There are three inscriptions- Inscription of Yuvaraja Deva II (of about third quarter of the 10th century A.D.), Karna’s Inscription of 1042 A.D. and Prithvideva’s Amoda Inscription of 1079 A.D., which provide us with information about Kalchuri Raja Kokkalla I. [1]
The earliest one is the undated inscription of Yuvaraja Deva II [2] of circa third quarter of the 10th century A.D. It says that having conquered the whole world, Kokkalla I established two pillars of fame i. e. Bhoja in the north and Krishnaraja in the south. Kalachuri Karna’s inscription [3] of 1042 A.D. which is of later date than the former gives some more information about Kokkalla I.
It says that Kokkalla raised his hand symbolysing protection (vHk;) to Bhoja, Vallabharaja, Shri Harsha the ruler of Chitrakuta and Shankaragana. Next in the series is the Amoda inscription of Prithvideva [4] who belonged to Kalachuri Branch of Ratanpur and is dated in 10-9 A.D. It exaggerates the facts about Kokkalla I and says that, having snatched the elephants and horses of Karnataka, ruler of Vanga, Gujjara, ruler of Konkana, ruler of Sakambhari, Turushkas and Raghuvanshi’s, he established a pillar of victory.[5]
Of these the first account given by Yuvaraja Deva II can only imply that Kokkalla I (850-890 A.D) assisted the Pratihara King Bhoja I (836- 892 A.D.) in the north and the Rastrakuta king Krishnaraja II (878-914 A.D.) in the south and in this way contributed towards establishing the two Pillars of fame in the north and the south.[6]
In the second account given by Karna the later Kalachuri ruler, Bhoja and Vallabharaja (Krishnaraja II) are the same as in the first one, but Harsha the ruler of Chitrakuta and Raja Shankaragana have also been added. Dr. Dasharatha Sharma [7] has identified Chitrakuta-bhupala Shri Harsha with the Chandella ruler Harsha and Shankaragana with Guhila Shankaragana of Mewar but there are certain objections to these identifications.
Firstly it should be noted that Chitrakuta (north of Kalanjara) was not included in the empire of Harsha, the Chandella ruler, as it was under the Pratiharas upto that time and was conquered from them by Krishna III in the time of his father Amoghavarsha before 940 A.D and it was captured from the Rashtrakutas by the Chandellas under king Yasovarman the son of Harsha.[8]
Secondly the Chandella ruler Harsha (who helped Ksitipala alias Mahipala, the grandson of Bhoja, to ascend the throne of Kanauj around 917 A D.), cannot be accepted as contemporary to Kokkalla I. Besides, Harsha was a contemporary of Indra III, the grandson of the Rastrakuta king Krishna II, while Kokkalla I was the father in law of Krishna Raja II. Hence, Raja Harsha of the above inscription cannot be identified with Harsha, the Chandella ruler but has to be identified with some other Harsha, whose reign was contemporary to that of Kokkalla I. [9]
Thirdly the undated Chatsu (Rajasthan) inscription of Baladitya describes his forefather Guhila Shankaragana who by conquering the ruler Bhata subjected the lands of Gaudas to his master. Guhila Shankaragana’s son Harsha conquered the rulers of northern India and presented their fine horses to Pratihara Bhoja.[10]
Probably by military service for two generations they were able to extend their territory from Chatsu (26 miles south of Jaipur) to Chittor. Raja Sankaragana of Karna’s inscription cannot be the father of Harsha the ruler of Chitrakuta mentioned in this inscription as both the father and the son could not be called rulers at the same time. Hence this Sankaragana must be the Kalachuri ruler of Sarayupara (across the Sarvuriver) whose son Gunambhodhideva, according to Sodhadevas’ Kalha (Gorakhpur) inscription of V.S. 1134-1079 A.D, snatched by force the fortune of Gauda and got land from Bhoja (836-892 A D.).[11]
Thus by process of elimination there are left only four persons who were contemporary to Kokkalla I ie. Pratihara Bhoja I, Rashtrakuta Krishnraja II, Guhila Harsha and Kalachuri Shankaragana. The scholars who identify Bhoja of the Kalachuri inscription with Bhoja I are Cunningham,[12] Kielhorn, [13] R.C. Majumdar, [14] HC. Rai, [15] DC. Ganguli,[16] Khushal Chand [17] and Dasharatha Sharma.[18]
Those who identify this Bhoja with Bhoja second are Hoernel, [19] R.D. Banerji. [20] R. S. Tripathi,[21] B. N. Puri[22] N. S. Bose[23] and S. K. Mitra. [24]
The basis of the latter identification is that Harsha Chandella is the Harsha of the Kalachuri inscription as he helped Ksbitipala alias Mahipala to sit on the throne of Kannauj once again against Bhoja II, hence this Bhoja II was contemporary of Kokkalla I. But as we have said above that this Harsha was not themaster of Chitrakuta, hence this identification is not tenable. As far as Kokkalla I helping Krishna Raja II is concerned, it is proved by his sending his son Shankaragana for helping Rastrakuta Krishna Raj II against the Chalukyas of Vengi. [25]
So far as holding a band of assurance against fear to Bhoja (Pratihar), Harsha (Chandella) and Shankaragana (Guhila) is concerned Dasharatha Sharma [26] has suggested that as Krishna Raja II was his son in-law, in the same way other three viz. Bhoja, Harsha and Sank- aragana might be his son-in-laws and thus he could hold a hand of benediction protecting them against all fears.[27]
If one agrees to the logic of Dr. Dasharatha Sharma there emerge four son-in-laws of Kokkalla I (850-890 A.D). They would be as under:-
| S.N. | Name of the king | Dynasty | Reign | Comments |
| 1 | Krishna Raj I | Rashtrakuta | 878-914 A.D. | Established fact. |
| 2 | Harsha | Chandella | c. 900-925 A.D | Marriage probable but protection impo- ssible as he ruled later. |
| 3 | Bhoja I | Pratihar | 836-892 A D. | Marriage though probable but difficult. |
| 4 | Shankaragana | Guhila | Contemporary of Nagabhata II (c. 794-833 A.D.) | Marriage as well as protection impossible. |
If this hypothesis of Dr. Dasharatha Sharma is accepted, one would reach the conclusion that his second son-in-law Chandella Harsha was the same who was a contemporary of Indra III, the grandson of his first son-in- law Rashtrakuta Krishna Raja II.
Bhoja I, his third son-in-law must have been a bit elder than Kokkalla I as he sat on the throne 14 years before him and died two years after him. The fourth son-in-law Guhila Shankaragana must have been elder than even Bhoja as his son Harsha was contemporary of Ramabhadra (c 833-836 A D.) and Bhoja (c. 836-892 A.D.).
Thus Kokkalla’s four son-in-laws belonged to four generation. First was Guhila Sankaragana of Chatsu who probably died 17 years before Kokkalla I sat on the throne about 850 A.D. As Shankaragana’s son Harsha was contemporary of Rambhadra (833-836 A.D.) and Bhoja (836-892 A D.), his father Shankaragana should have been before both of them.
Second son-in-law was Bhoja who sat on the throne 14 years before him. Third was Krishna Raja II who was entroned 28 years after him and fourth was Chandella Harshawho was a contemporary of Indra III (915-927 A.D.). Even if we calculate in reverse order from Chandella Dhanga (grandson of Harsha) whose first inscription is of V.S. 1011=953 A.D, his father Yasovardhana’s reign would fall between 925 and 950 A D. and his grandfather Harsha’s reign would fall between 900 and 925 A.D.
Thus this Harsha, while as still a prince of Chandella dynasty could be his son-in-law before 890 A.D. before Kokkalla I died. Though It is very difficult to imagine yet not impossible that Bhoja I was his son-in-law but it is impossible to believe that Guhila Shankaragana the father of Harsha, who preceded Kokkalla I by one generation, could be his son-in-law.Thus with due reverence to the revered scholar, it may besaid that his hypothesis does not stand the test of logic.
Hence it is probable that Kokkalla I must have helped Bhoja I and thus the latter together with his feudatories must have felt assured by the co-operation of Kokkalla. This fact has been eulogised later by king Karna- kalachuri, 152 years after the death of Kokkalla I, when he says that Kokkalla I gave a hand of protection to all of them.
The third evidence before us is that of Amoda inscription of Prithvideva incised 37 years after Karna’s inscription If the first evidence of the record of Yuvaraja deva II made them (Bhoja and Krishna Raja) pillars of his victory, the second evidence of the record of Karna added two more per- sons to it for receiving the hand of protection and the third evidence of the record of Prithvideva interpreted the term pillars of victory in such a way that he put these rulers among the list of defeated enemies as given below: Karnataka (Krishna Raja), ruler of Konkana (Shilahara), ruler of Shakambhari (Chahamana), Turushka (Hunas) and the scions of Raghu (Ghulias).
But the historical facts speak otherwise. Let us examine these facts one by one. Among those mentioned above rulers of Konkana were the feudatories of the Rashtrakutas hence they could have been counted among those who received his helping hand.
The rulers of Shakumbhari and the Guhilas were the feudatories of the Gurjara Pratiharas and probably the Turuskas (Hunas) living on the Chambal were also their feudatories, Thus all of them could also be counted in the list of those who leaped the benefit of his military aid to Bhoja Pratihar against the ruler of Bengal and might have in lieu of it given him some wealth including horses and elephants on his pressing demand.
Thus, the ruler of Vanga might have been certainly one who was defeated with his help. It is thus indicated that Kokkalla I might have helped at different times Bhoja I and Krishna Raja II.
This act of help and benediction might have been of some consequence to the recipients but may notbe considered as a great personal achievement.
Any attempt to eulogies him further on the basis of the record of Prithvideva of Ratanpur would be making a mountain of the mole hill. V. V. Mirashi [28] is more correct when he says that he strengthened the foundation of the Pratihara Empire by helping Bhoja I, gave valuable help to Rashtrakuta Krishna Raj II against the Chalukyas of Vengi and also helped Kalachuri ruler Shankaragana and Harsha, the ruler of Chitrakuta (Chittod.)
REFERENCES
[1] Jai Narayan Asopa, Historical Evidence and Truth About Kalchuri Kokkalla First, Proceedings, Rajasthan History Congress, pp. 36-42.
[2] जित्वा कृ (त्स्नां) , येन पृथ्वीमपूर्व्वङ्कीर्तिस्तम्भद्वन्द्वमारोप्यते स्म ।
कौम्भोभ्दव्यान्दिश्यसौ कृष्णराजः कौवे (बे) र्याश्च श्रीनिधि भोजदेव ॥ (17)
Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum, Vol. IV, by V.V. Mirashi, p. 210
[3] भोजे वल्ल (भ) राजे श्री हर्ष (र्षे) चित्रकूटभूपाले।
स (श) ङ्करगणे च रा (ज) नि यस्यासीदभयदः पाणि ॥ (7)
CII, Vol. IV, by V.V. Mirashi, p. 2.
[4] काण (र्णा) टवङ्ग पतिगूर्जरकोङ्कणेश ।
साकंभरीपतितुरू (ष्क) घूद्भवानाम (म्) ।
आदायकोस (श) हरिदन्त (ति) चायं ।
हठेन स्तंभो जयस्य विहितो भुवियेन राज्ञा ॥
CII. Vol. IV, by V. V. Mirashi, pp. 404 – 05
[5] Jai Narayan Asopa, Historical Evidence and Truth About Kalchuri Kokkalla First, Proceedings, Rajasthan History Congress, pp. 36-42.
[6] Jai Narayan Asopa, Historical Evidence and Truth About Kalchuri Kokkalla First, Proceedings, Rajasthan History Congress, pp. 36-42.
[7] Rajasthan through the Ages, Vol. I, Ed. Dasharatha Sharma, Bikaner, 1966, p. 172
[8] Bharata Kaumudi, I, pp. 269 ff; Epigraphia Indica, XII, p. 15, Verse 23
[9] Jai Narayan Asopa, Historical Evidence and Truth About Kalchuri Kokkalla First, Proceedings, Rajasthan History Congress, pp. 36-42.
[10]तत्सूनुद्धामधाम्नां निधिरधिकयां भोजदेवाप्तभूमिः ।
प्रत्यावृत्यप्रकारः प्रथितपृथुयशसा (शा) श्रीगुणाम्भोधिदेवः।
येनोद्दामै कद द्विपघटितघटाघात संसक्त मुक्त ।
सोपानोद तुरासि प्रकट पृथुपथेनाहृता गौड़लक्ष्मी ॥ (9)
CII, Vol. IV, p. 387
[11] Archaeological Survey Report, Vol. IX, pp. 84, 103
[12] Epigraphia Indica, Vol. II, pp. 301, 304.
[13] C.I.I., Vol. IV, p. 387.
[14] Majumdar, R.C., History of Bengal, Vol. I, p. 128.
[15] Ray, H.C., Dynastic History of Northern India, Vol. II, p. 574.
[16] Indian Historical Quarterly, Vol. XII, pp. 480 ff.
[17] Ibid., Vol. XVIII, pp. 117 ff.
[18] Rajasthan Through the Ages, Vol. I, pp. 172-74.
[19] Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1904, p. 651.
[20] Palas of Bengal, p 65.
[21] History of Kanauj, pp. 256-7.
[22] History of the Gurjara Pratiharas, pp. 78-81.
[23] History of the Chandellas of Jaijakabhukti (Calcutta, 1956), p. 26, fa. 17.
[24] Early Rulers of Khajuraho, Calcutta 1958, p. 34.
[25] Majumdar and Pusalkar, Age of Imperial Kanauj, p. 135.
[26] Rajasthan Through the Ages, Vol. I, p. 172
[27] Jai Narayan Asopa, Historical Evidence and Truth About Kalchuri Kokkalla First, Proceedings, Rajasthan History Congress, pp. 36-42.
[28] V.V. Mirashi, Kalachuri Naresha aur unka kala, Bhopal, V.S, 2022, pp. 15-16
