The Paramara were a Rajput dynasty that ruled Malwa region between the 9th and 14th centuries. Its early rulers were most likely vassals of the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta. Around 972 CE, Siyaka sacked the Rashtrakuta capital, Manyakheta, and established the Paramaras as a sovereign power. By the time of his successor Munja, the Malwa region in present-day Madhya Pradesh had become the core Paramara territory, with Dhara (now Dhar) as their capital. The dynasty reached its pinnacle under Munja's nephew Bhoja, whose kingdom stretched from Chittor in the north to Konkan in the south, and from the Sabarmati River in the west to Vidisha in the east. This article will explain to you about the Paramars of Malwa which will be helpful in History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Paramaras of Malwa - Background

• Paramaras were successors of the Rashtrakutas, who controlled Malwa from the early ninth century with their capital at Dhar.
• Upendra or Krishnaraja was the founder of the Paramara dynasty.
• They belong to the Agnivanshi lineage.
• There were other branches of Paramaras ruling in Rajputana, including Mount Abu, Bhinmal, and others, but the Paramaras of Malwa (Dhar) were the most powerful of all.
• Pratiharas were initially in charge of Malwa. The Paramaras took advantage of the Pratiharas' fading strength and rose to power in Malwa in the second part of the 10th century.
• Their capital was originally in Ujjain, but it was eventually moved to Dhara (both Ujjain and Dhara are in Madhya Pradesh).
• The last known Paramara king, Mahalakadeva, was defeated and killed by the forces of Delhi's Alauddin Khalji in 1305 CE, though epigraphic evidence suggests that the Paramara rule continued for a few years after his death.
• Under the Paramaras, Malwa had a high level of political and cultural prestige.
• The Paramaras were well known for their support of Sanskrit poets and scholars, and Bhoja himself was a well-known scholar.
• The majority of the Paramara kings were Shaivites who built several Shiva temples while also patronising Jain scholars.

Geographical area of Paramaras

Important Rulers of Paramara Dynasty

Upendra (Around 1st quarter of the 9th century CE)

• He is considered as the founder of the Paramara dynasty.
• It is believed that he was appointed as ruler of Deccan by Rashtakuta King Govinda III following the latter's successful military expedition in Malwa.
• The Paramaras were temporarily eclipsed when they lost Malwa to the Pratiharas, but their power was restored in the mid-10th century by Vairasimha II and Siyaka II.

Siyaka II (948-972 CE)

• Around 972 CE, Siyaka (also known as Harsha) abandoned his allegiance to the Rashtrakutas.
• He not only defeated the Rashtrakuta king, Khottiga, at Kalighatta on Narmada's banks, but also sacked the Rashtrakuta capital, Manyakheta, and established the Paramaras as a sovereign power.

Munja/ Vakpatiraja II/ Prithvi Vallabha (972-990 CE)

• He expanded his empire and had numerous military victories against the Kalachuris, the Huns, the Guhilas, the Nadulas, the Tailapa.
• Tailapa II, the Western Chalukya ruler, eventually defeated him. The Paramaras lost their southern territories as a result of this defeat.
• He took the names Amoghavarsha, Prithvi Vallabha, and Sri Vallabha.
• He was a poet as well as a supporter of the arts and literature.

Sindhuraja (990-1010 CE)

• He was Munja's brother, and he defeated Satyashraya of the Western Chalukyas and reclaimed the territories lost to Tailapa II.
• He also defeated a Huna Chief, the Somavanshis of south Kosala, the Shilaharas of Konkana, and the ruler of Lata in battle.
• Padma Gupta, his court poet, wrote his biography, Nava-Sahasanka- Charita.

Bhoja (1010-1055 CE)

• Bhoja fought wars with nearly all of his neighbours, with varying degrees of success, in an attempt to expand his kingdom.
• His kingdom stretched from Chittor in the north to upper Konkan in the south, and from the Sabarmati River in the west to Vidisha in the east.
• Bhoja may have sent troops to help Kabul Shahi ruler Anandapala fight the Ghaznavids.
• Bhoja may also have been a member of the Hindu alliance that drove Mahmud's governors out of Hansi, Thanesar, and other areas in 1043 CE.
• He took the title Parameshvara-Paramabhattaraka, which is thought to be synonymous with Paramara-Deva.
• He is said to have founded Bhojpur and is credited with the construction of not only the Bhojeshwar Temple but also three dams in the area.
• He is frequently compared to the legendary Vikramaditya.
• He is regarded as a righteous scholar king who was also a polymath. His works cover a wide range of subjects, including grammar, poetry, architecture, yoga, and chemistry.
• He was a patron of the arts, literature, and science.
• He founded the Bhoj Shala, a centre for Sanskrit studies in Dhar.

Naravarman (1094-1133 CE)

• Naravarman succeeded his elder brother Lakshmadeva as Paramara king.
• Naravarman was a poet who wrote hymns to various deities and eulogies for his ancestors.
• He had written the Nagpur Prashasti.
• He restored the Mahakala temple in Ujjain and wrote a hymn in the deity's honour.
• Naravarman's gold (5.2 g), silver (2.9 g), and copper coins were discovered in Indore.

Mahalakadeva

• He was the last known Paramara king.
• He was defeated and killed by the forces of Ala-ud-din Khalji of Delhi in 1305 CE.

Decline of Paramaras of Malwa

• Following Bhoja's death, his successor, Jayasimha I, who was most likely his son, faced the joint Kalachuri-Chalukya invasion.
• According to Bilhana's writings, he sought assistance from the Chalukyas of Kalyani.
• With the help of his allies, he repelled an invasion by the Chalukya ruler Karna.
• In the Nagpur Prashasti inscription of 1104-05 CE, Udayaditya's eldest son Lakshmadeva is credited with extensive military conquests.
• Naravarman, Udayaditya's younger son, suffered several defeats, including defeats at the hands of the Chandelas of Jejakabhukti and the Chaulukya king Jayasimha Siddharaja.
• By the end of his reign, a man named Vijayapala had established an independent kingdom to the north-east of Ujjain.
• Jayasimha Siddharaja seized control of the Paramara capital Dhara from Yashovarman.
• His heir, Jayavarman I, regained control of Dhara but was soon deposed by a usurper named Ballala.
• Around 1150 CE, the Chaulukya king Kumarapala defeated Ballala with the help of his feudators, the Naddula Chahamana ruler Alhana and the Abu Paramara chief Yashoda Vala.
• Malwa was then made a Chaulukya province.
• Nearly two decades later, Jayavarman's son Vindhyavarman defeated Chaulukya king Mularaja II and re-established Paramara sovereignty in Malwa.
• Malwa was repeatedly invaded by the Hoysalas and the Yadavas of Devagiri during his reign.
• Continuous conflicts led to the decline of the Paramara dynasty.

Conclusion

The power of the Paramaras rose and fell several times as a result of their conflicts with the Chalukyas of Gujarat, the Chalukyas of Kalyani, the Kalachuris of Tripuri, and other neighbouring kingdoms. After Dhara was sacked several times by their enemies, the later Paramara rulers relocated their capital to Mandapa-Durga (now Mandu). In 1305 CE, the forces of Alauddin Khalji of Delhi defeated and killed Mahalakadeva (last known Paramara king), marking the end of the Paramara dynasty.

FAQs

Q1: Who were the Paramaras of Malwa?

Q2: When did the Paramaras of Malwa rule?

Q3: Who was the most famous ruler of the Paramaras?

Q4: What were the contributions of Raja Bhoja to Indian culture?

Q5: How did the Paramara dynasty decline?

MCQs

1. Which Rajput dynasty ruled over Malwa in central India?

a) Chalukyas

b) Paramaras

c) Pratiharas

d) Cholas

2. Who was the most notable ruler of the Paramara dynasty?

a) Chandragupta

b) Ashoka

c) Bhoja

d) Harshavardhana

3. Which of the following is associated with Raja Bhoja’s contributions to education?

a) Nalanda University

b) Vikramshila University

c) Bhojshala

d) Takshashila

4. What was the capital of the Paramaras of Malwa?

a) Ujjain

b) Dhar

c) Kannauj

d) Ajmer

5. What led to the decline of the Paramara dynasty?

a) Invasions by the Cholas

b) Attacks by the Delhi Sultanate

c) Internal conflict

d) Decline in trade

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Discuss the contributions of the Paramara dynasty to Indian art and culture.

Answer: The Paramara dynasty, particularly under the reign of Raja Bhoja, made significant contributions to Indian art, culture, and education. Raja Bhoja was a polymath and patron of scholars, and his reign is often regarded as a golden age for literature and learning. He established the Bhojshala, a center for Sanskrit studies, which attracted scholars from across India. Raja Bhoja himself authored several works on various subjects, including Samarangana Sutradhara (on architecture), Raja Martanda (astronomy), and Siddhanta Sangraha (medicine). The Paramaras also contributed to temple architecture, with notable examples being the Bhojeshwar Temple at Bhojpur. The cultural achievements of the Paramaras, especially under Bhoja, left a lasting legacy in medieval Indian history.

Q2. Analyze the political challenges faced by the Paramaras of Malwa, leading to their decline.

Answer: The Paramaras of Malwa faced significant political challenges that eventually led to their decline. One of the primary factors was the continuous pressure from neighboring dynasties, particularly the Chalukyas and later the Delhi Sultanate. The Paramaras, despite their cultural achievements, were unable to withstand the military might of these powerful empires. The decline began in the 12th century, when they faced multiple invasions from the Chalukyas, who sought to expand their territory into Malwa. By the 13th century, the Delhi Sultanate began to assert its dominance over central India, and the Paramaras could not resist these invasions. The weakened political structure and lack of strong leadership contributed to their downfall, marking the end of their rule in Malwa by the early 14th century.

Q3. Examine the role of Raja Bhoja in promoting education and intellectual development in medieval India.

Answer: Raja Bhoja, one of the most renowned rulers of the Paramara dynasty, played a crucial role in promoting education and intellectual development during medieval India. He is best known for establishing the Bhojshala, a center for Sanskrit learning and scholarly exchange. Bhoja himself was a scholar and a patron of the arts and sciences. He authored several important works on diverse subjects, ranging from architecture to astronomy. His treatises, such as Samarangana Sutradhara and Raja Martanda, reflect the depth of intellectual inquiry during his reign. Raja Bhoja’s court attracted scholars, poets, and artists, fostering an environment of learning and cultural development. His emphasis on education and knowledge left a lasting impact on Indian intellectual traditions, making him one of the most celebrated kings in Indian history.

Previous Year Questions on  Paramaras of Malwa

1. UPSC CSE Mains 2018

Question. What were the cultural contributions of the Paramaras of Malwa, particularly during the reign of Raja Bhoja?

Answer: The Paramaras of Malwa, especially during the reign of Raja Bhoja, made substantial cultural contributions that enriched Indian art, architecture, and literature. Raja Bhoja, a noted polymath, was a patron of scholars and artists, and his reign is considered a cultural renaissance in medieval India. The most notable contribution was the establishment of the Bhojshala, a center for Sanskrit learning, which attracted scholars from across the subcontinent. Bhoja himself was an accomplished scholar, authoring works on diverse subjects such as architecture (Samarangana Sutradhara), astronomy (Raja Martanda), and medicine (Siddhanta Sangraha). The Paramaras were also known for their architectural contributions, with the construction of temples like the Bhojeshwar Temple at Bhojpur. The artistic and intellectual achievements of the Paramaras, particularly under Bhoja, had a profound influence on the cultural development of central India, making their contributions significant in the broader context of Indian history.
 

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019

Question. Analyze the factors leading to the decline of the Paramaras of Malwa.

Answer: The decline of the Paramaras of Malwa can be attributed to several factors, both internal and external. One of the key reasons was the invasions by the Chalukyas, who sought to expand their territory into Malwa, weakening the political stability of the Paramara kingdom. Additionally, the growing power of the Delhi Sultanate in the 13th century posed a serious threat to the Paramaras. The Sultanate's repeated invasions into central India, aimed at consolidating its hold over the region, further destabilized the Paramaras. Internally, the Paramaras suffered from weak leadership after the reign of Raja Bhoja, which made it difficult for them to resist these external pressures. The combination of military defeats, internal strife, and the rise of more powerful neighboring dynasties led to the eventual decline and fall of the Paramaras by the early 14th century. Their decline marked the end of a culturally rich and historically significant dynasty in medieval Indian history.