Indian History Features Uttarakhand in Yasovarman Age (700-800AD)

History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand) - Part 87

   (Indian Early Medieval Age History Features in Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar (Uttarakhand))

                         

                                                       By: Bhishma Kukreti

                              After the death of Harshavardhana, there was instability in Indian scenes especially in North India. The regional kingdoms emerged as mushrooms.  Around 725AD, Pauravas were ruling Uttarakhand.

                                          Attack of Arabs in Yasovarman Age (700-800AD)

                        With full support from North -Western Indian Kings an Arab army chief Muhammad-Ibna-Qasim captured Sindha and western Punjab till Multan. The Arabs used to attack flanking methods, used to capture people for slaving purposes and used to dispatch slaves to Arab and used to destruct religious places too. These Arabs started attacking to Kashmir, east Punjab, Gujarat, Bhinmal and Ujjain.  Lalitaditya was Kashmir King.  There were many small chieftains in Himalaya including Uttarakhand.

                    Lalitaditya a Strong Kashmir King in Yasovarman Age (700-800AD)

Lalitaditya (726-760AD) was strong King of Muktapid of Kashmir. He was capable to resist and stop the Arabian attack and Tibetan attacks.  Lalitaditya is called Alexandra of Kashmir.

                       Frequent Attacks by Tibetan King in Yasovarman Age (700-800AD)

                Great Tibetan king Srong-Gachan was ruling Tibet. He and his heirs used to attack and loot Indian and Nepalese Himalayan territories.  

                       Yasovarman of Kanauj (rule between 700-740App)

    There is no record for the family of Yasovarman. It is believed that he was a Rajput Army officer from an elite family.                     

                       The Prakrit literature Gaud-Vaho or Gaud Vadh by a court poet Vakpati provides some facts about Yasovarman the king of Kanauj.

                    Suddenly, Yashovarman emerged as strong king of Kanauj who captured central India, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Bengal.

  The Chinese sources stated that Yasovarman was the King of Uttarakhand who requested Chinese king to help him for stopping Tibetan encroachment by Tibetan king.

 Yasovarman was strong ruler.

             

           Yasovarman used to respects art and art creative.  Bhabhuti a Sanskrit scholar –playwright and Prakrit literature creative were his court scholars. It is said that Yasovarman was poet.

                     Battle between Lalitaditya and Yasovarman

                      Lalitaditya of Kashmir and Yasovarman of Kanauj had a friendly deal with each other for resisting Arabian and Tibetan frequent flanking attacks.  The ambitions for being bigger king of Yasovarman created battle between Lalitaditya and Yasovarman. This hostility between two allies resulted into defeat of Yasovarman or even death by the hands of Lalitaditya.

                      Yasovarman Rule over Uttarakhand

             That shows that there was feudal rule of Yasovarman on Uttarakhand in last days of Vishnuvarman Paurava king or in his heir time.

                       Yasovarman was the first ever Indian king who understood the importance of Himalaya to protect Central India.

                                      Katyuri Chieftains under Yasovarman

                    It seems that at this age, Katyuri king Vasantan or Masantan of Uttarakhand was under Yasovarman under feudal system.   

  It is believed that Vasantan declared his free kingdom after defeat of Yasovarman from Lalitaditya.

  This age is called Timiragachhan Yug or Dark Age as no records are available to define exact history.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 2/7//2013

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -89

                                 References

1-Ahloowalia, B.S. 2009, Invasions of the Genes: Genetic Heritage of India

2-Dabral, Dr. Shiv Prasad, 1968, Uttarakhand ka Itihas

3-Early, Abraham, 2011,The First Spring: The Golden Age of India

4-Majumadar, Ramesh Chandra, 1977, Ancient India

5-Mishra, S.M .1977, Yasovarman of Kanauj

6-Fotedar, Sunil, 1984, The Kashmir Series: Glimpses of Kashmiri Culture