Question

The paramara king munja who was defeated and killed by tailapa 2nd?
a. Bhoja
b. Munja
c. Chandradeva
d. Mahipala

Answer 1

Hint:
Munja ( 972-990 AD) also known as Vakpati II, was an Indian king from the Paramara dynasty who ruled the Malwa region. He is known for strengthening the Paramara Empire and giving patronage to poets and scholars.

Complete solution:
Munja achieved military successes against Chaman, Guylons, Hunas, Kalchuris, and the ruler of the Gurjara region (possibly a Chalukya or Pratihara ruler). He achieved some early successes against the Western Chalukya king Tailapa II, but Telpa was eventually defeated sometime between 994 CE and 998 CE.

Munja was a staunch opponent of the Western Chalukya king Tailap II whose Karna empire was to the south of the Paramara empire. The Telpa considered themselves as the successors of the Rashtrakutas and, therefore, wanted control over Malwa. Udaipur Commendation inscription states that Munja attacked Lata (present-day Gujarat) and defeated the Chalukya ruler of that region. According to one theory, the defeated ruler was Lata Chalukya Jagirdar Barappa of Telpa or his son Gogiraj. According to another theory, the "Chalukyas" here refer to the Chalukyas of present-day Gujarat, and Munja fought with his king Moolraj.

 The war between Munuja and Tilappa is described by Merutunga, whose account is based on an abuzz apabhramsa poem called Munja-rasa. According to Merutunga, Telpa harassed Munja by conducting several raids in his kingdom, and Munja defeated Telpa six times (sixteen times) according to some manuscripts. The Udaipur Commendation also states that he defeated Telapa.

Despite these early successes, he could not subdue Telpa. Against the advice of his Prime Minister Rudraditya, Munja decided to adopt a more aggressive policy and crossed the Godavari River in a campaign against Tilapia. Merutunga said that the minister accepted the defeat of Munja and committed suicide by jumping into the fire. In the ensuing struggle, Telpa defeated and imprisoned Munja's army by force and deception. In his victory against Munja, Telpa appears to have been aided by his Yadav Jagir Bhilama II. Bhilma's 1000 Sangam inscriptions claim that she beat Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity on the battlefield as she sat with Munja, and forced her to become an obedient housewife in the palace of Telpa.

 According to Merutunga, during their imprisonment, Munja and Telpas' widowed sister Mrinalavati fell in love. Meanwhile, the ministers of Munja entered the kingdom of Telpa in disguise and managed to get in touch with Munja. He made a rescue plan, which Munja gave to Mrinalvati, as she wanted to take him to Malwa. Mrinalwati tells her brother about Munja's escape plan. As a result, Telpa forces Munja to go door-to-door begging, and then kills him.

 Although Merutunga's account may not be entirely correct from a historical point of view, there is little doubt that Munja died in the Deccan, resulting in a war against Telapa. Ballala claims that Munja died peacefully after Bhoja was appointed as his successor. However, this is not historically accurate. Munja was succeeded by his brother Sindhuraj. Furthermore, his defeat and death at the hands of Telapa is supported by inscriptions from the descendants of Tellapa. The Kauthem grant inscription of Vikramaditya V states that Telpa imprisoned Utpal (another name for Munja). The Gadag inscription of Vikramaditya VI states that Munja died by Telapa. Ain-i-Akbari also states that Munja died in Deccan.
Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note:
The exact year of Munja's death is not certain. Subhashita-ratna-sandoh by the Jain writer Amitagati states that it was completed in 994 CE when Munja was ruling Dhara. Telpa died in 998 CE. Therefore, Munja would have died between 994 and 998 CE. As a result of his victory against Munja, Telapa conquered the southern part of the Paramara Empire possibly as far as the Narmada River.