Kashmir’s early history is not much documented, but one name does rise to prominence as a fierce and cruel leader, Queen Didda (c. 924 CE – 1003 CE). Nicknamed ‘the Catherine of Kashmir’, she earned the name because she bore striking similarities to Catherine the Great of Russia. Both were strong women who held sway over their kingdoms with political acumen, military power, and at times, ruthlessness.
Didda was the daughter of Simharaja, King of Lohara, a dynasty in the Pir Panjal mountain range, which occupied a strategic trade route between western Punjab and Kashmir. She married Ksemagupta, King of Kashmir, to create a union of the two kingdoms. Although married, it was Didda who became one of the most able and powerful rulers in Kashmir’s history.
Powerful Influence Behind the Throne
Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, a historical work detailing the kings of Kashmir discloses that Didda’s power over her husband, Kshemagupta, was so great that even his coinage carried the epithet ‘Di-Kshema’, indicating her dominance. As indicated, “The desire to exercise the power herself can be found in the coins of her husband Kshemagupta, who bears the epithet Di-Kshema on his ordinary coins and Kshemagupta on extremely rare coins.” This implies that even though Kshemagupta was the king, Didda was the one with power. Kalhana further states that Kshemagupta was brought low to the ignominious rank of “Kshema,” symbolizing his subordination under Didda’s rule.
Following the demise of her husband, Didda did not follow the Hindu widow’s practice of Sati, where the widow would commit self-immolation on the funeral pyre of her husband. Rather, she became Queen Regent for her minor son, taking charge of the kingdom. Her power encompassed all spheres of administration, even military matters. Even minor decisions had to be ratified by her, and she suppressed any uprising with iron-fisted authority. Kalhana describes, “She whom none believed had strength to step over a cattle track, the lame lady traversed in the manner of the son of wind (Hanuman).”
Ruthlessness to Preserve Power
Didda’s rule was characterized by political wisdom as well as a merciless drive for power. One such event was a rebellion where all her ministers abandoned her, with the exception of her trusted aide Naravahana. Refusing to let go of power, Didda herself led her army into combat. She even sent pots of gold to her rivals in a bid to put down the rebellion. At last, she could quell the uprising and become the undisputed ruler.
When her son, Abhimanyu, was killed, Didda had a sorrowful loss. She built the temple Abhimanyusvamin and a town, Abhimanyupur, in memory of him. This was brief remembrance period, however.
Ruthless Act to Secure the Throne
Didda did an even more heinous act in 981 A.D. to keep the throne under her control. She killed her three grandsons so that she would have a firm grip on the throne. One grandson was reportedly tortured to death by her orders, and another reportedly died as a result of witchcraft acts.H.C. Banerjee, in his Cultural Heritage of Kashmir, describes Didda as “a ruthless and immoral lady but nevertheless an able queen who assumed the reins of government in 980 A.D.”
Queen Didda’s rule is a rich mix of political acumen, brutal maneuvering, and unrelenting domination, rendering her one of the most interesting and powerful personalities in Kashmiri history.
