Lalitaditya

Lalitaditya Muktapida
Reign	r. 724 CE–760 CE
Predecessor	Durlabhaka-Pratapaditya II
Dynasty	Karkoṭa
Father	Durlabhaka-Pratapaditya II
Religion	Hinduism

Lalitāditya Muktapīḍa (r. 724 CE–760 CE) was the most powerful ruler of the Karkoṭa Empire of Kashmir region in the Indian Subcontinent. The dynasty exercised influence in northwestern India from 625 CE until 1003. Kalhana's Rajatarangini credits him with extensive conquests and miraculous powers, although historians consider these as exaggerations.

Lalitaditya Muktapida was the son of his predecessor Durlabhaka-Pratapaditya II. Muktapida moved his capital from Srinagar to Parihaspur (a small town near Srinagar in Kashmir Valley). Kalhana mentions the construction of the city in his Book 4 cantos 194-204. Lalitaditya according to Kalhana built his residence and four temples in this area. The temples included one for Vishnu (Muktakeshva) where according to Kalhana the emperor used 84,000 tolas of gold to make the image of Vishnu. In another temple he used as many Palas of silver for the image of Parihaskesana. He also had made a statue of Buddha in copper that according to Kalhana “reached up to the sky.” The main temple was larger than the famous temple that Lalitaditya built in Martand. Parihaspur lost its status as a capital after Lalitaditya’s death. His son moved the royal residence.

Kalhana in his Rajatarangini credits king Lalitaditya with leading an aggressive military campaigns in Northern India and Central Asia. He broke into the Uttarapatha and defeated the rebellious tribes of the Kambojas, Tukharas (Turks in Turkmenistan and in Badakhshan), Bhautas (Tibetans in Baltistan and Tibet) and Daradas (Dards). His campaign then led him to subjugate the kingdoms of Pragjyotisha, Strirajya and the Uttarakurus. According to historians, Kalhana highly exaggerated the conquests of Lalitaditya.

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