[Reader-list] Historical Tales - Queen Didda

[Pawan Durani]

Queen Didda

In ancient and medieval Kashmir, a Hindu queen could rule as the
regent of an infant king and, sometimes, in her own right. Didda Rani
was one of the celebrated queens, more of a strong than a beneficent
monarch. Young husband spoke of her "force of character" as well as
her "ruthlessness". She carried the latter trait to the extent of
tyranny. Her diplomacy and statecraft were coupled with cunning and
cruelty. Her 'fits' of religiosity were followed by bouts of an
undignified life that knew no restraint.

Didda Rani repelled the attacks of invaders and suppressed the strike
of Brahmins, revolts of her people, and rebellion of Damaras with a
strong hand that knew no mercy to the vanquished. She put to death her
own grandsons and, when she died in 1003 A.D., none of her own
descendents lived to succeed her. She disregarded her loyal minister,
who had saved her life and her kingdom. And yet she built temples and
founded cities. The story of this Catherine of Kashmir, a strange
mixture of striking contrasts, is indeed absorbing-and romantic.

The spendthrift king, Khsemagupta, who loved wine, women and hunting,
was on his death-bed in Srikantha Convent in Vamhmulla (Baramulla).
Afflicted with plague, he succumbed to it. Among his wives, the
prominent were Didda and Chandralekha, but he loved Didda the more,
and, therefore, he used to be called 'Diddakshema'.* As the funeral
pyre of the departed king was burning, the co-wives, wearing the
ochre-brown coloured robes, prepared to offer themselves to the fire.

Chandralekha, followed by other Ranis, led the small procession.
According to custom, Phalguna, the prime minister, whose daughter she
was, gave her the necessary permission. The charming Didda, limping on
her lame foot, came last. She made a desperate show of grief. She
reached near the funeral pyre, wherein, already, the preceding queens
and some of the personal servants of the king, were burning. Phalguna
permitted her too to follow her lord unto death. But she was repentent
that she had gone thus far.

She did not want to die. Her hold on life was temptingly strong. She
loved a queen's life more than she was aggrieved at the loss of
Khsemagupta. She hesitated. She had hoped that for state reasons,
Phalguna would not allow her to perform Sati. Her calculation proved
to be wrong. A hundred emotions played on her beautiful fare. The
minister for peace and war, Naravahana, gentle and soft-hearted, saw
that she was loath to give up life. Excercising his powers, he held
Didda back. She was saved from sure death.

Thanks to Naravahana, Didda Rani, the daughter of the renowned and
redoubtable Sahis, became the guardian of the infant king, Abhimanyu,
the son of Khsemagupta.

After the fickle nature of women, Didda gave her ear to everyone. The
backbiter Rakkaka induced in her suspicions against Phalguna, the
statesmanlike and powerful prime minister. She had a longstanding
grudge against Phalguna for having married his daughter, Chandralekha,
to the late king. And he had given her his consent to die after her
husband. She readily believed Rakkaka that Phalguna was conspiring to
usurp the throne. Phalguna, sending his son to the Ganga with the
ashes of Khsemagupta, moved to live in Parnotsa with his treasure and
troops.

Didda sent ushers to murder Phalguna as soon as he left Srinagar. When
the soldiers heard this, they joined Phalguna in large numbers. The
dowager Queen and her counsellers faltered and gave no battle.
Faithful Phalguna, who unlike the selfish queen, still lamented the
king, laid down his sword in a Vihara but Didda was " ever wakeful to
root out the thorns".

Her husband's sister's sons, Mahiman and Pattala, were the aspiring
princes, who were among the thorns in her side. She had the former
exiled. The two princes were joined by the warrior Himmaka, the
valiant Yashodhara, the brave Eramantaka, the prince Udayagupta and
the residents of Lalitadityapura. Civil war ensued. The rebels
advanced upon Srinagar.

The Queen threw away the gold box of the Tambulin, as she heard the
news. Forgetting her manners, she spat the Tambula (betel) on the
floor. She sent her son to Suramatha. In her panic, she sought the
ministers and found that all, except the loyal Naravahana, had fled to
safety. The minister for peace and war, well-versed in strategy of
war, helped her to bring about a rift in the ranks of the enemy by
bribing the soma-drinking Brahmins of Lalitadityapura. Yashodhara was
won over and offered the highest post of Commander-in-Chief in the
army. The great rebellion was reduced to a storm in a tea cup! The
Queen was happy. "She, whom none believed had the strength to step
over a cattle track- the lame lady-traversed in the manner of the son
of the wind, the ocean of the confederate forces". Through witchcraft,
she brought about the death of the ambitious Mahiman. The 'thorns'
were despoiled of their sting. Finding Didda victorious, Rakkaka and
others of his tribe fawned on her. Yashodhara, the commander-in-chief,
led an expedition against a Sahi chief and defeated him. When the
Chief accepted the terms of a dependent, Yasodhara had his Abhiseka
(coronation ceremony) performed again. Rakkaka whispered to the
credulous queen that Yashodhara was a traitor and that he had accepted
money from the chief. When the victorious commander-in-chief was about
to enter the lion gate of Srinagar, Didda sent ushers to banish him.

Yashodhara, thus humiliated, sought the aid of Himmaka and Eramantaka.
Together, they stormed the city. Once again, Didda sent the infant
king to a Matha, where, according to convention, none could touch him.
The nervous queen knew not what to do - Naravahana, faithful as ever,
arrayed the brave and loyal Ekangas in defence of the capital. By his
astute diplomacy, the minister for peace and war brought about a split
in the enemy forces. Rajkula Bhutta's men, beating the kettle drums,
pierced the enemy ranks and joined the royalist forces. Treason
divided the enemy divisions and they were soon overpowered in the
neighbourhood of the Sura convent.

Mighty Himmaka, who would not submit to defeat, was slain in the
battle. Yashodhara was imprisoned by the Queen. By her command,
Eramantaka was drowned in the Vitasta with a large stone tied round
his neck. She mercilessly exterminated the ministers who had been
disloyal to her. "The terrible knitting of her eyebrows" struck terror
in the hearts of the subjects and enemies alike. She appointed Rakkaka
the commander-in-chief. The loyal Narvahana reinforced the army and
strengthened the reign of the Queen-dowager over the kingdom of
Kashmir. The grateful Queen conferred on him the deserved title of
Rajanaka.

The private life of Queen Didda was anything but commendable. The
principal functionaries of the household and others of her choice
"filled the vacancy in the couch" of the immoral Queen-dowager.
Through her procuress, she admitted to her bed-chamber, Sindhu, the
son of a palanquin-bearer, who had caught her notice. She exalted him
to the rank of the chief of the treasury. He levied new taxes to fill
the coffers of the treasury as well as his own pockets; people
nicknamed his office as 'Sindhuganja'. Officials, "the pestilence of
the people", were busy in extortions from the people who groaned under
the increasingly heavy taxes.

No longer was Didda-being the term of endearment and respect for the
elder sister that she had been given by the ladies of the household,
when she was the senior Rani-loved by the people. They were frightened
at the mere mention of her name. She was Grahanhina- devoid of a limb;
also meaning, devoid of Vedic lore. Bereft of the normal use of a
foot, she had become cruel, hard; unfeeling - and passionate in
matters of sex. Foolishly she exalted Sindhu, the latest
lover-favourite, over the heads of ministers of the caste aristocracy.

Sindhu grew jealous of Naravahana. He incited the inconstant Queen
against her loyal Rajanaka.

Naravahana invited her to dinner at his place. She went. While dining,
she received a message from Sindhu that Naravahana would arrest her.
On an excuse, she left, too early, against established custom. She no
longer chose to understand Naravahana. Relations between them were
strained to the breaking point. The loyal minister was stung to the
quick. Seeing no other refuge, he voluntarily gave up his life.

With the suicide of Naravahana, grandeur and dignity deserted the
government. The warrior tribe, Damaras, rose in rebellion. The Queen,
at her wit's end, discerned no other alternative but to recall
Phalguna to her side. The wise statesman was reputed as the conqueror
of Rajapuri (Rajauri). His only weakness was show of power. He had
aged considerably. He did not administer the government very ably. His
secretary, Udayaraja, and the officials, started an unscrupulous
plunder of Kashmir and her people.

Abhimanyu was the king in name only; his chief diversion was the study
of the Vedas. He suffered from the insidious disease of consumption.
The malady was worsened by disgust with the numerous love affairs and
the intrigues of the dowager-Queen. "This half moon of the people"
(Abhimanyu) died on the third of the bright Kartika (in the year 972
A.D.).

The king is dead, long live the king! Abhimanyu's infant son,
Nandigupta, was crowned the king. The guardian-Queen Didda was broken
with grief at the premature death of her son. "Sorrow concealed her
cruelty and she, through composure, cooled down like the sun-crystal
when darkness screened its radiating heat."

To commemorate her son, Didda founded the shrine of Abhimanyusvamin
and the town of Abhimanyupura. In all, while the upsurge of piety
lasted, she consecrated sixty-our foundations. She walled many a
dilapidated temple. Even her servant-maid, Valga, founded the Valga
convent. The 'sun-crystal' of her cruelty regained its dazzling white
heat, after a year's penance. The Brahman-imposed rigours of
self-mortification did not complement her nature. Much of her
penitence had been a sham to impress the religious Phalguna. When he
died, the cruel Queen had the infant-king, Nandigupta, put to death.
The next infant grandson was enthroned. After a short while, he too
met the same tragic fate at her dreaded hands.

Then she placed on the throne her last grandson, Bhimagupta. A
terrible queen, a man-eater woman, ruling over them, the horrified
subjects groaned in whispers. "Even in the case of those who are born
in high families, alas! the natural bent of women, like that of
rivers, is to follow the downward course."

The Queen of high birth openly spurned her caste and family when she,
through a procuress, admitted to her boudoir, a Khasa grazier, namely
Tunga. Bhuyya, the minister for peace and war, expressed his
disapproval of the liaison. She had him poisoned within a day. She
appointed Devakalsa - the son of Rakkaka - who was so far the
Velavttta (royal astrologer) on the vacant post, and she made Tunga
the prime minister.

Bhimagupto grew to be a boy. Abhimanyu's wife initiated him in all the
wickednesses of Didda. He understood that his grandmother's way of
life was anything but desirable. Didda's spies acquainted her with the
boy's developing maturity and the dangerous course he was taking.
Boldly, she had him imprisoned, in spite of apprehensions of popular
reaction. By her command the helpless prince was tortured to death.
The Queen-dowager now herself occupied the throne.

Tunga, her paramour and prime minister domineered over everyone in the
realm. The rest of the ministers of high birth and talent faded before
Tunga’s five brother, who dominated the key posts of the government.
The corrupt officialdom grew more powerful and tyrannous. The subjects
of the Queen suffered untold miseries due to the vile
administration.The disaffected people rose in revolt. As before Didda
caused a division among the leaders of the revolution by freely giving
gold to the base ones who valued Lakshmi (gold) more than the glory of
the nation.

The revolt of the fierce Damaras was put down in a Machiavellian
manner. When the demoralised rebels were rendered harmless, their ring
leaders were annihilated mercilessly by Didda and Tunga.

The Brahmins held meetings. Their union decided that they would use
their non-violent weapon of entering upon hunger-strike, a device
often resorted to b the Brahmins of Kashmir in emergencies, against a
cruel sovereign. The people backed up the Brahmins. In their fury, the
people searched for Tunga, whom they were determined to kill.

The Queen gave him shelter in secret quarters. Even her brother's son,
Vigraharaja, was among the leaders of the rebellion. The Queen, adept
in the ways of corruption, bribed Sumantaka and other Brahmins. The
strike fell through. Vigraharaja fled. Tunga appeared on the scene
with all his native fury. He killed and exiled the Brahmins. Sumantaka
and others who had accepted gold were perfidiously thrown into
prisons.

Since the death of Phalguna, Rajapuri had become turbulent.
Establishing peace in the Valley, the iron-heeled Tunga led an
expedition thither. After initial reverses, Tunga defeated and humbled
the pride of the Rajah, who agreed to pay tribute to the Queen. The
Nagaradhikarin (officer in charge of Srinagar) received Tunga in state
on his return. The Queen weighed him against silver, and herself
against gold, in celebrating. the victory over her own (suppressed)
people and the tributary Rajah.

Her greying hair and fading vitality made the Queen nervous. She must
appoint the Yuvaraja - the crown prince - she thought, Her choice now
lay among the sons of her brother, Udyaraja, because all her own
lineal descendants were dead.

Summoning the boys in the court, she let fall before them a number of
apples, saying, "Let me see how many each one of you can secure".

The apples were not many. The boys gave and received blows, and were
injured, while they scrambled for the fruits. The prince Samraamaraja
secured the largest number of apples. And yet there was not a single
injury on his person.

The Queen was surprised. "You have got so many apples and yet you are
uninjured ?"she said.

Samgramaraja replied, " O! Queen, I allowed my brothers to quarrel
among themselves for the fruits and I kept apart. While they scrambled
for the apples, I had most of them".

"One who clamly causes unhappiness to others, can thus better manage
his own affairs", Queen Didda thought. To her, he appeared to be the
best of the lot, and his tactics the very best.

"Wood albeit devoid of fire may suffice for the relief of monkeys from
cold and water, and wind for the purification of the coats of
antelopes which purify by fire: the realization of the purpose of a
living being who is determined thus depends upon his disposition; in
things there is, in reality, no innate principle."

Pleased with Samgramaraja, Didda Rani appointed him Yuvaraja.

In the year 4079 L.E. (1083 A.D) when the Queen "departed to heaven"
the crown prince became king.

Source:

Tales of Kashmir

by Somnath Dhar



Painstakingly spun over the years, these stories, including folk-tales
and historical tales, are bound to exercise a charm over people of all
ages, even as the beautiful locale of Kashmir does. Bringing an
assorted collection together in this Prestigious volume-Prof. Somnath
Dhar calls it his magnum opus-the learned author shares very
interesting vignettes of the Valley, including the chequered annals,
with the reader.

The historical tales, starting with an apt reverle on the Jhelum, the
historic, serpentine river, recall telling episodes of ancient
history, culled from Kalhana's Rajatarangini. Then follow tales
dealing with Mughal and other rulers, right down to Dogra Maharajas.
The last tale recounts the exploits of Mujahid Sherwani, the martyr of
`New Kashmir,. The story of "Robin Hood of Kashmir", had appeared in
108 countries, as one of "The World's Strangest Stories', syndicated
by a London daily, in 1957-58.
Jammu and Kashmir State has an inexhaustible fund of folk-tales-well
glimpsed in the representative tales retold by the author. Their
common denominator is an exotic admixture of the miraculous and the
familiar, the myth and the reality. The short stories deal with the
people, portraying them in diverse moods and situations, and depicting
their deep-set superstitions as well as their struggles with wild
animals and untamed nature in some of her fiercest moods. Altogether,
the Tales of Kashmir is guaranteed to entertain the readers, young and
old.


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