Gopaditya
| Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R) |
Gopaditya (400-340 BC) was an emperor of the Kashmir. He died after a reign of sixty years and six days.
History
Rajatarangini[1] tells ....Gopaditya succeeded his father Aksha. His reign was like Satya Yuga. He bestowed the villages of Sakhelakhagikahai (सखेलखागिकाहारि), Skandapura and Shamāngadimukha on Brahmanas, and some other villages on the Brahmanas of Dravira. He expelled from his country several irreligious Brahmanas who used to eat garlic, brought others of the caste from foreign countries and induced them to settle in Vishchika &c, He set up a god named Jeshteshvara. He never pardoned the slaughter of animals except for religious purposes. He died after a reign of sixty years and six days.
Rajatarangini[2] tells us that Gopaditya, the king of Gandhara, in the hope of conquering Kashmira, had given shelter to the great grand-son of Yudhishthira. This exiled prince had a son named Meghavahana, whom his father sent to the country of East Yotisha to be present at the Sayamvara marriage of the daughter of its king who was a Vishnuvites and he had the fortune of being selected as the husband of the princess. He was also presented with an umbrella, which was got from Varuna by king Naraka and which cast its shade on none but a paramount king. This connection gave him some importance in the eyes of the people who believed that he would one day rise to power. And after his return with his wife to his father, the ministers of Kashmira invited him to accept the sceptre of their country, he being the descendant of their ancient king.
Gokarna (340-282 BC) was a King in the history of Kashmir in 340 BC.[3].
Rajatarangini[4] tells us that in the history of Kashmir Gokarna succeeded his father Gopaditya, and set up a god Gokarna after his name, and reigned for fifty-seven years and eleven months.
King Gokarna was succeeded by his son Narendriditya otherwise called Khingkhila. He set up a god named Bhutesvara, and a goddess Akshayini. His religious instructor was Ugra, who set up another god Ugresha, and ten goddesses who were called Matri Chakra.