Vakpati Munja
| Vakpati Munja | |
|---|---|
| Vakpati-raja-deva, Amoghavarsha, Sri-vallabha, Prithvi-vallabha | |
| King of Malwa | |
| Reign | c. 972 CE - 990s CE |
| Predecessor | Siyaka |
| Successor | Sindhuraja |
| Died | 994-998 CE Deccan (Western Chalukya kingdom) |
| Spouse | Kusumavati (according to Rajavallabha's Bhojacharitra) |
| Dynasty | Paramara |
Munja (reigned c. 972-990s CE), also known as Vakpati II, was an Indian king from the Paramara dynasty, who ruled in the Malwa region. He is known for consolidating the Paramara kingdom, and for patronizing poets and scholars.
Munja achieved military successes against the Chahamanas, the Guhilas, the Hunas, the Kalachuris, and the ruler of Gurjara region (possibly a Chaulukya or Pratihara ruler). He also achieved some early successes against the Western Chalukya king Tailapa II, but was ultimately defeated and killed by Tailapa some time between 994 CE and 998 CE.
Munja succeeded Siyaka as the Paramara king, asceding the throne around 972 CE. According to Prabandha-Chintamani by the 14th century writer Merutunga, Munja was an adopted child of the king Simhadantabhatta (Siyaka). The king discovered him in a munja grassland. Since the king did not have any children of his own at that time, he adopted the child and named him Munja. Although the king later had a biological son named Sindhuraja, he appointed Munja as his successor. Historians doubt the authenticity of this legend, in absence of any supporting evidence. Another later poet Ballala states that Munja and Sindhuraja were biological brothers.
Munja is also known by other names including Vakpati (II), Vakpati-raja, Vakpati-raja-deva, and Utpala-raja. In addition, he assumed the titles Amoghavarsha, Sri-vallabha and Prithvi-vallabha, which were used by the Rashtrakuta kings. This was probably meant to commemorate his predecessor Siyaka's victory over the Rashtrakuta king Khottiga.
At the time of Munja's ascension, the Paramara kingdom was surrounded by Chahamanas of Shakambari, the Chahamanas of Naddula and the Guhilas of Mewar in the north; the Kalachuris of Chedi and the Chandelas in the east; the Chalukyas of Kalyani in the south; and the Chaulukyas of Gujarat in the west. Except the Chalukyas of Kalyani, Munja successfully dealt with his neighbours.Tilaka-Manjari, a work composed by Munja's court poet Dhanapala euologizes him as an archer hero.
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