The idea of women functioning as queens has always fascinated us. It is due to their fewer presence and account as an act of liberation from patriarchal norms. However, amid ‘celebrating’ or ‘hyperbolising’ such narratives, we often forget the complexity with which these women reigned, even if it meant going against their morality.
The case of Didda, one of the queens of Ancient Kashmir, is fascinating. She is popularly known for her ruthless punishments and artistic contribution to Kashmir from 980ce-1003ce. Born in the courts of Simharaja, King of Lohara, Didda was known to be charismatic, beautiful, and lame. According to Kalhana in Rajatarangini, she had to be carried on her back by a woman named Valga.
At 26 years, she was married to the King of Kashmir, Kshemaguta. Known to be a weak monarch who indulged himself in drinking, women, and gambling, this marriage was a political alliance that Didda was quite aware of. While he would subsequently marry another wife named Chandralekha, Didda had a huge influence over him and contributed to his administration and military. This is evident from the coins minted in joint names of Didda-Kshemagupta (Di-Kshema). However, the populace used the derogatory term Didda-Kshema/ henpecked to humiliate Kshemagupta’s incapability of ruling.
Following Kshemagupta’s death in 958AD due to disease, preparations were made for them to perform sati. However, Naravahana, one of the ministers, dissuaded Didda and motivated her to rule as a regent for her son Abhimanyu II who was young. Another minister, Rakka used this opportunity to flame fuel with Phalguna ( Chandralekha’s father) by putting into her ears that he had blessed Didda to perform sati to usurp the throne for himself. Being cunning and pragmatic, she got rid of troubled ministers.
However, she continued facing opposition from Kshemagupta’s sister’s sons, Mahima and Patala. They gathered many allies, especially Brahmins for a hunger strike. Didda had realized that attacking solely through force would be a failure and therefore employed diplomacy by giving gold as a bribe. She bribed their prominent supporters, the brahmins of Laltadityapura. Kalhana describes her success as one who was not “capable of stepping over a cow’s footprint and got over the ocean-like host of [her enemies], just as Hanumat [got over the ocean]”. However, he continued criticising her cunning statesmanship as acts of witchcraft.
His son Abhimanyu II died during these times of chaos. While Kalhana describes it as a natural death, many have accused Didda of poisoning him. Many have argued that he wasn’t inclined to such extents of cruelties as her and had created a reputation for herself as a regent. Some have also pointed out that her immediate pious years of constructing two Vishnu temples including, one named Abhimanyusvamin subsequently followed her committing immoral acts. It is also evident from Abhimanyu’s son, Nandigupta, and his subsequent grandson’s death. While she would crown Bhimagupta and continue ruling as a regent, Kalhana mentions that she tortured him to death to assume control as the queen.
Reigning as the queen of Kashmir, Didda proved to be an efficient administrator who had the populace behind her, evident from the popularisation of the term ded ( elder sister or woman kept in high regard). Like the other rulers of Kashmir, Didda Rani issued copper coins with Goddess Arodoxsho (a counterpart of Lakshmi) seated with a mention of ‘Sri Didda’. The coins issued were a combination of gold and silver. She also issued copper coins.
However, political turmoil remained constant with frequent changes in courts due to increasing rumours of dethroning Didda, forcing her to have a fallout with various ministers. The case of Tunga, a buffalo herdsman from Poonch is an exception. Tunga was employed as a letter carrier to her which led to increased interaction between the two. She was swooned by him and there were rumours of their relationship. Any opposition to their relationship led to Didda banishing her leaders, murdering or drowning them. Tunga would soon take the position of Commander-in-chief after his successful attack on Rajouri (Rajapuri).
Within the realm of culture and art, Didda has credited to her two of the earliest Sharada epigraphic scripts. Dated to 989AD, a bronze statue of bodhisattva Padmapani was installed by Rajanak Bhima, a devout Buddhist. The sculpture has Amitabha (spiritual ego) on his head while being with two goddesses on either side. The epigraph records the consecration of a religious gift. Interestingly, Didda is mentioned with a masculine epithet of ‘Deva’ instead of ‘Devi’ to showcase her ‘political acumen’. The sculpture sports a sacred thread like the Brahmins that signifies the growing influence of Brahmanism in the Valley.
Another epigraphy is a stone slab dating back to 992 AD. Located in the Lahore Museum, it mentions a certain Dharmanka who honoured his mother by dedicating some religious institution. A masculine epithet of Rajan is used instead of Rajni. Kalhana also ascribes the construction of over 64 temples to Didda. Few temples were even named after her, such as a Shiva temple named Diddara Math in Srinagar. While the temple is not present, the area where it was situated is still called Diddamar.
While she was a clever administrator, her actions became one of her biggest concerns. She had no successors. She directed her brother Udayaraja’s sons to a competition of picking the most apples. Samgramaraja came victorious as he focused on making his brothers fight while he took the fruits which impressed her. Queen Didda died in 1003 CE at the age of 79 and was succeeded by Samgramaraja thus, establishing the Lohara dynasty in Kashmir.While she was ruthless and described by Kalhana in Rajatarangini as being “just as the great asuras by Durga”, one can’t ignore the tumultuous times of political chaos, moral decay, and worthless kingship she existed. Killing one’s fleshes has been prevalent across kingships, and Didda was no exception. While the obsession with power jested her, she possessed statesmanship and political acumen. It enabled her to retain control over Kashmir for nearly half a century and elevated her to the ranks of the valley’s most capable rulers.
