Salhana
Salhana was King of Kashmir for 3 months and 27 days in 1111 AD. Bhoja of Kashmira was son of Salhana.
History
King Salhana's character
Rajatarangini[1] mentions: [p.36]:Garga was particularly honored by king Sahlana on his return ; for it was he who gave Sahlana a kingdom and destroyed his enemies. The king was without a minister and without valor, and with an unsettled mind he looked on the kingdom as on a wheel turning round him on all sides. He had no policy, no valor, no wiles, no simplicity, no charity, no avarice, nothing predominated in him. During his reign even at noon the thieves would steal things from the people in the capital, what then must they have done to others living outside the town ! Even lame persons could violate the chastity of women, while the king, although a man, lost his senses through fear. The kingdom was shared in common by Sahlana and Lothana, one reigned on one day and the other the next day. The king understood not the nature of men and when he erred, he was laughed at by the men of state. He employed Ujahsurya, father-in-law of Lothana, in Dvara where much valor and sternness were required ; but Ujahsurya was fit to be among hermits. He said that if he repeated his mantra a hundred thousand times there would remain no more cause of fear from Sussala.
The wicked king, through the orders of Garga, tied a piece of stone to his enemy Vimba, a Nllashva Damara and threw him into the Vitasta. Garga had killed the enemies of the king and the king bestowed favors on him. He killed many Hālāha Damaras by means of poisoned food. The king was disregarded and the life
[p.37]: and death, of all, whether great or low, whether in the capital or without, were at the mercy of Garga.
Once when Garga returned to the king from Lohara, the citizens in the metropolis became anxious and frightened. There arose a rumour that the furious Garga had come to kill all the dependents of the king, on boats by fixing pales. Such a fearful rumour which can cause abortion in women kept all men in a fever of anxiety for two or three days. Tilakasimha and others, therefore, without waiting for the king's Orders, attacked Garga's house. The whole country became excited and the people armed themselves and ran to and fro ; and Gargachandra was alarmed. The shameless Dilhabhaṭṭara, Lokkaka and others were seen riding about in the road leading to Garga's house. The king did not prevent them but on the contrary sent Lothana to encourage them as they were weak. Lothana with his soldiers blocked the road but could not surround Garga's house nor could he burn it by fire. One Kaushava, a good archer and the head of a matha at Lotikamatha, greatly checked Lothana's soldiers by killing many of them with iron arrows. When the king's partisans had retired as they had come, Garga set out on horse-back at evening, with his followers and unopposed, he went to Lohara.
On his way he captured Ujahsurya, who was at Tripureshvara suffering from ill health. " But what is the use of arresting this hermit" he said, and he liberated him the next day. Sussala was overcome with anxiety but Garga did not dispossess him of Lohara.
[p.38]: From that place the citizens received at times, rumours of Garga's approach and used to bolt their houses. The weak king was anxious to come to terms with Garga and for that purpose the great Sahela went to Lohara as a messenger. With difficulty Garga was made to promise to bestow his daughter on the king. Peace was then established with Sussala, but the proposed alliance although asked for was never made.
When Garga went to Visharākuta in Mandala, the king caused Sadda, Hamsaratha and Nonaratha to be brought to him by messengers. The wicked king tortured them by sparks of fire and points of needle and left them all but dead. The king determined to dishonor Allā, the widow of Bhogasena, who was, after the death of her husband, leading a pure life and was living privately. He saw the weakness of all around and was only afraid of Dilhabhattara and poisoned him. This vicious sovereign was not born of the royal line nor was he powerful, since he removed persons into his secret manner. Dilhabhattara's sister Alla reproached the king for his effeminacy and proudly burnt herself. His reign though of short duration became intolerable owing to these fears, as a night becomes intolerable with bad lengthy dreams.
Sussala understood the signs of the times, and though as yet there was peace, he had misgivings about Garga. He was anxious to come to Kashmira but he first sent Sanjapala. The king had bestowed wealth and Dvara on Lakkaka who with difficulty reached Barahamula.
[p.39]: Garga remembered that it was Lakkaka who had attacked him in his house, he came up to him from behind, destroyed his army and plundered both the soldiers and the place Barahamula. Lakkaka fled. Among the dead that lay on the ground and graced it like garland of pearls were the leaders Ruppachuḍa and others. Their character was good and they were born in good families. On the approach of Sanjapala, Lakkuka's fear abated and, helpless as he was, he was brought to Sussala.