Paramara dynasty

The Paramara dynasty was an early medieval Indian royal Rajput house that ruled over the Malwa region in central India during c.800-1305 CE. Its most significant ruler was Bhoja I. The seat of the Paramara kingdom was Dhārānagara, the present day Dhar city in Madhya Pradesh. The Paramara rulers were appointed as governors by the Kings of the Rashtrakuta dynasty when Malwa was conquered by the south Indian Emperor Govinda III. The main sources for the history of the Paramara dynasty are the Nava-sahasanka-charita of Padmagupta and a series of inscriptions, most notably the Udayapur Praśasti at the Udayesvar Temple at Udaypur in Vidisha district, Madhya Pradesh.

"Never had Malwa enjoyed a higher level of political and cultural prestige than it did under the Paramaras."

Origin

Like several other Rajput dynasties, the Parmaras claimed Agnivanshi origin from Mount Abu in Rajasthan. According to the Bhavisya Purana, the Kamadhenu (a cow which grants all wishes of one) of the sage Vasishtha was stolen by another sage Vishvamitra. Vasishtha therefore made an offering to the sacrificial fire at Mount Abu. A hero sprang out from the sacrificial fire and brought back the cow to the sage Vasishtha, who bestowed the name Parmar (slayer of the enemy) on him.