Note 106 — Chapter II · THE CHAULUKYAS OR SOLAṄKIS (a.d. 961–1242)

Ajayapála, a.d. 1174–1177.As Kumárapála had no son he was succeeded by Ajayapála the son of his brother Mahípála.106 According to the Kumárapálaprabandha Kumárapála desired to give the throne to his daughter’s son Pratápamalla, but Ajayapála raised a revolt and got rid of Kumárapála by poison. The Jain chroniclers say nothing of the reign of Ajayapála because he was not a follower of their religion. The author of the Sukṛitasankírtana notices a small silver canopy or pavilion shown in Ajayapála’s court as a feudatory’s gift from the king of Sapádalaksha107 or Sewálik. The author of the Kírtikaumudí dismisses Ajayapála with the mere mention of his name, and does not even state his relationship with Kumárapála. According to the Prabandhachintámaṇi Ajayapála destroyed the Jain temples built by his uncle. He showed no favour to Ámbaḍá and Kumárapála’s other Jain ministers. Ajayapála seems to have been of a cruel and overbearing temper. He appointed as his minister Kapardi because he was of the Bráhmanical faith.108 But considering his manners arrogant he ordered him to be thrown into a caldron of boiling oil. On another occasion he ordered the Jain scholar Rámachandra to sit on a red-hot sheet of copper. One of his nobles Ámra-bhaṭa or Ámbaḍá refused to submit to Chapter II. The Chaulukyas, a.d. 961–1242. Ajayapála, a.d. 1174–1177. the king, saying that he would pay obeisance only to Vítarája or Tírthaṅkara as god, to Hemachandra as guide, and to Kumárapála as king. Ajayapála ordered the matter to be settled by a fight. Ámbaḍá brought some of his followers to the drum-house near the gate, and in the fight that followed Ámbaḍá was killed. In a.d. 1177 (S. 1233), after a short reign of three years, Ajayapála was slain by a doorkeeper named Vijjaladeva who plunged a dagger into the king’s heart.109