The Dynastic Chronicles of Kashmir – II. Modern Period

Summary

Continuing a study of Kalhaṇa’s Rājatarangiṇī, this article traces Kashmir’s political and cultural history from the rise of the Karkoṭa dynasty in the early seventh century through later dynastic changes. It reconstructs the chronology of kings such as Durlabhavardhana, Pratapaditya II, Lalitāditya and Jayāpīḍa using coins, Chinese annals and Kalhaṇa’s narrative. Lalitāditya’s campaigns and reforms receive special attention, as do the subsequent Utpala rulers and the intrigues and conflicts that characterised their courts. The author then surveys the Lohara and later dynasties, noting tribal incursions and shifting alliances. Beyond the narrative of rulers, the article analyses administrative structures, revenue systems, military organisation and public works. It describes how local assemblies functioned, how temples and monasteries were endowed, and how social customs evolved under different regimes. By comparing the Rājatarangiṇī with inscriptions and external chronicles, the study identifies where Kalhaṇa’s account is reliable and where it requires correction. The result is a coherent timeline of Kashmir’s medieval evolution that integrates political events with cultural and religious developments, demonstrating the region’s connections with Central Asia and the wider Indian world.