An Outline Chronology of Kashmir History
Sources
- Nilmatpurana
- Kalhana’s Rajatarangani
- Jonaraja’s Rajatarangani
- Jaina Rajatarangani by Srivara Pandit
- Rajavalipataka by Prajyabhatta
- Chaturtha Rajatarangani by Suka
Written in 6th – 7th Cent. (Oldest extant text)
Written in 1149 – 1150
Covers 1150 – 1459
Covers 1459 – 1486
Covers 1486 – 1512
Covers up to the arrival of Asaf Khan
(Shah Jehan’s, 1628-1657, Prime Minister)
Chronology
Ancient Hindu Era
3120 B.C. – 598 Kalhana
3,718 years
92 kings (chronology speculative – based on Kalhana
and Ghulam Hassan Shah (1832 – 1898), in Tarikh-i-
Hasan. The only source of 47 Lost Kings, based on
Ratnakar Purana, compiled by Anand Kaul.
Kalhana starts with King Gonanda I
Karakota Dynast
Utpala Dynasty
600 – 855 255 years
855 – 1003 148 years
Hieun Tsiang visits Kashmir (631 – 633)
Suyya, the great engineer. Sopore named after him
Lalitaditya Muktapida, built Martand Temple.
Avanti Varman (855 – 883). Built Samarsvamin
Temple in Avantipura.
Vasagupta, founder of Kashmir Shaivism
Ksemgupta (950 – 958). Married Didda.
Didda (980 – 1003)
1st Lohar Dynasty
2nd Lohar Dynasty
1003 – 1101 98 years
1101 – 1339 238 years
King Harsha (1089 – 1101)
Pandit Kalhana wrote Rjatarangani during
Jayasimha’s reign (1128 – 1154)
Suhadeva (1301 1320). During his reign Dulcha,
Rinchana, and Shah Mir came to Kashmir
Rinchana (1323 – 1323). Converted to Islam.
Udyandeva (1323 – 1338), brother of Suhadeva
Kotarani (1338 – 1339). Murdered by Shah Mir. Lal Ded born in 1335
Total Ancient Hindu Era
4,457 years
Muslim Era
Sultanate
1339 – 1561 222 years
Shams’Din (Shah Mir) 1339 – 1342)
Sikandar Bhutshikan (1389 – 1413) –
Most tyrannical to KPs. Forced conversion
of KPs to Islam
Zain-Ul-Abidin (Budshah) 1420 – 1470
Most secular Muslim king. Death of Sheikh
Nur-ud-Din Rishi
Chaks
Moguls
Afghans
1561 – 1586 25 years
1586 -1752 166 years
1752 – 1819 67 years
Habba Khatoon
Rupa Bhavani (Shah Jehan’s reign 1628 – 1657)
Most brutal era for KPs
Parmanand born in 1791
Arnimal
Total Muslim Era
480 years
Modern Hindu Era
Sikhs
Dogras
1819 – 1846 27 years
1846 – 1947 101 years
Treaty of Amristar
Britain sold Kashmir to Gulab Singh for 75 lak rupees
Master Zinda Kaul
Total Modern Hindu Era
128 years
History of Srinagar
The city of Srinagri was founded by King Ashoka (273 – 232 B.C.) at the present-day village of Pandrethan, about 3 miles of the present-day Srinagar. (Panderthan was called Purnadisthan until 14th cent.). Present-day Srinagar was founded by King Pravarsena The Second (Gonandiya Dynasaty) and used to be called Pravarpura. When the name Srinagri changed to Srinagar and replaced Pravarpura is not known.
Suffern, New York, Original 2003: Rev 1: 2010; Rev 2: January 29, 2017; Rev. 3: Feb. 28, 2017; Rev 4: March 4, 2017; Rev. 5: June 24, 2018
maharaj.kaul@yahoo.com