Lataraja Shankha
| Lataraja Shankha | |
|---|---|
| Raja Lataraya | |
| King of Lata | |
| Reign | c. 1210 – c. 1239 CE |
| Predecessor | Simha |
| Successor | Unknown |
| House | Simha dynasty |
| Father | Simha |
| Mother | Unknown |
Shankha (IAST: Śaṅkha) was the king of Lāṭa during the early 13th century. He served first as a feudatory of the Paramaras, but was eventually subdued by the Chaulukya-Vaghelas.
Ascension
The Lata (southern Gujarat) region was repeatedly attacked by the Paramaras and the Yadavas of Devagiri during the reign of the Chaulukya ruler of Gujarat, Bhima II. Eventually, it came under the control of a chief named Simha (Shankha's uncle), who was initially allied to the Paramaras. A 1200 CE inscription of the Yadava king Jaitugi states that he defeated the Gurjaras, which probably refers to his invasion of Lata. During Jaitugi's invasion, Simha was abandoned by his Paramara overlords, so he turned to the Chaulukyas for help. During his 1213 CE invasion, the Paramara king Arjunavarman may have replaced Simha with his nephew, Shankha. Shankha was able to repulse a Yadava invasion of the region.[1]
Reign
In the Hammiramadamardana-nataka of Jayasimha Suri Vastupala praises Shankha very highly for his victory over the army of Simhana by which he "put into shade the wonder which previously had been witnessed on the Reva when Ravana's pride was checked by Kartavirya". According to R. C. Majumdar, Shankha was probably ruling as a feudatory of the Parmaras until he was defeated and captured by the Yadavas. The first invasion of Gujarat by Simhana apparently ending in a truce, Lavanaprasada and Viradhavala left for Marwar. Taking advantage of their absence, Shankha decided to attack Cambay, where Vastupala had been left in charge. According to Merutunga, a Muslim merchant named Sayyad had invited Shankha, the Maha-Sadhanika of Broach to help him against Vastupala. Both the Vasantavilasa of Balachandra and the Kirtikaumudi of Someshvara state that Sankha sent an emissary to Vastupala at Khambat demanding the surrender of the city. He threatened Vastupala with dire consequences in case of refusal and promised him high officers under Shankha if he complied with the demand. Vastupala dismissed the emissary. Sankha attacked Cambay and in a well contested battle was decisively beaten and retired. The Muslim merchant Sayyad was killed by Vastupala. It is probable that after being chagrined by this defeat, Shankha again joined the Yadavas, and it was due to his incitement that the Yadavas led another attack on Gujarat. Shankha, after deserting the Yadavas collected his troops and proceeded towards Khambat once more.[2][3][better source needed]
After his defeat at the hands of Vastupala, Shankha then tried to instigate Simhana, the Yadava ruler of Devagiri to launch a fresh attack on Gujarat. According to the Chaulukya accounts, the Chaulukya spies created a rift between Shankha and Simhana. Ultimately, Shankha submitted to the Chaulukya general Viradhavala.[4]
The Paramara king Arjunavarman was succeeded by his son, Devapala. According to a few poetic legends, Shankha convinced Simhana and Devapala to send a joint expedition to Gujarat. Simhana's force was led by Kholeshvara, and Shankha himself led one of the invading armies.[5] Lavanaprasada resolved the threat by creating a rift between the invading allies. One of his spies stole Devapala's favourite horse, and another spy gave it to Shankha claiming that it was a gift from Devapala. Meanwhile, a forged letter was made to fall in Simhana's hands: in this letter, Devapala had purportedly assured Shankha that he would attack Simhana's army in Gujarat, and had also urged him to kill Simhana to avenge his father's death. This letter convinced Simhana that Shankha and Devapala were conspiring against him.[6]
Assessment
Although Shankha seems to have possessed moderate military prowess and strategic acumen, it ultimately wasn't enough to earn the independance of the Lata region or even resist the foreign pressure built upon the region by powerful states such as the Yadavas or Vaghelas.[citation needed]
References
- ↑ Majumdar, Asoke Kumar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat: A Survey of the History and Culture of Gujarat from the Middle of the Tenth to the End of the Thirteenth Century. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. pp. 149–150. Search this book on
- ↑ Majumdar, Asoke Kumar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat: A Survey of the History and Culture of Gujarat from the Middle of the Tenth to the End of the Thirteenth Century. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 149. Search this book on
- ↑ "History of Sankha (Part 7) – Vasantavilāsa of Balachandra Sūri". Wisdom Library. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ↑ Majumdar, Asoke Kumar (1956). Chaulukyas of Gujarat: A Survey of the History and Culture of Gujarat from the Middle of the Tenth to the End of the Thirteenth Century. Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 149. Search this book on
- ↑ A. S. Altekar, 1960, p. 536
- ↑ Altekar, A. S. (1960). The Early History of the Deccan. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass. p. 537. Search this book on
Bibliography
- Asoke Kumar Majumdar (1956). The Chalukyas of Gujarat. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. ISBN 978-81-7016-041-6 Check
|isbn=value: checksum (help). Search this book on - A. S. Altekar (1960). The Chalukyas of Gujarat. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 537. ISBN 978-81-7016-042-0 Check
|isbn=value: checksum (help). Search this book on - Balachandra Suri (2025). Vasantavilasa of Balachandra Sūri. Wisdom Library. Retrieved 22 October 2025. Search this book on
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