| Lalitaditya Muktapida | |
|---|---|
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| Reign | 724 -760 CE |
| Predecessor | King Durlabhvardhana |
| House | House of Karkota |
| Father | King Durlabhvardhana |
| Religion | Ancient Hinduism |
Lalitaditya Muktapida (reign 724 -760 CE) was a Hindu emperor of the Karkota dynasty (625-1003 CE) from Kashmir. He is famous for successfully resisting Muslim Arab and Tibetan armies and defeating one of Emperor Harsha's successor, King Yashovarman.
Lalitaditya conquered most of North India and Central Asia. He was the son of King Durlabhvardhana, a Aswa-Ghas Kayastha (not a caste but an official in-charge of providing grass for the horses). According to the historian R. C. Majumdar, Lalitaditya concentrated his attention on the areas in the north after important victories in the south, thus his empire reached the remote corner of the Karakoram mountain range. Yashovarman, from the Kingdom of Kannauj (Harsha's former empire), came into conflict with Lalitaditya and appears to have been defeated.[1]
In the beginning of the 8th century, the Arab invasion had started knocking at the door of the Kabul valley. Simultaneously after the end of Tang reign in China, many Central Asian states that had come under the Chinese rule had disintegrated because of civil wars. During this period, the Muslim power in Sindh was trying to march towards the north. While the empires of Kabul and Gandhar were occupied by these invasions, Lalitaditya used the opportunity to establish his foothold in the north, moving with his victorious army from Dardistan to Turkestan. The entire area was rich in Kashmiri traditions and education, due to the efforts of Buddhist monks and Kashmiri people in towns of Central Asia.[2]
Kashmir, at that time, was one of the most powerful state in the South and Central Asia. During the time of Lalitaditya, its boundaries covered an area from Tibet in the east to Iran in the west and from Turkestan in the north.
Lalitaditya expressed interest in other areas besides his military campaign. Art and trade gained importance during his reign, religious festivals were held, and special facilities as well as encouragement were provided to support painters and sculptors. He was a successful writer and a Veena player. Bamzai wrote that Lalitaditya's war victories have received special place among different accounts of his reign. He was later made a hero of Kashmiris. Lalitaditya is considered to be the greatest ruler of Kashmir due to his encouragement of art, great work in human welfare, love of education, protection of scholars, and kindness.
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 Tocharians 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.[3][4][5]