for students of II sem BHU

1. Shahis of Kabul & Punjab
By
Prachi Virag Sontakke

3. Introduction
• Shahis = Descendants of Saka-Kusanas in Afghanistan.
• Hindu Shahis =Early Hindu kings of Kabul-Zabul.
• Became completely Indianized.
• Location: Historical- Cultural melting pot.
• Early capital: Udbhandpur.
• Rise of Gazni : Problem for Shahis.
• History of Shahis = History of struggle with Gaznavoid kings.
• Important centers: Kabul, Zabul, Lamgana, Nagarhar, Gandhar, Ohinda,
Udbhandpur.

7. Sources
• Rajatarangini
• Alberuni
• Utbi
• Fehrishta
• Biladhuri
• Coins of Shahi kings.
• Art-architectural remains.
• Settlements and forts.

20. Early history
• Alberuni: Legends of 60 Shahi kings ruling in Afghanistan recorded and kept
in Nagarkota.
• 7th cent- 9th cent CE: Continuous Arab attacks on Kabul-Zabul.
• Shahi kings managed to maintain their independence.
• 870 CE: Kabul-Zabul won by Saffari dynasty king Yaqub.
• King of Zabul killed, subjects converted.
• But Kabul remained free from Arab hold for next 100 years.

21. Hindu Shahis of Kabul & Punjab
• Alberuni: Last Turkish king of Kabul was Lagaturman.
• His Brahmin minister = Kallar.
• Kalhana: Lalliya = Kallar?
• Kallar overthrew Lagutarman and established Hindu Shahi dynasty of Kabul.
• Contemporary to Shankarvarma, the Utpal king of Kashmir.
• Rajatarangini: Kingdom of Lalliya sandwiched between Daradas and Turushkas.
• Kalhana: His capital Udbhand provided refuge to many kings.
• Mentor of Gurjar king Alkhan who ruled in upper Chenab and Jhelum doab &
Punjab plains.
• Kalhana: Shankarvarma, Utpal king of Kashmir, could not defeat Lalliya.

22. Shahi
succession
Kallar
Samant
Kamluka
Bhim
Jaipala
Anandpala
Trilochanpala

23. Samanta
• S/O Kallar
• Many coins of him recovered from Afghanistan and Punjab.
• Coin type: Bull horse rider
• Successor of Utpal king Shankarvarma, Gopalvarma defeated Samant.
• Gopalvarma made Torayana, another son of Lalliya as king with title
Kamluka.

25. Kamluka
• Rajataranigini: Treasurer Prabhakardeva of Kashmir king Gopalvarma
made Torayana, another son of Lalliya as Shahi king.
• Bestowed him with title ‘Kamluka’.
• Coins recovered.

26. Bhima/Bhimdeva
• S/O Kamluka
• Called as Parmeshwar and Maharajadhiraja in his inscription.
• Cunningham: Silver coins from Kabul.
• Diplomatic relations with other neighbouring kingdoms.
• Kalhana: His daughter married to Lohar king Simharaja.
• Daughter of Simharaja = Didda.
• Close relations between Kashmir and Shahis of Kabul.
• Bhimadeva constructed a temple Bhimakeshava in Kashmir.

27. Jaipala
• Muslim writers: King of Hindustan, King of Punjab, King of Kabul.
• Inscriptions: Kingdom extended till Swat valley.
• Ferishta: From Sarhinda to Lagman and from Kashmir to Multan.
• Shifted his capital to Bhatinda from Udbhandapur due to rising Muslim
threat.

28. Attack by Subuktagin
• Threat of Turks : alliance b/w Shahis of Kabul & Amir of Multan
• Minhajuddin: A group of Kafirs attacked Gazni in 973 CE.
• 977 CE: Subuktugin = King of Gazni.
• 978 CE: Occupied many forts in Jayapala’s kingdom.
• Utbi: Ferocious battle between two but Subuktgin could not occupy Jayapala’s fort.
• Hailstorm: Setback for Jayapala’s army?
• Utbi: Jayapala send treaty proposal to Subuktugin
• Treaty: 10 lakh dinars + 50 elephants + some forts/cities +some friends as captives =
Both parties reluctant to follow terms of treaty.
• Difficult to accept that Jayapala initiated the negotiation.
• Pretext of treaty voilation: Subuktgin attacked Laghman,massacred-enslaved people
• Ferishta: Jayapala asked for help from other kings ?
• Jayapala lost many areas west of Indus to Subuktgin.
Laghman

29. Attack of Mehmood Gaznavi
• 997 CE: Subuktgin died.
• 998 CE : His son Mehmood of Gaznavi ascended the throne.
• Utbi: without any reason, sudden attack on Jayapala. Looted, plundered lot of wealth.
• Got hold of a huge area of Jayapala’s kingdom.
• Utbai + Ferishta: Jayapala captured, his ornaments (20 lakh dinar) snatched but released
at the cost of 50/few elephants.
• Huge embarrassment for Jayapala.
• Committed suicide in pyre.

30. Ananadpala (1001-1012 CE)
• Ascended throne in 1001 CE after suicide by his father: Difficult times.
• Jayapala’s defeat at hands of Mehmood : Internal revolts.
• Vijayraj, his samant of Bhatiyah declared independence.
• Ferishta: Annadpala stopped sending the treaty items to Mehmood.
• First attack: Attacked Bhaitaya and defeated Vijayraja.
• Mehmood wanted to attack Multan.
• Mehmood asked Anandpal to let his armies pass through his kingdom enroute to attacking
Multan.
• Anandpala declined.
• Second attack: 1005 CE. Mehmood looted-plundered-massacred Anandpala’s kingdom.
• Al- Beruni: Anandpala offered his help to Mehmood when he faced some issues in Gazni.
• Third attack: On Punjab in 1008 CE.
• Ferishta: A confederation of Indian kings against Mehmood in support of Anandpala.
• Mehmood won: didn’t get much wealth this time.
• Fourth attack : Looted temple of Nagarkota in 1009 CE.

31. Trilochanpala
• Muslim writers: Call Bhim as Fearless Bhim.
• Assisted by his son Bhim in administration.
• Started preparation against probable attack of Mehmood.
• Stationed his troops in Magla pass.
• Many rounds of battles between Trilochanpala and Mehmood.
• 1013 CE: Mehmood breached security of Mangal pass & raided fort of
Nandan.
• Trilochanpala and Bhim fled to Kashmir.
• Kalhana: Sangramraja king of Kashmir sent his army under minister Tung to
help Trilochanpala against Mehmood.
• Mehmood defeated Tung.
• Rajatarangini: Trilochanpala fought bravely nearly Poonja in Kashmir.

32. Aftermath
• 1018 CE: Mehmood marched to attack Chandella Vidyadhara.
• Trilochanpala tried to stop him and fought a bloody battle near Ramganga.
• But had to flee in absence of any help.
• Could not acquire Punjab.
• His son Bhim ruled in Lohar till 1026 CE.
• Alberuni: Shahis were open minded royalty who never waivered from their
duty.
• Kalhana: Shahis were known for their donations and love for knowledge.