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KALACHURI OF SARAYUPARA
Lakshmana I, the founder of this sarayūpāra branch of the Kalachuri dynasty, was
the thirteenth ancestor of Vyāsa. As the latter came to the throne in 1031 A.C., we may
place the accession of Lakshmanarāja I in circa 700 A.C., taking 25 years as the average
duration of each generation. Similarly, Laksmanarāja III alias Gunasāgara I, the seventh
ancestor of Vyāsa, may have begun to reign in circa 850 A.C. This date is supported by
the description in the Kahla plates that he defeated a Gauda king and obtained some territory from Bhōjadēva. This Bhoja is no other than the Pratihāra king Bhōja I, whose known
dates range from 836 to 882 A.C. We know that he was engaged in a prolonged war with
the contemporary Pala king Dēvapāla (circa 810-850 A.C.). The dates conjecturally assigned to the members of this branch may, therefore be taken to be substantially correct,1
We have reviewed before the political conditions in North India which led to the
establishment of this branch so far to the north.2 After consolidating his postion in the
hill-fort of Kālaňjara, Vamaraja overran Ayomukha, (modern partāpgargh and Rai Barelli
Districts of U.P.) which he afterwards he made over to his younger brother Lakshmanaraja I.
Using Āyomukha as his base, Lakshmanarāja invaded the country to the north of the
Sarayu, the home land of the legendary king Śibi, famous for his liberality.3 There he
ultimately established himself. The dynasty he founded reigned over the Sarayupara
country for at least fifteen generations.
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1According to the dates proposed above, Lakshmana II alias Rājaputra was regining in the period
circa 775-800 A.C. Kielhorn also was of the opinion that Rājaputra cannot be placed later than the beginning
of the 9th century A.C. Ep. Ind., VoI. VII, p. 88.
2See above, pp. Ixiii ff.
3The name of the country conquered by Lakshmanarāja is given as Śvētapada by the Kahla plates
and as Śaivaya by the Kasia inscription. The latter record again states that it was the home land of Śibi,
the son of Uśnara. From the Mahābhārata (Vanaparvan, adhyāya 130 , v. 20) Śibi appears to have
been ruling in the panajab. The Buddhist Jātakas mention Aritthapura and Jetuttara as the capitals of the
Sibi country. Elsewhere, the capital of sibi is said to be Śivipura. As Dr. Vogel has shown, modern
Shōrkōt in the Panjab marks the site of ancient Śivipura. Ep. Ind.., VoI. XVI, p. 16. Śaivaya may be
derived from Śvētapada through the intermediate stages of seāvaā and Sevaya. the context shows that the
province of Śvētapada was included in saryūpāra, and there may have been a tradition, wrong of course,
associating it with the ancient king Śibi, 'the paragon of charity and self-sacrifice.’
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