New light on Alauddin Khalji’s Achievements
Summary
The article examines the *Nibbinandana-jinoddhira-prabandha*, a Sanskrit text composed in 1333 A.D., focusing on the installation of an image of Adinatha by a Jain officer named Samar Simha. Samar Simha served under multiple rulers, including Alauddin Khalji, and the text incidentally records the chief achievements of Alauddin Khalji, shedding new light on Khalji history. The author, Dasaratha Sharma, argues that this Jain source provides independent corroboration for certain historical events, particularly regarding the treatment of defeated rulers, and thus offers valuable sidelights for historians. The text is translated and analyzed verse by verse. The main argument is that the *Nibbinandana-jinoddhira-prabandha* corroborates and clarifies details from Muslim chronicles, such as the *Khazain-ul-Futuh*, and Rajput traditions, including the *Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan* by Tod. For instance, the source confirms that Alauddin spared the life of Ratnasimha of Chitore, though he had thirty thousand other Rajputs slain, which aligns with the Muslim version in the *Khazain-ul-Futuh* and contradicts the Rajput tradition of Ratnasimha's death. The text also mentions the defeat of Mahlak Deo of Malwa, who died after a long siege, supporting the account in the *Khazain-ul-Futuh* and Jayasi's *Padmawat*. Furthermore, it identifies the ruler of Karnata as the Hoysala Vira Ballala defeated by Malik Kafur in 1310 A.D., the ruler of Pandu as the Pindya king captured in 1311 A.D., and the Tilinga ruler as Prataparudra Deva of the Kakatiya family who submitted in 1310 A.D. The article concludes by emphasizing the necessity of studying this text for the social, economic, and religious history of the period, as well as its utility for political history.
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Conclusion
This article demonstrates the value of the *Nabbinandana-jinoddhira-prabandba* as a significant historical source for Alauddin Khalji’s reign. By translating and analyzing its verses, the study corroborates established Muslim chronicles and, crucially, introduces new details, such as the prolonged siege and subsequent death of the Malwa ruler, Mahlak Deo, who was previously viewed as having fled in cowardice. The text also provides an independent, Jain perspective on the fate of Ratnasimha of Chitore, suggesting he endured captivity and indignities rather than dying on the battlefield. Furthermore, it offers a Jain account of Alauddin’s decisive defeat of the Mongol Kharparas. These findings underscore the text’s indispensable role in refining the political history of the period and advocate for its broader study to enrich our understanding of the era's social, economic, and religious dimensions.