Later Paramaras of Abu

Summary

Ram Vallabh Somani’s study reconstructs the history of the later Paramara rulers of Mount Abu using epigraphical evidence. Starting with a Siva Temple inscription that records the long reign of Dharavarsa over the Arbuda regionfile:///home/oai/share/520768%20(18)%201-170_compressed.pdf#:~:text=LATER%20PARAMARAS%20OF%20ABU%20Ram,dated%20VE%201279, Somani correlates it with copper‑plate grants and genealogies to establish a chronology of Dharavarsa’s successors. The article discusses rulers like Mahipala and Arjunavarman, their alliances with Chaulukya and Vaghela dynasties, and their resilience amid political turbulence. Somani analyses the style and content of the inscriptions to date them and notes that the Paramaras continued to patronise Saiva and Jain institutions. He compares the architectural features of temples built under their rule with earlier Paramara monuments, highlighting both continuity and innovation. By synthesising inscriptions, literary references and archaeological evidence, the article reconstructs a nuanced history of this regional dynasty often eclipsed by larger empires. Somani emphasises that local dynasties like the Paramaras played a crucial role in preserving cultural traditions and sustaining patronage networks in western India.