Predecessor Vishwarah | Died 10th century | |
Graharipu was a 10th century Chudasama king of Saurashtra region of western India.
Graharipu was the successor of Vishwarah. He had a good relationship with Laksha (Lakha), the son of King Phula of Kutch, and other kings such as Turks. He was a contemporary of Mularaja, the first Chaulukya ruler of Anhilwad Patan.
The Chudasamas grew very powerful during the reign of Graharipu in the middle of the 10th century AD. Graharipu built the ancient fort in Junagadh known as Uparkot.
Battle with Mularaja
According to Hemachandra, who was patronized by the Chaulukyas, the Chaulukya king Mularaja defeated Graharipu. No other Chaulukya-era accounts mention this victory.
According to Hemachandra, one night, Mahadeva appeared in Mularaja's dream, and ordered him to vanquish Graharipu. In the morning, Mularaja consulted his ministers. The minister Jehula described Graharipu as a tyrant who harassed the pilgrims visiting Prabhasa (Somnath), and indulged in many vices. Therefore, Mularaja launched a campaign against Graharipu. After a failed attempt to negotiate peace, Graharipu started preparations for war. He was joined by Laksha of Kachchha and several other kings. Mularaja emerged victorious after capturing Graharipu, and killing Laksha.
Historian Asoke Majumdar theorizes that Mularaja attacked Graharipu on "some flimsy pretext", as Mahadeva-in-a-dream was a popular device used by Sanskrit authors to justify the otherwise inexcusable actions of their heroes.