A Note on the Early Paramara Rulers of Malwa
By Gautam N. Dwivedi
Summary
This note addresses debates surrounding the origins and early history of the Paramara dynasty of Malwa. Dominant scholarly views, articulated by D.D. Ganguly and H.C. Ray, hold that the Paramaras were of southern (Rashtrakuta) origin and began their political career as feudatories of the Rashtrakuta emperor Govinda III around A.D. 800. The author re‑examines inscriptions, including the Navsari plates of Indra III and the Pattan inscription, to test these claims. He argues that references to a king named Upendra, sometimes equated with Vappairaja or Vakpati, should not automatically be assigned to the ninth century. Some inscriptions mention Upendra as the founder of the dynasty but date his reign nearer to the early tenth century, suggesting a longer gestation period. The article also critiques C.V. Vaidya’s view that Vairisimha and Siyaka were separate rulers; evidence from the Munja grants indicates that these names refer to the same person, a grandson of Dambhadhvaja and brother of Siyaka‑Harsha. The author stresses that some genealogical duplications are the result of scribal error or sectarian interpolation. By carefully analysing the Puranic sequence and epigraphic genealogies, he concludes that the Paramaras may have established control over Malwa only around the early tenth century, possibly as vassals of the Gurjara‑Pratiharas rather than the Rashtrakutas. The paper emphasises the need to reassess earlier chronologies and cautions against assuming linear succession based solely on later texts.
Conclusion
The note suggests that the early history of the Paramaras is more complex than previously thought. It contends that Upendra and his successors likely rose to power in the tenth, not ninth, century and that their initial affiliations were with the Gurjara‑Pratiharas. A critical reading of inscriptions is essential for refining dynastic chronologies.