The Paramāra dynasty was an early medieval India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

n royal house that ruled over the Malwa region in central India. This dynasty was founded by Upendra in circa 800; the most significant ruler was Bhoja I

Bhoja

Bhoja was a philosopher king and polymath of medieval India, who ruled the kingdom of Malwa in central India from about 1000 to 1050 CE. Also known as Raja Bhoja Of Dhar, he belonged to the Paramara dynasty...

. The seat of the Paramāra kingdom was Dhārānagara, the present day Dhar

Dhar

Dhār is located in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh state in central India. It is the administrative headquarters of Dhar District. The town is located west of Mhow, above sea level...

 city in Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....

. The main sources for the history of the Paramāra dynasty are the Nava-saha-sanka-charita of Padmagupta and a series inscriptions, most notably the Udayapur Praśasti, found at Udaypur in Vidisha district

Vidisha District

Vidisha District is a district of Madhya Pradesh state in central India. The city of Vidisha is the administrative headquarters of the district.-Geography:...

, Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....

. They were formerly known as kings of Avanti. When Govinda III

Govinda III

Govinda III was a famous Rashtrakuta ruler who succeeded his illustrious father Dhruva Dharavarsha. He was militarily the most successful emperor of the dynasty with successful conquests from Cape Comorin in the south to Kannauj in the north, from Banaras in the east to Broach in the west...

 of Rashtrakuta Empire annexed Malwa, he set up a family who took the name Paramara for their Kingdom and dynasty.

Origin

According to Historians like Watson, A. M. T. Jackson, Campbell, Forbes, Kielhorn

Lorenz Franz Kielhorn

Lorenz Franz Kielhorn was a German Indologist.Kielhorn worked in Oxford in the period 1862-65 with Friedrich Max Müller in order to publish the first edition of Rigveda. From 1866 to 1881 he was Professor of Sanskrit at Deccan College in Pune and after 1882 in Göttingen...

, DR Bhandarkar, the paramaras were a clan of the Gurjars.On the other hand DC Ganguly rejects to accept them Gurjaras as well as Agnikulas and opined that they were descendants of the Rashtrakuta

Rashtrakuta

The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...

s of Manyakheta

Manyakheta

Manyakheta on the banks of Kagina River in Gulbarga district, Karnataka state was the capital of Rashtrakutas from . It is 40 km from Gulbarga city. The capital was moved from Mayurkhandi in Bidar district to Mānyakheṭa during the rule of Amoghavarsha I...

.The parmars said to began as feudatories of the Rashtrakutas, but revolted against their overlords at the end of the 10th century. Although the earlier tradition relates them with the Rashtrakutas, later tradition provides an interesting narrative regarding the origin of the name, Paramara. According to this tradition, the Kamadhenu

Kamadhenu

Kamadhenu , also known as Surabhi , is a divine bovine-goddess described in Hindu mythology as the mother of all cows. She is a miraculous "cow of plenty" who provides her owner whatever he desires and is often portrayed as the mother of other cattle as well as the eleven Rudras...

 (a cow which grants all wishes of one) of the sage Vasishtha was stolen by another sage Vishvamitra. Vasishtha therefore made an offering to the sacrificial fire at Mount Abu. A hero sprang out from the sacrificial fire and brought back the cow to the sage Vasishtha, who bestowed the name Paramara (slayer of the enemy) on him.

According to Kailash Chand Jain it is difficult to be definite about the origin of the Paramaras. But it is clear from both literary and epigraphical sources that they were connected to Mount Abu and followed the profession of arms. They may have taken advantage of the confusion caused by the struggle between the Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas and occupied Malwa. The knowledge of early Paramara rulers from Upendra to Vairisimha is scanty; there are no records, and they are known only from later sources. One thing is clear they were initially acting as governors of Malwa under Rashtrakuta

Rashtrakuta

The Rashtrakuta Empire was a royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries. During this period they ruled as several closely related, but individual clans. Rastrakutas in inscriptions represented as descendants of Satyaki, a Yadava well known...

 suzerainty.

Upendra

Upendra was the first known ruler of this dynasty. He had two sons, Vairisimha and Dambarasimha. His elder son, Vairisimha succeeded his father.

Siyaka II

Siyaka II succeeded his father Vairisimha II. He was also known as Harsha. He had two sons by his queen Vadaja, Vakpatiraja and Sindhuraja. His elder son Vakpatiraja succeeded him.

Vakpatiraja II

Vakpatiraja II, also known as Utpala but famously known as King "Munja" succeeded his father Siyaka II. He assumed the titles, Shrivallabha, Prithvivallabha and Amoghavarsha. He defeated the Kalachuri

Kalachuri

Kalachuri Empire is this the name used by two kingdoms who had a succession of dynasties from the 10th-12th centuries, one ruling over areas in Central India and were called Chedi or Haihaya and the other southern Kalachuri who ruled over parts of Karnataka...

 king Yuvaraja II and captured his capital Tripuri. He also defeated the Guhilas of Medapata (Mewar) and plundered the capital Aghata (Ahar). He defeated the Chalukya

Solanki

The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....

 ruler Mularaja of Anahilapataka

Patan, Gujarat

Patan was a capital of Gujarat in medieval times. It is the administrative seat of Patan District in the Indian state of Gujarat and administered by municipality. The city contains many Hindu and Jain temples as well as few mosques, dargahs and rojas...

.

Sindhuraja

Sindhuraja succeeded his elder brother Vakpatiraja II. He assumed the titles, Kumaranarayana and Navasahasanka. The Navasāhasāṅkacarita provides information about his reign. It describes how he helped a Naga king, Shankhapala of the Barsur in the present-day Dantewada district

Dantewada District

Dantewada District, also known as Dantewara District or Dakshin Bastar District , is a district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. Dantewada is the district headquarters. The district is part of Bastar Division...

 in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000....

 state against Vajrankusha, a ruler of Vairagad in the present-day Chandrapur district

Chandrapur District

Chandrapur District is a district in Nagpur Division of the Indian state of Maharashtra.It is located at the boundary of Andhrapradesh. The district was formerly known as Chanda District. In 1964, it was renamed as Chandrapur. It was the largest district in India until it was split into the...

 in Maharashtra

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

 state and married his daughter Shashiprabha. He was succeeded by his son Bhoja I.

Bhoja I

Bhoja I was the most well-known ruler of this dynasty. He was a scholar and established a centre for Sanskrit studies in Dhara Nagari, his capital. 23 works are ascribed to him, which include the Samaranganasutradhara.

The Rulers of Paramara dynasty of Malwa

Name		Reign Began C.E.	Reign Ended C.E.
1	Upendra	800	818
2	Vairisimha I	818	843
3	Siyaka I	843	893
4	Vakpatiraja I	893	918
5	Vairisimha II	918	948
6	Siyaka II  Harsha Siyaka – He expanded the kingdom in various battles with neighbours such as Mewar Mewar Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later... , Indore Indore Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631...  and in the east touched the Chandela Kingdom Chandela The Chandela is a Rajput clan found in North India. A section of the Chandelas ruled much of the Bundelkhand region of central India for long periods between the 10th and the 13th centuries AD. The Chandela dynasty is famous in Indian history for King Vidyadhar, who repulsed the attacks of Mahmud... . He was defeated by Yashorvarman Chandela. He took Ujjain Ujjain Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini...  from the Pratiharas. He later invaded the Rashtrakutas and sacked Manyakheta Manyakheta Manyakheta on the banks of Kagina River in Gulbarga district, Karnataka state was the capital of Rashtrakutas from . It is 40 km from Gulbarga city. The capital was moved from Mayurkhandi in Bidar district to Mānyakheṭa during the rule of Amoghavarsha I...  in Spring of 972 972 Year 972 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* The city of Satu Mare, Romania is founded.* Otto II marries Theophanu, Byzantine princess.... . Khottiga Amoghavarsha Khottiga Amoghavarsha Khottiga Amoghavarsha was a ruler of the Rashtrakuta Empire. During this period the Rashtrakutas started to decline. The Paramara King Siyaka II plundered Manyakheta and Khottiga died fighting them. This fact is available from the Jain writing Mahapurana written by Pushpadanta. He was succeeded...  of Rashtrakuta empire died fighting, resulting in collapse and overtake of his empire by Western Chalukyas under Tailapa II Tailapa II Tailapa II had titles Nurmadi Taliapa and Satyashraya Kulatilaka. He re-established the Western Chalukya dynasty after a period of 220 years during which time they had been in eclipse. The revived Chalukya kingdom rose to its height of power under Vikramaditya VI. The revived dynasty came to be... .	948	974
7	Vakpatiraja II Munja – He defeated Mewar Mewar Mewar is a region of south-central Rajasthan state in western India. It includes the present-day districts of Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Dungarpur, Banswara and some of the part of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The region was for centuries a Rajput kingdom that later...  under Narwahana or his son Shakti Kumar and plundered Ahar their new capital.He also invaded Marwar Marwar Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...  which was under the Chauhanas. He defeated the Kalachuri Kalachuri Kalachuri Empire is this the name used by two kingdoms who had a succession of dynasties from the 10th-12th centuries, one ruling over areas in Central India and were called Chedi or Haihaya and the other southern Kalachuri who ruled over parts of Karnataka...  king Yuvaraja II and sacked his capital Tripuri Tripuri The Tripuri people are the original inhabitants of the Kingdom of Tripura in North-East India and Bangladesh. The Tripuri people through the Royal family of the Debbarmas ruled the Kingdom of Tripura for more than 2000 years till the kingdom joined the Indian Union in 1949.The Tripuris live on the... . Battles between him and Tailapa II Tailapa II Tailapa II had titles Nurmadi Taliapa and Satyashraya Kulatilaka. He re-established the Western Chalukya dynasty after a period of 220 years during which time they had been in eclipse. The revived Chalukya kingdom rose to its height of power under Vikramaditya VI. The revived dynasty came to be...  of Western Chalukya are considered epic. He invaded the Western Chalukyas, hoping to defeat the still evolving new regional power. Tailapa however defeated the invasion and captured him. He died in captivity.	974	995
8	Sindhuraja  - Decisively defeated the Huna Huna For other uses, see HunaHuna is a Hawaiian word adopted by Max Freedom Long in 1936 to describe his theory of metaphysics which he linked to ancient Hawaiian kahuna... s north west of Malwa possibly in Indore Indore Indore is one of the major city in India, the largest city and commercial center of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Indore is located 190 km west of the state capital Bhopal. According to the 2011 Indian census, Indore city has a population of 1,960,631... . He defeated the Chalukyas of Lata (Gujarat) as well as King of Kosala Kosala Kosala was an ancient Indian region, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Awadh in present day Uttar Pradesh. According to the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya and the Jaina text, the Bhagavati Sutra, Kosala was one of the Solasa Mahajanapadas in 6th century BCE and its cultural and... , Kalingaraja. He also defeated the Silhara dynasty Silhara dynasty The Hindu Silhara dynasty ruled the region around present-day Mumbai between 810 and 1240.They were split into three branches; one branch ruled North Konkan, the second South Konkan , while the third ruled what is now known as modern districts of Satara, Kolhapur and Belgaon between 940 to 1215...  of Konkan Konkan The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...  at Aparanta. He may or may not have been killed in battle with Western Chalukya.	995	1010
9	Bhoja I Bhoja Bhoja was a philosopher king and polymath of medieval India, who ruled the kingdom of Malwa in central India from about 1000 to 1050 CE. Also known as Raja Bhoja Of Dhar, he belonged to the Paramara dynasty...  – Fought with his neighbours with varying results but was able to keep Muslims out of Malwa. He was a polymath and authored many books on various topics including Samarangana-sutradhara Samarangana-sutradhara Samarangana Sutradhara is an encyclopedic work on classical Indian architecture written by Paramara King Bhoja of Dhar .... . He is considered the greatest king of his dynasty. He is also a subject of early known brain surgery for a tumor by inducing coma using something called sammohini.	1010	1055
10	Jayasimha I  - Killed in battle by Kalachuri Kalachuri Kalachuri Empire is this the name used by two kingdoms who had a succession of dynasties from the 10th-12th centuries, one ruling over areas in Central India and were called Chedi or Haihaya and the other southern Kalachuri who ruled over parts of Karnataka...  King Karna Karna Karna or Radheya is one of the central characters in the epic Mahābhārata, from ancient India. He was the King of Anga... .	1055	1068-69
11	Udayaditya Udayaditya Udayaditya was a Paramara dynasty ruler of Malwa region of central India, who succeeded Jayasimha I. He was succeeded by his son, Lakshmanadeva.-Situation after Bhoja I's death:...  - Defeated by Chamundaraja, his vassal at Vagada. Invaded in 1079 by Karna Karna Karna or Radheya is one of the central characters in the epic Mahābhārata, from ancient India. He was the King of Anga... , Solanki Solanki The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....  ruler of Lata and defeated him at Sudakupa Pass. In reply he along with allies defeated Karna.	1068-69	1087
12	Lakshmanadeva - Mahmud Ghaznavi invades Malwa and occupies Ujjain Ujjain Ujjain , is an ancient city of Malwa region in central India, on the eastern bank of the Kshipra River , today part of the state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative centre of Ujjain District and Ujjain Division.In ancient times the city was called Ujjayini... .	1087	1094
13	Naravarmandeva Nirvana-Narayana - Lost Bhilsa District to the Chandelas under Salakshanavarman. Also defeated by Chauhanas Chauhan Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan...  of Sakambhari under Ajayavarman. He was also defeated by Jayasimha Siddharaja, the Solanki Solanki The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....  ruler of Lata	1094	1134
14	Yasovarman - Invaded by Jayasimha Siddharaja, the Solanki Solanki The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....  ruler of Gujarat losing to him the greater part of Malwa but restored a portion of the Kingdom with the help of Chauhan Chauhan Chauhan, Chouhan or Chohan , , - is a clan who ruled parts of northern India in the Middle Ages. The clan is most famous for Rajput King Maharaja Prithviraj Chauhan... s of Ajmer Ajmer Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...	1134	1142
15	Jayavarman I	1142	1143
	Ballala - a usurper, killed in battle by Kaka, a general of Kumarapala, the Solanki Solanki The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....  ruler of Gujarat	1143	1150-51
	Briefly a province of Kumarapala, the Solanki Solanki The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....   ruler of Gujarat
16	Vindhyavarman	1160	1193
17	Subhatavarman	1193	1210
18	Arjunavarman I Arjunavarman Arjunavarman was a king in central India, ruling from Dhar in Malwa between circa 1210-15. He belonged to the Paramara dynasty and claimed in his inscriptions to be an incarnation of his illustrious ancestor king Bhoja. He is best known from a eulogistic inscription of his reign which takes the...  - He restored past glory of his Kingdom by defeating Solanki Kingdom of Gujarat Solanki The Solanki was a royal Hindu Indian dynasty that ruled parts of western and central India between the 10th to 13th centuries. A number of scholars including V. A. Smith assign them Gurjar origin....  as well as the Yadava Kingdom	1210	1218
19	Devapala	1218	1239
20	Jaitugideva	1239	1256
21	Jayavarman II	1256	1269
22	Jayasimha II	1269	1274
23	Arjunavarman II	1274	1283
24	Bhoja II	1283	?
25	Mahlakadeva - He was defeated in 1305 by Ain-ul-Mulk Multani and Malwa was annexed by the Delhi Sultanate Delhi Sultanate The Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived, Delhi based kingdoms or sultanates, of Turkic origin in medieval India. The sultanates ruled from Delhi between 1206 and 1526, when the last was replaced by the Mughal dynasty... .	?	1305