Atoli

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Poonch district map

Atoli (अटोली) is a village in tahsil Mandi of Poonch district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Variants

• Attoli (अट्टोली)
• Attalika (अट्टालिक) - mentioned in Rajatarangini Lothana passed through in 1130 AD.

• Aṭṭilikā/Attilika (अट्टिलिक) - mentioned in Rajatarangini

Location

Attoli is a Village in Mandi Block in Poonch District of Jammu & Kashmir State, India. It is located 16 KM towards East from District head quarters Poonch. 70 KM from State capital Srinagar, Jammu. Attoli Pin code is 185102 and postal head office is Mandi . Attoli is surrounded by Surankote Block towards South , Poonch Block towards west , Mendhar Block towards South , Tangmarg Block towards North . Punch , Baramula , Rajauri , Sopore are the near by Cities to Attoli. This Place is in the border of the Poonch District and Baramulla District. Baramulla District Tangmarg is North towards this place . Also it is in the Border of other district Badgam.

Jat Gotras

• Atera

History

Lalitaditya had built Poonch city but at present there is no building existing on ground belonging to Lalitaditya except Ram Kund Temple Mendhar. Mr Stein who translated Rajatarangini, visited Poonch in 1892, identified a number of places like Loharkote (Loran), Attalika (Atoli), Saramber (Chamber Kanari), Savvernik (Surankote) mentioned in Rajatarangini. He could not locate Ram Kund as it was located in very remote area. Other proof is that Devadasis reported to Lalitaditya that they belonged to a nearby village known as Sover Dehmana, which is still existing near Narol, where Ram Kund Temple exists, known as Dharana instead of Dehmana.

In Rajatarangini

• Aṭṭilikā/Attilika (अट्टिलिक) is mentioned in Rajatarangini

• Attalika (अट्टालिक) is mentioned in Rajatarangini Lothana passed through in 1130 AD.

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Rajatarangini mentions .....After the death of Uchchala when the stone had been placed on his head, the servants of the state, like hunters, again oppressed the people. After the death of Prashastakalasha his brother's son Kayastha Kanaka made good use of his money. He constantly relieved the miseries of persons who came from a distance, driven by famine. The king now, without due care, gave good posts to them whose character was proved after Uchchala's death to be bad. He placed the notorious Tilakasimha at Dvara and Tilakasimha's brother, Janaka, at Rājasthāna [palace.] Tilakasimha vigorously attacked Rasadhipa and exacted tribute from him. Tilaku [another person of the same name] of the family of Kaka, to whom, the king had bestowed Kampana, began to act very mischievously, as the storm docs to trees. Sajjaka, lord of Sheḍḍarājasthāna, armed himself with rustic weapons and subdued some powerless enemies. Avapishta, servant of Aṭṭamelaka, had, through the favor of the Kaka family, access to the king, and the king accepted his advice. Thus the king, leaving aside his pride, spout some days in selecting ministers high and low according to merit.

The king commenced to build three high temples on the banks of the Vitasta, one in his own name, one in the name of his mother-in-law, and one in the name of his wife. He spent much wealth and renewed the Diddavihara which was burnt by fire, during the revolution. When the king went to the town of Aṭṭilikā, he was advised by his faithful friends, Kalpa &c, who were with him, to destroy Garga. They were envious of Garga, because his son Kalyanachandra showed greater ability in hunting than they.

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Rajatarangini mentions.... Lothana passed through Attalika in 1130 AD.....

In the year 6 (=1130 AD), on the thirteenth day of the bright moon, in the month of Phalguna, Lothana was deprived of his kingdom, as speedily as he had obtained it. The foolish and unfortunate Lothana lamented that the unmarried girl and his unspent wealth should go for the enjoyment of another. His power was now broken, he passed through Attalika and other places, and obtained what little remained in the treasury, through Sujji's influence.

When the dependants of king Jayasimha, who had been invited before, arrived, Majika reproached them and made king Mallarjjuna supreme in the country.

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Rajatarangini mentions.... Lothana having obtained help from some Thakkuras remained at a place named Vapyanila, and defeated Mallarjjuna by his prowess. Lothana displayed unexpected courage on this occasion. Deprived of his throne, he overcame Mallarjjuna after having tied up his legs [ i. e. not allowing him to escape. ] He seized the horses and plundered the market of Attalika and everywhere destroyed roads and towns. Lothana entered Kramarajya at the request of the Damara named Rajaraja, and in order to obtain the kingdom of Kashmira. But when he arrived there, the Lavanya who was near him was killed by Chitraratha; whereupon he returned to Bapyanila. Lothana repeatedly attacked Mallarjjuna, so that the latter was unable to lay siege to Attalika and he resided at Kotta. Koshteshvara caused much wealth to be given by the nephew [Mallarjjuna] to the uncle [Lothana] and established peace between them. When peace was established at Lohara, Koshteshvara, with a view to fight with the king [ Jayasimha,] took Lothana with him and fell on Kashmira. When he had scaled the hills and had set his foot on Karkotadranga, the other Damaras who had arrived by the level road, could not yet join him. The active king came out, and by every means in his power, crushed him at the time of his ascendancy.