UDYANA DEVA (1323-1338 A.D)

09 May, 2008 01:36:00

Font size:

After a brief rule of three years Rinchana died and again the realm of power came in the hands of Hindu ruler namely Udhyana Deva, who during the Zulju’s invasion had taken refuge in Swat. The new ruler proved to be cowardly and incompetent as he fled to Ladakh, when Kashmir was attacked by Achalla. At this stage, also Shah Mir with support of Kota Rani,organized a stiff resistance against the invader and repulsed him.

After the retreat of the invader, Udyana Deva returned to Kashmir but the real authority was exercised by Shah Mir and Kota Rani. Udyana Deva died in 1338 A.D and after his death Kota Rani tried to manage the affairs of the State herself. She shifted her headquarters from Srinagar to the strong fort at Inderkot. Shah Mir and his followers bowed before her and accepted her suzerainty, but Shah Mir’s trust and faith got shattered when kota Rani appointed Bhutta Bhikshana, a junior noble, as her Prime Minister. Shah Mir took it a great challenge and declared an open war against her. He had already earned a good name and fame for himself when he played a hero’s role in repulsing he invasion on Kashmir by Achalla. He got Butta Bhikshana assassinated and asked Kota rani to marry him. On her refusal she was besieged in the fort and forced to surrender. Shah Mir arrested her alongwith her sons and proclaimed himself the king of Kashmir with the tittle of Sultan Shams-u-din and thereby laid the foundation of Muslim rule in Kashmir.