Later Karkotas and Decline

Jayapida (c. 779 to 813)

• Jayapida, also called Vinayaditya, was a scholar and a warrior. Kalhana says he left his kingdom in disguise, wandered in the east, and married a princess of Pundravardhana (Bengal).
• He founded a town called Jayapura and spread learning. At his court were Bhatta Udbhata (said to be paid a very large daily salary as president of his scholars), Damodaragupta (author of Kuttanimata), Vamana (Kavyalankarasutra), Manoratha and Shankhadhara.
• He is also a patron of grammar and literary theory.

The slide

• After Jayapida the kings were children and puppets. Ministers and the army took power, and the Damaras (feudal lords) and Kayasthas (revenue clerks) gained influence. Kalhana names Ajitapida, Anangapida and Utpalapida as the last.
• In 855 CE the minister family of Sukhavarman put his son Avantivarman on the throne, ending the Karkota line.

Scholars of Karkota Kashmir

More on Jayapida and the fall of the Karkotas

• Jayapida was the last able king of the Karkotas. He founded Jayapura, identified with Inderkote (Andarkoth) in Sumbal, Bandipora.
• Anangapida is named in some books as the last king of the Karkota line (Kalhana lists Utpalapida as the last).
• After Lalitaditya, kings were weak and power slipped to ministers such as Utpala, Padma and Kalyana. They ruled for 36 years and 9 months.
  • Padma built Padmapura (modern Pampore).
  • Utpala built Utpalapura (modern Kakapur).
• In the anarchy, Avantivarman, a grandson of Utpala, took over (855 CE).