karkota

Karkota Dynasty

Early 600s: After the attack of Huns, Mehrkul became the ruler of Kashmir. He was a very cruel king. But the teachings of Shaiva Pandits made him calmer. Mehrkul became a worshipper of Shiva. A Shiva temple built by him Mehrashwar (Mamleshwar) stands in Pahalgam. Years after his death, Vikramaditya (of Ujjain) sent his minister Pratapaditya to head the state of Kashmir.

Karkota Dynasty ruled Kashmir for 254 years. Durlabhvardhan is a famous king of this dynasty. During Harshavardhan's rule, Kashmir was a tributary state. King Chandradeep of this dynasty defeated the Arabs in 713 AD.

Other notable kings of Kashmir during this period were: Meghawan (fought against animal sacrifice), Lalitaditya (who extended the boundries of Kashmir) and the father-son-grandson trio: Avantivarman, Shankarvarman and Gopalvarman.