The 1104-1105 CE Nagpur
prashasti inscription credits Lakshmadeva with the following military achievements in the four directions: • East: threatening the land of
Gauda, defeating the armies of
Anga and
Kalinga, and occupying the city of
Tripuri • South: subjugating the
Cholas, invading the
Pandya country, and invading
Sri Lanka • West: attacking the Timingalas and other tribes of the
Mainaka mountain • North: vanquishing the
Turushkas and the
Kiras This description appears to be a poetic exaggeration based on the victories of the legendary king
Raghu, as described in
Raghuvamsa. For example, Lakshmadeva's purported subjugation of the
Cholas and the
Pandyas is not supported by any historical evidence. However, some of the other achievements may have a historical basis. For example, the
Kalachuris of Tripuri were weak after the death of their king
Karna, and Lakshmadeva may have raided Tripuri during the reign of Karna's successor
Yashahkarna. Historian D. C. Ganguly speculated that the claim of Lakshmadeva subjugating the Turushkas (the Turkic people) may be a reference to his repulsion of an attack by
Mahmud of Ghazni. However, this is not correct, as Mahmud died in 1030 CE, much earlier than Lakshmadeva's time. Some other historians believe that Lakshmadeva might have defeated a Turkic Muslim governor of Punjab who invaded
Ujjain, but this is not corroborated by any evidence. == Death ==