Shankaragana III (IAST: Śankaragaṇa, r. c. 970-980 CE) was a ruler of the Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri in central India. His kingdom was centered around the Chedi or Dahala region in present-day Madhya Pradesh. He defeated a weak Gurjara-Pratihara ruler, and seems to have died in a battle against the Chandelas.

Shankaragana III
King of Dahala
Reignc. 970-980 CE
PredecessorLakshmanaraja
SuccessorYuvarajadeva II
DynastyKalachuris of Tripuri

Reign

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Shankargana succeeded the Kalachuri king Lakshmanaraja around 970 CE.[1] Shankaragana adopted an aggressive policy against his neighbours. According to a Jabalpur inscription, he defeated the contemporary Gurjara-Pratihara king. This rival king was probably Vijayapala.[2]

Shankaragana seems to have died in a battle against the Chandelas. A Bhilsa inscription boasts that the Chandela minister Vachaspati vanquished the king of Chedi (identified with Shankaragana) and his ally, a Shabara chief. Vachaspati was a subordinate of Krishnapa, the brother of the Chandela king Dhanga.[2] A Maser inscription states that Narasimha of the Sulki family turned the wives of the Kalachuri king into widows. This seems to be a reference to Shankaragana's defeat in a battle against the Chandelas.[2]

Shankaragana was succeeded by his younger brother Yuvarajadeva II.[2]

References

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  1. ^ R. K. Sharma 1980, p. 296.
  2. ^ a b c d V. V. Mirashi 1957, p. 486.

Bibliography

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  • R. K. Sharma (1980). The Kalachuris and their times. Sundeep. OCLC 7816720.
  • V. V. Mirashi (1957). "The Kalacuris". In R. S. Sharma (ed.). A Comprehensive history of India: A.D. 985-1206. Vol. 4 (Part 1). Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7007-121-1.