Other rulers

No kings mentioned in this book have been traced in any other historical source. These kings ruled Kashmir for 192 years.
RulerReignAscension yearNotes
Pratapaditya I32 years167 BCEPratapaditya was a relative of a distant king named Vikrmaditya. This Vikramaditya is not same as the Vikramaditya of Ujjain, who is mentioned later as a patron of Matrigupta.
Jalauka32 years135 BCESon of Pratapaditya
Tungjina I36 years103 BCEShared the administration with his queen. The couple sheltered their citizens in the royal palace during a severe famine resulting from heavy frost. After his death, the queen committed sati. The couple died childless.
Vijaya8 years67 BCEFrom a different dynasty than Tungjina.
Jayendra37 years59 BCESon of Vijaya: his "long arms reached to his knees". His flatters instigated him against his minister Sandhimati. The minister was persecuted, and ultimately imprisoned because of rumors that he would succeed the king. Sandhimati remained in prison for 10 years. In his old age, the childless king ordered killing of Sandhimati to prevent any chance of him becoming a king. He died after hearing about the false news of Sandhimati's death.
Sandhimati alias Aryaraja47 years22 BCESandhimati was selected by the citizens as the new ruler. He ascended the throne reluctantly, at the request of his guru Ishana. He was a devout Shaivite, and his reign was marked by peace. He filled his court with rishis, and spent his time in forest retreats. Therefore, his ministers replaced him with Meghavahana, a descendant of Yudhishthira I. He willingly gave up the throne.