Aryaraja

Aryaraja was a king of Kashmir who features in Rajatarangini (The River of Kings), a legendary and historical chronicle of the north-western Indian subcontinent, particularly the kings of Kashmir. It was written in Sanskrit by Kashmiri historian Kalhana in the 12th century CE.^[1]

Aryaraja

Although some parts of the Rajatarangini match other sources, Aryaraja appears at the end of the list of kings in Book 2, No kings mentioned in Book 2 have been traced in any other historical source.^[2]

He was considered the reincarnation or resurrection of a wise man, Samdhimati,^[3] who had been killed by the previous king Jayendra. Witches used magic to bring the skeleton of the wise man back to life, and he then ascended the throne as Aryaraja.^[4][5]

Influence

Comparison of the reincarnation of Samdhimati as Aryaraja have been made with the resurrection accounts in Christianity, with the later being influenced by the former.^[6] In Kalhana's account, after a just reign Aryaraja resigned the throne and became a monk.^[7]

References

1. "Rajatarangini" Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2011. Web. 17 December 2011.
2. Students & Britannica India. 1. A to C - Page 254 Dale Hoiberg, Indu Ramchandani - 2000 "Book II introduces a new line of kings not mentioned in any other authentic source, starting with Pratapaditya I and ending with Aryaraja. Book III starts with an account of the reign of Meghavahana of the restored line of Gonanda and refers to ..."
3. India and Indology: Selected Articles - Page 150 William Norman Brown, Rosane Rocher, American Institute of Indian Studies - 1978 "King Jayendra had a trusted minister named Samdhimati, whom, however, jealous courtiers persuaded him to reduce to disgrace and ... At this time a mysterious report spread from house to house, "To Samdhimati will belong the kingdom."
4. Kalhana's Rajatarangini Rājataraṅgiṇi: the chronicle of the kings of Kaśmīr - Volume 1 : 1961 Page 81 "Samdhimati- Aryaraja who seems to have figured in Kasmlr tradition as the bean ideal of a royal devotee ... Fanciful as the story of Samdhimati- Aryaraja is as related in the Chronicle, we should yet scarcely be justified in treating the existence ..."
5. Culture And Political History Of Kashmir ( 3 Vols. Set) - Page 111 P. N. K Bamzai - 1994 "The saintly hero of the tale is then supposed to have ascended the Kashmir throne vacated by Jayendra's death under the title of Aryaraja. He seems to be considered in the Kashmir traditions as an ideal saintly king who built shrines and ..."
6. Vivekananda Kendra - Christianity in India: a critical study 1979 - Page 9 "Then Samdhiman Aryaraja, resplendent in divine garments and celestial ornaments, fell at the feet of his guru. The Kingless Srinagar citizens, one and all, who had heard about the miracle, reached the place and persuaded Samdhiman to ..."
7. The Calcutta review 1850 - Volume 14 - Page 211 "Aryaraja, who, like Charles V., abdicated the throne, and refused to become king again, "raised his eyes to heaven, and was content with the empire of his soul; he never resumed the reins of power, as a snake does not take the slough, which .."