42 Abode of Go fa
Advent of Katyuris
The extensive sway of Katyuri empire is proved not only
from the archaeological finds which are strewn all over, but
also from various inscriptions which are found in
Uttarakhand. The most remarkable of these are the Katyuri
inscriptions of Bageshwar which have since unfortunately
disappeared, but fortunately for the benefit of historiansr
Mr. Atkinson had studied it and translated it. In this inscrip-
tion, we find the name of Lalit-Surdeva who has also been
named in Paundukeshwar copper plate grant. This copper
plate grant has been placed by Kielhorn between 853 A. D.
and 854 A. D. On the basis of calculations Jadunath Sircar
has assigned the four rulers named in these inscriptions, viz,.
Nimbaraka, Istagana, Lalitsura and Bhudeva to the period
between 796 to 890 A.D. If we accept the date 790 A.D. of
Nimbaraka, we can easily reconstitute the entire Katyuri his-
tory because there were five more kings before him, starting,
with Basantan who migrated to Kartikeyapura to Bageshwar
around 690 A*D. Kanakpal laid the foundations of Paramar
dynasty at this time of the history near Devalgarh.
The great exodus from Kartikeyapura to Devalgarh and
Bageshwar had started, in all probability, the last king at
Joshimath was Vasudeva about whom Atkinson writes, "The
ancient temple of Vasudev Giriraj Chandra Churamani".
Thus Basudev'' Seems to be in all probability no one else than
Basdntaa who migrated to Katyur valley in Baijnath after the-
rise of a new power under Kanakpal in Chandpurgarhi.
It is not known who were the rulers before Basantan'
at Kartikeyapur. However, it can be conjectured that the
Naga and Shalivahan kings mentioned in the Puranas and;
referred to in the inscription of Barahat were certainly prede-
cessors of Katyuris and descendants of Khasees or Kissias or
Yodheyas referred to in the inscription of Barahat were cer-
tainly predecessors of Katyuris and descendants of Khasas or
Yodheyas referred to in ancient books and Greek writings,
As per Bageshwar inscriptions, the geneology of the Katyuri
kings is as follows :