Kashmir After Kalhana by R L Bhat

While few in India, and abroad, are unaware of Kalhana and his Raajataranginii, most in India, even Kashmir, have resorted to later Persian chronicles for the history of the reigns and rules that followed Kalhana. Here, very few people note that Kalhana's account, Raajataranginii, ending in the 12th century CE, was updated, in Sanskrit, right to the middle of the 16th century. These updations were official, made during the reign of Muslim kings. It is worth noting that these updations do not modify the earlier accounts and, as such, are independent chronicles. They are mitten in Sanskrit, the official language of the times. The first of these Sanskrit histories is Joonaraaja'sRaajataranginii. He wrote under Zainulaabdiin. Joonaraaja's is the earliest account of Kashmir rulers after Jayasimha (1128-55 CE), the last king described by Kalhana. Jayasimha ruled when Kalhana closed his chronicle. Beginning with the remaining years of Jayasimha, Joonaraaja tells of the earliest times, following Kalhana, in the first half of his Raajataranginii. The latter half of it provides an eyewitness account of what Joonaraaja either saw himself or heard from his immediate elders. This is the primary source of the post-Kalhana rulers of Kashmir. The present work, KashmirAfter Kalhana, brings you this historical account of the kings who ruled Kashmir from the middle of the 12th century to the first decade of the 15th century, from Jayasimha to Sikandar i.e., the fourth king of the 2ndLooharas, the 6th king of the Shahmiinis, from this primary source.

Publisher - Gulshan Books