Ajayapala (Chaulukya dynasty)
| Ajayapala | |
|---|---|
| King of Gurjara | |
| Reign | c. 1171 – 1175 |
| Predecessor | Kumarapala |
| Successor | Mularaja II |
| Spouse | Naikidevi |
| Dynasty | Chaulukya |
| Religion | Brahmanism |
Ajayapala (r. c. 1171 – 1175 CE) was an Indian king from the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty of Gujarat. He ruled the present-day Gujarat and surrounding areas for a short period, from his capital Anahilapataka (modern Patan).
Unlike his predecessor Kumarapala, Ajayapala did not patronize Jainism. Because of this, the later Jain chroniclers have portrayed him in a negative light, accusing him of persecuting Jains and even poisoning Kumarapala. These claims do not appear to be historically accurate.
Ajayapala succeeded Kumarapala on the Chaulukya throne. According to Surathotsava written by the poet Someshvara, Ajayapala was a son of Kumarapala. Someshvara was a contemporary of Ajayapala's son Bhima II (and probably Ajayapala).
However, some later Jain writers describe Ajayapala as a nephew of Kumarapala and a son of Mahipala. The earliest of these is Abhayatilaka Gani, who wrote a commentary on Hemachandra's Dvyashraya in 13th century. The 14th century chronicler Merutunga also repeats this claim in his Theravali, but describes Ajayapala as a son of Kumarapala in his Prabandha-Chintamani. The later Jain chroniclers such as Jayasimha Suri, Rajashekhara and Jinamandana repeat the claim that Ajayapala was a nephew of Kumarapala.
It seems more likely that Ajayapala was a son of Kumarapala. The later Jain writers probably branded him as a nephew of Kumarapala and portrayed him negatively, because he did not patronize the Jain faith.
The later Jain chroniclers claim that Ajayapala killed Kumarapala to gain the throne. According to Jayasimha Suri's account, Kumarapala wanted to appoint either his nephew Ajayapala or his grandson Pratapamalla as his successor. He sought advice from his preceptor, the Jain leader Hemachandra. Hemachandra told Kumarapala that Ajayapala was not fit to be a king, and recommended Pratapamalla instead. Balachandra, a wicked disciple of Hemachandra and a friend of Ajayapala, overheard this conversation. He informed Ajayapala, who promised to make him the royal preceptor upon becoming the king. After Hemachandra's death, Kumarapala fell ill with grief. Ajayapala mixed poison in his milk, and hid the only known anecdote. Kumarapala died of poisoning, and Ajayapala succeeded him. This legend has been repeated by other chroniclers such as Rajashekhara and Jinamandana with minor variations.
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