Paramara dynasty

Paramara Kingdom of Malwa
9th or 10th century CE–1305 CE
Greatest extent of Paramaras under Emperor Bhoja c. 1055 CE. .[1]
Capital	Dhar Mandu
Common languages	Sanskrit
Religion	Shaivism[2]
Government	Monarchy
Maharajadhiraj (Emperor)
• 948–972 CE	Siyaka (first)
• Late 13th century – 24 November 1305	Mahalakadeva (last)
Historical era	Classical India
• Established	9th or 10th century CE
• Disestablished	1305 CE
Preceded by Succeeded by Rashtrakuta dynasty Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty Kalachuris of Tripuri Ghurid dynasty Delhi Sultanate
Today part of	India

The Paramara Dynasty (IAST: Paramāra)^{[note 1]} ruled Malwa and surrounding areas in west-central India between 9th and 14th centuries. They belonged to the Parmara clan of the Rajputs.^[4]

The dynasty was established in either the 9th or 10th century, and its early rulers most probably ruled as vassals of the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta. The earliest extant Paramara inscriptions, issued by the 10th-century ruler Siyaka, have been found in Gujarat. 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 zenith under Munja's nephew Bhoja, whose empire extended from Chittor in the north to Konkan in the south, and from the Sabarmati River in the west to Vidisha in the east.

The Paramara power rose and declined several times as a result of their struggles with the Chaulukyas of Gujarat, the Chalukyas of Kalyani, the Kalachuris of Tripuri, Chandelas of Jejakabhukti and other neighbouring kingdoms. The later Paramara rulers moved their capital to Mandapa-Durga (now Mandu) after Dhara was sacked multiple times by their enemies. Mahalakadeva, the last known Paramara king, was defeated and killed by the forces of Alauddin Khalji of Delhi in 1305 CE, although epigraphic evidence suggests that the Paramara rule continued for a few years after his death.

Malwa enjoyed a great level of political and cultural prestige under the Paramaras. The Paramaras were well known for their patronage to Sanskrit poets and scholars, and Bhoja was himself a renowned scholar. Most of the Paramara kings were Shaivites and commissioned several Shiva temples, although they also patronized Jain scholars.

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