Didda and the Lohara Kings

Events in this period

1. 958 to 1003

   Didda rules Kashmir

   Didda governed as regent for her son and grandsons from 958, then ruled in her own name from 980 until her death in 1003, one of the longest-serving rulers in the Valley's history.

   In the museumDidda

   

2. c. 950 to 1016

   Abhinavagupta writes

   The philosopher Abhinavagupta wrote the Tantraloka and major works on poetry and drama, giving Kashmir Shaivism its fullest expression.

   In the museumAbhinavaguptaKashmir Shaivism

3. 1003

   The Lohara dynasty begins

   Didda chose her nephew Samgramaraja, from the Lohara family of the Poonch area, as her successor, founding the Lohara dynasty.

4. 1015 and 1021

   Mahmud of Ghazni turned back

   Mahmud of Ghazni tried to enter Kashmir in 1015 and again around 1021, but failed to take the mountain fort of Lohkot and withdrew both times.

5. 1148 to 1149

   Kalhana writes the Rajatarangini

   Kalhana completed the Rajatarangini, the River of Kings, a Sanskrit verse history of Kashmir's rulers. It is the main written source for most of the Valley's early history.

   In the museumKalhanaThe Rajatarangini

   

6. 1320

   Dulucha's raid and Rinchan's rise

   A raider known as Dulucha, or Zulju in Persian sources, devastated the Valley in 1320. In the chaos Rinchan, a Buddhist prince from Ladakh, took the throne and later became the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir.

   In the museumRinchan

7. until 1339

   Kota Rani, the last Hindu ruler

   Kota Rani, widow of two kings, held power until 1339, when her minister Shah Mir took the throne. She was the last Hindu ruler of Kashmir.

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  Didda

  Ruled 958 to 1003

• Figure

  Abhinavagupta

  c. 950 to 1016

  No freely licensed photograph

• Figure

  Kalhana

  12th century

  No freely licensed photograph

• 

  The Rajatarangini

  1148 to 1149, continued to 1586
• 

  Shankaracharya Temple

  Date disputedContested

• Figure

  Rinchan

  Ruled 1320 to 1323

  No freely licensed photograph