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Hariraja, who succeeded Sangramaraja ruled for less than a month. According to Kalhana, his short, butterfly rule was marked by an all-round improvement in the affairs of the State and the people had high hopes of amelioration in their living conditions, as the new king listened to wise counsel, strictly enforced obedience to his orders, and dealt sternly with such bands of thieves that had rendered markets unsafe at nights. This lavish praise by Chronicler has, however, to be taken with a degree of caution in view of his very short reign of 22 days, but it 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, vii, 127. 2. Ibid., I, vii, 128-29.

287 may safely be concluded that, in the flush of his accession, he introduced certain reforms on the advice of some wise men at the Kashmir court. But the evil forces were soon at work and he came in conflict with the Queen-Mother, whose licentious habits he frowned upon². According to Kalhana, it was generally claimed 2 that the ambitious and libidinous queen was responsible for the death of Hariraja. Ananta ( C. 1028 - 1063 A.D.) Hariraja was succeeded by his younger brother, Ananta, though not without some incidents. It appears that Srilekha, the Queen-Mother wanted the throne for herself, as Ananta, at that time, was a minor. She had visions of emulating the career of Queen Didda and had even made preparations for her consecration but was prevented from succeeding in her scheme by the Ekanga nobles and others who seated the minor Ananta on the throne. Vigraharaja's Bid for the Throne Vigrahraja of Lohara, who was the paternal uncle of Ananta, posed a serious threat to the throne of 5 Kashmir. He marched down from Lohara to the capital 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, vii, 131. 2. Ibid., I, vii, 133. 3. Ibid. 4. Ibid., I, vii, 134-35. 5. Ibid., I, vii, 139-40.

288 with surprising speed and encamped at Lothikamatha. It appears that in face of this common danger, the Queen-Mother and the minor King were united and Srilekha did a grand job by ordering the troops to encircle and burn down the matha which sheltered Vigraharaja. The latter perished in that fire and great threat was wiped off through the Queen-Mother's presence of mind, though she could not rid herself altogether of conspiratorial thoughts. Shahi Dominance at Kashmir Court assassination The royal house of the Shahis, after braving the onslaughts of "the Muslims for more than twenty-five years" had finally succumbed with the accession of Trilo shanapala by some Hindus some time in 1021 A.D. Some members of this illustrious royal family sought refuge at the Kashmir court and had, within a short time, won over the favour of Ananta, who had by this time sufficiently grown up. By virtue of their old relationship and also because of their royal descent, many of them drew large salaries and were proving a constant drain on the royal coffers! Rudrapala, 1. Rajatarangini by Kalhana, I, vii, 141. 2. Ibid. 3. Ibid., I, vii, 148. 5 4. Majumdar, R.C., Struggle for Empire, p.17. 5. Rajatarangini by Kalhana I, vii, 143-44. 6. Ibid., I, vii, 144-46.

289 the chief amongst them, even harboured anti-social elements, while another was always on the look out for robbing temples and idols. The former was in league with the tyrannical Kayastha officials of the State and, in order to further strengthen his position at the court, had arranged the marriage of his wife's sister a daughter of the ruler of Jalandhara with Ananta. This matrimony had far-reaching effects; Rudrapala's position at the court became unassailable and he was the king's best confident, though for 3 worse.