Sangramaraja or Samgramaraja (

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...

: ) was the founder of the

Lohara dynasty The Lohara dynasty were Hindu rulers of Kashmir in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, between 1003 and approximately 1320 CE. The early history of the dynasty was described in the ''Rajatarangini'' (''Chronicle of Kings''), a work wri ...

and ruled

Kashmir Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompas ...

from 1003 to 1028. He is credited for having defeated

Mahmud of Ghazni Yamīn-ud-Dawla Abul-Qāṣim Maḥmūd ibn Sebüktegīn ( fa, ; 2 November 971 – 30 April 1030), usually known as Mahmud of Ghazni or Mahmud Ghaznavi ( fa, ), was the founder of the Turkic Ghaznavid dynasty, ruling from 998 to 1030. At th ...

's invasion attempts of Kashmir.India - Early History, Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, 201
p.63
/ref>

Rule

Sangramaraja was adopted by his aunt

Didda Didda (1003 CE), also known as ''The Catherine of Kashmir'' was the ruler of Kashmir from 980 CE to 1003 CE. She first acted as regent for her son and various grandsons from 958 CE to 980 CE, and from 980 CE as sole ruler and monarch. Most knowled ...

and appointed as her heir and become the ruler in 1003. His rule lasted till 1028.Stein (1900), Vol. 2, p. 294. Sangramaraja's queen was Srilekhā, who was very talented and advised Sangramaraja in his rule and when Mahmud of Ghazni attempted to invade Kashmir.

Battles against Mahmud of Ghazni

In 1014, Mahmud of Ghazni attacked the

Kabul Shahi Kabul Shahi is a term used to denote two former non-Muslim dynasties in Kabul: *Turk Shahis (665–850 CE) *Hindu Shahi The Hindu Shahis (also known as Odi Shahis, Uḍi Śāhis, or Brahman Shahis, 822–1026 CE) were a dynasty that held sway ...

kingdom. The Kabul Shahi ruler Trilochanapala appealed to Sangramaraja for assistance against Mahmud. Sangramaraja responded by sending a large army under his commander-in-chief, Tunga to aid Trilochanapala. In the ensuing battle, Trilochanapala was defeated. Antagonized by Sangramaraja's having helped Trilochanapala, Mahmud invaded Kashmir. He advanced along the Tohi river valley, planning to enter Kashmir through the

Tosamaidan Tosa Maidan (or Toshamaidan) is a tourist destination and a hill station in Jammu and Kashmir. It is located in khag area of Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. The name also marks the historic Tosa Maidan route into the Kashmir Valley fr ...

pass. However, his advanced was checked by the strong fort of Loharkot. After having besieged the fort for a month, Mahmud abandoned the siege and retreated, losing many of his troops on his way and almost losing his own life as well. In 1021, Mahmud again attempted to invade Kashmir, but was again not able to advance beyond the Loharkot fort. After the two failed invasion attempts, he did not attempt to invade Kashmir again.

References

{{reflist History of Kashmir Rulers of Kashmir